university of washington seattle personal statement

Academic Support Programs

• Applications & personal statements

Application materials like personal statements, resumes, and cover letters are an integral part of packaging your experience, academics, and interests in a meaningful way. The UW Career and Internship Center is a great resource to support you through the brainstorming, writing, and completion processes of your application materials. Here are some additional tips for telling your story for programs at UW and beyond!

Personal Statements

Since most majors at the UW require an application, many students are required to turn in personal statement essays and/or short answer responses to get into their major. For example, every application for the College of Engineering requires a short answer question that asks them to share the unique perspective that they can bring to the engineering classroom. 

Applications are not restricted to UW though — they are required for scholarship essays, internships, and jobs! That being said, here is an overview about how to organize an application like this:

• Section 1: What do I want to do and why? E.g. Why is this your field of interest, and what led you to explore this major?
• Internships, coursework, and special projects that contribute to the student’s learning
• Highlight specific things about the university/place/program in question
• Section 4: What will I do with this in the future?

The personal statement is a place to describe motivations and provide insight about the perspective you'll bring to the program, which could be related to your academic interests, identity, or past research/internship experience.

Although resumes can be personalized or designed based on the student’s area of study/conventions of the discipline, there are some tips that will apply to every resume:

• Keep it short and relevant to the job : Resumes should (typically) fit on one page, and the top part should include your name and contact information (at least your phone number and email address). Feel free to add links to your portfolio, LinkedIn, GitHub, or other outlets that are relevant to your discipline of interest.
• Break it up : Choose relevant section headings to break up your experience (e.g. Education/ Projects Leadership Experience / Working Experience / Skills). Try to incorporate buzzwords from job description into the resume.
• Keep is consistent : The headings should be in the same font size and style to improve readability for a recruiter. Leave some white space above headlines to improve readability.
• Use action verbs : Instead of saying “Helped organize event for office party,” try, “Proactively organized an annual donor event and interacted with professional staff, caterers, and attendees.”

Cover Letters

Typically, cover letters include information about how you found out about the job (this is a good place to name drop references/job fair recruiters/etc.), the extent of and reasons for your interest in the job, and a few examples of experiences that have prepared you for the job. Here are two great videos from the UW Career and Internship Center that can help you structure your cover letter and guide you through what to include in your cover letter .

Cover letters are not a reiteration of the resume. Instead, hey are meant to highlight relevant experiences that convey how you’d be an asset to the company, project, or internship you want to join.

Here are a few general tips for cover letters:

• Include your contact information : Your resume and cover letter might get separated during the recruiting process, and you want to make it easy for them to reach you!
• Provide signposts for reader:  e.g. “I’ve had X, Y, and Z experiences that will prepare me for this job/internship”
• Switch passive voice to active voice:  Don’t give the project so much credit – take ownership/agency of the skills you develop”
• Address a specific person:  e.g. “Dear (recruiter name)” vs. “To whom it may concern”
• Explain how your current skills translate in the context of the job (these are often called transferable skills)
• End by thanking the person for their time.
• Include a signature.

Things to Remember

Writing about yourself can be difficult, especially if you are more accustomed to the conventions of academic writing. Use the application as an opportunity to discuss your skills, motivations, and experiences.

• If you've applied to a program of opportunity before, see if you can get feedback about what could be improved about your past application.
• Keep the prompt in mind – it might be helpful to paste the guiding questions at the top of the document and check in about if you're answering every part of the prompt.
• Keep application deadlines in mind!

Icons by phatplus and Freepik from www.flaticon.com .

Study Strategies

• Helpful Videos
• Study skills workshops
• Academic writing
• Effective reading
• Math & science courses
• Online learning
• Preparing for tests
• Tips for success at the UW
• Time management
• Writing resources
• For graduate students

Additional Resources

• UW Career and Internship Center
• List of Majors and Minors at UW
• Tips for writing a personal statement

More: Tips on resume and cover letter writing

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• School of Law

J.D. Admissions

J.d. admissions first year applicants.

To be considered for admissions, applicants must follow the application instructions, register with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and Credential Assembly Service (CAS), take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and demonstrate that they have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian university or the foreign equivalent whose program has been deemed comparable to that of a four-year baccalaureate degree, prior to registering for the first academic quarter at UW Law.

Application Deadlines

• October 1 - Applications open for incoming first-year students
• November 15 - Early Decision Program application deadline
• January 15 — Application deadline for the  Gates Public Service Law Scholarship , which includes both the JD application and the Gates Public Service Law Scholarship application. Please note that you must have an LSAT score on file in order to proceed with the selection process. The last LSAT accepted for consideration is the January 2024 administration.
• March 15 - Priority application deadline for incoming first-year students 

These deadlines are non-negotiable.

Admissions Policy

The law school faculty has adopted the following policy regarding admission to UW Law:

The primary goal of the University of Washington School of Law admissions process is to enroll students who demonstrate outstanding academic and professional promise and whose background and experience will contribute beneficially to the learning environment of the law school. As the state’s public law school, we have a responsibility to educate lawyers who will serve the legal needs of all members of society, through the practice of law, the formulation of public policy and other law-related activities. Our admissions policy is designed to identify individuals who will help fulfill this responsibility.

In measuring academic potential, we evaluate candidates holistically, balancing multiple considerations in selecting a cohort of students for each incoming class. No single factor is dispositive for admission, including GPA and standardized test scores. Factors we consider include but are not limited to: the rigor of the applicant’s undergraduate curriculum; the nature and attainment of an advanced degree; the applicant’s pre- and post-college experience as it relates to the applicant’s academic and professional potential; the quality and strength of recommendations which address the applicant’s academic and professional potential; variations in the level of academic achievement over time; any other indicators that may aid in the determination of academic and professional potential. Additionally, we encourage law students to identify any aspects of their backgrounds that would benefit the diversity of the law school community and the legal field as a whole.

Nondiscrimination Policy

UW Law provides for a selective admission process with the objective of attracting students who demonstrate the strongest prospects for high quality academic work. This selective admission process shall assure that the University's educational opportunities shall be open to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability or veteran status. The process of admission shall be mindful of the need for diversity in the student body and for highly-trained individuals from all segments of the population. For more information, please visit here .

Applicant Responsibility and Accuracy of Information

Applicants are under a continued obligation to notify the law school immediately of any and all circumstances and events that may occur from the date an application is submitted to the first day of enrollment that may change any of the responses to their application. UW Law reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission if the candidate fails to maintain satisfactory scholastic standing for work in progress, if final records fail to show completion of courses and/or degrees required for admission or if the admission decision was based on incomplete, inaccurate or misleading information furnished by the applicant. In addition, the law school may also report its findings to LSAC's Misconduct and Irregularities Committee.

Character and Moral Fitness

Applicants who have been convicted of a felony or other serious crime are eligible for admission into the law school; however, because state bar associations often prohibit persons with criminal records from being admitted to the bar regardless of their degrees or training, it may be impossible for such individuals to practice in some states. In addition to the bar examination, there are character, fitness and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners .

Application Instructions

An application is complete and ready for evaluation when the following items are received:

• Application - Applicants may submit the application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) .
• $60 Application Fee - The application fee will be collected through LSAC.
• Personal Statement - The University of Washington School of Law aspires to be the best public law school in the nation and one of the world's most respected centers for interdisciplinary legal studies. Advancing access to justice, facilitating a fair and thriving global marketplace and fostering an environment of inclusivity and equity is integral to who we are. The primary goal of the admissions process is to enroll students who strive to be leaders; demonstrate outstanding academic, professional and leadership promise; are committed to generous public service and ethical advocacy; and who have background and experiences that will enhance the diversity of the student body, thereby enriching the law school educational environment. As such, applicants are invited to write a personal statement that describes their potential contributions to our vibrant community. Please limit your response to 700 words . Applicants may include the following factors in their personal statement or the optional supplemental statement: perseverance against substantial obstacles; social or economic disadvantage; family or personal adversity; social hardships; disability; prejudice or discrimination; leadership potential; studying or living abroad; foreign language skills; special talents; unique life experiences; or geographic diversity.
• (Optional) Supplemental Statement - Applicants may supplement their personal statement by including a response to one (1) of the following optional questions: (a) why are you interested in pursuing a legal education at the University of Washington; (b) what life events or experiences have had the greatest influence in shaping your character and why; or (c) if you were asked to create a non profit organization, what would be the organization, its mission and its purpose? Please limit your response to 500 words .
• Résumé   - Please provide a résumé detailing any significant vocational, non-vocational, extracurricular or community activities, volunteer work, honors, awards, any service in the Armed Forces, job descriptions and major areas of responsibility along with dates of employment (mm/yyyy) and the number of hours per week devoted to such activities, publications or other information that you believe the University of Washington School of Law should consider in evaluating your application. Also please include details as to any foreign language proficiencies you possess, including the level of ability with regard to speaking, comprehension, reading and writing. Your résumé may not exceed three (3) typewritten pages .
• Credential Assembly Service Report - The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report will include: (1) the applicant's transcript(s) from each institution of higher education prior to obtaining your bachelor's degree; (2) Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score(s): and (3) any letter(s) of recommendation. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that LSAC has received all necessary materials to complete the CAS file. You are advised to confirm that your CAS file is complete; LSAC will not send the law school a CAS report until then.
• Letters of Recommendation - Two (2) Letters of Recommendation are required and must be submitted through LSAC's Letter of Recommendation Service. The strongest recommendations are those submitted by a professor who knows an applicant's work well and can give a well-substantiated assessment of their academic potential. For applicants who have been out of school for some time, professional recommendations are appropriate.

Please note : all records become part of the official file. They will not be returned or duplicated.

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Office Hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. lawadm@ uw .edu (206) 543-4078

Address 231 William H. Gates Hall 4293 Memorial Way NE Seattle, WA 98195 

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Crafting a Personal Statement

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A Personal Statement is a written component of a student’s application to a graduate or professional degree program that allows a student to explain their reasons for applying, and usually serves as the answer to a specific prompt that is given, such as “How will completing the _____ program at _____ college help you achieve your professional goals?” When no prompt is provided, the goal is to tell your story which creates a more holistic view of who you are and your candidacy.

Connect with us:

Contact us: 9a-5p, M-F | 134 Mary Gates Hall | Seattle, WA 98195 | (206) 543-0535 tel | [email protected]

The Division of Student Life acknowledges the Coast Salish people of this land, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot Nations. Student Life is committed to developing and maintaining an inclusive climate that honors the diverse array of students, faculty, and staff. We strive to provide pathways for success and to purposefully confront and dismantle existing physical, social, and psychological barriers for minoritized students and communities. We engage in this work while learning and demonstrating cultural humility.

Current UW Students

Current uw student admission.

The current UW Student admission pathways is for students who complete prerequisites before applying to the major. Most often these students would be 'interest changers' - students who came to UW with another interest in mind and later developed a passion for computer science and computer engineering. UW students apply to both Computer Engineering and Computer Science through a joint online application for Autumn or Spring admission. Applicants who satisfy the minimum prerequisites below will be given thorough consideration by the Allen School Admission Committee. However, because demand exceeds capacity, the Allen School cannot offer admission to all applicants who meet these minimum qualifications.

Applicants must be enrolled at the UW Seattle campus.

Personal Statement Review Resources▼

• A Presentation for you to view that provides best practices and suggestions for how to write a strong personal statement for your application

20 min in-person or virtual 1:1 Peer Adviser Appointments

If you would like to schedule a 1:1 review appointment (in-person or virtual) click here . All in-person appointments will be held in the Bill & Melinda Gates Center building (CSE 2), in the undergraduate student services suite on the first floor.

Additional Questions & Support

If you would like to discuss course planning or have other admission questions, please attend Quick Questions to chat with an Allen School Academic Adviser ( held Tu, W, & Th ). Additionally, all prospective students are highly encouraged to attend a current UW student information session , held on the second Tuesday of each month via Zoom.

Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.

How to Apply

Key dates & deadlines.

The Allen School accepts applications for students to start in both Autumn and Spring quarters, we do not have Winter or Summer admission cycles. Please note: the Allen School departmental application is typically open for about 2 weeks prior to the application deadlines.

Information Sessions

We offer different types of information sessions to support prospective students applying through the current UW student admissions pathway. 

Dates for information sessions are posted on our information sessions webpage .

Application Requirements

Students interested in applying to Computer Science or Computer Engineering must complete at least 30 graded credits (not from AP/IB) and complete the prerequisites listed below by the time of application. Applicants must submit an online application through the application portal , write a personal statement , and fill out a work history section outlining their work & extracurricular involvement.

Computer Science Prerequisites

The Computer Science major is offered through the College of Arts & Sciences. Students applying to this major must complete the following requirements prior to the application deadline:

• Math 124, 125 & 126 (or Honors Math 134, 135, & 136)
• Five credits of science coursework .
• Five credits of English composition coursework .
• CSE 121, 122 & 123 * OR CSE 142 & 143 *
• *While CSE 121 & CSE 142 remain admissions prerequisites, we do not consider them when evaluating grades in pre-requisite courses for current UW students. Additionally, if a student completes CSE 123 or 143 without taking the preceding courses in the series, that is also acceptable for the admissions process.

Computer Engineering Prerequisites

Computer Engineering is an ABET-accredited program offered through the College of Engineering. Students applying to the Computer Engineering major must complete the following requirements prior to the application deadline:

• Math 124, 125 & 126;
• Physics 121;

Advice & FAQs

How is the personal statement evaluated, and what should I discuss in my personal statement?

Our evaluations for all parts of the application are holistic, we consider the whole person, which comes out in the essay, versus just considering grades. We do not provide specific feedback on an applicant's personal statement. However, we provide below an overview of what we ask you to discuss in the personal statement:

Please address all the required topics below. Your responses must be formatted in sections with these exact headings. The response under each heading should be no more than 250 words.

• Tell us about your college career to date, describing your performance, educational path, and academic choices.
• Share what led you to choose to study Computer Science or Computer Engineering.
• Explain any situations that may have had a significant positive or negative impact on your academic progress or curricular choices. What happened, and what was the impact for you?
• Tell us about your future academic goals in college and your career and/or post-graduation plans.
• How will the Allen School help you achieve your goals?
• If you plan to pursue more than one major, tell us why both majors are important to you (if applicable).
• If you will take more than 4 years to graduate, please briefly explain why and discuss your plan for graduating efficiently (if applicable).
• Tell us about any significant communities that you are actively involved with or have recently been a part of within the past two years, and your role in them.
• Why are you involved in these communities?
• How did these communities benefit from your involvement? Emphasize in particular any leadership roles or impact you have had in these communities.
• What perspectives, skills, or insights will you bring to the Allen School community or future work as a result of your participation in these communities?
• Tell us about how any of your identities, perspectives, or life experiences would help you contribute to the Allen School community and the computing field. This could include but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, ability/disability, age, socioeconomic background, academic experience, and veteran status.
• Describe any significant responsibilities you may have in addition to being a student (e.g. parenting responsibilities, work, familial responsibilities). What impact has this had on your college experience?

What are some resources I can use to help me write a strong personal statement?

A good essay conveys important information clearly, but is still concise. Expect that writing your personal statement will take time: start thinking about your essay and writing drafts well before the application deadline.  Plan to have your essay reviewed by a mentor/teacher, parent or friend.

Here are some resources to consult to ensure you submit a statement of the highest quality.

• List of Writing Centers at UW
• UW Writing Resources for Undergraduates
• Webster's Dictionary
• The Elements of Style
• Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
• Common Errors in English

What are my chances of admission?

There are always more qualified applicants than space available in our programs. Therefore, our process is competitive, and we must deny admission to some students with good academic records. We typically have space for approximately 25-35% of all students who apply however this number changes depending on increases in funding. It's also important to note that we do not admit differently between Computer Science and Computer Engineering, we consider all applications together and admit without taking specific major into account. The admit rate in 2020 was 28% (113 admitted/402 applied), in 2021 it was 30% (165 admitted/554 applied), in 2022 it was 30% (134 admitted /444 applied), in 2023 it was 33% (165 admitted /495 applied) and in 2024 it was 32% (168 admitted/522 applied)

All applications are reviewed by the Allen School Undergraduate Admission Committee, comprised of faculty and advisers.  We use an evaluative , rather than a quantitative , process in our admission review. This means our decisions are based on more than simply which applicants have the highest grades. We do not tally up points; rather, we form an overall evaluation based on academic background and other factors, such as outside interests and activities, evidence of leadership and a sense of direction, and life experience. We do not expect all students to excel across the board, but achievement in relevant academic areas or evidence of overcoming hardships can strengthen an application.

What factors are considered in the review process?

Here are some points to keep in mind about the Allen School admission process:

• Our goal is to have as complete a picture as we can of your activities, experiences, and academic performance .
• In evaluating transcripts, we look not only at your grades , but at how many courses you have taken each quarter; circumstances (such as employment or activities) that may limit the number and types of courses taken, and the difficulty of each quarter as a whole (insofar as we have access to that information). For example, do you take balanced yet challenging course loads? Are you pursuing honors courses? Negative elements might include a pattern of repeating classes, multiple dropped, withdrawn, or S/NS courses, or selecting schedules with overlapping content.
• We look for breadth in prerequisite coursework as well as in general education classes . For instance, courses in English and Speech Communication can be important to our majors. Many of our upper-division courses demand presentation skills and an ability to communicate among team members. Also, your choice of courses gives us a glimpse of what interests you.
• Your  personal statement is an opportunity for the committee to learn more about what is important to you and why computer science/engineering is of interest.

How are applications to the Allen School evaluated?

Allen School applications are reviewed by a committee of Allen School faculty and staff. We have a rubric that our faculty and staff are trained to follow to ensure that we are reviewing all applications consistently. Generally speaking, we evaluate two pieces of an application: the academic record (grades in prerequisite subject areas and overall grade trends) and the answers to the essay questions. While the rubric provides general guidelines for reviewers, we do have a method for flagging applications that don’t fit the rubric or have other information that needs to be captured during our discussion.

We know that students are curious about how we evaluate applications. Therefore we provide the rubric here for past cycles. You should, however, take note that using this to prepare for an upcoming cycle may not be in your best interest as this rubric is changed and updated every year. The new essay questions or evaluation materials are posted by Nov 15th each year.

Although we post the rubric publicly, please note that we do not conduct any pre-evaluations of a student's application. The best way to prepare an upcoming application is to (1) address all the essay questions thoughtfully, carefully, and substantively and (2) do your best academically in all your coursework. We also highly recommend that all prospective students attend an information session to learn more about the Allen School and our evaluation process. These information sessions are free and open to the public. You can find more about our information sessions online.

What should I do if I am not admitted?

Students applying to the Allen School should consider alternative degree options as well. UW offers many other excellent computing-related majors that are far more than "back-up" plans. Choose a major you enjoy and that will help further your personal, academic, and professional goals. Students in any major may take non-major Allen School courses to build technical skills.

For some students who are denied admission to the Allen School on their first application, applying a second time may make sense. Reapplying does not automatically improve your chance of admission. You must identify what specifically kept you from being competitive the first time, and resolve these issues. Note, however, that the primary reason most students are denied is that space is limited; the Allen School denies many very strong applicants and sometimes there is no specific issue.

For students who decide to reapply, here are some things to consider:

• If your grades in a key area (math, science, English, or CSE) are below the range that is typically competitive for the Allen School, you might improve your application by taking more-advanced classes in the same area. If you have not maintained consistently strong grades across multiple quarters, evaluate the options you have to create stability and work hard at maintaining strong grades. If you tend to pay attention only to the courses that interest you at the expense of everything else, focus on taking a more balanced approach to your coursework.
• Most students planning for a second application will take additional challenging courses in math, science, English, or computer science. Keep in mind that although it may seem appealing to take a  non-major Allen School course , these classes do not count toward Allen School major requirements. Applicants should speak with an Allen School adviser before taking a non-major Allen School class.
• Consider general requirements needed to graduate instead of just courses needed to apply. For example, finish your math and science courses, work towards a minor or another major, and complete your general education requirements.
• Ask for feedback on your personal statement. You might ask friends or family if it captures the most interesting and important details of who you are. Be open to making changes. Also, address what has changed since your first application. Spend time proofreading. Remember that it is more important for us to hear what you are doing presently and hope to accomplish in the future, rather than details about the first time you sat in front of a computer or played your first video game.
• If you have trouble taking tests or organizing your time, consider talking to a counselor at the  Counseling Center  about test-anxiety, test-taking tips, or time management.

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• Programs & Courses
• B.S. Degree
• Declaring Major

The Biophysics Track is no longer accepting new students as of Spring 2024

Admissions to the Physics major is capacity constrained and requires an application. Completion of the application does not guarantee admission. Members of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee review each application holistically and make decisions based on the requirements below. . Standard Admission Requirements – Successful applicants typically have grades ≥ 2.6 in recent physics and math courses as well as a cumulative GPA ≥ 2.6.

• Completion of Phys 121, 122 & 123 (or Phys 141, 142 & 143)
• Completion of Math 124, 125 & 126 (or Math 134, 135 & 136)
• Currently enrolled in physics lecture course higher than 220
• Personal Statement. Describe reasons for choosing major, include strategies for success.
• Graduation Plan (completed in MyPlan, pre-approval by an advisor is recommended).

Early Admissions Requirements – Successful applicants typically have grades ≥ 3.2 in recent physics and math courses as well as a cumulative GPA ≥ 3.2. Appropriate for Transfer Applicants who wish to apply for direct admission to the Physics major while applying to the UW.

• Completion of Phys 121 & 122 (or Phys 141 & 142)
• Completion of Math 124 & 125 (or Math 134 & 135)
• Currently enrolled in Phys 123 (or Phys 143) & Math 126 (or Math 136 or 200-level math)

Admission Cycles (Standard and Early)

Winter Quarter Admission

ONLY for recently admitted UW transfer students or current UW students who have completed ≥ 105 credits and ≥ 5 post high-school college quarters. Either Standard or Early Pathway, as appropriate.

PROCEED TO APPLICATION FOR NEXT ADMISSIONS CYCLE

ALL applicants must submit a pdf of academic transcripts and graduation plan. You can activate UW Google here . Contact Physics Student Services if you have difficulty accessing the form.

If admitted to the Physics major, current UW and entering transfer students must register at UW Seattle during the first quarter of admittance to the major. Students not enrolled for the quarter following the application decision will forfeit their admissions offer and will need to reapply for a future application cycle.

Personal Statement

This statement (500 words or less) should discuss reasons for choosing the Physics major and strategies for success, including lessons learned from previous successes / difficulties and plans for accessing support. The statement should also address how the chosen degree option (Applied, Comprehensive, Biophysics, or Teaching) is suited to life and career goals.

Graduation Plan (entered in MyPlan)

Pre-approval of your graduation plan is strongly recommended; admission may be provisional based on completion of a graduation plan approved by Physics Student Services by end of the quarter (new majors who do not have an approved graduation plan on file by the end of the quarter in which they are accepted will have a hold placed on their registration until their graduation plan is approved by Physics Student Services.) Plans can change over time, however applicants should develop a well-considered plan for degree completion. Some entries may be "elective", but all required courses for the selected degree option should be present in an appropriate quarter. A list of physics courses, the quarters in which they are offered, and their prerequisites may be found at the bottom of this page for the upcoming year.  You should assume a similar schedule in future years.

