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College Essays

The University of Washington is often ranked among public Ivy Leagues —that is, public schools with the academic clout and selectivity to elevate their reputations. So if you want to be a Husky, it's not just about good grades and test scores. You'll also need to prove yourself with a good University of Washington essay, combining your technical skill with your knowledge of the school and your reasons for wanting to attend to attract attention from admissions officers.

But to do that, you need to know how to write great UW essays. The University of Washington uses the Common Application , which can be submitted to multiple schools and includes an essay section with several different prompts. The supplemental UW essay prompts are pretty standard, but we have all the helpful tips you need to make sure your application is set to impress.

Feature Image: Cody Logan/ Wikimedia

What's Included in the University of Washington Essay Section?

There are two required essays you need to write for the University of Washington, along with an optional third essay. These essays are:

• Common App essay (650 words)
• Short response (300 words)
• Additional information (optional, 200 words)

Part of the Common App includes answering an essay prompt in 650 words or less. While there are seven Common App essay prompts, the University of Washington doesn't allow you to choose which prompt to answer; all applicants must answer the same prompt and submit them as part of their Common Application .  

The University of Washington application also includes a required short response question of 300 words and an optional short essay of 200 words.

Additional space is available, but it's recommended that you don't take it unless you absolutely need it. Show restraint when responding to UW essay prompts; it shows that you can be concise and follow directions , and you won't run the risk of volunteering too much information or making yourself memorable for the wrong reasons. That said, we'll cover some exceptions below!

What Is the Common Application Essay Prompt?

Although there are seven Common App essay prompts , the University of Washington requires you to answer a specific prompt; you don't get to choose. The maximum length of this essay is 650 words, but the University of Washington recommends the essay be closer to 300-400 words.

This is the Common App essay prompt you must answer:

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

This essay prompt is pretty broad; it allows you to focus on any significant experience in your life. To answer it effectively, you'll want to relate a specific anecdote or event that had a strong impact on you as a person and how you define yourself today.

When answering this prompt, you'll want to choose a particularly significant experience. It doesn't need to be super rare, but the experience should hold deep meaning for you. Ask yourself: what defines you? What do you find important? Can you connect a key part of your personality or a goal you have to a specific event in your life?

You should also focus on only one experience. Don't try to cram in as many stories as possible—concentrate on the one incident that's most important to you, and use this essay as a chance to really delve into the specifics of it. How did the experience make you feel at the time? Why did it have such an impact on you?

If you decide to write about a negative experience, try to put a positive spin on it. You don't need to stick with a happy-go-lucky story—maybe you lost a friend because of a heated argument, or forgot to pick up your little brother from school one day. Regardless of the incident, keep the focus on how this situation ultimately taught you something important about life, such as the value of responsibility or the meaning of maturity.

Tips For Brainstorming Topics for Your University of Washington Essay

If you're struggling to come up with an experience to write about, try these brainstorming ideas:

• A time you helped someone in need, such as a friend, a classmate, or a sibling, and how your assistance revealed to you the value of cooperation or compassion. For example, did you tutor a peer in math? Help your sibling recover from a bullying incident?
• A time you made a mistake or acted against your true character and what this taught you about morality and being true to yourself. Perhaps you lied about a grade you got to your parents or said something out of anger to a friend and later regretted it.
• An incident that emphasizes a particular skill or ability you have. For example, you could write about the time you organized a winter holiday food drive at your high school and how it highlights your leadership skills and passion for social work.
• A time you faced a challenge and how you ultimately overcame it. Maybe you struggled severely with geometry and were about to fail your math class, but because of a great friend who encouraged you to keep trying, you eventually raised your grade from a D- to a B.

When writing this essay, make sure to avoid pretending something is more important or unique than it actually is. Don't tell a story the admissions committee has likely heard hundreds of times. Choose an event that speaks to your life and has had a large impact on how you see yourself. Basically, don't write about what you think the admissions committee wants to read. For example, instead of discussing how you've been in Honor Society since 9th grade, it'll be a lot more interesting if you wrote about somebody you met through Honor Society or why you decided to drop out of it.

Also, don't focus too much on the negative part of the story. While it's OK to write about a time when you made a mistake, did something wrong, or faced a challenge, try to avoid writing only about the bad parts. Your story should overall be optimistic and reveal something positive about yourself.

What Is the Short Answer Prompt?

Once you've finished the Common Application essay, the University of Washington has an additional requirement for you—a short response question with a 300 word limit.

The University of Washington suggests that concise writing is particularly valuable, and recommends that the Common App essay be between 300 and 400 words rather than 650. Though they don't offer word count recommendations for the other prompts, it's best to assume they're looking for short answers. Cutting out 100 words might feel excessive, but do try to leave some breathing room within your essay rather than squeaking in right under the allotted 300 words .

Additionally, the University of Washington states that students tend to answer this essay more informally than the longer essay. However, they expect formal, polished essays for both prompts, so don't slack off on proofreading or editing this essay.

For the UW short response essay, here is the required 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 UW.

UW offers a helpful tip right below the prompt: "Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints." What this means is that UW wants to see students who are going to be right at home in that diverse student body. When answering this question, consider specifically what you might add to the community. What perspective do you bring? What traits make you a good fit?

Some students might struggle with this, because it's easy to assume that UW means they're only looking for students from diverse backgrounds, such as students of color, LGBTQ+ students, or students of other marginalized identities. But the prompt doesn't at all mean that you have no chance if you don't belong to one of those communities. Students who fit into those groups may have an easier time of identifying what diversity they bring to the school, but belonging to a marginalized group doesn't in any way guarantee admission.

The University of Washington is looking for students who foster and embrace diversity, so be sure to think on those terms. Consider, for example, how your rambunctious family Thanksgiving taught you to embrace chaos, and how your ability to stop Great Aunt Kathy from throwing mashed potatoes at your cousin for bringing up a sensitive political issue translates to a college campus. Think about how having several different friend groups in high school—nerds and jocks, for example—taught you to move between spaces while always being your authentic self.

For students who are of marginalized backgrounds, the same advice still applies. You likely have different lived experiences than other students, but UW wants to know exactly what you're going to bring to the student community . You can discuss advocacy work, for example, or how your less advantageous upbringing taught you to work hard for everything you want. Always come back to that request to "Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW."

Embracing diversity isn't just about being a member of a marginalized community; think about how you participate in your social groups and how your experiences before college will help you have and, more importantly, create a good experience for others. Again, it's not about what identity you do or do not have, but rather about how you build communities and support others. UW is a big school, but you'll still be interacting with people from all walks of life on a daily basis—how will you navigate difference and fit into a student body made up of so many different people?

Let UW know exactly how they're going to help you make a slam dunk.

