university of washington seattle essay requirements

University of Washington Essay Prompts 2022-2023

University of Washington Essay Prompts Quick Facts :

• University of Washington acceptance rate: 53%— U.S. News ranks the University of Washington as a more selective school.
• 1 (~650 word) essay
• 1 (~300 word) short response
• 1 (~200 word) additional information essay (optional)
• University of Washington application: The University of Washington accepts applications via the Common App or ApplyWeb . The University of Washington Common App essay is not considered in the admissions process. Make sure to check all of the University of Washington application requirements. 
• University of Washington essay tip: Every UW application essay is important when it comes to impressing the UW admissions committee. Make sure to give each UW essay prompt your careful attention, no matter the word count. 

What are the University of Washington essay prompts?

You’ve completed the tedious work of finding your top colleges to apply to and now you’re working on your UW essay prompts. Before you start worrying about the college enrollment process, let’s break down each UW essay prompt so you can begin writing your UW application essays! 

There are three UW essay prompts .

Remember that UW admissions doesn’t consider the Common App essay in their writing section. Two of the UW essay prompts are required and one UW essay prompt is optional. While the University of Washington acceptance rate may not seem so intimidating compared to other colleges , your UW essay prompt responses can still make or break your application. 

We have provided all three UW essay prompts for the 2022-2023 University of Washington supplemental essays below. You’ll find a breakdown of how to approach each of the University of Washington essay prompts as well as tips for writing UW application essays that will stand out.

Importantly, the University of Washington does not review your Common App essay. Although the University of Washington Common App essay isn’t considered in the University of Washington admissions process (it won’t factor into your odds against the University of Washington acceptance rate), the Common App personal essay is still important in other universities’ application process. Check out all you need to know about writing a personal essay for the other schools that made your college list . 

University of Washington Essay Prompts #1 ( Required )

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

Of all the University of Washington essay prompts, this one is the longest and the most open-ended. This UW application essay should focus on some part of your character: the qualities that determine how you move through the world. In this UW application essay, try to highlight who you are, what you value, and who you’d be on UW’s campus.

Identify your values

To begin your brainstorm for the first of the University of Washington essay prompts, write out your values. List any qualities you care about— honesty, compassion, curiosity, etc. For each characteristic, think of a moment that taught you something about this quality and a moment it was tested. For example, if your characteristic was honesty, you might think about a time when you lied and the consequences of your actions. Or, maybe you think of a moment where you had to choose between lying and being honest.

If you’re not sure which characteristic to highlight for this University of Washington essay, start by brainstorming potential stories. Try to think of a time when you were proud of yourself, when you were challenged, or when you learned a lesson.

You can also check out this list of personal achievements and characteristics from the University of Washington admissions page for ideas of what to discuss in this UW application essay.

Focus on action

Whatever story you tell in this UW application essay, make sure your experience involves you making a decision or taking action. A story with a conflict and resolution will make your essay more engaging . Once you have settled on your topic, without second-guessing yourself, write out what happened and, more importantly, what you got out of the situation. 

A great way to make sure you’ve answered this UW essay prompt is to have another person read your essay without reading the prompt. Then, ask what they learned about you from your essay. If they learned something about your character, then chances are you’ve successfully responded to the question. Then, you can move onto the other University of Washington essay prompts.

University of Washington Essay Prompts #2 ( 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 (300 words)..

The second of the required University of Washington essay prompts revolves around community and how it creates unique perspectives. Because the UW essay prompts are quite general, brainstorm before you pick a topic. You’re likely part of many intersecting communities, so start by listing all the communities you belong to. Communities can be as big as a globally practiced religion or as small as a friendship group based on Dungeons and Dragons, so don’t leave anything out.

Focus on impact

Once you have your list for the second of the University of Washington essay prompts, think about how these communities impact your life. Remember, diversity is not just based on categories of identity; it also comes from differences in how we view and experience the world. For each community, do two free-writes : one detailing the important characteristics, beliefs, and events shared within that community and one detailing how that community impacts how you move through the world.

The UW essay prompt then asks you to imagine how you might add to the diversity of UW. Maybe you want to join a specific student group. Alternatively, you might even propose to start a new one. Maybe you want to bring your point of view into a field of study where it’s not typically included. For each community on your list, brainstorm how it would impact your time at UW.

Once you’ve done your brainstorm for this UW application essay, string your ideas together. If you’re having trouble organizing your thoughts, stick to the outline provided by the University of Washington essay prompts. Use the questions “what is your world,” “how are you a product of it,” and “how will you add to the diversity of UW” as guiding questions for the beginning, middle, and end of your University of Washington essay.

University of Washington Essay Prompts #3 ( Optional )

Additional information about yourself or your circumstances (200 words)..

This UW essay prompt is optional. The University of Washington application requirements don’t call for a response to this UW essay prompt. However, you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you and you’d like to share that information with the University of Washington admissions. 

Often, prompts listed as “optional” are still essentially required if you want to be a competitive applicant. This is not the case with the final UW essay prompt. If you don’t have any extenuating circumstances, feel free to disregard this University of Washington essay prompt. 

You may want to answer this optional UW application essay if:

• You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education.
• Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations.
• You have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended.

Of all the University of Washington essay prompts, this one lets you fill in potential gaps in your University of Washington application due to various circumstances. If you have had to overcome challenges to get where you are today, the University of Washington admissions committee wants to hear about it.

Although this is the shortest of the University of Washington essay prompts, it is important you still craft a story and directly connect your experiences to your University of Washington application. For example, if you had to start working at a young age to support your family, be sure to include why it is important for the UW admissions team to know. Maybe you didn’t have time for extracurriculars , or maybe you had to make extra efforts to stay on top of your homework. 

Mention how you’ve grown

You should also make sure you include what the experience means to you if responding to this UW application essay. For instance, maybe your hardships taught you to be more responsible, or maybe you learned how to ask for help when you need it. If you choose to respond to this last of the University of Washington essay prompts, make sure your reader knows why you chose to include it. As with your other two University of Washington supplemental essays, remember to be brief, specific, and honest.

How do I write my University of Washington essays?

To make your essays count, remember to consider your audience. Your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts should convey who you are, how you’d succeed at UW, and what you might bring to UW’s campus. Are you a first generation college student? Did you take a meaningful gap year ? This is your opportunity to show what makes you unique. Remember that your responses to each UW essay prompt shouldn’t read like your college resume . Give each UW essay prompt response some personality and passion . 

Take time with the University of Washington essay prompts, and give the same amount of consideration to each UW application essay. While one of the University of Washington essay prompts is shorter than the other, that doesn’t mean it will be easier to write. Each UW application essay should be clear, concise, and captivating. It should also completely answer the University of Washington essay prompts. 