Admission Decisions

Applicants receive admission decisions to their UW email within 2 weeks of the application deadline , in time for registration the following quarter. If admitted, follow the directions in the email acceptance message; if you do not accept the offer by the deadline you will need to reapply.  Transfer applicants will be informed of their status by UW Admissions.

Admitted applicants must register in the academic quarter following the application decision (not including summer quarter); students who do not register will forfeit their admission offer to the major and will need to reapply in a future application cycle.

Applicants receiving a negative admission decision who believe important facts were overlooked by the admissions committee may appeal the decision by submitting a petition for reconsideration to Physics Student Services within two weeks of the notification email date. Submit only pertinent information not included with your original application. Applicants receive appeal decision emails one week after the deadline.

In accordance with University policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations, the Department of Physics reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals. To request accommodation in the application process, contact the Physics Department at 206-685-1832 or [email protected] , or the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 (206-543-6452 TTY, 206-685-7264 FAX, 253-642-0142 VP) or e-mail to [email protected] , at least ten days in advance of the application deadline

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Standard Admission

Foster is consistently ranked as the best public business school in the Northwest and admission to the undergraduate program of the Foster School of Business is capacity-constrained. We encourage all who meet the minimum application requirements to apply. We accept applications for autumn and winter quarters. Students admitted for the autumn quarter have the option to enroll for summer quarter. We only count credits from non-UW institutions that are transferable to UW.

The Foster School is currently not accepting post-baccalaureate applications.

Information Sessions

A counselor will present a 30-minute group session on standard admission and then be available for questions. This session covers all aspects of the undergraduate program in the Foster School, primarily focusing on admission to the program and the various specializations within the degree.

Summer 2024 Information Sessions

July 11, August 15, September 12 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (PST) Zoom or Founders Hall 293

Autumn 2024 Information Session

October 3 & 17, November 7 & 21, December 5 & 19 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (PST) Zoom or Founders Hall 293

Before You Apply

Important deadlines.

All other applicants must submit two applications: one to Foster and one to the UW Office of Admissions . Check the UW Admissions website for application deadlines and requirements.

UW-Bothell and UW-Tacoma students are considered transfer applicants. Please see the “Transfer & Running Start Freshman Applicants” section below.

Please note that UW Admissions operates on a different timeline than Foster.

Eligibility

• a total of at least 60 numerically graded college credits from UW and/or other accredited colleges and universities. (Examples of credits that are not numerically graded include AP, IB, and A-Level credits)
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college credits , including transfer credits. Because UW does not allow forgiveness for repeated courses, GPAs are recalculated with repeated courses included.
• all business course credits, including transfer credits
• all UW credits
• all UW business course (prefix courses include: ACCTG, BA, BCMU, MGMT, MKTG, QMETH, etc.) credits
• Minimum score to have application considered: 3
• Highest valid score is automatically paired to your application.
• Completed the required prerequisite courses.

Reporting your Grade Point Average Convert letter grades to numeric grades using the following chart (For AP, A-Level, or IB courses, do not submit a grade):

COVID-19 Admissions Notice

COVID-19 Notice / S Grades

Due to the impact on COVID-19 on higher education institutions, UW has designated the following Extraordinary Circumstances Quarters (ECQ): Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Autumn 2020, Winter 2021, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Winter 2022.

The Foster School of Business has adapted its undergraduate admissions policy for pre-application and pre-admission courses where an S grade was earned at the University of Washington during an EQC. The list of pre-application and pre-admission courses is available in the “Prerequisite Courses & Admission Criteria” dropdown section below.

Pre-application courses: At least two (2) of your pre-application courses must have a numerical grade (4.0 scale). Other pre-application courses that were taken during an ECQ with S grades will not negatively affect an applicant’s admission to Foster.

Pre-admission courses: Pre-admission courses that were taken during an ECQ with S grades are acceptable for admission to Foster. Any pre-admission courses that are taken during an ECQ with S grades will not negatively affect an applicant’s admission to Foster.

Non-ECQ quarters: NS grades will not be sufficient for admission to Foster. S grades from non-ECQ quarters will not be accepted for pre-application, pre-admission or BA degree requirements.

Transfer students who have questions about a course’s grade during a similar designation at their institution should contact [email protected] .

If you have any other questions, please email [email protected] .

Application Requirements

Apply online.

To create your online application profile, click the “Apply to the Undergraduate Program” button at the bottom of this page.

Current UW-Seattle, UW-Bothell, UW-Tacoma students, and Returning Applicants: Log in with your UW NetID authentication.

All other applicants must submit two applications: one to Foster and one to the UW Office of Admissions. Check the UW Admissions website for application deadlines and requirements. If you do not already have a UW NetID, you will be able to create one after completing your UW-Seattle Admissions application.

UW-Bothell and UW-Tacoma students are considered transfer applicants. Transfer and Running Start applicants must submit two applications. Please see the “Transfer & Running Start Freshman Applicants” section below for more info.

*You will receive communication via the UW email system. Make sure emails from [email protected] will not get sent to your spam/junkmail folder.

Prerequisite Courses & Admission Criteria

Completion deadlines for prerequisite courses.

The chart below presents a quick picture of the courses required before application and, if admitted, those required before entering the program. Course numbers are for courses offered at UW Seattle, but equivalent courses will be considered.

Pre-application courses must be completed and graded before the application deadline. (April 5 for autumn/summer or October 5 for winter.)

Pre-admission courses can be in progress while you’re applying, but must be completed by the last day of spring quarter for autumn admission and by the last day of the autumn quarter for winter admission.

• We will also accept MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 134, or Q SCI 291 for calculus.
• We will accept any UW designated “C” course. The UW does not accept AP credit to satisfy the English Composition requirement, even if your transfer institution did.
• If transferring from a college where the fundamentals of accounting are taught in a 3-part series, you must complete the first two courses before the application deadline and the third course by the pre-admission deadline.
• Applicants may take either micro- or macroeconomics before applying, but they must complete both by the pre-admission deadline.
• If you attend a school where an equivalent course is not taught, contact our office for advice.
• We will also accept STAT 311, STAT 390, PSYCH 317 & PSYCH 318, Q SCI 381, MATH 390, IND E 315. Statistics courses from other institutions with a pre-calculus pre-requisite will be evaluated on a case by case basis at the time of application. Note: STAT 220 (or other previously accepted statistics course that does not meet the above requirements) no longer accepted for admission unless course was completed prior to winter 2018. Transfer applicants please see the “Notes for Transfer and Freshman Applicants” section below.

Application Review Criteria

Our goal is to admit a student body that is diverse, contains multiple perspectives and experiences, and is academically rigorous. Consideration is given to such factors as cultural experiences, significantly higher recent grades, exceptional extracurricular activities or leadership experience and the effect of personal disadvantage on earlier education.

Each year, approximately 30-50% of applicants—between 550 and 650—are admitted. For all applicants, index scores are created from three admissions factors: Combined GPA, Pre-application GPA, and Writing Skills Assessment. These factors are standardized and assigned the following weights.

We review all applicants together (current and returning UW, transfer, international transfer, and running start) and only use current standing for post-admission demographic data.

Writing Skills Assessment (WSA)

All standard admissions applicants to the Foster School must take the Writing Skills Assessment (WSA) administered through the Foster School.

In the assessment session, students are given 90 minutes to plan and respond to two prompts. One prompt is based on a short workplace scenario (the persuasion task) and one is based on an assertion (the position task). The WSA must be completed prior to the application deadline and we only allow one assessment per cycle.

A University of Washington NetID is required to register for the WSA. You should only have a single UW NetID.

If you don’t already have a UW NetID and…

• You’re taking the WSA soon (one quarter or less before applying to Foster): You will be able to create a NetID after completing your UW-Seattle Admissions application.
• You’re taking the WSA early (multiple quarters before applying to UW/Foster): You can request a sponsored NetID to take the assessment. The same NetID will be used for your UW-Seattle Admissions application.

Register for the WSA Information about the WSA

Personal Statement

Your personal statement provides you the opportunity to discuss aspects of your life that may not be apparent in the rest of your application materials. You’ll have three boxes and space for 6,000 total characters, including spaces. A common misconception is that you must answer all three prompts. You are not required to answer all prompts; you may choose to focus on the prompts you have the most to talk about or you could choose to answer all three prompts. The most important thing to understand about the personal statement prompts is that they cannot hurt you in any way, they can only help.

Prompt Tips:

• Be specific; when providing examples of when, how long, and what you learned/gained from your experience.
• Be concise, direct and truthful.
• Avoid broad statements such as “I’ve always wanted to attend the Foster School because I want a business degree.” It is a legitimate comment but does not tell us anything distinctive about you.
• When describing your experiences, don’t assume the reader has had your same experiences or shares your perspective. Keep in mind that what you write in the application is used for admission purposes only.
• Be thoughtful about your response.
• Give yourself ample time to write and rewrite your responses. Ensure you are properly using the word limit to effectively express what you are trying to convey.
• It is not necessary to have two spaces after each period, since extra spacing counts towards your allotted word count. Copying and pasting from a Word document can detract from your total word count. We recommend writing directly into the application itself, however it is wise to save a copy of each essay before hitting submit.

Essay 1: The Foster School’s goal is to admit students who are prepared to be academically successful. We understand that students sometimes face challenges in achieving their academic goals. Please describe any extenuating circumstances that have impacted your higher education experience.

• Please only address time periods in which you received college credit – this may include times in which you received college credit while in high school (i.e., dual enrollment, running start).
• This is your opportunity to explain why you didn’t do well in a particular class or over a particular period of time.
• Examples could include but are not limited to being a first generation student*, health issues, financial challenges, cultural barriers, and/or community resistance to education.

Essay 2: The Purpose of the Foster School is to develop leaders who strive to better humanity through business. How do you plan to leverage your experiences to advance Foster’s Purpose?

• Include how your own cultural awareness has shaped your desire to have an impact as a future business leader.
• Please focus on your own experiences and perspective.

Essay 3: Please describe any significant additional responsibilities you have had (or continue to have) outside the classroom. Explain what you learned about yourself as a result of the responsibilities.

• Please do not use examples from high school unless you have completed high school within the past 18 months or your responsibilities from high school continue today.
• Significant additional responsibilities might include, but are not limited to: employment, substantial volunteer roles, community engagement, student organization leadership, significant family responsibilities.

Transcripts

• You must submit a separate unofficial transcript from each college-level institution; even if you took college-level courses in high school and/or the courses appear on your UW transcript.
• If you have had grade changes, they must be reflected on the transcripts you submit with your application. We will not accept grade changes after the application deadline.
• In order for transfer credits to be added to your UW record, you must also request official transcripts be sent to the Office of Admissions.

Required Format for All Transcripts The online application will require that you submit PDF copies of your unofficial transcripts from all collegiate institutions you have attended. In most cases, the easiest way to access a PDF version is to print to PDF. In some cases, you may need to get hard copies and scan them as a PDF. This may take extra time. So again, don’t wait until the last minute. Transfer Students: Please wait to submit your transcripts until grades for winter (for April 5 deadline) or spring/ summer (for October 5 deadline) are posted, unless grades post after the deadline

The following information must be on all transcripts:

• Full name of applicant (former names are acceptable if indicated on application)
• Name of degree-granting institution
• Dates of enrollment
• Names of individual courses
• Grades, marks, or ratings of individual courses
• International transcripts must include official English translations
• Both marks sheets and degree statements are required, if applicable

Please note:  While official transcripts sent directly from institutions to the Office of Admission are required for the general admissions application, unofficial copies are still required for the Foster application.

Degree Plan

Applicants who have over 150 quarter credits, are planning to pursue a double degree, or Certificate of International Studies in Business (CISB) are required to submit a degree plan along with the application. The degree plan the degree planning sheet is a fillable PDF available to download below. Once completed, you will upload the degree plan directly to your application.