What Should You Add in the Additional Information Section?

The University of Washington essay prompt offers an additional 200 words for you to talk about yourself and your unique circumstances. This section is optional, and UW advises that the following types of students may benefit from taking the opportunity to expand on their application:

• 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

Even if you don't fall into one of these groups, it's wise to take advantage of this additional space. Everyone has a goal that's important to them, after all, which is explicitly included in the second bullet point. However, you only have 200 words, so you'll need to make them count .

Again, UW mentions earlier in their guidelines for the writing section that they value brevity. Don't try to hit that 200 word mark just because it's there—use only the space that you need. Be succinct and clear about any obstacles you've overcome, what draws you to your major, and what makes you want to attend UW specifically.

For example, say you, like many prospective UW students, are interested in becoming a doctor. The University of Washington is highly ranked among medical schools , so saying you want to go there because it's a good medical program isn't doing any legwork in setting you apart from other students . Instead, use this space to talk about why your major is important to you, and why placement at UW is going to help you achieve more.

Following the medical school example, maybe your primary care doctor was a UW grad, and the depth of care they gave you convinced you it wasn't just what you know as a doctor that matters, but also how you deploy that knowledge. Because you want to make the same difference in somebody's life, you're applying to UW to have access to the same information and instruction that your doctor did. In essence, use this space to explain something you didn't have space to explain elsewhere, but make it count .

Be careful not to retread the same ground! This is an opportunity to flesh out your application, not to hammer something home. If you haven't had a chance to discuss that your grades slipped sophomore year because of a family illness or that your local library has a special box for you because of all the engineering books you keep checking out, now's the time to mention it. Keep it short, direct, and original—the admissions office is reading this supplemental section in the context of your application, so you don't need to revisit anything.

Careful not to fall into the trap of using more space than you need.

Should You Use the Additional Space? How?

It can be tempting to use UW's provided additional space to squeeze a few more words into your application, but resist it . Those word counts are there for a reason, and you should aim to get under, not exceed them.

That said, there are legitimate reasons to use this additional space. The University of Washington mentions clarifying answers from elsewhere on the application or providing extra information to the admissions office.

If you have special considerations as a student that you want to be sure the office is aware of, but that you didn't discuss in the previous additional information section, you could include that here. You could also include relevant awards or distinguishing recognition you've received. If your high school had an unusual grading system, it might be useful to explain how to interpret your grades.

But don't take the lack of a word requirement to mean that you can talk about whatever you want, or that you should use this space to expand on one of your earlier essays . Use only what you need, no more. Try to keep it under 200 words. Brevity is important!

Tips and Advice for the University of Washington Essays

Specific advice for each prompt will help you craft a better essay, but there are some general things to keep in mind, too !

Proofread Your UW Essays

It's a small space, so there should be fewer mistakes, right? Nope . You still need to proofread . Consider writing your essays by hand and then transcribing the drafts—it feels like more work, but turning written words into typed words is a great way to spot mistakes. Go through multiple drafts, and read your essay out loud before you submit it.

Don't let typos get through; no matter how good the rest of your essay is, a typo will make it look as though you didn't edit it at all, suggesting you didn't take your time. Do everything you can to avoid the perception that you wrote it up without thinking! On the UW admission website they are very specific that you should “write like it matters, not like you’re texting. This is an application for college, not a message to your friend.”

Get Editing Help

Seek feedback from those you trust, not just those who are going to tell you your essays are great . You want your essays to be as good as possible, so let people who are going to be truthful with you make suggestions. They'll help you write a better essay, and a fresh pair of eyes can spot holes in your logic and errors you might miss after repeated revisions.

Think about going to teachers or counselors rather than friends or family. Though they undoubtedly want to help you, they might also be worried about hurting your feelings. Someone who's a little more objective but still wants to see you succeed is the kind of editor you want.

Be Specific

Always remember that you're applying to the University of Washington. Don't just write an essay that could impress any college (that's what the Common Application essay is for!); write one that ties into UW's core values . Their vision includes an emphasis on discovery, research, community, optimism, and even celebrating the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. All of these are angles ripe for exploration in your essays . If one of your answers is lacking, try folding a little of this vision into it by finding parts of your essay that match the mission and making them stand out more.

Read Essays That Got Students Into UW

It can be tricky finding essays that got applicants into UW, but it can also be a great indicator of what the school values in an application. Take these essays by Issa Rice . Though written for a different set of prompts, it's not hard to see why Rice was accepted.

Notice how his essays could only come from him; they're so tied to personal experience that it's unlikely anyone else would have the same essay. That's the kind of personalization you want to strive for. Your essay should speak about your own unique experience and leave the admissions office with a clearer picture of who you are as a person, not just as a collection of grades and test scores.

What's Next?

Crafting a perfect essay is just one part of the admissions process to the University of Washington. Because UW is a moderately selective school, you need to be aware of all admissions requirements before applying to be sure that your application is up to snuff .

As you're writing and rewriting your UW essay, be sure that it meets all the guidelines of a good college essay in addition to the UW requirements. A little extra polish will go a long way to cementing your application in the admission office's memory!

If you're struggling to understand why UW uses the Coalition App and what that means, never fear! We have all the information on what distinguishes one application system from another , helping you plan your college applications with less stress.

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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University Of Washington Supplemental Essays + Examples

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 12/5/23

The University of Washington supplemental essays play a crucial role in the admission selection process. To learn more about how to write these essays, read on. 

The University of Washington uses essays to see the student behind the transcripts and numbers. With a mission to admit the most diverse, accomplished, and well-rounded students, UW urges all prospective students to consider their essays to ensure they reflect their unique stories.

However, supplemental essays don’t come easy to most students, especially open-ended prompts. You may have no idea where to start, struggle to articulate your thoughts or wonder if your story is worth sharing.

‍ Rest assured, all of these concerns and more will be answered in this guide! By the end, you can write the most compelling supplemental essays.

The University of Washington Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

Before getting into how to write the University of Washington essays, let’s go over the prompts themselves! 

UW Essay Prompt #1

“Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650-word limit)”

UW Essay Prompt #2

“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-word limit)”

UW Essay Prompt #3

“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-word limit)”

How to Write Each Essay Prompt for the University of Washington 

If you’re still unsure of how to write a good college essay , let’s break down each of these prompts! This way, you’ll have a better understanding of what kind of answers the admissions team is looking for! 

How to Write UW’s #1 Essay Prompt: Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #1 : This first prompt is very similar to a personal statement . It gives you the opportunity to share any story that has made a significant impact on your life. UW wants to know more about what makes you, you. They want to know what makes you tick. 

Start by deciding which traits you want to highlight about yourself, your values, and your unique traits. Brainstorm several stories that you think are worth sharing and use the process of elimination to choose one. 

