A Family of Cougs

When a student chooses to attend WSU, the whole family becomes part of our community.

From the application process to the first day of classes, your support is critical to help your Future Coug thrive. Read on to explore your resources and learn what makes the Cougar Family special.

Go Cougs!

WSU Cougar Head Logo

Meet Kairis Jimenez

Class of 2023 | Sports Management | Honolulu, HI | First-Gen

As a first-generation student raised by a single mom, Kairis Jimenez found the college admission process a little daunting at first. 

“It was hard because this was all new to me and my mom, too,” Jimenez said. “Financial aid was kind of confusing, but if you take the time to work for it, it’s pretty easy.” 

Jimenez chose WSU because of the tight-knit community and the variety of scholarships and financial aid options for out-of-state students. Plus, it was very different from her home state. 

“Being from Hawaii, it’s summer all year round. I wanted to experience all four seasons,” Jimenez said. “It’s also been so easy to make friends at WSU and grow as a person.” 

During her time at WSU, Jimenez was co-chair of SHAPING, a leadership conference that helps high school students of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent pursue higher education. Every year, a group of students from the Seattle area were able to visit WSU and get an inside look at what college is like.  “I really hold those experiences close to my heart because we actually made a difference for these students and made them feel at home,” Jimenez said. “College is where you get all these new experiences and opportunities. If you step out of your comfort zone, it can make you into something great one day.”

I was always into sports. Luckily, WSU has one of the best sport management programs west of the Mississippi. After graduation, I want to go to law school for sports and entertainment and hopefully become a sports agent.

Key Dates for Future Cougs and Families

December

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) open.

JANUARY 31

WSU General Scholarship Application date.

Top Scholars consideration deadline.

FEBRUARY

Financial aid awards begin posting.

MAY 1

Admission application priority date.

FAFSA and WASFA filing priority date.

JUNE 1

Secure your spot at WSU by confirming your enrollment.

JUNE-AUGUST

New Coug Orientation sessions for new confirmed WSU students.

Family & Supporter Orientation sessions, covering topics that include housing and dining, billing and payments, student health and wellness, how to be a Coug family, and more through a combination of virtual and in-person experiences.

AUGUST 19

First day of 2024-25 academic year.


See all upcoming dates and deadlines, including transfer dates.

WSU at a Glance

  • About 75% of WSU students received financial aid last academic year, more than $405 million in total.
  • WSU is recognized by the Center for First-generation Student Success as a First Scholars institution for serving first-generation college students. Last year, 34% of new students were first in their families to attend college.
  • Amazon, Boeing, Deloitte, Google and Microsoft are some of the top employers of WSU graduates. The engaged Cougar alumni network helps fellow Cougs kickstart their careers.
  • WSU offers more than 500 study abroad programs on 7 continents.
  • 81% of WSU classes have less than 50 students.
  • WSU is among 115 out of 4,300+ US colleges and universities named as doctoral universities with the “highest research activity.” (Carnegie Classification, 2021).
  • Pullman is the 25th safest college town in America. (SafeWise 2021)

MEET THE PARENT OF A NEW COUG

Shannon (Martin) Langland is the mother of Alex Langland, a Coug freshman studying computer science who started in Fall 2022. Shannon, a 1994 WSU alum, shared some of their experiences and advice from the transition to WSU Pullman.

Meaningful conversations about college

We started talking about academic expectations in high school, encouraging him to take care of coursework questions on his own with his teachers. At the high school level, teachers are still checking in on you and pulling you along a little. At the university level, this goes away. You are an adult, paying for your education, and the professors aren’t going to come to you if there’s an issue. We talked about the need to step up and resolve his own issues and use all his time management skills because once we see him off in Pullman, it’s all up to him.

Cool experiences at WSU

Taking my own child to Pullman was incredible! All the memories were overwhelming and wonderful. I remembered all the emotions and optimism that I had and knew Alex was going through the same thing. The other side was the realization that my baby was starting an exciting new phase of his life on his own, and we (his parents) were being relegated to being observers and motivators, as opposed to being providers. It’s what we spent 18 years working toward!

Alex joined the WSU Marching Band right away and got to attend the WSU football bowl game in Los Angeles! He also auditioned for, and was accepted to, WSU Jazz Big Band. He has made some good friends and is off to a good start, which allows us to exhale.

Advice to parents of new Cougs

Let your young adults figure things out. Be available as a resource, ask leading questions (to make them think), and then let them figure it out. WSU has every resource they will need to succeed and get their needs met. Also, I would advise new Cougs to put themselves out there. Join the club, say hey to the person next to them in lecture, ask the questions, go to the office hours, explore all the options. The years that you’re at university are a rare, short, wonderful time. Take advantage of all the experiences while they’re in front of you.

Cost and Aid Information

Cougs were offered $172.6 million in awards in 2022, and 75% of students received some form of financial aid. Whether it’s loans, grants, or scholarships, there are plenty of options to help your Future Coug secure the funding they need. 

Student Graduating taking picture with parent
Students wearing WSU gear

Family Weekends for Current Students

If your student chooses WSU, you can look forward to two family weekends each academic year, filled with activities to spend time with your new Coug in Pullman .

Family Resources