For those planning on a double degree, you must have your degree plan signed by the departmental adviser in the second major. The signature from the Foster School of Business adviser is not required.

Download PDF of degree plan here.

Transfer & Running Start Freshman Applicants

Important information.

Admission to the Foster School is contingent upon admission to the UW. We recommend applying to the UW and the Foster School simultaneously. Check the UW Admissions website for application deadlines, requirements, and instructions. Please note that UW Admissions operates on a different timeline than Foster:

Application Deadlines

*Students admitted for the autumn quarter have the option to enroll for summer quarter.

**Winter quarter is open to U.S. transfer students only. International transfer applicants (those who require an F-1 visa to study in the United States) can only apply to the UW for summer/autumn quarter enrollment.

Online Application & WSA Access

Read the “Apply Online” and “Writing Skills Assessment (WSA)” sections above for more information about registering with your UW NetID, starting your applications, and preparing for the WSA.

Foster Prerequisite Requirements

• Accounting: If transferring from a college where the fundamentals of accounting are taught in a 3-part series, you must complete the first two courses before the application deadline and the third course by the pre-admission deadline.
• English Composition: The UW does not accept AP credit to satisfy the English Composition requirement, even if your transfer institution did. And, for international applicants, the 3-5 credit course must be completed in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States, or taken at an international school where English is the language of instruction.
• Statistics: Only QMETH 201 or STAT 311 equivalents will be accepted. STAT 220 equivalents will no longer be accepted for admission after the winter 2020 admission cycle (i.e. after completion of autumn quarter 2019). If you are at a college outside of Washington State and wish to have your course evaluated prior to applying to Foster, please submit syllabi to the Foster School early.
• Law: If you attend a school where an equivalent course to MGMT 200 is not taught, contact our office for advice. Please note, our MGMT 200 course covers the American legal system and most international law courses are not equivalent.

Course Reporting

You will need to provide PDF copies of syllabi or proof of AP/IB/A-Level scores for ALL pre-admission and pre-application coursework, unless the course appears on the UW/Community College Transfer Equivalency Guide or you have already had the course evaluated by UW and it appears on your UW transcript as the appropriate course.

• AP/IB/A-Level Scores: If your AP/IB/A-Level courses are not articulated on your UW transcript, you must upload your AP/IB/A-Level scores for review. Scores must contain your legal name.
• Syllabi: Submitted syllabi must include the name of the institution, weekly/daily breakdown of topics covered, and list of all course materials (e.g. textbooks and course readers) used. Failure to submit a complete and accurate syllabus may result in denial of admission to the Foster School of Business.

Credit Restrictions and UW Residence Requirement

We only count credits from non-UW institutions that are transferable to UW. If you have questions, please consult with an academic adviser at the Foster School.

The UW Foster School of Business honors the Associate Degree Agreement for those students who have an approved associate degree from a Washington community college.

Courses taught at the freshman and sophomore levels at other colleges usually cannot be used to satisfy the School’s upper-division business requirements for graduation.

A transfer student is allowed a maximum of 90 transferable community college credit hours toward the 180 credits needed for the UW bachelor’s degree. Up to 90 credit hours of correspondence or other extension coursework may also apply to the bachelor’s degree.

• Every student must complete 45 of the final 60 credit hours in residence at the UW. To meet the upper-division requirement for a BABA, a student must complete six of the nine upper-division core classes (including a capstone course), and 40 of the 53 required upper-division business credit hours at UW Seattle.
• Students who have taken more than three of the nine upper-division core business courses at another institution, including UW Bothell and UW Tacoma, are generally not admitted to the UW Foster School of Business. Contact a business adviser if you have questions.

Transfer Resources

Visit the Transfer Student Information and Resources page for more about transferring, applying to Foster, resources specifically for transfer students, and how to connect with the Foster community.

Useful Tools

• UW Transfer Equivalency Guide: Find out how courses taken at Washington state community or technical colleges will transfer to the UW.
• MyPlan: Washington Community College students can use MyPlan to create and manage your academic plan. After signing into MyPlan, use your community college student ID number and date of birth to pull your community college courses into MyPlan.
• UW Transfer Credit Policies: For courses offered by any other institution, read UW’s transfer credit policies.

Apply to the Undergraduate Program

Online Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Social Sciences

Personal statement.

All applicants to the UW Online Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Social Sciences program need to submit a personal statement, which should address the four topics listed below.

Your ISS personal statement performs a number of important functions. It gives us an opportunity to become acquainted with your goals, influential learning experiences in your life and your reasons for choosing the ISS program. The personal statement also helps us assess your preparation in the social sciences and your readiness for bachelor’s degree completion. 

Your personal statement is a sample of your college-level writing, and we'll assess it on the following criteria:

• Clarity: The essay is clear at the level of the individual sentence or statement so that the reader understands what you are saying
• Depth: The level of development of your ideas and use of concrete details
• Originality: The grounding of your essay in your individual knowledge and experience, rather than reliance on generalizations

Please do not use AI writing tools such as ChatGPT to generate your statement since it invariably produces writing that is notably unoriginal.

If you're admitted to ISS, your personal statement will be the first step on your path to reflective, integrated learning. It will become the first artifact in your e-portfolio. You’ll be asked to return to this statement in your senior capstone course, ISS 401 , to assess your learning and to better understand your development in the program.

Preparing Your Personal Statement

Your statement should address the following topics and questions in an essay of 750 to 1,000 words:

• Write a brief introduction to your individual story.  That is, create a brief sketch or snapshot of who you are and how you came to be. What facts or events do you believe were most formative? What do you consider essential to a good understanding of your identity? What has your life journey looked like, and how did it bring you to this moment of application to ISS?
• What are your expectations of the ISS program?  What has your educational journey looked like? What do you hope to learn? What life goals — intellectual, personal and professional — will this degree help you accomplish?
• Discuss one significant question, issue or problem in human society that you find meaningful or compelling. Think of the types of stories that grab your attention when you follow the news or interact with social media. Why do you think this social phenomenon or problem is important both to you and others? What aspects of it do you find intriguing, promising or alarming? Use concrete detail in your discussion.
• Describe a memorable or impactful learning experience, something that has stayed with you and remained meaningful.  This could be a particular college-level course, assignment or project you completed. However, you may also describe learning that has happened in other contexts, such as work, a volunteer experience, sport or hobby, etc. The point is to describe what you learned and how you learned it. Again, be as concrete and detailed as possible.

Submitting Your Personal Statement

Instructions for submitting your statement vary depending on your applicant type. Please click the relevant link below for additional application instructions, including how to submit your ISS personal statement.

• New Students : Students from UW Evening Degree, UW Bothell and UW Tacoma, along with transfer students from other institutions
• Returning UW Seattle Students : Former UW Seattle students who have not been enrolled for at least two consecutive quarters
• Continuing UW Seattle Students : Currently enrolled UW Seattle students who want to change their major to ISS

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Apply to the Economics Major

On this page:.

Updates & Announcements Application Requirements When to Apply Admissions: By the Numbers The Personal Statement The Holistic Review Tutoring Resources Frequently Asked Questions Information Sessions

Updates & Announcements

Autumn 2024 Admission Cycle (for 2025 Winter Quarter Admission to ECON) Updates:

Registration for the Autumn RTW is now open via Microsoft Forms . The exam will be on September 27th from 4:00 - 5:00 PM in Savery Hall, room 260.  The Autumn quarter Economics major application is now open! The application is available via  Google Forms through Friday, October 4th.  UW email login is required for both the RTW registration and application.

New for Autumn 2024:  Have specific questions about the application process? Register for an application and/or RTW preparation workshop ! At each session, you will learn details about the application (personal statement) and RTW exam and get a chance to ask an advisor questions about the process.  If you plan to attend, please register so we can best plan for each session. This quarter's events will be:

• September 20th, 3-4pm , IN PERSON in Savery 130 - Application and RTW
• September 23th. 3-3:30 PM , RTW Only
• September 24th, 11am-12pm -  Application and RTW
• October 3rd,  4-4:30 PM - Application only

Application Requirements

The following materials and criteria are required for a complete application to the Department of Economics:

• Eligible applicants must be accepted and be currently-enrolled UW students with 45 credits completed. For more information about admission to the UW as a first-year student or transfer student, see here .
• Prospective Transfer Students : Please see our website detailing the Direct-to-Major Transfer Admission Pathway . Keep in mind that a numerical grade in each prerequisite course is required before applying to the Economics major. In addition, general resources regarding transferring to the UW can be found at the university's Transfer Planning Resources page. 
• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science
• These courses must be completed with a standard/numerical grade. Credits earned through  Advanced Placement (AP) , International Baccalaureate (IB) , or Advanced Level (A-Level) exam scores are acceptable.
• Prerequisite courses may not be in-progress. Courses must be completed before applying.
• Each course may only be repeated one time each. Applicants may enter the higher of the two grades earned in a repeated course for consideration.

"Extraordinary Circumstances Quarters" Note: As UW students have been uniquely impacted by the current global pandemic, certain academic quarters have been deemed “Extraordinary Circumstances Quarters” by the Office of the University Registrar. As a result, UW students have the option to change their original/numerical grade to the “S/NS Grading Option” for these quarters, and “S” grade designations can be counted toward degree requirements. Applicants to the Department of Economics may enter-in “S” as their grade for the “prerequisite” courses, when prompted on the application form. For details on this updated policy, see here .

• Incomplete forms will not be considered.
• Link to Application
• Unofficial Transcripts may be saved as a PDF from the Academics tab of your MyUW. ( See an example! )
• Official Transcripts are not required.
• Cumulative UW GPA must be above 2.5 to be eligible for application
• If you need additional help accessing your UW Unofficial Transcript, click here for detailed instructions.
• Please include a transcript from your other institution(s) in PDF format. Unofficial Transcripts are acceptable. Official transcripts are not required.
• See the personal statement prompt below.  
• Please see  RTW Exam website  for details.
• We advise students to take the RTW in the same admission cycle that they are applying.
• Students applying to switch from the Bachelor of Arts to the Bachelor of Science do not need to retake the RTW, and may have their previous RTW score considered, if preferred.
• RTW scores will be reported directly to the Department of Economics. Students do not need to supply their RTW score on their applications.
• Students  receiving  scores below 3 will not be admitted except in very rare/unique situations.  
• For those planning to pursue a double major or double degree, please submit a PDF of your MyPlan, showing your quarterly plans from the quarter you are applying through graduation as accurately as possible. We understand that plans are not permanent and can change, but we want all applicants to be well-aware of their academic plans, especially in regard to the UW's  Satisfactory Progress Policies .

See here for instructions on how to create a PDF of your MyPlan.

When to Apply?

Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on the second Friday of the quarter.

Applicants will be notified of their results by the end of the 6th week of that quarter/cycle, in time to register for the subsequent quarter.

You may refer to the UW Academic Calendar to identify when each quarter begins and when each "Second Friday" application deadline will be.

Admissions: By the Numbers

The Department of Economics is a  capacity-constrained  major. Meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee admission to the major.

(These GPAs are averages, not cutoffs; roughly half of the students accepted to the major in Spring 2024, for example, had prerequisite and overall GPAs lower than 3.58 and 3.67, respectively. The admissions considerations are holistic. Please be aware that the admissions committee considers many factors when making its decisions, including cumulative GPA, prerequisite GPA, RTW score, the overall strength of the applicant’s academic background/transcript, and the quality of the applicant’s personal statement.)

*Prerequisite coursework included in this average are ECON 200, ECON 201, Statistics, and MATH 124 coursework. English Composition is omitted from this average.

**Average Overall GPA included in this average is a combined calculation of student applicants' UW GPA and any GPAs from transferred coursework.