To make this process easier, consider creating a list of questions to ask yourself about each story so you can eliminate options that do not meet your criteria! Here are the questions we suggest you use: 

• Does this story reflect who I am and/or who I want to be?
• Does this story show development?
• Can I turn this story into a narrative?
• Is this story unique, or does it involve a common experience?
• Does this story share my most important identities?
• Does this story involve my best characteristics?
• Am I the protagonist in this story?
• Do I feel connected to this story, or do I just think it’ll impress the judges?
• Do I think about this story often, other than for applications? Has it truly had an impact on my life?

Here are some other tips to help you tackle this essay prompt: 

• Tip #1: Choose a Significant Story : You should write about something that is truly significant to you and has real meaning. Choose a topic that’s unique to you and your identity, and make sure that the story you choose is focused on yourself and your personal growth! 
• Tip #2: Write Narratively : Tell a story! Start with an intriguing hook , such as the climax of your story or an interesting part of it. Spend the rest of the essay explaining the rest of the story and its impact on you. Use sensory details to show your reader what you experienced; don’t just tell them. 
• Tip #3: Don’t Overwrite : Do not feel obligated to write 650 words if you can tell your story in fewer words. In fact, UW states the most successful essays are typically around 400 words! The admissions committee would rather read a short story that packs a punch than a dragged-out story with little meaning.

How to Write UW’s #2 Essay Prompt: Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #2 : This next University of Washington supplemental essay has a word limit that is almost half of the first prompt. It does not need to be written as a narrative, although it can be if you believe it’s the best way to convey your feelings. 

The main purpose of this prompt is for the University of Washington to learn what your values are and how well you’ll fit into their community. Here are some helpful tips on how to answer this prompt well: 

• Tip #1: Choose a Meaningful Community : As a student, you’ll be part of many communities: your residential area, your group of friends and family, your workplace, your school, and more. Choose one that resonates with you and has had the most impact on your life.
• Tip #2: Express Your Values : Explain how your community has shaped you into the person you are today and how it will continue to impact you at UW. Prove your community has instilled valuable traits in you that will help you become a more productive student at UW.
• Tip #3: Get Specific : Little details can add a lot of power to your essay. Be specific about significant moments that have shaped you in your community. 

UW has also expressed that the tone for this short-answer prompt should be just as formal and polished as your first, longer essay. Make sure to keep your writing professional!

How to Write UW’s #3 Essay Prompt: Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #3 : The final prompt is not required. However, if you have extenuating circumstances that have affected some aspect of your application, this is your chance to explain yourself. This could include a low GPA, a lack of extracurriculars, or other related situations. 

If you choose to write this response, keep the following tips in mind:

• Tip #1: Stick to the Facts : This answer should be straightforward. Unlike your first response, you should not paint a picture using narrative techniques or descriptive or emotional language. Stick to the facts and be honest
• Tip #2: No Pity Parties : It’s important you do not throw a pity party for yourself or try to make the admissions committee feel bad for you. The committee does not admit students out of pity, so don’t waste your time trying. 
• Tip #3: Only Answer If Necessary : This prompt should only be answered if students have experiences they’d like to share with the committee that have not already been discussed in their other responses. This is not an opportunity for students to expand on their responses to the other prompts.

Examples of UW Supplemental Essays That Worked

If you feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start, don’t worry. Take a look and get inspired by these UW supplemental essay examples written by successful applicants to the University of Washington! 

Sample Essay #1

Prompt : “Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650-word limit)”

Here’s a sample response to this question that can inspire you:

“It was the fourteenth rabbit that had come in with bloodshot eyes, curling nails, and patches of discolored fur that resembled my overwatered lawn. He had the same mistrusting gaze that darted from me to the zookeeper. I could see his heart trying to escape his sunken body as I got whiffs of a faint medicinal smell coming from his fur.

In my sophomore year, I joined my school’s animal rights club out of curiosity and passion. I’ve always considered myself to be an avid animal lover, but was unconvinced I could actually make a difference in their wellbeing as a fifteen-year-old teenager—an assumption that could not have been further from the truth, as I was about to learn. 

Our group decided to attend a volunteer brigade in Peru for three weeks in June. I picked up extra shifts at my part-time job at McDonald’s and saved up enough to attend the brigade.

We were stationed with a Peruvian family in a tiny house that seemed to never sleep. The endless creaks and thin walls made it difficult to sleep the first few nights, but it was the experiences I had after settling in that were far more deafening. 

We volunteered at a local animal sanctuary that took in animals that were abandoned or abused by their caretakers. There were old circus bears that slumped in the same position for hours, turtles without shells, monkeys missing digits, and dozens of discarded lab rabbits. 

It was a paradoxical mixture of chaos and tranquility. Among the cries of frightened baby monkeys who were ripped away from their real mothers to be raised as pets were the soothing words and lulls of zookeepers and volunteers trying to undo all the damage these animals went through.

Some of these zookeepers lived in tiny rooms at the zoo with no running water or AC, to provide these animals with around-the-clock care and comfort.  

The majority of them made less than $600 US dollars a month, but still greeted me every morning with warm smiles and unrelenting enthusiasm to love the flock of new animals that would be brought in that day.

I was only in Peru for a few weeks, but over those weeks I saw the immense changes I made in these animals' lives, even as a fifteen-year-old girl. 

Most memorably, I noticed the curiosity of an abused fawn flourish as she remembered what trust felt like. She went from cowering behind fence posts to following me around the zoo, nudging my hands for pets any chance she got.

These transformations stuck with me even when I was miles away in my silent suburban home with overwatered grass. They inspired me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, specifically with exotic animals. 

With a newfound commitment to animal welfare, I recognized all it took for me to better the lives of so many animals in Peru was an unwavering love for animals. I cannot wait to see what a profound impact I have on animals in the future when I combine this passion with advanced veterinarian training .” 

Why Essay #1 Worked

This essay works because it shares a unique story that the student has a deep connection to. It uses descriptive language so that the readers can feel like they’re part of the narrative. They can hear the sounds of the animals, imagine how the lab rabbit looked, and imagine the joy the student felt.

This student’s passion for animals also clearly shines through. It ties into the student’s career aspirations and demonstrates clear drive and intent, two traits that are important for college students to have as they enter challenging programs.

Sample Essay #2

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 UW. (300-word limit)”

Consider this response from a student who has an unconventional view of community:

“Growing up in a South-Asian household, the importance of family was instilled in me from the moment I learned the word. I was told my family always came first and they were my community. 

So, I morphed myself to fit my family’s rigid ideals. I remained silent in the face of familial confrontation, gave my respect to older cousins that constantly picked on me for my weight, and remained complacent as my parents planned my entire future for me. 