Follow the checklist below to be sure that you answer the University of Washington prompts to the best of your ability. 

UW Essay Prompts Checklist:

✔️ brainstorm.

Before you begin writing, create a list of topics related to the University of Washington essay prompts. Use the breakdowns of the University of Washington essay prompts above to help you get started.

Once you’ve chosen a topic for each of the University of Washington essay prompts, it is time to get writing. Don’t worry about making your first draft perfect—it doesn’t need to be! Don’t think about things like the University of Washington acceptance rate; just focus on getting your story down on paper

Ask yourself: does my UW application essay specifically answer the UW essay prompt? Am I telling a story? Is there a clear beginning, middle, and end? Does my essay show who I am? Because each UW essay prompt has a specific word limit, it’s important to make every word count.

✔️ Proofread

Read through each essay for any spelling or grammatical errors. The University of Washington admissions team will review thousands of responses to the University of Washington essay prompts, and we want your University of Washington essays to stand out for the right reasons. Make sure your responses to the UW essay prompts are as clear and easy to read so your personality can shine.

✔️ Get a second opinion

Have someone else—a family member, mentor, even a peer—read your essay. A second pair of eyes will notice how your UW essays read, whether your story flows, and how well you’ve addressed the UW essay prompts.

✔️ Repeat steps 3-4 until you are satisfied with your UW essay prompts

Remember, the writing process is a process. Give yourself enough time ahead of the deadline to think about the UW essay prompts. Draft each UW application essay, take a step away, and come back to them with fresh eyes.

After working through the checklist above, evaluate your progress. Keep reworking your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts until you can confidently say that the following statements are true:

• My UW essays tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
• Each of my essays answers the UW essay prompt.
• All of my UW essays emphasize who I am and what is important to me.
• My UW essays have no spelling or grammatical errors.

Does the University of Washington care about essays?

Yes! As the University of Washington acceptance rate tells us, not everyone gets into UW. Figuring out how to get into UW will be difficult without placing importance on the UW essay prompts. The University of Washington application essays are UW Admissions’ way of learning who you are as a person. 

The University of Washington admissions office uses a holistic review process. This means they consider your UW essays and extracurriculars alongside your academics. So, your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts are a vital part of your University of Washington application requirements. 

Specifically, UW breaks down their review into two categories: Preparation & Performance and Personal Achievements & Characteristics. While the first depends on your grades and courses, your University of Washington supplemental essays are the perfect place to emphasize the second. UW looks for students who will both succeed academically and contribute to campus life. Your UW application essays should capture who you are and how you will shine at UW. Each of the University of Washington essay prompts lets you share different aspects of what matters to you.

University of Washington Admissions Top Tips for Supplemental Essays

While Seattle may not be the stereotypical “college town,” the city certainly has a lot to offer. If you’re set on UW, which is a top ranking university globally, then we know you want to do everything you can to make your responses to the UW essay prompts stand out. 

To save you time as you begin working on your UW essays, we’ve provided the top ten tips from the University of Washington admissions for writing the UW essays below. We’ve also included tips on how to apply them to your University of Washington supplemental essays.

“Write to the prompt.”

Your University of Washington essays will only be successful if they completely answer the University of Washington essay prompts. Be sure to use our breakdowns of the University of Washington essay prompts, and keep each UW essay prompt in mind when editing your drafts.

“Avoid overused topics.”

Be thorough as you brainstorm topics for each of the UW essay prompts. If you read the UW essay prompts and choose to write about a common experience, use specific details in your UW application essays that show what makes your experience unique.

“Use language you can manage.”

When in doubt, always lean towards simple and straightforward language in your University of Washington essays. Your University of Washington application essays should be written in your voice. Don’t try to sound more intelligent as you respond to the UW essay prompts. Authenticity is key. 

“Keep it simple and real.”

Often, the little things in life have the biggest impact. As you brainstorm topics for your UW application essays, don’t feel pressured to construct the most complicated story. Remember, the University of Washington admissions office wants to be impressed by you! Just be yourself and show them exactly who you are when responding to the University of Washington essay prompts.

“Use humor, honesty, and humility.”

Respond to the UW essay prompts in your own voice. If you have a humorous voice, let that shine through, but only use humor if it feels natural. No matter your writing style, all of your University of Washington essays should be honest and authentic. If you choose to write about your accomplishments , try to do so without bragging or showing off.

“Make it memorable.”

Your University of Washington supplemental essays will be memorable if you are passionate about the story you are telling. Don’t worry about whether the UW admissions team will find your story interesting—if your UW application essays are honest, specific, and exciting to you, they’ll be exciting to read.

“Find the sweet spot.”

Each of the University of Washington essay prompts has a specific word count. While your UW application essays should not be over the word count, it isn’t a bad thing if they are under. For example, if you can tell your story in 400 words, don’t add fluff to reach the 650-word limit. Just be sure your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts are specific and detailed enough to paint a complete picture for your reader.

“Proofread.”

The last thing you want UW admissions thinking about as they finish reading your UW application essays is a typo. Make sure to double-check your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts for spelling and grammar. Try to complete your University of Washington essays ahead of the deadline so you can give yourself a few days away from each of your UW application essays before your final proofread. 

“Punctuate properly.”

Punctuation can change the entire meaning of a sentence, so it’s important you punctuate your University of Washington essays correctly. Try highlighting all your commas, periods, etc., and reading your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts out loud. If someone is helping you edit your UW essays, ask them to do a read-through specifically looking at punctuation.

“Write a punchy first line.”

While it is important your University of Washington essays have a strong opening, don’t let this tip trap you into trying to be overly funny or clever. Your UW application essays thrive on specificity, so write an opening line suited to your specific story and voice.

UW Essay Prompts: Final Thoughts

Remember, the University of Washington essay prompts are your chance to introduce yourself to UW admissions. While the University of Washington acceptance rate is not the highest, strong essays can make all the difference. 

Although your academic history is an important part of your University of Washington application requirements, your UW application essays let UW see who you are beyond numbers and statistics. If you feel your GPA or test scores don’t reflect the kind of student you are or hope to become, your University of Washington essays are the place to showcase your best self. And with so many universities deciding to go test-optiona l, your essays are of utmost importance when it comes to maximizing your odds against the University of Washington acceptance rate. 

Each essay is an opportunity

Think of each UW application essay as an opportunity to overcome the University of Washington acceptance rate and impress the University of Washington admissions. Write each UW application essay thoughtfully, passionately, and comprehensively. Each UW essay prompt response should be not only moving, but also mechanically impeccable. 