The Personal Statement

Please submit a personal statement with your completed application. You may discuss some or all of the following that pertains to you:

• Describe an experience where your background, identity, or interests have helped to shape your educational goals.
• If you have faced a hardship, setback, or challenge, how did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? If the causes for the recent “extraordinary circumstances” quarters (Winter 2020, Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Autumn 2020, & Winter 2021) impacted your ability to succeed, please briefly describe.
• If you are pursuing a double major or double degree, why are both academic programs important to you?
• If you have previously applied to this program, what has improved since your previous application?

Maximum parameters: 

• 1 single-sided page
• typed & double-spaced
• 12pt. Times New Roman font
• 0.5” margins

See an example!

There is no word limit, but the above parameters are required. Applicants will be prompted to upload a PDF file of their Personal Statement in the Undergraduate Application Form.

The Personal Statement is an important piece of your application. Please be sure to address the prompt(s), and adhere to the parameters.

UW has plenty of resources that can help you write a great personal statement:

• Odegaard Writing & Research Center
• The Writing Center at The Center for Learning & Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE)
• The Writing Center at the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity Instructional Center (OMA/D IC)
• Applications & Personal Statements resource page by UW Academic Support Programs

The Holistic Review (i.e. How will my application be considered?)

In reviewing each application, a broad range of factors are taken into consideration. All aspects of the application are highly-considered -- Prerequisite course grades, overall academic performance, RTW exam results, and the personal statement. Each component of the application should complement each other, and showcase a student's interests and abilities toward studying economics as they earn their UW degree. For example, if a student mentions high enthusiasm in learning economics, then that enthusiasm should also be reflected in the student's grades in economics-related coursework, as well as their result on their RTW exam, etc.

For students with credits and transcripts from other institutions, it's important for us to see a student's progress through each academic term. This is why we request for each applicant to submit a transcript for each college-level institution attended. We are aware that a "transfer credits summary" typically appears on your UW transcript. However, this does not provide us with complete information about the transfer courses taken.

This holistic approach in reviewing applications to the Department of Economics allows our program to focus beyond just a few factors, and consider the applicant as a whole.

Tutoring Resources

There are a number a tutoring resources available at the UW for courses such as ECON 200, ECON 201, introductory statistics and calculus.

• Economics Tutoring Resources
• Math Study Center
• Statistics Tutor & Study Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have some questions? Please be sure to check out Frequently Asked Questions page.

Information Sessions

Interested students are also highly-encouraged to attend a Prospective Student Information Session  for an in-depth look at the application & admissions process.

The University of Washington, as a standing policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran. Any discriminatory action can be a cause for disciplinary action. This policy applies to all University programs and facilities including, but not limited to, admissions, educational programs, and employment. Such discrimination is prohibited by Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age discrimination in Employment Act Amendments of 1978, Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, other federal and state statutes and regulations, and university policy. Inquiries regarding the application of these laws and regulations to the University may be directed to the University’s Equal Employment Officer; to the director; Seattle Regional Office, Office for Civil Rights, US. Department of Education; or to the director, Seattle Area Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Department of Labor.

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University of Washington

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Want to see your chances of admission at University of Washington?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

University of Washington’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Personal statement essay.

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

Diversity Short Response

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington.

Additional Info Short Response

Additional information about yourself or your circumstances You are not required to write anything in this section, but feel free to include additional information if something has particular significance to you. For example, you may use this space if: You have experienced personal hardships in obtaining your education Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations Unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended

UW Honors Short Response

We want to understand your desire to learn new things and to push your education outside of the areas of learning that you are most familiar with.

Tell us why this type of learning interests you and which subjects you’re excited to explore in college.

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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How to Apply

Last updated on April 30, 2024 for Fall 2025 Admissions.

It is important to read all directions carefully before proceeding with your graduate school application. Since all entry-level graduate courses are year-long sequences beginning in the autumn, applications for admission are normally accepted only for autumn quarter. The application website opens around the beginning of September for admission the following autumn. In addition to the requirements below, see also the pages about Admission Requirements and International Applicants . 

Deadline:   All application materials must be received electronically by  Wednesday December 11, 2024  to be considered for admission for the following autumn quarter.

Application Materials

The UW Online Application Portal  is open as of September 2024 for admission in the fall of 2025.  While completing the online application, all applicants will be asked to submit the following:

Unofficial Transcripts: Information regarding all prior undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, including unofficial transcripts from the relevant institutions. Admitted applicants will be required to provide official transcripts.

Advanced Mathematics Courses: Enter a detailed list of all mathematics courses beyond the level of elementary calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra that you have taken or will take before you begin graduate work at the University of Washington. For each course completed, include the following information: - School - Course number and title - Course credits, grade ( if in progress, note this in lieu of a grade) , course level and start date - Ignore "course type" field In the additional details section enter: - Instructor - Title and author of textbook(s) used - Material covered (about as much information as would appear in a college catalogue.) - Indicate if any of the topics were covered in the course:

• Finite abelian groups
• Cosets and quotient groups
• Unique factorization domains
• Galois theory
• Uniform convergence
• Metric spaces
• Compact sets, connected sets
• Theoretical development of differentiation and Riemann integration
• The inverse and implicit function theorems
• Lebesgue integration

Resume or CV : Upload a 1-2 page PDF document to the application website. The following components should be included: employment history (including internships, part time jobs, research assistantships, and teaching experience), special math programs you have participated in (such as Research Experiences for Undergraduates or Budapest Semesters in Mathematics), honors and awards, publications, special skills, and present position or activity.

Personal Statement: On the application website, you will be asked to upload a Personal Statement as a PDF document. The suggested length is roughly 1000 words. Some of the topics you could address are the following (you're not expected to cover all of these topics):

• Describe a recent mathematical experience that influenced your decision to apply to graduate school in math.
• What academic or scholarly experience has been most challenging for you, and how did you handle it?

Describe aspects of your personal history — such as cultural, educational, economic, or family background, or prior work experience — that have influenced your intellectual development, interests, career plans, and goals.

• Have you initiated or participated in activities that work to increase participation of underrepresented populations in the mathematical sciences?
• Is there anything else you would like us to know about you that we should consider as part of your application?

Finally, your Personal Statement should answer the question:  Why do you want to pursue a graduate degree in mathematics specifically at the University of Washington?  

PDF of Paper  (optional): If you have written or coauthored a paper (such as a Bachelor's or Master's thesis or a published or archived paper) that shows your potential as a researcher in the mathematical sciences, you may attach it to your application for our consideration.

GRE Scores:   The GRE Mathematics Subject Test is strongly recommended, but it is not required. In addition to supplying us with useful information, w e believe that preparation for the GRE subject test is helpful for reviewing the undergraduate material you will need to know as a TA for our program.  There are free test prep materials available on the  GRE Math Subject Test website .

In order to submit your GRE scores, you will need to arrange for ETS to electronically send the official scores directly to UW using Institution Code 4854. (Department code is not required.) In order to meet the application deadline, you need to take the tests prior to November 30 . Once your application is submitted, the official scores should appear within 48 hours.

If you are unable to take the GRE or if the cost or travel to take it would be a hardship for you, we will still seriously consider your application. In that case other components of the application materials, such as letters of recommendation and evidence of mathematical interests that go beyond course work, will be especially important.

Letters of Recommendation: You will be asked to enter the names and contact information (affiliation, email, phone), for at least three letters of recommendation.   Individuals will be contacted as soon as you enter them into the application.  Please ask your recommenders early enough so that they can submit their letters by December 11 .  We cannot guarantee letters received after this date will be included in application review.

Application Fee:    The University of Washington Graduate School Admissions Office charges a nonrefundable $90 application fee to process your application. The fee is paid online using a Mastercard or Visa in order for your application to be complete.  See the Graduate School’s application page for more details.   

Application Fee Waivers:   The University of Washington offers fee waivers for graduate school applications under some circumstances. The following is a list of the fee waiver programs that we are currently aware of. All waiver requests must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the application deadline of December 11. You will be receive an answer to your request by December 4.   

• Need-based:   US applicants who qualify on the basis of financial need can request a fee waiver from the Graduate School as part of their online application. International applicants are not eligible for need-based fee waivers. More information is available on the Graduate School’s fee waiver instructions page.    
• UW recognized programs:  The University of Washington Graduate School offers fee waivers for McNair Scholars and PPIA Fellows who have submitted documentation.  See the fee waiver instructions page for more details.   
• UW Math Department recognized programs:  The Math Department offers fee waivers for Math Alliance Predoctoral Scholars and participants in MSRI-UP .  To request a Math Department program related waiver, send an email to  [email protected]   with documentation of your membership in the specific program.
• Diversity Commitment:  We understand that there may be circumstances in which students do not belong to any of the above categories, and yet have a need for support and encouragement. In such cases, we may offer a limited number of fee waivers for exceptional candidates.  Please send a copy of your resume and transcript to  [email protected] .    In the email, please explain why you are asking for a waiver, tell us your citizenship,  and describe any aspects of your identity or experience that are underrepresented in mathematics. 

DO NOT REQUEST THE WAIVER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION. If the waiver is granted and applied you will no longer be able to make changes to your application.

International applicants who are not native English speakers are also required to provide evidence of English proficiency in order to receive financial support.   Please see International Applicants for details regarding the English proficiency requirements for graduate admission and TA appointments.

TOEFL Scores: If you are required to submit TOEFL scores as an international applicant, request ETS to electronically send your official scores to the University of Washington using Institution Code 4854. (Department code is not required.) In order for your scores to arrive by the December 11 application deadline, you need to complete the tests no later than December 1.

Visiting students: The Mathematics Department accepts applications for Visiting Graduate Student status, but the application procedure is somewhat different; see the relevant page for more information.

If you have further questions about applying to our program, please contact us at [email protected] .  Thanks for your interest in our programs. 

Apply now by going to the admissions portal:  Online Application Portal , make an account for yourself and follow the instructions on the application.  We do not accept paper applications or recommendation letters.  

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Graduate Students

Application process.

To gain admission to the UW chemical engineering graduate program, a student must apply to both the UW Graduate School and the Department of Chemical Engineering. It is essential that both the Graduate School and the Department receive the materials they require by the deadlines in order to be considered for admission.

• The UW Graduate School oversees all graduate programs. It collects basic application data and enforces certain minimum standards.
• The Department of Chemical Engineering administers the chemical engineering program. It collects additional data (details of professional experience, honors, and letters of recommendation, etc.) and imposes additional standards. Its Graduate Admissions Committee—a group of three faculty members—reviews each case.

Those wishing to be admitted for winter or spring quarters must have completed at least one year of graduate coursework in chemical engineering. Please be advised that the chances of admission during off-quarters are sharply reduced because we do nearly all of our lab placements in autumn, and we typically have very few or no projects available for new students at other times of the year.

Step-by-Step Instructions for International Applicants

An international student is anyone who is not a U.S. citizen and does not hold a U.S. Permanent Resident Visa. International students already studying in the U.S. must also use this procedure.

• Unless you are exempt , take the TOEFL (UW is phasing out accepting IELTS; any test with a date after Nov 1, 2016, cannot be accepted). Have scores reported to the UW (school code 4854). 
• Unofficial transcripts and degree statements from each college and university you have attended (preferably in pdf format). Do not send official transcripts; if admitted, you will be asked to submit official transcripts directly to the Graduate School.
• Letters of recommendation: Ask three people to provide evaluations. The most useful and influential evaluations are from professors and other technical professionals who know our program and have recommended other students. Include at least one professor from the school most recently attended. Designate these recommenders in the online application and request that the letters be submitted online (not mailed to the department).
• Personal Statement: Please provide a statement (suggested length of 1 page) describing your goals for graduate school, your reason for applying to the University of Washington, and any other background information you would like us to consider.
• Optional: resume/CV and writing sample. An article written in English, submitted to or published in a journal, is the only writing sample accepted; limit of one per applicant.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Domestic Applicants

• Unofficial transcripts from each college and university you have attended (preferably in pdf format). Do not send official transcripts to the UW Graduate School or the chemical engineering department; if admitted you will be asked to send official transcripts directly to the Graduate School.
• Letters of recommendation: Ask three people to provide evaluations. The most useful and influential evaluations are from professors and other technical professionals who know our program and have recommended other students. Include at least one professor from the school you most recently attended. Designate these recommenders in the online application and request that the letters be submitted online (not mailed to the department).
• Personal statement: Please provide a statement (suggested length of 1 page) describing your goals for graduate school, your reason for applying to the University of Washington, and any other background information you would like us to consider.
• Optional: resume/CV and/or writing sample. An article submitted to or published in a journal is the only writing sample accepted; limit of one per applicant.