I completed the majority of my education dreading my future. My parents decided I would become a doctor to continue the long line of successful physicians I come from. There was always a looming sense of anticipation for me because of this. I was always waiting for a future that I knew wasn’t mine. 

That was until I joined my school’s theater club. There, I learned what community really means. I was part of a group that still had a deep respect for one another, but held each other accountable. 

We disagreed with each other sometimes but always encouraged open conversation nonetheless. Often, my group acted as a sounding board for me. I would tell them my true aspirations of becoming a drama teacher, and they would provide me with solutions to achieve my dream without upsetting my parents. 

We taught each other about new perspectives, traditions, and cultures, but what I appreciated most about my community was that we challenged each other. We all came from different backgrounds, had different identities and stories, but pushed each other to do our best in and outside of the classroom.

Through my wonderful club mates, I understood that true community involves the celebration of differences, open intellectual conversation and debate, the embracement of diverse identities, mutual respect, equal collaboration, and sometimes even vulnerability. 

With an understanding of what true community looks and feels like, I hope to join The University of Washington's body of diverse individuals united by the shared collective of bettering themselves and the world, the same value that united my theater community.”

Why Essay #2 Worked

It’s clear this student put a lot of thought into their response. While they could have gone the traditional route by talking about the type of community values their family instilled in them, they take a unique approach by claiming they found a truer community outside of their expected one. 

This unexpected ending makes this response more memorable. Additionally, the response clearly defines community based on this student’s values. It does not use overused or generic definitions of the term. Near the end, this student also ties in UW and affirms they will be a productive member of their community.

Sample Essay #3

Prompt : “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:

Here’s a great example of how to answer this optional essay:  

“During the pandemic, my father, the sole provider in my family, was laid off from his full-time position as an assistant manager. The business he worked for had to close its doors because of the pandemic, and he had a hard time finding a new job. 

To keep my family of four afloat as my father looked for a job, I began working at a local restaurant as soon as restrictions were lifted.

I was working 30–40 hours a week for the majority of my junior and senior year, which limited the time I had to pursue extracurriculars. Due to the demands of AP courses, I was able to only take three of these advanced courses in my final two years of high school.

During the first semester of my junior year, in particular, I struggled with my academics as I learned to juggle multiple commitments at once. Fortunately, I was able to manage my time better and adapted to my circumstances quickly. I improved my marks significantly in the remainder of my high school career.”

Why Essay #3 Worked

This essay works because the student sticks to the facts. They explain the situation, give relevant background information, and explain how they tried to resolve the issue. 

This student mentions the measures they took to accomplish their goals despite the obstacles they faced, which demonstrates their resiliency, perseverance, and adaptability.

These University of Washington essay examples will give you a better idea of what to write for your essays. Ensure you put in effort and craft a personalized essay when applying to the University of Washington. 

Get More Sample Essays Here!

If you found these sample essays helpful, great news! You can read many more examples of successful college essays with our essay database down below. 

Insert tool 

For any remaining questions, read on to find your answers.

1. How Many Essays Are Required For the University of Washington?

Students are required to write two essays to apply to the University of Washington. There is an optional third section where students can share more about other life experiences or circumstances that they weren’t able to share elsewhere on their application.

2. How Do I Write An Essay For the University of Washington?

Your personal story and voice should be evident in all of your supplemental essays, so there isn’t a perfect formula or list of topics you can choose from to ace these essays. Choose experiences that had meaningful impacts on your life, show, don’t tell where appropriate, and use language within your abilities.

Avoid overused topics or falsifying stories just to impress the admissions committee. You don’t have to write about tragic or life-changing experiences to have a compelling essay! Address the statement at hand, and don’t forget to proofread your responses several times before submitting them.

3. How Important Are the University of Washington Essays?

While your essays aren’t the most important part of your application, they serve a unique and critical function. These essays are used to learn more about what applicants do outside of the classroom, what their identities are outside of being students, and what their overall principles and values are. 

The admissions committee will evaluate all of these factors to decide whether you’d fit in at UW and your potential to contribute to it. 

4. Are There Any Topics I Should Avoid In My Supplemental Essays?

There are endless topics students can write about in their supplemental essays, but only a few topics they should avoid. If your chosen topic reveals information about you that only your therapist knows, you may want to brainstorm some less personal ideas. You don’t want to make the admissions committee feel uncomfortable.

Similarly, if your topic discusses illegal or unethical conduct, you’ll absolutely want to go back to the drawing board. Even if you’re a changed person now, sharing this information can make the admissions committee hesitant to admit you, especially if the misconduct is not on your record. 

5. How Can I Improve My UW Supplemental Essays?

If you’ve written your essays and feel they are lackluster or fail to share a unique story, there are several ways to improve them:

• Write freely at first : Let your ideas flow for your first draft. Cut down on your essays once you’ve written all of your ideas down so you can choose the best ones
• Add some color : Include sensory details and imagery to engage your readers
• Narrow your scope : Focus on one main experience for each response so you can develop it to its fullest
• Maintain your voice : As people edit your work, their input can weaken your voice! Avoid this by accepting grammar, punctuation, and structural edits instead of content or language suggestions.

If all of these suggestions fail, you may have to start all over again using a different approach! While it’ll be time-consuming, you shouldn’t submit your essays until you feel confident they reflect your most important traits, skills, and experiences in an interesting and insightful way.

This is why it’s important you begin your essays early! Give yourself ample time to create several rough drafts and revise them until you’re satisfied.

Final Thoughts

For students who still doubt their abilities to craft extraordinary essays, we leave you with some inspiring words by the renowned author Sylvia Plath : “Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” 

We believe in you, and you should, too!

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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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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?

How to Get Into the University of Washington Seattle: Acceptance Rate & Admissions Strategies

July 6, 2023

Sitting in the company of other top public university gems like UCLA, UNC-Chapel Hill, UVA, the University of Michigan, and UT-Austin, the University of Washington-Seattle perhaps flies a bit under the radar. However, like the others, UW-Seattle is consistently ranked as a top-20 public institution in the U.S., possessing a magnetic pull that attracts high-achievers from all around the country and even the world—Close to 40% of the Husky undergraduate population hails from out-of-state and overseas. Even more impressively, UW-Seattle’s undergraduate programs in business, engineering, and computer science can be found at the very top of any rankings; they are U.S. News neighbors with the likes of Princeton, MIT, and Georgia Tech. Even so, the University of Washington acceptance rate remains at a not-so-terrible 50-ish percent.

The 36,206 undergrads who attend this school, affectionately nicknamed UDub, own increasingly eye-popping academic credentials with each passing year. For example, the average freshman in 2023 has pretty darn close to an A average.