While the University of Washington essay prompts may seem like a challenge, remember you have complete control over your UW essays. The strength of your responses to each UW essay prompt relies entirely on how much time, effort, and care you put into them. Start thinking about the UW essay prompts early so you can make your essays the best they can be.

This University of Washington supplemental essays guide was written by Sarah Kaminski . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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University of Washington Information School

Informatics.

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Application Materials

Application.

In order to apply to the program, applicants who are current UW students or transfer students must complete an application and provide the information and materials listed below.

The Informatics program has two admissions cycles per year, spring and autumn.

• The application to start the program in Autumn 2024 is now open, with a deadline of April 8, 2024.
• The application to start the program in Winter 2025 will open in September 2024, with a deadline in early October 2024.
• Transfer students should also complete a UW transfer application for the quarter they wish to enter the program.

Schools and transcripts

Applicants are required to provide information about all schools where they have earned academic credit and are required to provide an unofficial transcript for each. Please include all schools even if the courses appear on your UW transcript. If you have taken any UW Seattle courses, you also need to list and attach an unofficial transcript for the UW.

Prerequisite courses

Applicants will provide information about the prerequisite courses they took. They will be asked at which school they took the course, what term it was taken, and the course number. If they have taken more than one course that meets any prerequisite course requirement, it is recommended that they enter the course that has the highest grade.

• Current UW student prerequisites
• Transfer applicant prerequisites

Application essay

In addition to providing information about prerequisite grades and academic history, applicants must submit an application essay of less than 700 words that responds to the following prompts.

Essay Prompts for the academic year Autumn 2024 applications are below. Essay prompts change every year; be sure to address the correct year's prompts in your application! Updated February 2024 for Autumn 2024 applications.

The Informatics admissions committee believes that all students interested in information deserve to major in Informatics. However, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission is capacity constrained because we have limited teaching capacity and space; thus we can only admit a portion of the students who apply. Applications are evaluated based upon the written essay (80% of the overall score), and a calculated average of grades in the prerequisite courses (20% of the overall score). The essay is evaluated based upon the 4 prompts below as well as the overall writing, all prompts are weighted equally.

Writing and Formatting Requirements:

We expect students to already be capable of writing clearly and coherently in English. Your response helps us evaluate that.

What we’re looking for: Clear communication is central to thriving in our courses, as most involve writing. Be sure to check your spelling. Do your best to avoid grammar errors, but note that we will not penalize you for them unless they significantly interfere with our ability to comprehend your writing.

You may include anything you want in your Application Essay, as long as it satisfies the following requirements: 

• The structure of your essay is up to you as long as you address all 4 prompts.
• 700-word limit total for all prompts combined.
• Applicants will copy/paste their submission as plain text into a text box in the application. Be sure to test this before the deadline. This means that bold, italic, etc formatting will not be included.
• Do not include links to external information or websites. Additional information can not be considered, so such links will just use up the word count.

Prompt: Why Informatics?

Why Informatics? Why are you choosing to pursue an Informatics degree? 

Consider: What brought you to this major? How have you engaged with the study, design, and development of information? Classes you have taken, activities you have participated in, work you have done, etc.

What we’re looking for: We’re looking for students who have demonstrated that they will be interested, engaged, and active in our program and what we teach.

Prompt: Collaboration Skills

What skills and experiences illustrate your ability to foster meaningful collaboration with your peers and contribute to the enrichment of this major and community? Describe specific instance(s) where your actions have demonstrated active engagement and a commitment to creating a collaborative learning environment either in or out of the classroom.

What we’re looking for: In the iSchool we strongly value collaboration and community. All our classes involve group work and collaborative efforts, which are integral to learning. Informatics students will thrive in this collaborative environment, and help empower others to thrive as well.  

Prompt: Experiences with IDEAS

What experiences do you have with inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and/or sovereignty in relation to information? These might be the same experience with information you described above, or different ones. These experiences might include learning, volunteering, activism, community organizing, mentoring, teaching, or personal experiences with exclusion or oppression. We are especially interested in experiences in which you took action to address issues of fairness, bias, or exclusion, whether advocacy or self-advocacy, social or technical. You may want to consider the iSchool diversity statement when composing your response.

What we’re looking for: It’s important that Informatics majors are attentive to ways that people can be excluded and oppressed by information and information technology and in general. We’re seeking students who are committed to making information technology more just, equitable, and inclusive

Prompt: Goals after Graduation

How will pursuing an Informatics major impact your life, community, and/or world after graduation? How will the Informatics degree specifically support those intended impacts? Clearly state your goals and be specific about the features or aspects of the Informatics programs that will support your goals. 

What we’re looking for: It is important that Informatics is actually well-positioned to support your goals, whatever they are. Informatics doesn’t support every goal.

Tips for completing the application

As you write, remember that the admissions committee is not looking for just one type of student: We need diversity of all kinds to promote critical learning about people, information and technology, so we need to know what makes you unique. The admissions committee will read your statement for evidence of all of the above. Since we read the statement for all four criteria, tell us your story clearly and coherently, potentially organizing your statement around the prompts above, to make it easier for us to assess each criterion (though it is okay if you find other creative ways of organizing your responses, since it might be that a single experience addresses multiple criteria). Remember to connect your experiences to the Informatics Major.

If you have any questions while working on the application, please contact the Admission team at [email protected]  Do not wait until the due date to reach out to us if you do have questions!

Informatics AI usage — ChatGPT or generative AI usage

ChatGPT and similar tools can be valuable in making your writing better and your thinking richer. But it cannot be used to replace writing and thinking. 

During the application process, you will be asked "Did you use ChatGPT and/or similar tools in writing this essay? If so, please indicate how you used the tool(s)."

Not acceptable:

Enter prompt and/or some notes into ChatGPT; submit some version of what comes out, even with some modifications. This will be considered plagiarism.

Acceptable:

• Use ChatGPT to find a better word (as you would a thesaurus)
• Use ChatGPT to assure your grammar is correct
• Use ChatGPT to find a better way to phrase an idea, a sentence or two

Note: two-application limit

Applicants will be allowed to apply to the Informatics major a maximum of two times. For this reason, applicants are encouraged to be selective and apply only when they have fulfilled all the criteria and feel that they can present a strong application.

Freshman Direct Admission applications do not count toward the two-application limit. 

Only applications that are complete and considered for admission are counted in the two attempts. Starting an application or submitting without all prerequisite courses completed will not count toward your two attempts. 

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How to Write the University of Washington Essays 2020-2021

This post has been updated! Check out the 2021-2022 University of Washington essay guide .

The University of Washington is the state of Washington’s flagship university and its premier public university. U.S. News ranked it as 62nd on the 2020 National Universities List.