Application

This page outlines general requirements and provides a checklist of specific materials that must be included with your application.

General Requirements

We must receive all application materials by the deadline to consider you.

Applications for the MS Thesis and PhD programs are due December 1. MS Capstone applications are due January 15. We admit for autumn quarter only. All required materials, including official test scores and minimum three recommendation letters, must be received by the deadline in order for the application to be considered. Please begin your application early, allowing for enough time for your test scores and letters to be received. We begin reviewing applications immediately after the deadline. Note an $90 application fee is required to submit your application. A limited number of financial need-based fee waivers are available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. See details at the  UW Graduate School website .

Submit finalized documents, and track receipt of test scores and letters

You may submit your application after you have uploaded all required finalized documents, and before or after official test scores and recommendation letters are received. Once you submit the application, you cannot make any updates to your application materials except for your applicant profile and designated recommenders. Make sure that your statement of purpose, personal statement, CV, and transcripts are final versions. We cannot make changes to these documents for you.

After submitting your application, you are responsible for checking your application status page to track receipt of test scores and recommendation letters. It will take several business days for the system to link your official test scores with your submitted application.

Note, the UW is closed on the fourth Thursday in November (U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday) and also the following day.  If you submit your application during this time, you may not see a status update until the following Wednesday. In addition, the UW Graduate School is very busy near the December 1 deadline for MS Thesis and PhD applications and might not be able to provide assistance for any issues that arise during that time. Please plan ahead.

Submit your application online

Apply through the UW Graduate School website . The online application will ask you to select a program to apply to, and allow you to save your progress and complete your application over multiple sessions. Do not mail application materials to the department. Please disregard any instructions stating otherwise in the UW application. Please upload PDF files only.

Only apply to one UW Biostatistics program

As an applicant to the UW Graduate School, you may apply to multiple department programs at the University of Washington. However, for the Department of Biostatistics programs, you must choose a single program—either the MS Capstone, MS Thesis, or PhD. Please choose the one best suited to your goals.

Applicants to our PhD program are not automatically considered for the Master of Science (MS). On occasion, when we have many highly qualified PhD applicants, a few of these applicants may be offered admission to the MS due to limited space and funding, but this is rare. Please note that we are unable to accept petitions from denied PhD applicants to be reconsidered for the MS program.

Applicants to our MS program who designate "doctoral” as the ultimate degree goal may be considered for both programs, but will be considered primarily for admission to the MS program.

Only submit required materials

We do not accept supplemental materials such as publications, certificates, etc.  You may wish to mention such achievements in your CV, but these materials should not be included in your application. 

Required Materials

Submit the following required materials with your application. Carefully review instructions for each item as you complete your application. 

Unofficial transcripts

Statement of purpose, personal statement (optional).

Curriculum Vitae (CV) / resume

Test scores

Three letters of recommendation, application fee.

Include all prior institutions attended and upload unofficial transcripts onto the online application. Applicants will be required to submit official transcripts once admitted; do not mail them until requested.

For information on GPA calculations for the reported GPA, see the Graduate School website . However, you may estimate your GPA and it does not need to be precise; we will look closely at your course grades on your transcripts instead and view your institution's grading scale.

Verify that all uploaded transcripts are legible (course titles and grades can be read). If you have trouble uploading a large file, try the following:

• In Adobe Acrobat, Save as Other , and save the file as a Reduced Size PDF .
• Use a PDF compressor tool available online.
• Scan the transcript as a document and not an image.
• Scan in black and white.
• Scan each transcript as a separate file.

International students: Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by an official English translation. See the Graduate School website for details. We do not accept evaluations from the WES credentialing service; however, we will accept WES certified English translations of transcripts only if the report states that the translator is fluent in the native language (e.g., fluent in Chinese if the transcript is in Chinese).

Regarding autumn grades: We do not accept updated transcripts after the application deadline. If we need to see grades for any courses you are taking in the autumn, we will follow up with you. If you are in the process of completing a prerequisite, make sure that the transcript you upload indicates this (or mention it in your statement of purpose).

Submit a 1-2 page statement which includes your reasons for pursuing graduate studies in the field of biostatistics and at our program specifically, your area(s) of interest, relevant experience, and goals.

A personal statement is optional but strongly recommended. Consistent with our goal of enhancing the intellectual excellence of the department and University of Washington community, we actively welcome students from diverse backgrounds and students who have worked with diverse groups. We encourage all applicants to submit a personal statement (maximum 1 page) that details experiences related to your socioeconomically disadvantaged, disability-related, and/or culturally varied background, and/or experiences working with such groups. The statement should address the ways your experiences have affected the development of your intellectual interests, career plans, future goals, and how you may have overcome various obstacles or aided others in surmounting such challenges.

While admission decisions are made mainly on the basis of academic performance, applications will be reviewed with consideration of the applicant's background and experiences. We also use the information in such statements to report aggregate data to funding agencies and to apply for funding opportunities for eligible students.

The personal statement is not required, and you may include a simple sentence such as "I have not yet had these kinds of diverse experiences." Such a statement does not negatively affect your chances for admission.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)/resume

Your CV/resume should include all relevant academic and professional experience such as degrees, research experience, publications, posters, presentations, awards, and skills.

Report GRE/TOEFL scores to UW institution code 4854. There is no department code. For the optional GRE, you may use 5199 ("all other departments"), and for the TOEFL, you may use 99 ("any department not listed"), but it does not matter what you enter as long as the institution code is correct.

Tests must be taken in time for the scores to arrive by the deadline (at least 18 days prior- - it takes ETS 10-15 days to deliver scores after the test date, and the UW Graduate School 1-2 business days to link scores to your application). Please plan for potential delays and take the tests well in advance.

If you took a test multiple times, we will review all scores that you choose to report.

If you are applying to multiple programs at UW and entered a department code, your test scores will be matched with all applications, including your UW Biostatistics application.

If you sent your test scores to the University of Washington in a previous year, you do not need to resend them if they are still valid. If the scores were sent for another program's application, they can also still be used and the system will link them to your new application.

If you do not have scores for any reason, simply leave the self-report field blank. If you are an international student who is exempt from the TOEFL requirement due to having a degree from a U.S./English-based institution or other reason, disregard any application status note indicating that the scores are missing or incomplete. You should select your reason for exemption under question 10 of the first application page "Indicate how you intend to satisfy the English Language proficiency requirement."

In the online application, submit the names and contact information for a minimum of three recommenders (maximum five). The system will then immediately email them a request to complete a letter of recommendation and an online evaluation by the application deadline. The message will direct them to the online system where they can choose to submit the letter online (by typing directly or uploading a file) or mail the letter to us.

Recommendations should be written by individuals who can speak to your academic, professional, and/or personal strengths, and potential to succeed as a biostatistics graduate student.

Contact your recommenders prior to submitting their information online so they can expect the email request, and verify that they have received it; occasionally some email systems may block the email or treat it as spam. If for any reason a recommender does not receive the email, withdraw the request and resubmit it with an alternate email address such as their personal address.

Please encourage your recommenders to submit the letter online. Mailing hard copy letters may delay the processing of your application.

Since recommenders need to complete an evaluation along with their letter, the application system cannot accept letters from recommendation letter services such as Interfolio.

All letters must be received by the application deadline. Recommenders can submit their letters both before or after you submit your application. Allow ample time for the letters to be completed.

An $90 application fee is required to submit your application. A limited number of financial need-based fee waivers are available for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents only. See details at the UW Graduate School website .

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5 University of Washington Essay Examples by Accepted Students

What’s covered:, essay example #1 – diversity, cripplepunks, essay example #2 – diversity, community in difference, essay example #3 – diversity, food, essay example #4 – diversity, dinnertime conversations, essay example #5 – interdisciplinary studies, where to get your university of washington essays edited.

The University of Washington is a selective school, so it’s important to write strong essays to help your application stand out. In this post, we’ll share essays real students have submitted to the University of Washington. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Read our University of Washington es say breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Prompt: Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington. (300 words)

The first time I looked up the term cripplepunk I was in ninth grade, almost bedbound with severe hip pain. It took half a second for the page to load, and another half a second for me to process what I was seeing. There before me, against the muted grey of my phone’s dark mode, is the community I thought I would never have. I could have scrolled for hours, absorbing the images of models in powerchairs wearing ornate gowns, snarky patches on guide dog vests, and decorated canes. I kept coming back to the page, enchanted with the movement. Although the term cripplepunk wasn’t used until 2014, the spirit of the movement is present in most disabled people, from Frida Kahlo to the participants in the Capitol Crawl. The cripplepunk movement is intentionally subversive, fighting against the ableism and pity that disabled people encounter at every turn. Cripplepunks take a “so what if I am?” approach to ableism, refusing to be ashamed of symptoms, accommodations, or mobility aids. It’s a diverse movement too, where a 60-something veteran dealing with decades-old injuries can guide me through the process of buying and decorating my first cane. In cripplepunk circles, a deafblind Black woman can teach the world that disabled people can have dreams for their futures. The cripplepunk movement is a movement where I can offer sympathy, advice, and support to the same people who helped me through otherwise isolating moments and new cripples alike. That work doesn’t just happen online though. My work as a cripplepunk happens everywhere, classrooms and grocery stores alike, by being visibly and unashamedly disabled, vocally confronting ableists, and campaigning for greater accessibility.

What the Essay Did Well

One of the primary strengths of this “Diversity” essay is its writer’s enthusiasm about the cripplepunk movement, which helps readers feel connected to them. At the very beginning of this response, we are introduced to the term ‘cripplepunk,’ but just like the student, we are not exactly sure what it means. We go through the process of learning about the movement with the student as they bring to our minds “images of models in powerchairs wearing ornate gowns, snarky patches on guide dog vests, and decorated canes.” By bringing us along to their first introduction to cripplepunk, this student forms a connection between themself and the reader. We get “enchanted” alongside them.

At the same time, we get enchanted by the student, who positions themself as mature and insightful. As they describe how the cripplepunk movement wasn’t labeled until 2014 but “the spirit of the movement” existed long before, they address the ways that community doesn’t need to have a name to exist. They position community as anything that makes individuals not feel alone, then follow that description up with a definition of community as “people who help others through otherwise isolating moments.” This deeper reflection displays this student’s insightful-nature and maturity.

Finally, this essay’s structure works very nicely. It is simultaneously anecdotal and reflective, and, to top it all off, the student provides an image of them in “classrooms and grocery stores alike” showing off their diversity and their pride. The anecdote draws the reader in, while the reflection reveals this student’s personality and perspectives. Combined, the reader gets a good idea of who this student is and how they would fit into the campus community.

What Could Be Improved

The one thing this essay didn’t address was how this student will add to the diversity of the University of Washington. Although we get a good sense of the unique community this student came from and how it shaped them, we still want to know how they will contribute to their campus community. This student could have easily revised the last few sentences to say something along the lines of this:

“I intend to bring the cripplepunk movement with me to the University of Washington. I’ll proudly display myself on campus so I can teach my fellow classmates about disabilities and encourage other disabled students to be unashamed of who they are.”