Given this enhanced level of selectivity, this article is intended to educate prospective UW-Seattle applicants on:

• The University of Washington acceptance rate 2023
• SAT/ACT, GPA, and class rank of accepted University of Washington applicants
• Admissions trends
• The University of Washington’s system for rating applicants
• A look at the demographics of current UW-Seattle undergraduates
• The percentage of accepted students that attend the University of Washington (yield rate)
• Tips for applying to UDub
• How to assess whether applying to the UW Seattle is even worth the $80 application fee (for you)

Many students applying to UW-Seattle may also find the following blogs to be of interest:

How to Get Into:

• Boston University 
• UC Berkeley

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

The University of Washington Acceptance Rate – Class of 2026

The University of Washington acceptance rate has declined over the last several years. Last year, there were 52,488 applications for admission into the Husky Class of 2026. Ultimately, 24,9421 individuals were accepted. Therefore, the current University of Washington acceptance rate is 47.5%. Over the previous three years, out-of-staters were accepted at a 51% clip, while the admit rate for residents was a friendlier 60%.

The University of Washington Admissions – SAT/ACT, GPA, and Class Rank

For those enrolled in the Class of 2026 the mid-50% SAT range was 1320-1500. The overall ACT range was 29-34. Enrolled Huskies had an average GPA of 3.83. Sixteen percent had a perfect 4.0 GPA and an additional 59% earned between a 3.75 and 3.99.

Admissions Trends & Notes

• Firstly, in 2020, the University of Washington went permanently test-optional. Additionally, this policy does not punish anyone for having low test scores or not submitting scores. Instead, they only consider high test scores (1400/31+) for applicants who may otherwise not be admitted.
• Secondly, the College of Engineering acceptance rate averages around 40%. Looking deeper, the out-of-state acceptance rate was only 33%.
• Next, only 3% of non-resident applicants were admitted directly to the Paul G. Allen College of Computer Science. However, Washington residents enjoyed a 27% acceptance rate.
• Lastly, 23% of the UW-Seattle Class of 2026 will be the first in their families to attain a bachelor’s degree.

How the University of Washington Rates Applicants

The University of Washington rates three factors as “very important” to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load, GPA, and application essays. Items that are “important” as part of the admissions process are:  first-generation status, volunteer work, paid work, extracurricular activities, and talent/ability. Considered factors are: character/personal qualities and state residency.

The admissions office wants applicants to know that “despite receiving in excess of 48,000 applications each year, your application will receive a holistic and in-depth review.” In addition to the items of importance mentioned above, the following also receive consideration:

• Taking full advantage of the senior year
• Demonstrating a positive grade trend
• Demonstrating a commitment to community service and leadership
• Exercising significant responsibility in a family, community, employment situation or through activities
• Attaining a college-preparatory education despite economic disadvantage (Washington state residents only)
• Demonstrating cultural awareness or unique perspectives or experiences

University of Washington Seattle Acceptance Rate (Continued)

It is also worth highlighting that recruited athletes enjoy a huge edge. This is because the University of Washington takes great pride in their 22 NCAA Division I sports teams . Overall, 800+ student-athletes are presently attending the university. Of course, other outside-the-classroom endeavors can also enhance your application profile. For additional advice about how to stand out on the extracurricular front, check out our previous blog entitled How Many Extracurricular Activities Do I Need for College?

Who Actually Gets Into The University of Washington?

Let’s look at the demographics of the current UW-Seattle student body. Geographically, the breakdown is as follows:

• In-State: 64%
• Out-of-State: 22%
• International: 14%

Among non-residents, competition is stiffest among those hailing from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (the entire Northeast & the West Coast). If you hail from the Deep South or a less-populated state like Idaho or South Dakota, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances at the University of Washington.

International students currently attending UW-Seattle hail from the following countries:

To illustrate UDub’s diversity, we turn to the ethnic identity of the current student body:

• African American: 3%
• Asian American: 27%
• Caucasian: 36%
• Hispanic/Latino: 9%
• Two or More Races: 8%

Looking at the gender breakdown, the university enrolls far more women than men:

The University of Washington’s Yield Rate

The University of Washington’s yield rate is 28%. This figure is significantly lower than other powerhouse state universities like the University of Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill, and UCLA.

Tips for Applying to the University of Washington

If you plan on joining the almost 53,000 Husky hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• The University of Washington does not use interviews as part of their evaluation process.
• This school does truly pride itself on admitting a high percentage of students who will be the first in their family to graduate from college.
• The University of Washington does not consider demonstrated interest; Therefore, you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
• Lastly, make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the main Common App Essay and two required supplemental essays required by the University of Washington. In the 2022-23 cycle, they are as follows:

1) Essay prompt [required]

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

Maximum length: 650 words

2) 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

The UW-Seattle admissions staff offers some advice for penning a winning composition. Those recommendations are as follows:

• Content is important, but spelling, grammar, and punctuation are also considered.
• We recommend composing in advance, then copying and pasting into the application. Double-spacing, italics and other formatting will be lost, but this will not affect the evaluation of your application.
• We’ve observed most students write a polished formal essay, yet submit a more casual short response. Give every part of the writing responses your best effort, presenting yourself in standard, formal English.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread!

For detailed advice in the 2022-23 University of Washington essay prompts visit our blog on the subject.

University of Washington Seattle Acceptance Rate – Final Thoughts

Those with SAT/ACT scores within the mid-50% band for UW-Seattle who are also near the top of their respective high school class are certainly viable candidates to the University of Washington. If you reside in Washington, your road to acceptance will be a tad smoother than if you are an out-of-state or international applicant. In short, you will need to bring higher test scores and, possibly, a special skill or “hook” if you do not hail from the university’s home state or if you wish to enter into a direct-admit engineering/computer science program. Of course, it goes without saying that all teens applying to a school of the University of Washington’s ilk also need to also have a proper mix of “target” and “safety” schools on their college list. More on creating a balanced college list can be found here .

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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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Effective communication is a significant part of every job, discipline, and career! To help you develop this skill, you may take a UW Composition course from the  Expository Writing Program  (EWP) as well as other courses with a Writing credit. The EWP courses are typically centered around in-class discussions, short assignments, and major papers, and the bulk of the final grade comes from a final portfolio, which includes revised assignments. 

With every assignment, start by focusing on the prompt and its scope, which will give you more direction about the writing task: are you supposed to craft an argument, tell a story, or connect two different texts?

Try this: If you're struggling to come up with a response to the prompt, set a 20 minute timer and start brainstorming ideas or topics that you could explore, and feel free to look back at your class notes for this! If you're still stuck, make an appointment with your professor or discuss your ideas with peers in class.

