Community college can be a good option for many, but be savvy about changing rules if you plan to transfer to a four-year school — especially the University of Washington.

If you're a community-college student planning to transfer to a four-year state school, be aware that the winds have shifted at the University of Washington over the past few years.

Faced with a budget crunch, the UW's Seattle campus no longer guarantees a seat to any applicant with an associate degree and a minimum grade-point average.

Community-college transfers must compete for acceptance based on academic and personal achievements.

Western Washington University has used a similar review process to screen applicants for several years.

Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University and The Evergreen State College continue to accept all students who complete their associate degrees and meet a minimum grade-point average.

Advisers say all transfer students need to start preparing from the beginning of their community-college education.

Here's what they recommend:

Keep your grades up.

The UW will consider any applicant with at least a 2.5 grade-point average — but grades are a major factor in its decision-making; the higher your grades, the more you'll stand out.

Finish your associate degree.

While no longer a requirement, it's another major factor that proves you have a broad foundation on which to build.

"Whether they go to a university or an employer, it shows they can complete an idea and follow through on it," says Ron Kline, director of advising and transfer at Seattle Central Community College.

Choose a major and get started.

While community colleges used to be a place of exploration, students will have to give some of that up. The UW seeks students who prepared for their major by taking the prerequisites. An adviser can help you determine which classes to take.

"They're really pushing that this year — being major-ready as much as you can," Kline says. "If you're going to be an art-history major at the UW, make sure you take art-history classes with us."

Use college resources.

Talk to your adviser. Community colleges are holding workshops on how to put together a transfer application and how to write a personal statement. Seattle Central plans to host fairs so students can talk to representatives from different four-year colleges.

While community colleges were caught unprepared by the UW admission changes last year, this year they're ready with a strategy.

"For our students at Seattle Central, we're creating these things to help them, so take advantage of them," says Kline.

Hone your personal statement.

The UW's application requires a personal statement describing aspirations and experiences. The school wants a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, so say what makes you unique, what challenges you've faced, what you bring to the school's community.

Have a Plan B.

The UW's Seattle campus, for example, offers an evening degree program for juniors. The Bothell and Tacoma campuses of the UW offer a more flexible competitive application process than UW Seattle's. And for now, Central, Eastern, WSU and Evergreen have an open-door policy toward qualified transfer applicants.

Research the prerequisites for your major at schools besides the UW.

"Don't put all your eggs in the University of Washington," Kline says, "because it may not happen."