UW has a 49% acceptance rate, and of the admitted students, the middle 50% achieved  3.75-3.99 GPAs, 27-33 on the ACT, and 1240-1440 on the SAT. UW is a member of the Coalition for College, so prospective students apply through the Coalition application. 

There are two required essays, one being the first Coalition Application prompt, and the other a standard prompt on diversity and community. There is also an optional space to address any unusual circumstances, as well as two Interdisciplinary Honors Program prompts. For a detailed breakdown of each prompt, read on. Want to know your chances at the University of Washington? Calculate your chances for free right now.

For All Applicants

Required: tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (500 words).

This prompt is the first of the five options on the Coalition Application and is purposefully phrased nebulously to allow for a wide range of responses. You can relay any experience that reflects or shaped who you are. 

To start, examine your many identities, and choose one that you want to highlight. All experiences are valid, whether they are traditional or unconventional. Focus on the things that make you different from others, and reflect on how they shaped you as a person. Remember that this is your main college essay, so be sure to pick an experience that was integral to your growth throughout high school. 

This is a good chance to tell the story behind any major extracurriculars on your activity list. For example, you might write “debate team captain” as an extracurricular, but this essay is where you can recount the grit and dedication it took for you to reach that position, as you once were extremely shy. You can also use this space to explore identities that don’t appear elsewhere on your application, such as your role within your family. For example, you can write about how you tutor your younger brother in math, and how watching his face light up after understanding a new concept sparked your love of teaching. 

A common theme across all college essays is “show, don’t tell.” This phrase is thrown around frequently, but is easier said than done. A few things to keep in mind when showing rather than telling are vividness and authenticity, which can be created by invoking imagery and specific details. For example, rather than saying “I like tennis and the game has always fascinated me,” try conjuring an image in the reader’s mind such as “At the start of my first official match, I gripped my trusted red racquet tightly, swaying ever so slightly from foot to foot in the ‘ready’ stance that I had practiced for years.” While the first response may be true, it is generic and can apply to any tennis aficionado. The latter response better authenticates your experiences than the former, and demonstrates your sincerity to readers. 

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. (300 words)

This question serves two purposes: it gives UW an opportunity to learn more about how you developed your values, and it allows them to consider how you might interact with others on campus. It is easy to get mired in focusing on describing your community, but remember, UW wants to learn about you through seeing how your community impacted you. Use a description of your community to frame your essay, but always remind yourself to connect the story back to how it changed you. Once you have framed the essay with a description of who you have become as a result of your community’s impact, be sure to extend this thread to your potential future influence on UW.

There are several ways to interpret community. You could interpret it in the literal sense by explaining how your hometown and family have guided your ambitions. For example, maybe growing up on your family’s farm inspired your appreciation for agriculture and working with your hands. You hope to share this appreciation with other students by working on the UW farm and organizing workshops where students can learn how to plant their own flowers or herbs.

Or, perhaps the community you want to highlight is less conventional, such as the coffeeshop you work at. You could discuss how your coworkers are from all walks of life, and how you’ve befriended a retired older couple that picks up weekend shifts. They offer you advice based on their many life experiences, showing you the importance of having an older mentor. This makes you want to join the Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter at UW.

Regardless of what your community is, be sure to highlight how you’ll contribute to UW’s diversity, whether that’s through your perspective, actions, ideas, cultural traditions, etc.

Optional: You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. For example, you may use this space if:

You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education, your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations, you have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended. (200 words).

This portion of the application is optional, and while we recommend that you fill out most “optional” essays, this space is truly optional. If you don’t have any unusual circumstances, you can leave it blank without penalty. If feel that the parameters apply to you, you should fill this section out. This is your chance to explain anything that hasn’t been addressed in other parts of your application. Since the maximum is 200 words and the prompt is straightforward, you can (and should) also be totally straightforward in your response, rather than painting a picture with vivid imagery. 

For the first prompt, an example of a response could be:

“In the sophomore year of high school, my dad was diagnosed with cancer, and it profoundly affected multiple areas of my life, including my academic performance. For that reason, there is a significant dip in my grades in the spring semester of that year.”

For the second:

“Because my parents own a small restaurant, it is often my responsibility to watch my younger siblings while they are working, and even help out by doing the dishes or bussing tables in my free time. For that reason, I was unable to join as many extracurriculars as my after school time went towards helping ensure the family restaurant was running smoothly.” 

For the last prompt, you can briefly state school-related limitations or opportunities, like if your school did not have an AP or IB program, or if it did have a special internship program that you participated in. Keep in mind that some universities designate admissions officers to research your region and know what programs your school has or doesn’t have – this might be something you want to look into before filling out this section. However, you might want to fill out this section if the school you’re applying to does not have regional admissions officers.

If there is a specific school program or opportunity that you wish to mention, we recommend doing so via your activity list or one of your essays, rather than in this short, 200-word window. If you find that you don’t have space in the rest of your application, then this section is fine.

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Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details.

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

UW Interdisciplinary Honors Program

Required: what is your understanding of the uw interdisciplinary honors program and why do you want to be a part of it (300 words).

This prompt is specific to those applying to the honors program, and as such, it should contain a level of interest one notch above a typical admissions essay. Prospective students should research the honors program online to discover its different offerings. Take some time to reflect on which aspects of the honors program appeal the most to you, and how you would realistically take advantage of those opportunities. 

The more specific you are, the better. If there is a certain conference you want to participate in, or class you want to take, mention it! Getting granular demonstrates the research you have done and underscores your interest in both the university and the honors program. Just one caveat: you can mention specific professors, but only do so if you’re truly familiar with their research; otherwise, it will seem like disingenuous name-dropping.

Here’s an example of something to avoid:

Bad: I want to learn more about the way conservation-related engineering affects disadvantaged communities, and the Interdisciplinary Honors Program’s rigorous classes will help me do that. 

Here’s a good example:

Good: I look forward to crafting experiential learning activities via the Interdisciplinary Honors Program. I plan to conduct a community service project centered through an interdisciplinary course such as Science and Engineering for Social Justice. I want to design an architectural structure, such as a public water fountain that filters carcinogens, or a smart streetlight initiative that improves quality of life without negatively disrupting existing community dynamics. Through the Interdisciplinary Honors program, I can combine my different passions by engaging in community projects such as these. 

The bad example mentions “rigorous classes,” which are available at almost every university. The good one lays out the student’s goals and cites resources specific to UW that would allow her to achieve those goals: the interdisciplinary course on Science and Engineering for Social Justice, as well as the community service initiative.