Writing in college can be different from writing in high school, so here are some tips to keep in mind when structuring academic essays and ensuring that you are keeping audience, conventions of the genre, and use of relevant evidence in mind:

Every paper needs a title, which shouldn't be the name of the assignment. Typically, it should indicate something specific about your argument.

If you're struggling writing a title, it can sometimes be beneficial to leave that step until you're done writing. Look at the themes you've developed in your paper and brainstorm ideas from those.

Two-fold titles are very common, i.e., “Something catchy/interesting/metaphoric: Something that ties to the argument.”

Try out an exercise to help brainstorm ideas for writing a title. 

Most of the writing process will be spent devising your thesis statement, so focus on creating a thesis that is specific, supportable with evidence, and matters to the reader.

Introduction

An introduction will act as the bridge between your readers' lives and your analysis, and it should be a primer for the argument or topic you will explore in subsequent paragraphs.

You can think of the introduction as a "funnel" for your ideas. In other words, the ideas in your introduction will go from being broad (i.e. bilingualism in America) to specifically describing the argument of your paper (As evidenced by the research of XYZ sources, being bilingual is a strength of perspective that empowers students to empathetically understand the needs of their peers).

When writing an introduction, it's recommended to include:

• A brief explanation of general concepts (often course concepts/themes that the essay will deal with)
• An introduction to your sources or the type of evidence you will use.
• A s trong thesis statement that outlines your argument
• A roadmap that outlines the different sections of your argument
• The stakes of your argument - this should answer the question, "why does this argument or topic matter to the reader?"

Beware of Hooks 

Hooks are common in high school writing and often take the form of anecdotes or quotes from famous people, or rhetorical questions. If you've ever read a paper that starts with "According to Webster's Dictionary, culture is defined as.." you know exactly what we're talking about. Try to avoid ledes like this in college writing as they will lead you away from your argument and set the tone of your essay as noticeably conversational. 

Try this: Think about how you can introduce an interesting question or fact that's related to your topic. Is there a common dilemma or discussion related to your topic or the field?

"Argument” vs. “Claim” vs. “Thesis”

There is different terminology for every discipline, class, and instructor: argument, focus, claim, thesis, thesis statement, focus sentence, claim with stakes. However, they all mean same thing —  an academic claim with meaningful repercussions .

Many of the UW Composition/English classes require students to write a complex claim, which should 1) be arguable/nuanced, 2) take a specific stance, 3) be substantiated with evidence, and 4) have stakes and answer the question, "why does it matter?” 

Topic Sentences

In college writing, the main goal of a topic sentence is to communicate what the paragraph will prove/argue/explore, rather than introduce its general focus. Instructors will often call topic sentences “sub-claims” because they support the thesis and introduce different aspects of the assignment's thesis. 

With each topic sentence, focus on building your argument. In other words, each paragraph should support the claim of your thesis and build on the evidence from previous paragraphs.

Evidence, Quotations & Analysis

When picking quotes, use the essential portion of a quote and give it context i.e. “According to So-and-so, XYZ is a common theory.” Quotes must be incorporated grammatically and can be adjusted using brackets to clarify phrases, for example: "[In the case of the Amazon river] water flows uphill" (Miller 14). 

After including a quote, be sure to add an in-text citation, which will look differently depending on the required citation style , and provide specific analysis that connects your quote or evidence with the paper's overall argument. 

Use of Personal Experience

Unless your instructor asks for personal experience, use it sparingly and only to reiterate a point found in other evidence. Personal experience is certainly appropriate for an outcome reflection or writer's memo, but it is typically not included in academic essays. Focus on providing examples and evidence through reputable articles, peer-reviewed sources, or journals - the UW Library Databases are a great place to start looking.

Conclusions

This is the final section of your paper, and it has two main tasks: 

• Give the reader a “take-home message” of the paper that you want them to remember (the point of the paper's analysis, rather than a restatement of the topic sentence) 
• Connect the body of your paper and your overall argument. Instead of just summarizing each paragraph, show how your argument and examples fit together.
• Avoid introducing new information and analysis in your conclusion, but focus on why your reader should care about your topic

If you're struggling to come up with a conclusion, ask yourself, "Why should the reader care?" and see if you start to answer this question in your conclusion. Read more tips for writing a conclusion through this handout on the UNC's Writing Center page .

Topic sentence = what will be proven Concluding sentence = why that matters

Citations are required  and the use of someone else’s work without giving permission is considered plagiarism. Use both in-text citations when using quotes or referencing information that's on your own, and include a Works Cited/Bibliography page at the end of the entire document.

• Check with your professor about what citation style you’re expected to use. Common styles include MLA (humanities, APA, Chicago, and IEEE). Conventions for each of these disciplines can be found on Purdue Owl .
• For each source, start by pulling all the information you can find about the author, title, publisher, etc. You can use a citation machine to put other citations for the Works Cited page, but be wary of citation generators that are out of date!
• Once you pick a citations style, be consistent throughout your paper.
• If you have found the resource you are citing through the UW Library database search, you can use the database citation tool to create a citation for you in many of the most common citation styles.  Simply select “citation” from the “Send to” menu on the resource page on the database search.

Proofreading your paper to ensure that your assignments are free of errors is part of turning in a polished draft. Here are some common grammar mistakes to look for as you work through your paper, as adopted from Harvard's Tips for Grammar, Punctuation, and Style :

• Spell out acronyms the first time you use them , and use the acronym for each reference after e.g. "In 1924, the American Heart Association (AHA) in response to concern about the lack of heart disease information. The AHA continues to expand its education and outreach activities."
• Avoid passive voice:  This will make your writing more concise and ensure that the subject and verb are close together. It's usually better to say "Einstein's theory" than "the theory that was formulated by Einstein."
• Be sure all of your sentences have parallel construction.  This sentence doesn't have it: "Re- reading my first draft, I notice it's trite, repetitive, and with no thesis." This sentence does: Re-reading my first draft, I notice it's trite, repetitive, and lacking in a thesis.
• Make sure your references are clear.  When you say "This theory" or "that point" or, simply, "it," is it clear which theory or point you're referring to? When you use "he" or "she" or "these critics," will your reader have to reread part of your essay to figure out who you are referring to?

Best Practices for Academic Writing

Here are some notes to keep in mind when working on academic writing:

Paragraph Content/Length

2-3 sources of evidence is a good goal for most paragraphs. There is no literal limit on length, but paragraphs exceeding one page usually wander. To avoid this, make sure every paragraph contributes a new piece of analysis.

Audience/Tone

Unless otherwise noted, your audience is an average educated reader. Thus, you should explain jargon/course terms, provide context for examples/evidence, and make explicit connections between your quotes/evidence and the argument of your paper.

