English

Taking the right first-year writing courses can be a critical factor for your success at college.

Writing, critical analysis, and research are fundamental skills for every major and professional career. Many new college students find that high school English and other writing assignments gave them some preparation for what was coming next, but in most cases the demands of college and professional writing are very different than what has come before.

The WRITE Survey is a free online survey that was designed by the English Department to assist you in identifying the best writing course sequence to ensure your success at WCU. The English Department will use your answers from the WRITE Survey to recommend courses that should be a good fit for you, and you'll have the opportunity to request a change if you disagree with the placement.

If you are an incoming first-year or transfer student, you must take the WRITESurvey before you can register for a First-Year Writing (WRT) class.

As soon as you have submitted a deposit [and therefore are “enrolled”] for the first semester, you should take the WRITESurvey to ensure you can be placed into the appropriate First-Year Writing course (WRT 120, WRT 123, or WRT 200-level) as soon as possible.

You can take the WRITESurvey online by visiting your myWCU Enrollment Portal:

• Log in to your MYWCU account
• Find the Current Tasks widget, which is typically located in the Upper-Right Corner of your screen.
• Click on First-Year Placement Examinations inside the Current Tasks Widget. This will take you to the placement portal.
• Once in the portal, the Navigation bar on the left of your screen will show you what sections need to be completed. The WRITESurvey will be included in this sidebar list as “Writing Self Placement.”
• Click Ready to Start when you want to begin the placement test.
• Click Complete once you are finished.

For best results, we recommend that you complete the WRITESurvey on any computer (no mobile devices, including phones or iPads/tablets) using either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your browser. Please note that we are aware of some issues with the 2024 WRITESurvey completion notifications: you may see a notice that you still need to complete the WRITESurvey, even if you have already done so. If you have completed the WRITESurvey and all of the other Enrollment Portal tasks are paired with a green check mark, you can safely exit the Enrollment Portal: your tasks are complete.

You'll need about 10 minutes to complete the WRITESurvey. Please note that you must finish the WRITESurvey in one session: you cannot save the survey and return to it later.

Yes. Even if you have AP, test, or transfer credit(s), you must complete the WRITESurvey as an incoming student. If you have questions about how your AP, test, or college credits are factored into your undergraduate credits, please refer to the following links:

• For AP or Test Credit
• For College Credit Transfer

Several possibilities:

• Have you paid your deposit? You must pay your deposit before the WRITESurvey is made available to you through the myWCU Enrollment Portal.
• Are you using an up-to-date web browser (Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome)? We highly recommend using an up-to-date web browser, ideally on a desktop (as opposed to a phone or iPad/tablet).
• Have you tried logging into myWCU and clicking the link titled "Current Tasks"?

If you still do not have access after answering yes to each of the above questions, please contact the WCU Help Desk at 610-436-3350 or complete a Help Desk service ticket.

No. However, each separate department portal must be completed in one sitting.

For example, you must finish the WRITESurvey in the same session once you begin. Once you finish the WRITESurvey, it's up to you whether or not to begin (and then finish) the Math Placement Exam in one session. Once the Math Placement Exam is completed, it's up to you whether or not to begin (and then finish) the Foreign Language Placement in one session. (Note: You may not see the Foreign Language Placement if your program does not require its majors to take a language.)

• Submit this webform to request a placement change. Please allow 2-3 business days for the First-Year Writing Director to review and process your request.
• You must also contact your major department (ex., Exploratory Studies students would contact Exploratory Studies; English majors would contact the English department) to discuss your options.
• Once you've discussed your options with your major department, you will submit a formal request to the Registrar that must be approved by your major department. Follow this process:Part 1:
  1. Log into myWCU.
  2. Click the link for the “Request to Change First Semester Schedule” form (located under Useful Links in the Academic Information section).
  3. Complete all required information in the “Request to Change First Semester Schedule” form.
  4. Submit the completed form in myWCU.
  Part 2:
  • Exploratory Studies students: All forms submitted for students in undeclared plans will be sent directly to Exploratory Studies via email.
  • All other students: All forms for declared majors will be sent to the Registrar's office via email.
  • The Registrar's office will review the request.
  • Any request that is clearly due to student preference (rather than need) will not be processed. The Registrar's office will respond to any denied request.
  • Student requests will be sent to the appropriate academic department for processing.

• First, review the information above about WRT 120 and WRT 123.
• If you have questions about WRT 120 and WRT 123, contact WRITESurvey@wcupa.edu or your advisor.
• Submit this webform to request to take WRT 120 instead of WRT 123. Please allow 2-3 business days for the First-Year Writing Director to review and process your request. The English Department will then need to enroll you in WRT 120.

• Your home (or major/pre-major) department has determined that it may be best to take the course in another semester.
• You haven't taken the WRITESurvey, so we can't place you appropriately in the course sequence that will best fit your needs.
• There are no available seats in the course sequence that best fits your needs.