Reworking the conclusion to discuss how they will take the lessons they have learned from being part of the cripplepunk community and share those lessons with a new community would show admissions officers exactly what this student would bring to campus. It doesn’t have to be an extensive response, but the essay should include some reference of University of Washington. 

In my youth, I found solace in communities of my peers who shared portions of my identity; from speaking the same second languages to sharing similar tastes, I was quick to bond with those I was similar to. 

When I moved to Oregon, I found myself miles away from these connections. My fragmented identity found little to attach to my peers. Inkling connections uprooted as I attended three different middle schools throughout my years. “Community” felt like a bubble I was floating upon, inherently a part of yet never fully immersed. 

At the end of math class towards the middle of eighth grade, I felt a tap on my shoulder. A tall girl with glasses and a tooth gap stood behind.

“Do you want to sit with us at lunch today?”

Stemming from this small invitation, I found myself part of a community of peers with whom I never thought I could relate. Our interests diverged and collided in all regards; we were of different gender identities, sexual orientations, and ethnic backgrounds. While I was the only person of color in our friend group, I cherished the different experiences we brought to the table. I recounted my struggles accepting my culture while I heard the stories of my friends who were dealing with gender dysphoria. 

In the following years, I wholeheartedly applied this multifaceted outlook to my sense of community. I engaged with peers both different and similar to me; I found community at Indian festivals with my fellow South Asian peers and community with my closest friends with whom I can form strong emotional connections, despite our dissimilar backgrounds. 

This ever-growing sense of community has helped me thrive and will better help me engage within the student body at the University of Washington

As this student explores the struggle of finding community, their essay not only reads like a Diversity essay but also like an Overcoming Challenges essay . 

The main strength of this essay is the arc it presents. We learn about their background (moving around a lot) and we learn that community didn’t always come easy for them. The sentence “‘ Community’ felt like a bubble I was floating upon, inherently a part of yet never fully immersed” articulates their isolation particularly well. At the same time, this sentence shows their profound awareness of the true meaning of community. They understand that being a part of a formal group like a school organization, an ethnic group, or a sport does not necessarily mean one feels community.

As the essay progresses, the student comes to understand that community does not have to exist within any formal bounds at all. You can find community with people completely different from you. Through their reflection, this student clearly shows an understanding of the importance of diversity. Not only is this essay able to demonstrate the meaning of community to this student, but it also displays how diversity is an integral part of community, which is exactly what admissions officers want to see.  

The beginning of this essay is a little slow, so the whole essay would benefit from reordering it and changing the structure a bit. Essays tend to start off with an anecdote to hook the reader and then go into more elaboration. However, it takes a few sentences before this student gets to their anecdote. We learn about this student’s experience feeling part of (or isolated from) a community prior to middle school, but the essay isn’t overly engaging before the anecdote.

The anecdote livens up the essay and brings a renewed sense of excitement and engagement to the reader, so opening the essay with the story of getting invited to lunch would spur that interest from the beginning. After the quick anecdote, the student could explain why it was so meaningful to be invited to lunch and find a community at that table because they had felt that they were missing a community throughout middle school. Restructuring the essay like this would mean it wouldn’t be told chronologically, but a deeper emotional connection with the student, and interest in their story, would be established off the bat.

“Beta, food is ready,” Amma yells as I quickly traverse her words.  She made dosas and aloo curry, my favorite. I followed the strong, flavorful scent to the kitchen, the same place where I subsequently got serenaded by hymns sung by Amma.  I helped set up the table, decorated with a box of misplaced cheerios and a bowl of Gulab jamun Appa set out for us before he left for work.   I watched my brother go into the garden to collect one of our banana leaves, acting as plates for the eight guests arriving soon for lunch. The natural grassy smell that emanated from the leaves signaled Amma that guests would be coming soon. She laid out the dosas on the table and aloo in a bowl, exerting an ounce of pride from the squint of her eyes.  The aroma of dosas and aloo curry has followed my family for generations. Every generation that was taught the art of making a dosa assimilated a new idea, evolving my family’s South Indian cuisine. My appreciation of my community lies within its versatility for the continuation of traditions and beliefs, passing them down for generations to come.   Guests started coming in for lunch, holding their food, seasoned with the stories of their lives. Despite the incredible array of foods on the table, the box of cheerios remained in sight to the public. Like me, it didn’t align with the norms of its environment, but remained firm. Its bright yellow color pervaded, attracting many. However, it had its own stories and journey that couldn’t hold comparison to others. This “ambiguity” represents diversity within culture. Its multidimensional perspective allows for cuisine and culture to bring a multitude of stories together, creating a home for all, including me.

This essay exemplifies how to respond to the Diversity prompt, an essay archetype used by many colleges. Effective responses do just what this essay does, by describing both a culture and the applicant’s place within it. Especially successful essays convey important, relevant aspects of the community with quick yet evocative descriptions, like of the aloo curry and hymns, that also help readers get to know the applicant better. In this essay, we see their thoughtfulness, keen eye for detail, involvement with their family and community, and appreciation for their heritage. 

One more especially powerful aspect of this essay is the vivid, descriptive language. There’s the smell of curry, the sound of singing, and the visual of the bright yellow Cheerios box, all of which draw us into this student’s world with all five senses. In particular, the metaphor of the Cheerios box standing out in the midst of the home-cooked, traditional South Indian meal is unexpected and heartwarming, and helps ensure that this rich essay will make a strong impression on UW admissions officers.

Even in a strong essay like this one, there’s still room for improvement. One thing that would make this supplement more effective would be a bit more detail on the central metaphor of the Cheerios box. Why does the author align themselves with the American breakfast cereal, instead of the food being cooked by their grandmother? 

The description of the box as “not aligning with the norms of the environment” is compelling, but not supported by details about the applicant’s personality, or reflections on their identity. While metaphors are a crucial part of many college essays, you always want to be as explicit as possible about what a metaphor is saying about you, to ensure the admissions officer reading your essay fully understands your point.

Additionally, on a structural level, this essay would benefit from being split into two or even three paragraphs, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because one big block of text is a little rough on the eyes. Secondly, because breaking up your ideas ensures each one gets your reader’s full attention–at the end of each paragraph, they can reflect on the point you’ve just made before continuing on to the next one.

At my dining table, a silent war was being waged. Each side wielded glances, smirks, and snide remarks concealed under composed postures. The discomfort was palpable. Yet, newly eight-year-old me moved obliviously between my grandmas. To me, they were nearly the same person wh o loved me and, on this delightful occasion, had provided me with considerable compensation for lasting another year. 

My first call to battle came sitting in the passenger seat of my grandma, Judy’s Toyota. As we rolled through the hills of Idaho, she spoke to me about a recent election and her opinions on various healthcare issues. Moved from a place of deep sorrow, she described my Aunt’s struggle to obtain insurance due to a pre-existing condition. She suggested her solutions, and I listened attentively, curious about her ideas since I had yet to form my own.  

Months later, I found myself in a hammock under a sweeping eucalyptus, engaged in a similar discussion with my other grandma, Teresa. As a healthcare worker, she was very involved with the issue, yet her ideas fell completely opposite Judy’s. 

This was when I discovered the origin of the hushed hostility afflicting my family. 

The family I come from may seem divided with their vastly different views, but together, these women taught me the importance of being a listener. I learned that to understand an issue truly, you must first consider all thoughts and opinions, no matter how much you may disagree. The animosity I observed resulted from closed minds and echo chambers; from their discomfort, I’ve learned that progress can only be made through compromise and communication. At UW, I hope to contribute my distinct perspective on problem-solving alongside my engineering knowledge to collaborate with others through programs like Engineers Without Borders to create impactful solutions to universal problems. 

In this essay, which is another strong response to the “Diversity” prompt , the student does a great job of explaining how being around different opinions has shaped their own perspective, as well as capturing the role they play within their family. The response highlights what the student has learned not just about their grandmothers’ opinions, but about listening in general and forming opinions of their own.

This essay is also a good reminder that writing a strong response to this kind of prompt doesn’t require you to focus on a distinct culture–you can write effectively about aspects of your identity, like the conversations at your family dinner table, that aren’t typically associated with diversity. So long as your growth and character are at the center of the story, like they are for this student, the essay will do a great job of demonstrating who you are to the admissions committee. 

The other especially effective part of this essay is the end, where the author connects their theme to a specific program and future at UW. This detail goes above and beyond what the prompt asks for, to show admissions officers exactly how this student plans to participate in the University of Washington community. Although quick, this line drives home the relevance of this student’s skills and experience to UW’s values as an institution, which helps admissions officers picture them on campus.

While this kind of concrete connection to the school can take your essay to the next level, you want to be sure that you make the connection in a way that feels natural. The majority of your essay should focus on some aspect of your identity and what it reflects about your broader character–only mention something specific about the school if you have extra space, and it’s directly connected to what you’ve discussed. It’s always nice to have a cherry on top of an already strong essay, but ultimately the most important thing is always to answer what the prompt is actually asking.

What Could Be Improved 

Overall, this is a super strong essay, with very little to improve. The only thing that we would consider changing is the time periods the student chooses their examples from. While the anecdotes are strong and paint a vivid picture of a conflict that goes back years, stories from when the author was eight may seem less relevant to an admissions committee that is looking to admit that student ten years later. 

If you have a story that dates back to your childhood, you should weigh the benefits of starting at the very beginning of the story against the benefits of including anecdotes that show how you behave in that community now. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule here: simply be conscious about the choices you make with your essay, to ensure you communicate your key points as effectively as possible.

Prompt: Consider two very different subjects you have previously studied; tell us how you imagine bringing those together at UW to engage with a pressing societal concern. This could be a local, national, or global concern.

In my youth, my mother helped instill a curiosity about the natural world in me. Her work in consulting regarding climate change and environmental systems made me question my direct and indirect impact. I delved into these interests further in high school by taking broad coursework in the sciences. In AP Biology, I was baffled by the reactions and transformation that occurred with simple manipulation. In AP Environmental Science, I was able to apply these biological processes to environmental concepts I noticed on the daily.

In my junior year, I took AP Economics, a class on the polar opposite spectrum from biological and environmental sciences. However, while studying economics, I was able to establish connections between economic and environmental concepts. My father, who has a grounded education in economics, helped me understand the links between these seemingly disparate subjects. The subjects were foundationally interlinked; simple ideas coincided, such as the tragedy of the commons and its relation to marginal analysis. 

As I noticed these intersectional ties, I saw that addressing the impending climate crisis through an economic lens was necessary for implementable, impactful change. There were opportunities for the government to impact climate action— these included economic incentives and regulations to influence the market price, changing producer and consumer behavior to be environmentally friendly. These policies helped protect the welfare of not only the environment but also of individuals who are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. 

My interest in communication studies links to this; I hope to thoroughly understand these subjects in an interdisciplinary context to provide the means for others to do the same.

  At UW, particularly in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, I hope to conjoin my interests in economic policy, science, and communications to gain the leverage and sound academic foundation necessary to address these concerns.

One of the best things this essay did was make use of a simple structure. This prompt asks for a lot from students: discuss two interests, identify the relationship between the two interests, show that the relationship relates to a pressing societal concern , and describe how you will engage with that concern at UW. While it is possible to answer all of these questions with a creative structure, this student’s use of a simple structure helped keep all of the parts of the essay organized. The essay followed the same format as the prompt: two paragraphs about their interests and relationship between them, a paragraph on a societal concern, and two final paragraphs on how they will tie everything together at UW.

Utilizing this structure allowed the student to fully establish both of their interests as unique entities before combining them. Going into detail on what excited them about environmental science and economics in the first place made their genuine love for the topics shine through. Also, including specific concepts like biological reactions and tragedy of the commons shows this student’s knowledge in these respective fields, in addition to their passion.