Try to maintain a tone that is professional, clear, objective, and makes a clear argument via a logical progression of thought.

When it comes to writing for a specific audience, think about their expectations or familiarity with the topic, and write with that in mind.

Academic papers, especially when referring to literature, are typically written in present tense. This gets confusing in papers that deal with social/cultural phenomena, history, or anything that has literally already “happened.”  In these instances, you can present anything from your sources in present tense, and anything from general knowledge in present perfect, past perfect, or present perfect continuous, i.e. “this has happened,” “this had happened,” or “this has been happening.”

First Person

For most academic essays where you're not presenting your own words or argument, avoid using “I,” “my,” “we,” and “our.” This topic is somewhat debatable; check with your instructor for more information.

Controversial Topics/Ideas

These can be acknowledged, but typically should never contribute to sub-claims or the main claim. It can be helpful to chat with your professor or TA about your claim if it seems controversial, which can be hard to navigate in an academic paper. In general, claims should only speak on controversial topics in terms of what can objectively be proven, as the academic community will not respond to anything else.

Rhetorical Questions 

A rhetorical question is asked in order to make a point, or produce an effect, not provide an answer. These are typically avoided in college-level writing because you as the writer are typically answering a question or forming an argument in the assignment. More importantly, rhetorical questions take for granted that the reader understands your implied answers to the question. As a responsible writer, you should assume that unless made explicit, your points will not be comprehensible to the reader.

On-Campus Writing Resources

The University of Washington’s writing centers are staffed by knowledgeable tutors who can help you workshop your assignments at any point of the process:

• The Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment has a Writing Center with writing tutors available from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on school nights! They can help with every stage of the writing process to brainstorming and drafting to polishing the final draft!
• The Odegaard Writing and Research Center (OWRC) offers 45 minute appointments on any writing assignment ranging from an academic essay to personal statements.You can also schedule an appointment with a research librarian here!

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How to write an effective academic paper

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• Faculty & Staff

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.

Transfer personal statement

All applicants must write a personal statement and submit it with the transfer application for admission. The personal statement should be a comprehensive narrative essay outlining significant aspects of your academic and personal history, particularly those that provide context for your academic achievements and educational choices. Quality of writing and depth of content contribute toward a meaningful and relevant personal statement.

You should address the following topics in your personal statement. Within each subtopic, such as Academic History, write only about what is meaningful to your life and experience. Do not feel compelled to address each and every question.

Required elements

Academic history.

• Tell us about your college career to date, describing your performance, educational path and choices.
• Explain any situations that may have had a significant positive or negative impact on your academic progress or curricular choices. If you transferred multiple times, had a significant break in your education or changed career paths, explain.
• What are the specific reasons you wish to leave your most recent college/university or program of study?

Your major & career goals

• Tell us about your intended major and career aspirations.
• Explain your plans to prepare for the major. What prerequisite courses do you expect to complete before transferring? What led you to choose this major? If you are still undecided, why? What type of career are you most likely to pursue after finishing your education?
• How will the UW help you attain your academic, career and personal goals?
• If you selected a competitive major, you have the option of selecting a second-choice major in the event you are not admitted to your first-choice major. Please address major or career goals for your second-choice major, if applicable.

Cultural Understanding

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.

Optional elements (include if applicable)

Educational challenges/personal hardships.

Describe any personal or imposed challenges or hardships you have overcome in pursuing your education. For example: serious illness; disability; first generation in your family to attend college; significant financial hardship or responsibilities associated with balancing work, family and school.

Community or volunteer service

Describe your community or volunteer service, including leadership, awards or increased levels of responsibility.

Experiential learning

Describe your involvement in research, artistic endeavors and work (paid or volunteer) as it has contributed to your academic, career or personal goals.

Additional comments

Do you have a compelling academic or personal need to attend the Seattle campus of the UW at this time? Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Content, as well as form, spelling, grammar and punctuation, will be considered. Suggested length is 750-1000 words.

• Online application: You should write your statement first in a word processing program (such as Word) or a text editor, and then copy/paste it into the text box provided on the application. All line breaks remain. However, some formatting may be be lost, such as bold, italics and underlines. This will not affect the evaluation of your application.
• PDF application (spring applicants only): Type or write your statement on 8.5’’ x 11’’ white paper. Double-space your lines, and use only one side of each sheet. Print your name, the words “Personal Statement” and the date at the top of each page, and attach the pages to your application.

Tell us who you are

Share those aspects of your life that are not apparent from your transcripts. In providing the context for your academic achievements and choices, describe your passions and commitments, your goals, a personal challenge faced, a hardship overcome or the cultural awareness you’ve gained. Tell us your story. Be concise, but tell the whole story.

Be specific

Personal statements too often include sentences such as “I’ve always wanted to be a Husky” or “My whole family attended the UW.” Although this may be important to you personally, such reasons are not particularly valuable to the Admissions staff because they do not tell us anything distinctive about your experiences and ultimate goals.

Write like a college student

Your personal statement should reflect the experience and maturity of someone who has already attended college. It should reflect your understanding of the components of an undergraduate education, such as general education and the major. We want to read how, specifically, your academic and personal experiences fit into your academic, career and personal goals.

Keep in mind

• We want to know about your intended major and career aspirations, and we want to know your plan to get there.
• You have the option of selecting a second-choice major. If you do, be sure to address it in your personal statement.
• The UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.

All writing in the application, including your essay/personal statement and short responses, must be your own work.  Do not use another writer’s work and do not use artificial intelligence software (ChatGPT, Bard, etc.) to assist or write your statement.

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Essay Scoop: How to Answer University of Washington Essays

Julia de Raadt

Head of research and lead admissions expert, table of contents, university of washington essays.

Stay up-to-date on the latest research and college admissions trends with our blog team.

The University of Washington essays and application evaluate student candidates holistically , emphasizing more than grades and scores. That means that the essays you submit are absolutely critical! Your writing needs to effectively tell your story to reviewers and convince them that you should be at their school.

Let’s take a look at the prompts you’re working with to make sure your essays hit the right note.

Before we dive in, here are some things you need to know:

• The UW application lives on the Coalition Application . That means that you will have to make a Coalition Application account in order to submit. However…
• The actual Coalition-wide essay is not a required element for the University of Washington. It may still be required for other schools, but you do not have to submit it for UW. You only need to answer their specific prompts, which means…
• There are two essays and two optional responses, so roll up your sleeves! It’s not the heaviest stack to work through, but you shouldn’t try to crank these out last minute.

The application specifically states,

“Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best and good essays are often 300-400 words in length.—

When in doubt, aim for meaningful stories about your life that have changed your perspective in lasting ways.