Required: Consider at least two very different subjects you’ve studied in school; tell us how and why you imagine bringing those subjects together in your first year at UW to engage with a pressing global concern. (300 words)

This prompt is incredibly multifaceted. You’ll first want to brainstorm two or more contrasting subjects you’ve studied that:

1. Share more about your background/interests

2. Can be applied to a pressing global issue that you’re passionate about 

For example, maybe you love English and Environmental Science, and you’re concerned about climate change. You could bring these two subjects together to share the stories of the communities impacted by climate change, on a blog or in a print publication. Or, maybe you’re interested in Sociology, Political Science, and Computer Science, and you want to address the concern of automation replacing jobs by engaging in policy around Artificial Intelligence.

Once you have some ideas, you should think of how and why you’ll bring these different subjects together in your first year at UW. Tell us the story of what draws you to your subjects of choice, and your global issue. Research specific Honors Program resources and broader UW resources that will help you synthesize the subjects and engage with the global concern. 

For the first example of the student interested in English and Environmental Science, maybe their town’s water supply was polluted by the textile industry, which is why they want to fight climate change. They could take the honors course Storytelling in the Sciences, which would teach them how to share scientific knowledge in an accessible way. This would help them share the stories of those impacted by climate change more effectively, and equip them with the skills to educate others through writing. They might also want to join the Environmental Law Society to gain experience with the legal side of protecting the environment. 

Regardless of what your story, subjects, and plan are, be sure to share more of who you are and what matters to you, and tie them into specific resources within the UW Interdisciplinary Honors Program.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Writing @ UW @ College of Arts & Sciences - University of Washington

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Welcome to UW Writing!

This web site contains comprehensive information about taking and teaching writing courses at the UW Seattle campus.

About UW Writing

In 2018, the UW Task Force on Writing was formed to re-examine the Writing ("W") requirement, and to think about ways to better support (and... Learn more

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First-Year Admission

Applying as a first-year to the Honors Program

The application for first-year admission to Interdisciplinary Honors is integrated into the  UW First-year Application , with additional required essays and a separate evaluation process. You must complete and submit all of the regular UW Admissions and all of the Honors application materials to be considered for Interdisciplinary Honors admission.

Before applying to Honors, we recommend you explore the following:

Who are Honors students?

The honors curriculum, tips for applying, honors student leaders, scholarships, admissions faq.

Interested in applying for admissions for autumn 2024? Register for an information session!

RSVP HERE FOR AUTUMN 2023 SESSIONS

NOTE: We are unable to offer individual admissions appointments for prospective first-year applicants. Please attend an information, review our presentation slides,browse our website, and reach out to our Honors Student Leaders if you still have questions. Thank you for your understanding!

Important Dates

Application process.

To access and submit the Honors application questions:

• Follow the University of Washington Office of Admissions’ instructions on how to apply ;
• If you no longer wish to apply to Honors at any point, you must change your selection to “No.”
• Complete the UW application AND the Honors section of the UW application .
• You will receive separate confirmation emails from UW and the Honors Program.
• Check your email. UW Honors uses the email address in your UW application as our primary method of contact, including our decision letters and scholarship offers. If you set up an “@uw.edu” address, it will take priority. If you have not received any confirmation emails, please check your spam/trash folders first, then contact us at uwhonors@uw.edu .

Honors Essay

The heart of the Honors application is the Honors Essay. This essay, separate from the UW Writing section, requires an essay specific to Interdisciplinary Honors. Your response will be evaluated on content as well as form (spelling, grammar, and punctuation).

Your essay should be original, thoughtful, and concise. Do not copy previous essays from your UW application or materials found on the UW Honors Program web site. Draw on your best qualities as a writer and thinker; academic risk-taking is a core value of the Honors Program, so take some risks and be honest. Tell us who you are and why you want an interdisciplinary undergraduate education. Work on the essays early. Have someone proofread your writing but don’t let a proofreader erase your unique voice.

Essay Prompt for Autumn 2024

Respond to the essay prompt using no more than 450 words.

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.

• Be yourself and be specific! This is your opportunity to introduce yourself to us. Demonstrate why you are interested in our curriculum and what qualities you would contribute to the Interdisciplinary Honors Program.
• Remember your audience. The UW is a large and diverse public institution. The people evaluating your application may not have the same beliefs or perspective you do. Diverse viewpoints are desired in the academic world. Consider this as you frame your essays.
• Proofread! Have someone who knows you proofread your responses, but don’t let your voice and perspective be erased.
• Do not send transcripts or supplemental materials (recommendations, news articles, resumes, digital media, etc.). These will be discarded upon receipt.

Read our Tips for Applying for more detailed advice.

The Honors Holistic Review & Test Scores

The University of Washington’s Office of Admissions has moved to a test optional policy for Autumn 2021 and beyond. Accordingly, the University Honors Program admissions evaluators will not consider test scores, which have historically been a small factor in our evaluation process. The Honors Program admissions evaluation focuses on many factors, including :

• Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in our specific interdisciplinary curriculum and values;
• Demonstrated cultural awareness or unique perspectives or experiences;
• Demonstrated academic preparation; and 
• Demonstrated commitment to community engagement.

To be considered for admission to the University Honors Program first-year applicants must first be admitted to the University of Washington. Please refer to the University of Washington’s Office of Admissions to further understand their review process.

Read our admissions FAQs

FROM THE DIRECTOR

As we enter a new freshman admissions season, the Director of Honors invites students and the communities around them to learn more about the UW Honors curriculum.

Connect with UW Honors:

Mary Gates Hall 211, Box 352800 Seattle, WA 98195-2800 Contact Us Office Hours: Mon-Thur, 10am-4pm, Friday by Online Appointment Only. For details click here .

© 2024 University of Washington | Seattle, WA

We’re delighted that you are considering applying to the University of Washington Master of Science in Data Science program!

Our application deadlines for the Autumn 2024 intake are January 5, 2024 @ 11:59pm PST for international applicants, and January 12, 2024 @ 11:59pm PST for domestic students. We do not accept late applications for any reason. Please note that we admit students once per year for the Autumn quarter only. For students who wish to wait and apply in the following year, the following application cycle begins in late-September 2024 for the Autumn 2025 intake.

Admissions Requirements

✔ 4-year u.s. bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Applicants are required to have a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or its equivalent from an international institution. If you have a 3-year undergraduate degree, please contact the central UW Graduate School to clarify if your education will meet the requirement.

✔ 3.0 Minimum GPA from last 2 years of graded full-time study

Applicants are required to have a GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 60 graded semester credits or the last 90 graded quarter credits of their schooling (U.S.), or roughly the equivalent of the last two years of graded study (undergraduate and/or graduate). If you need help converting an international GPA to the 4.0 U.S. scale, you can use the grade conversion tool provided by the UW Graduate School , or you can use a GPA from another international GPA translation service (WES, Scholaro, etc.) if your grading system is not represented on the UW Graduate School tool.