This student also does a good job of explaining the relationship they see between environmental sciences and economics. Explaining how they were “foundationally interlinked; simple ideas coincided” gives some insight into how this student thinks. We learn that they used logic to connect seemingly different topics that share common ideas. Establishing this logic-based link helps us understand how they devised solutions to address the pressing issue of the climate crisis in the third paragraph. The reader is left with the impression this student is genuinely fascinated by these two topics and has an interest in continuing to combine them in the future.

This student struggles with the transition to discussing their future goals. Since they devoted a large portion of their allotted word count to their interests in science and economics, they were left with very few words to discuss their interest in communication and how all three fields can be tied together. This leaves the essay feeling rushed and less genuine at the end.  

If they cut down on some words earlier in the essay—perhaps only mention their interest sparked from their coursework or their parents, rather than delving into detail on both—they could devote more space to their interest in communication studies later on. Then, this student could add more depth to the sentence “ My interest in communication studies links to this,”  by replacing it with something like:

“As I have seen the importance of science and economics for saving our planet, I have realized that interdisciplinarity is what will save the world. Disparate fields must join together for change to occur. I plan to join the inherently interdisciplinary communication studies program to show the world the importance of communication between disciplines.”

Do you want feedback on your University of Washington essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

University of Washington Supplemental Essays 2024-25 — Prompts and Tips

July 22, 2024

The University of Washington’s main campus in Seattle isn’t the type of public school that just services local residents. Rather, UW-Seattle attracts twice as many applicants from out-of-state/country than in-state each year. Top-ranked computer science, engineering, business, and nursing programs, in particular, attract an endless stream of high-caliber applicants from around the globe. Great grades and test scores will put aspiring Huskies on strong footing. However, the University of Washington also requires you to address two supplemental essay prompts.

 (Want to learn more about how to get into UW? Visit our blog entitled: How to Get Into the University of Washington: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Let’s dive right in and begin examining the one required essay and one required short response.

University of Washington Personal Statement (required)

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (maximum length: 650 words)..

This essay prompt succeeds in being both a) simple and straightforward and b) immensely challenging for many applicants. As you brainstorm, remember that the admissions committee is not looking for a rambling list of things you believe in the abstract. Instead, they are specifically asking for one experience that is revealing of your character and/or life story.

For many students, settling on a singular incident in their lives that will speak volumes about the core of their being is not an easy task. You could write about a moment of individual triumph here, but don’t rule out sharing about an incident where, for example: You are not the hero of the story, you had a humbling experience, or you changed a previously held belief.

University of Washington Supplemental Essays – Continued

The good news is that you have up to 650 words to tell this story, which means you will have plenty of real estate in which to share rich details that will make your essay more compelling.

(Even better news: UW doesn’t read your Common App essay, so you can use it as-is here.)

University of Washington Short Response (required)

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the uw. (maximum length: 300 words)..

Straight from the UW admissions staff, “Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.”

Your answer here could be about an ethnic, religious, or neighborhood community/identity or a group of individuals who gather for a club, sport, or service project. Whichever elements you choose to focus on, make sure that you use your writing ability to  show  the admissions officer what type of community member you are rather than merely  telling  them.

You can also discuss how you have engaged with your high school local/community and what you have learned from interacting with people of a different ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual identity, etc. Draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in your community. You can also speculate how that is likely to manifest on the University of Washington’s campus. Research and cite student-run organizations at UW-Seattle, local nonprofit groups, or anything else you are excited about. The admissions committee wants to understand precisely how you will contribute to their campus community. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here.

How important are the supplemental essays at the University of Washington?

UW-Seattle only labels three factors as being “very important” to the admissions process. Those factors are: the rigor of your high school coursework, GPA, and your application essays. In fact, the essays are rated as being of greater importance than test scores, extracurricular activities, or talent/ability.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your University of Washington supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

Need additional writing resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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Idaho judge rules on Bryan Kohberger's motion to change venue in student murder trial

Judge rules venue will be moved in university of idaho murder trial.

The venue will be changed in the University of Idaho quadruple murder trial, a judge has ruled.

BOISE, Idaho - The judge overseeing the trial of the man charged in the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students has agreed to move it out of the small city where the shocking crimes occurred, citing concerns about finding impartial jurors and whether the courthouse could accommodate the proceedings.

In an order dated Friday, Idaho Second District Judge John C. Judge said extensive media coverage of the case, the spreading of misinformation on social media and statements by public officials suggesting Kohberger’s guilt made it doubtful Bryan Kohberger could receive a fair trial in Moscow, a university town of about 26,000 in northern Idaho.

He did not specify where the trial would be moved. It's set for June 2025 and is expected to last three months.

"It is undisputed that there has been significant media coverage in this case throughout the State and nationally," Judge wrote. "While some of the coverage has been neutral reporting of the Court proceedings, much of the coverage has been sensationalized and prejudicial to Kohberger."

Bryan Kohberger, accused of murder, arrives for a hearing on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on September 13, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho. (Photo by Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images)

But even if enough impartial jurors could be selected to hear the case, the Latah County courthouse wouldn't be able to handle it, Judge said. It's too small to accommodate the needs of the lawyers and doesn't have enough clerks to oversee the selection of a jury from an expanded pool of some 6,000 residents.

Further, the county doesn't have enough sheriff's deputies to ensure security in a small courthouse where the only way in for sensitive witnesses would be through public hallways and entrances, he said.

Kohberger’s defense team sought the change of venue, saying strong emotions in the close-knit community and constant news coverage will make it impossible to find an impartial jury in the small university town where the killings occurred.

Murdered Idaho students honored as campus hopes to 'bring that light back'

On a bright Wednesday afternoon at the University of Idaho, students and staff unveiled a new garden memorial to honor the four students killed Nov. 13, 2022, and other students the school has lost since.

Prosecutors argued that any problems with potential bias could be resolved by simply calling a larger pool of potential jurors and questioning them carefully. They noted the inconvenience of forcing attorneys, witnesses and others to travel to a different city.

Kohberger, a former criminal justice student at Washington State University, which is across the state line in Pullman, faces four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.

The four University of Idaho students were killed sometime in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, in a rental house near the campus.

The Goncalves family released the following statement after the news that the judge granted the change of venue:

"The family is incredibly disappointed in the Judge’s ruling  granting the change of venue. The only good thing about this decision is it will be Judge Judge’s last decision in this case. The family has always felt that Judge Judge favored the defense and it was a common theme that whatever the defense wanted or needed they got. The written decision is even more informative. If the Judge knew Latah County could not handle this trial for safety reasons, not enough court clerks, logistics and lacking space, why did we waste over a year in a county he knew was not going to handle the trial. The points he mentioned didn’t all of a sudden jump up and bite him in the rear.  Another issue was the poor cross examination by the State of the Defense expert witnesses. A judge can only rely on the evidence presented and when you don’t properly cross examine expert witnesses or present any of your own, you are left relying on the opinions of the Defense. Then lets not forget the massive contradiction of having a University of Idaho employee as an expert witness (Aliza Cover) and at the same time allowing Scott Green the University of Idaho president to write a book claiming to be an integral part of your investigation.  Finally, what was the point of the non dissemination order, private hearings, closed door tactics, allowing the Defendant to be dressed in suit for every televised hearing, etc…if not to keep the trial in Latah County. As victims’s families you are left to just watch like everyone else and really you have little rights or say in the process and at the same time you are the most vested in the outcome. We have always felt that a fair and impartial jury could be found in Latah County and still believe that is where the trial deserves to be held to help the community heal. Thank you again for all your support and prayers!"

A split photo showing the crime scene and the victims, University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital | Instagram | @xanakernodle/@kayleegoncalves)

Authorities have said that cellphone data or surveillance video shows that Kohberger visited the victims’ neighborhood at least a dozen times before the killings; that he traveled in the region that night, returning to Pullman along a roundabout route; and that his DNA was found at the crime scene.

His lawyers said in a court filing he was merely out for a drive that night, "as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars."

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Police arrested Kohberger six weeks after the killings at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was spending winter break.

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Admission to majors

As you think about what you’d like to study at the UW, it can be useful to understand a few nuances of the UW major system. The vast majority of students enter their major through the standard admission process after enrolling at the UW. However, some majors do admit students directly as freshmen. Explore the details of the programs that interest you on our majors page . Outlined below you will find information about how majors factor into the freshman application, as well as how the type of major you choose may impact your experience as a UW student.

Your major and the application for admission

Your requested first- and second-choice majors may be used as factors in your admission decision. Some majors admit students directly as freshmen. You must indicate these as your first-choice major on the freshman application to be considered for direct admission. Except for computer science and engineering, only a small percentage of students enter a major directly as freshmen. The majority enter through the standard admission process after enrolling at the UW. The following majors admit students directly as freshmen.

• Architecture
• Biochemistry
• Business administration
• Computer science
• Computer engineering
• Composition (music)*
• Construction management
• Engineering (any major in the College of Engineering)
• Guitar (music)*
• Informatics
• Jazz studies (music)*
• Music education
• Neuroscience
• Orchestral instruments (music)*
• Organ (music)*
• Piano (music)*
• Strings (music)*
• Voice (music)*

* For most music majors, an audition on your primary instrument is also required.

Computer science and computer engineering

Most students earning computer science or computer engineering degrees from the UW will be admitted directly to the Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering as freshmen. You must list computer science or computer engineering as your first-choice major on the freshman application to be considered for Direct to Major admission. You will not be considered if you only list computer science or computer engineering as your second-choice major. If you’re not admitted directly to the Allen School as a freshman, it’s unlikely that you’ll be admitted to computer science or computer engineering as a UW student.

Engineering

If you’re interested in an engineering degree other than computer engineering, select any engineering major (or engineering undeclared) as your first-choice major on the freshman application. You will automatically be considered for Direct to College admission to the College of Engineering. If admitted Direct to College, you’ll enter the UW with an “engineering undeclared” designation and have the opportunity to explore all engineering disciplines (except computer engineering) before requesting placement in an engineering major. All engineering undeclared students who meet the requirements are guaranteed placement into an engineering major. If you’re not admitted directly to the College of Engineering as a freshman, there are opportunities to apply at a later date. However, admission to engineering majors is competitive, and space may be limited.

Your second-choice major

Are you willing to study something other than your first-choice major if you are admitted to the UW? Or, maybe you can’t decide between a couple of majors? Be sure to list a second-choice major on the freshman application.

Transferring to the UW takes careful planning, and preparation for your intended major is a factor in the transfer holistic review . For that reason, it’s important to understand the requirements of your major(s) before you apply.

University vs. departmental deadlines

All transfer students must submit an application for general admission to the UW. In addition to the general application, some majors also require a departmental application. The due dates for departmental applications vary. Other majors require that you enroll at the UW before applying to your major. Find specific requirements for each major on our majors page .

Some UW majors are in greater demand than others, and capacity may be limited; we can’t guarantee that you’ll be admitted to the major of your choice. You may apply to more than one major, so we encourage you to explore and develop a plan for a second-choice major. Use your personal statement to explain what you’ll do if you’re not admitted to your first-choice major. This information will help Admissions staff understand your plans.

Types of majors at the UW

The vast majority of students enter their major through the standard admission process after enrolling at the UW. While the details of that process may vary from major to major, they can be generalized into three different major types — open, minimum requirements and capacity-constrained.

Open majors

Open majors are available when you’re admitted to the UW or can be declared at any time by any student in good academic standing.

Majors with minimum requirements

Minimum requirements majors have a set of prerequisite courses with a minimum GPA. All current UW students who meet the minimum requirements are admitted.

Capacity-constrained majors

Capacity-constrained majors are selective and have extra requirements, which may include an additional application process. Completing the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee entry. You can apply to most of these majors once you are a UW student. However, for majors in the Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and the College of Engineering, the main pathway is direct freshman admission. Current UW students may apply to them after enrollment, but space is extremely limited.