If you have less than a 3.0 GPA for the last 2 years of graded full-time study , it is still possible to be admitted if you are an otherwise outstanding candidate for our program. If you are in this situation, please use the “Optional Essay” section to address what happened that caused a lower GPA, and why you might be a successful graduate student in our program despite a lower GPA. This 3.0 minimum is a requirement of the central UW Graduate School for all graduate school applicants, and we can petition for an exception for candidates we wish to admit with a lower GPA. We have successfully petitioned for exceptions to this requirement in the past.

✔ No GRE or GMAT used in our holistic admissions process

We found that the GRE/GMAT were not good indicators of success in our program, and in fact reinforce structural biases in education around gender, race/ethnicity, class, and other equity factors we seek to reduce with our holistic admissions process. Our admissions committee seeks to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the MS in Data Science program and in the data science field.

There is no benefit to providing GRE or GMAT scores with your application.

✔ Prerequisite skills in Computer Science and Mathematics

As an interdisciplinary program,  the MSDS  curriculum includes graduate courses taught by faculty across multiple disciplines relating to data science. Students need core skills in Computer Science and Mathematics in order to succeed in these courses. Offers of admission will only be made to applicants who demonstrate strong competencies in these essential areas and skills.

Please see our Prerequisite Skills  page for required skill areas as well as how to document these. In short, each applicant must document these Computer Science and Mathematics skills either through:

• Major/Minor in one of the stated disciplines.
• Completed, graded, for-credit coursework that covers listed skill areas.
• Letter from a technical professional documenting these skills in specific projects.

✔ Deadline Policy: no late applications or materials accepted

The UW MSDS program accepts students once per year for the autumn quarter intake. Applications must be received by January 5, 2024 at 11:59pm Pacific time for international students, and January 12, 2024 at 11:59pm Pacific time for domestic students. All materials must be submitted by the deadline, with the exception of recommendations which may be received up to 2 weeks after the respective deadlines. We do not have rolling admissions or priority deadlines.

We do not accept late/incomplete applications, or late application materials.

Application Materials

✔ online uw slate application.

Applicants are required to upload all application materials to the online Slate application system .

Four short essays are required in your application. These short essays are an opportunity to articulate your candidacy for the Master of Science in Data Science program at the University of Washington. The best essays are clear, succinct, thoughtful, well-written, and engaging. Your essays play an important role in our holistic admissions process, and we expect that they are your own original work. You can read the full essay prompts on our Essay Questions page or on the MyGrad online application . Topics are as follows:

• Essay 1: Why UW MSDS? (350 words maximum)
• Essay 2: Data Visualization (500 words maximum)
• Essay 3: Communication and Collaboration (350 words maximum)
• Essay 4: Diversity and Equity (500 words maximum)

✔ Unofficial digital transcripts

Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts/marksheets from every institution where they earned a degree or completed prerequisite courses. These are are generally .pdfs, scans or other images. Transcripts and degree documents that are in a language other than English must be accompanied with an official English translation (translated by a university, government official/organization, or a certified translation service, example:  American Translators Association ).

Read about some transcripts tips from former Admissions Specialist, Samantha Turner, on our blog. 

We do not need or accept paper/official transcripts or other documents during the initial admissions process. If you are admitted and accept your offer, the central UW Graduate School will contact you about where/how to send official materials sometime during the summer.

✔ Short resume or CV

We are looking for a concise summary of your professional and other credentials. It is strongly recommended that applicants limit their resume to one page, single-sided. Read about our resume tips from former Admissions Specialist, Samantha Turner, on our blog.

✔ Letters of recommendation: 2 required, 3 preferred

Letters of recommendation are collected by our recommendation system, once you have entered your recommenders in the online MyGrad application. Recommendations can be submitted independently of your application, before OR after you have submitted, as long as you have designated recommenders in the system–so designate recommenders early!! Each recommender receives an email invitation to submit their recommendation via the UW Graduate School’s online recommendation portal. They may upload a .pdf or .docx letter of recommendation, or cut&paste or type the text of their recommendation into a text box. The portal includes additional questions for your recommender about your candidacy as well, so it collects more than just standard letters of recommendation.

Read advice on selecting and coaching your recommenders, from former Admissions Specialist, Samantha Turner, on our blog.

Note: Interfolio and other recommendation aggregators are not directly compatible with UW’s recommendation system. It’s best to use the MyGrad recommendation system when applying to programs at UW, as recommendations submitted through our system provide a more complete picture of your candidacy.

✔ Documentation of CS and Math skill proficiencies

All applicants are required to document how they meet the prerequisite skill requirements in the Additional Information section of the online application. Please refer to the Prerequisite Skills page for Computer Science and Mathematics skills/knowledge required, as well as the accepted forms of documentation.

✔ Proof of English proficiency (for non-native English speakers)

There are many ways to prove English proficiency, as noted in UW Memo 8  which spells out the UW English Proficiency Requirement. Please note that the UW MSDS program’s requirements are slightly different/higher than the central UW Graduate School. Here are the main ways to prove English proficiency for the MSDS application:

• An undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally-accredited institution located in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or other country where English is the official language, and English is the medium of instruction.
• Official documentation from the applicant’s undergraduate institution verifying that all of their instruction was completed in English. Usually this shows up as a note on a transcript or separate letter from the institution that simply states that “the medium of instruction was English.”
• TOEFL scores with a minimum 106 total score and 25 in each area test. Official test scores must be sent directly to UW from ETS, using institution code 4854. UW does not use department codes, as all scores go through the central UW Graduate School. You may choose any department code and scores will be transmitted to all programs to which you apply via the MyGrad online application at UW. *Please note that transmission of electronic scores is not instantaneous and applicants should transmit their scores as soon as they can.
• DuoLingo scores with a minimum 125 total score. Official test scores must be sent directly to UW from the testing company.
• Electronic IELTS scores sent directly from the testing company, with a minimum score of 7.5. Applicants using ILETS test scores must submit official scores electronically via the IELTS system (E-TRF), using the University of Washington’s Recognizing Organizations (RO) ID 365. *Please note that transmission of electronic scores is not instantaneous and applicants should transmit their scores as soon as they can.
• Applications without proof of English Proficiency within two weeks of the international deadline (i.e., by January 26, 2023 @ 11:59pm PST) cannot be considered for admission.

Many international applicants do not realize that if they have completed their undergraduate education entirely in English, and can document this, UW does not require any test scores at all. All you need to provide is the documentation of this in the form of a note on your transcript or separate letter from your undergraduate institution that your “medium of instruction was English.” In this case, providing test scores has no benefit at all for your application.

If this documentation is in the form of a separate letter, you can combine this with your transcripts into a single file/.pdf and upload that in the transcripts section of the online application.

✔ $85 Application fee

The central UW Graduate School collects an $85, non-refundable application fee for all graduate program applications to UW. Application fee waivers are available from the UW Graduate School to some domestic students who demonstrate financial need. Unfortunately, international students planning to study on a student visa are not eligible for these fee waivers. (The MSDS program does not offer fee waivers on the program/department level.)

+ Optional: Additional information

Is there anything else you would like the admissions committee to know about you? Are there unusual circumstances impacting your application? Include this information here, up to a 350 word maximum.

It will not impact your application if you leave this section blank. Please do not upload a personal statement.

Important Links and Information for Applicants

✔ tuition, costs, financial aid/scholarships.

Our Tuition, Costs, and Financial Aid/Scholarships webpage provides information about current MSDS tuition, estimates of quarterly fees and other costs, as well as external sources of financial aid, scholarships, and assistantships.

✔ UW Graduate School application fee waiver page

The central UW Graduate School offers application fee waivers to domestic students who demonstrate financial need, in certain circumstances. Application fee waivers are not available to international students who plan to study on F or J visas.

✔ 2021 Class Profile information

Discover data about the demographic and other composition of our incoming 2021 cohort.

✔ Resources for international students

Read information for international applicants about the UW English Proficiency Requirement, visa questions, CPT/OPT, and International Student Services (ISS).

✔ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Check out Frequently Asked Questions about curriculum, admissions, international student status, tuition & financial aid.

Admissions Timelines

Applications for Autumn 2024 admissions are now closed.

Decisions Release Date: Mid-March 2024 (no early decisions granted)

Admissions Updates

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University of Washington

Cost & scholarships.

• Essay prompt

Your chances

Acceptance rate, acceptance rate breakdown, applicant breakdown, average net cost after aid.

Published costs and averages can be misleading: they don’t fully account for your family’s finances (for financial aid) or your academic profile (for scholarships).

Want to see your personalized net cost after financial aid and scholarships?

Applications

How to apply, tests typically submitted, enrolled breakdown by gender, race & ethnicity diversity, special academic offering, study abroad, credit for ap exams, offers graduate degree, academic and career counseling, similar schools.

Application essays

Your application essays give you the opportunity to introduce yourself, your interests, and sometimes your project ideas, to a selection committee. A great personal statement will give the committee members a sense of who you are, your motivations and interests, and how the scholarship, program or opportunity aligns with your past experiences and future goals.

Writing these essays takes time. You may work through multiple drafts before feeling confident in your work. In addition to giving yourself time to brainstorm, draft, and redraft, be sure to give yourself time to proofread and edit. Seek feedback from your professors, advisors, writing centers and other mentors.

Advisors in our office are available to read and give feedback on essay drafts for scholarship, graduate school and other applications you might be working on. Contact us to request an appointment for help with your personal statement.

Do your homework on the scholarship you are applying for.

Keep in mind the characteristics, requirements, expectations, and/or mission of the specific scholarship to which you are applying.

Reflect on your purpose for applying, your past experiences and your future interests.

A personal statement is not just a listing of your achievements. It is a narration that describes how your interests/plans/perspectives have developed and those experiences that have been critical to that development – why your goals are what they are and how that relates to the scholarship.

Know your audience and how to address them appropriately.

Learn all you can about the nature of particular selection committees through both research and communication with scholarship foundations, past scholarship recipients, graduate students, interns, faculty, etc.  Scholarship websites and application materials often reveal the kinds of selectors involved, and such information can be used to shape material and decide on the level of technical detail and explanation needed. For graduate school, thoroughly research program websites and faculty members (read their CVs).

Important Note: You should not write your personal statement based on what you think the selection committee wants to hear. It should be an honest depiction of who you are, what you want, and how you plan to get there.

Begin drafting with the expectation that you will write multiple drafts.

Most people writing personal statements end up with a first draft that is fairly general, containing mostly vague statements and ideas that could have been written by just about anyone. This is why personal statement writing has to be a process you work through. Multiple drafts are necessary to get past that initial draft, taking those general ideas and distilling them down to the essence of the information you’re trying to convey, fleshing them out with specifics from your experiences.

While working on your first several drafts, do not limit yourself to a certain number of pages or words. Write out all of your ideas first, taking as many pages as necessary, then make choices about what is most important, and edit down. If you limit yourself from the beginning, you are more likely to leave important information out of the final draft.

Revise, Revise & Revise Again.

It can take many drafts to distill your writing down to a final product that directly, concisely and persuasively presents your points. Continued editing and revising is absolutely critical to eradicate words, sentences, even whole paragraphs, that don’t actually contain any real information.

Crafting Your Personal Statement

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MFA Program Overview

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Our MFA students participate in student-centered writing workshops supplemented by the study of literary periods and critical theory. Workshops are usually small (8-10 students) and taught using a variety of pedagogical approaches. By the end of the first year of study students will have familiarized themselves with a variety of workshop methodologies as they work toward their second year thesis. 

In their second year MFA candidates present a Creative Manuscript (minimum 30 poems,100 pages of 5 short stories and/or personal essays, or 150 pages of a novel or book-length essay), a Critical Essay (20-30 pages, addressing the student's relationship to their reading based on the student's own writerly concerns and studies), and an oral presentation (a discussion with and/or questions from the candidate's thesis committee on the creative manuscript, critical essay, and/or the writing process and which may include a reading from the candidate's Creative Manuscript).

All students accepted into the program are funded through Teaching Assistantships, Fellowships, and a long-standing relationship with the Amazon Literary Partnership. All students receive full tuition waivers, health insurance, and a monthly stipend. 

Students also enjoy Seattle's lively literary and arts scene. Seattle is home to numerous reading series, the Seattle International Film Festival, and many highly-acclaimed theater companies. Surrounded by spectacular scenery, Seattle is minutes away from hiking, skiing, and boating.

For questions about the MFA program, please contact  [email protected]

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Course Requirements

55 credits, a creative manuscript, and a critical essay. The program should be completed within six full-time quarters.

• 20 course credits in creative writing workshops (one may be outside the student's genre)
• 15 credits in graduate literature seminars (5 credits of which must be a seminar numbered 506-510, 550, 551, or 581)
• 5 elective credits (5 credits of internship [601] can count for degree credit)
• 15 thesis credits, under the direction of a Thesis Committee, including each of the following: 1) Creative Manuscript:  a minimum of 30 poems, or 100 pages of 5 short stories and/or personal essays, or 150 pages of a novel or book-length essay.  2) Critical Essay: 20-30 pages, addressing the student's relationship with their reading, based on the student's own writerly concerns and studies, using a reading list compiled by the student .
• An Oral Presentation: a discussion with and/or questions from the candidate's thesis committee on the creative manuscript, critical essay, and/or the writing process and which may include a reading from the candidate's creative manuscript.
• The submission of the Creative Manuscript or the Critical Essay as an Electronic Thesis.  
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Freshman Admission Requirements

Main content.

• English - 4 yrs
• Social Sciences - 3 yrs
• Lab Science - 3 yrs 
• World Language - 2 yrs
• Fine, Visual or Performing Art - 0.5 yrs
• Academic Elective - 0.5 yrs
• Intermediate algebra (or higher), stats, chemistry or physics
• Complete the Personal Statement and Activity Log portion of your application
• SAT/ACT scores are not required. If you wish to submit them, you may do so.

Tips for Success

• Have your unofficial transcript by your side.
• Write your Personal Statement outside of the application
• Know your social security number and family income
• Payment and waiver requests take place at the end of the application

Application Process

• Complete the academic course grid and your senior year projections. There are instructions on the application to help you complete the grid successfully. 
• Write your personal statement
• Complete the activity log
• Pay the application fee or request a fee waiver at the conclusion of your application. 
• Submit official  standardized test scores  (optional).
• Submit official AP , IB , or CLEP scores (if applicable).
• Have you graduated from high school?  You are required to send a final, official transcript at the time of application

When Should I Submit My Application?

• November 15 - Autumn early action deadline. 
• January 15 - Autumn quarter priority application deadline
• October 15 - Winter quarter priority application deadline

 There are numerous important dates in your application process, so make sure you  check out our comprehensive list.

If you have questions about completing the application, email [email protected] or call 253-692-4742 .

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Admission Requirements

Application and credit requirements.

The Seattle University Admissions Office reviews applicat ions holistically. General admission requirements are listed below, but know that many factors are considered in the admissions process. Students with specific questions regarding their admission should contact their Admissions Counselor.

To see a list of required materials, please see the How to Apply page.

Successful candidates complete the following minimal program in high school (each unit is equivalent to one academic year of study): 

• English: 4 units
• Mathematics (college preparatory): 3 units
• Social studies: 3 units
• Laboratory science: 2 units
• Foreign language: 2 units
• History: 1 unit
• Additional academic units from the above disciplines: 2 units
• SAT and ACT Exams
• Home-Schooled Applicants
• Running Start
• Proof of English Proficiency
• AP, IB and Cambridge Exams

Direct Entry Admissions Requirements

At Seattle University, students can apply directly to their intended major. For instance, students who select "Nursing" as their intended major will be considered directly for admission to our Nursing program. If admitted, students can begin their journey in their major right from the beginning.

As a result, certain programs—Nursing included—have additional admission requirements. Please review the programs with direct entry admission requirements below:

Albers School of Business and Economics

Competitive applicants to majors within the Albers School of Business and Economics must meet minimum credit requirements (see the top of this page) and : 

• Three units of college preparatory mathematics. Pre-Calculus, or equivalent, is not required but encouraged. Otherwise, students must take Pre-Calculus as a business elective at Seattle University.
• Preferably have demonstrated interest in math, business, entrepreneurship, or other related topics via academics or extracurricular activities.
• Please see Business Analytics and Business and Law below for additional score requirements.

The following majors have additional requirements for direct entry admission:

College of Arts and Sciences

Competitive applicants to majors within the College of Arts and Sciences must meet minimum requirements credit requirements (see the top of this page), and the following majors have additional requirements for direct entry admission :

College of Nursing

Competitive applicants to majors within the College of Nursing must meet minimum requirements credit requirements (see the top of this page) and : 

• Four units of college preparatory mathematics (with B grades or higher), including the equivalent of Pre-Calculus (complete or in progress).
• One year of laboratory Biology and Laboratory Chemistry (with B grades or higher).
• Demonstrated interest in Nursing, Diagnostic Ultrasound, Science, or other related topics via coursework or extracurricular activities.
• SAT: 560+ in Math required
• ACT: 24+ in Math required
• SAT: 1210-1330
• Please note these are not minimums but rather the typical range for admitted students.

Additionally, the following majors have additional requirements for direct entry admission:

College of Science and Engineering

Competitive applicants to majors within the College of Science and Engineering must meet minimum requirements credit requirements (see the top of this page) and :

• Precalculus, or equivalent, is required for most programs (completed or in progress)
• B grades or higher preferred
• B grades preferred in relevant math/science coursework.
• Minimally two laboratory science courses, including Chemistry.
• Demonstrated interest in STEM courses and careers via academics or extracurricular activities.

What if I don’t know what I want to study yet?

You do not need to know your major before you apply!* We have advisors that work with you to research, explore and prepare for a wide variety of majors. Students who have not yet selected a major should contact the Admissions Office to learn more about our Undeclared (Academic Pathways), Pre-Business, Pre-Science, and Pre-Engineering programs. See some more information below.  

*Please note that—due to the cohort structure of their programs—students interested in Nursing, Diagnostic Ultrasound, or Business and Law must select that major on their application for consideration.

ACT and SAT exam scores

Seattle University employs a holistic review of your application materials to determine admission. Part of that holistic review includes evaluating student performance on the  SAT or ACT exam , an optional admission component.

If you choose to submit your test scores, Seattle University will use the  highest sub-scores on both the ACT and SAT Reasoning test  when making admission, scholarship, and course placement decisions.

Should applicants choose to submit test scores, they must be  received   by November 15 for early action consideration  and  by   January 15 for regular admission consideration . We will provisionally accept self-reported scores from the Common Application to complete applications. Students submitting self-reported scores must follow up with an official score report if they attend SU.

International students

Although international students are not required to submit the SAT or ACT,  the Admissions Office recommends international students take either exam  and submit their scores.

Gaps in education

Some applicants have taken some time off while completing a degree.  Students with a gap of 5 or more years may be asked to establish a current academic record at another college or university  before applying for Seattle University admission. In addition, recent prerequisite coursework may be needed to apply to specific majors. Don't hesitate to contact your Admissions Counselor  for more information.

English proficiency requirements

Applicants whose native language is other than English must demonstrate English proficiency regardless of the length of residency in the U.S., citizenship, or immigration status. 

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Gaps in Education

If an applicant has a gap in education of 5 or more years, they may be asked to establish a current academic record at another college or university prior to applying for admission at Seattle University.  In addition, recent prerequisite coursework may be needed to apply to specific majors. Please contact your Admissions Counselor for more information.

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Students admitted to the UW now have until June 1 to commit, a result of FAFSA delays. We anticipate that financial aid offers will be sent in late April or early May.

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.