The application website also helps you out with how to allocate your intent. They inform you that:

“We’ve observed most students write a polished formal essay, yet submit a more casual short response.”

Awesome advice! Now, let’s read through the two required prompts and see what that means. Let’s tackle the University of Washington essays.

• Essay Prompt: Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (500 words) For this essay, you will need to address a topic that is close to your heart and will impact your academic life. What’s more, your character should show through with every sentence that you write. This is on the longer side for personal statements, so take the time to incorporate concrete details and put the reader in your shoes. It’s a great chance to talk about your intellectual passions, demonstrate your curiosity or resilience, and showcase your achievements—”but be sure that you are going beyond the resume! Your topic doesn’t have to be the most meaningful experience of your life until now—”but it should be able to encapsulate your personality well.
• S hort 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 UW. // Tip: Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints. (300 words) Remember, the essays on this application are critical to how you are weighed as a candidate, and the reviewers will be looking to see if they can understand your potential as a student outside of the numbers and hard facts. Think about the people in your life that have contributed to your intellectual development. Think about the people you turn to when things are difficult for support. These people (in addition to being wonderful and deserving of a solid thank-you) that you will be able to talk about with ease, and that genuine enthusiasm and love will reach your readers. Since the app also specifically states that they value diversity, think about what makes your community special and unique.

There are also two optional fields. If you’re wondering what to write for these, check out this blog post about optional essays for more context and tips.

So there you have our review of the University of Washington essays. If you know that you need help with your essays, chat with our team to learn how we can support you and your family. The more eyes you have proofreading and providing ideas and feedback on your work, the better.  

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Additional Writing

One of the most valuable forms of knowledge you will develop at the University is the ability to communicate effectively and ethically through writing. Writing effectively in different contexts and for different audiences is a practice that is universally valued by employers as well as graduate and professional programs, not to mention the instructors of your undergraduate courses. Writing is social action that can help us critique, analyze, and respond to injustices in the world and can help us work with others to transform our communities and solve urgent public problems. Writing also involves being mindful of the impact and consequences of our writing choices for diverse audiences. Writing (defined broadly as any of a number multimodal, digital, and/or visual communication modes) helps you not only enrich your communication, but also your reading, thinking, learning, and participation in the scholarship of your major, in other fields, and in various communities you belong to. To that end, you must complete at least seven credits of writing-intensive ("W") courses.

This is in addition to the 5-credit English Composition requirement. Many colleges and schools require more than seven credits, and specify what courses you can choose from. Consult the General Education Requirements by School and College to compare the English Composition and additional writing requirements for each major.

The requirement can be fulfilled in different disciplines, courses, and languages throughout a student’s career at UW. In W courses, your writing assignments  will not typically be summaries of what you have learned in class but in-depth exploration and investigation of aspects of specific course topics. These assignments will give you the opportunity to develop your own ideas and interpretations concerning what you are learning in class, to put texts and ideas in conversation with one another, to create space for you to reflect on your learning, and to think critically about how knowledge is created. In fact, much of your university education will occur in the research, reading and writing assignments required by your courses.

W-course criteria

Guidelines for teaching W courses are now housed on the UW Writing web site . Please consult that site for revised guidelines, along with extensive guides on assignment design, assessment, academic integrity, and writing instruction while working with TAs.

Where to find W courses

Courses that count toward the additional writing requirement are available in a wide range of departments. Although you shouldn't wait until the last minute to meet the W-course requirement, it was originally intended that at least some of your writing-intensive courses should be courses in your major, providing you with writing instruction and practice in your chosen area of study.

For most majors (including those in the College of Arts and Sciences, which requires 10 credits), writing courses may be any courses designated in the quarterly Time Schedule with the comment "Writing." For student in the College of Engineering, please see specific departmental requirements regarding additional writing. In the Foster School of Business, one of the two writing courses can be additional composition or any W-course, but the other must be chosen from a short list of largely business communication classes (e.g., B CMU 301).

The easiest way to look for W courses is to use the General Education Requirement Course Search  offered by the Office of the Registrar.

Grades required

Any passing grade (0.7 or higher) is acceptable. Courses may not be taken on the satisfactory/not satisfactory (S/NS) grading option.

Overlap with other requirements

W courses may overlap with any other requirement except the 5-credit English composition course. The courses you use to satisfy the W-course requirement may also count toward your major , a minor , the Areas of Inquiry  requirements, and/or the Reasoning requirement .

For transfer students/study abroad students

Many students transfer courses/courses taken through study abroad which required enough writing to qualify as W courses. If you think you have transferred a course that should count as a W course, consult your adviser.

For postbaccalaureate students

Postbaccalaureate students are not required to complete the additional writing requirement.

W optional 

Some courses in the Time Schedule have the notation, "OPTIONAL W COURSE." In these courses, the professor will explain the writing requirements for those students who wish to receive a W. Students who complete the additional requirements will receive Ws on their transcripts; the other students in the course will not.

W by special arrangement

Many students make special arrangements to have a UW course count toward the W course requirement, even though it is not designated as a W course in the Time Schedule.

If you are taking a course that requires extensive writing, you can discuss with the professor the possibility of earning a W for the course. Some professors are not familiar with the W-course criteria; it is a good idea to print out the criteria below and take the list with you.

It is also possible for you and the professor to make an arrangement in which you alone will complete the extra work required to meet the W-course criteria. For example, a 10-page paper is not sufficient to meet the W-course criteria; but a 10-page paper which is graded by the professor and then rewritten by you and resubmitted  does  meet the W criteria. Professors can award Ws to individual students in a course; there is a place to mark Ws on the grade sheet they submit for the class at the end of the quarter. Any course which is posted with a W on your transcript can count toward the additional writing requirement.

Registering for W courses

Whether or not a course qualifies as a W course depends on how the course is taught that particular quarter, so there is no permanent list of W courses, and W courses are not indicated in the General Catalog. Each W course is indicated in the quarterly Time Schedule with the notation "Writing" or "Optional Writing Course."

You can generate a complete list of W courses with space still available with the MyPlan Course Search .

Degree overview

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• MFA Overview

Prospective MFA Frequently Asked Questions

How many students are in the MFA program?

The total number ranges from 20-25 students each year.

How large are the workshops?

The limit is 15 students, but workshops are usually smaller.

How many applications do you typically receive each year?

We receive over 250 applications and generally admit less than 5%.

Do you have a program in creative non-fiction?

The UW MFA program offers no track in literary nonfiction per se, but applicants may submit nonfiction as all or part of their prose writing sample, and once enrolled in the program, students are encouraged to explore the form. Works of creative nonfiction may be submitted in the graduate fiction workshops and prose students may include nonfiction in their final creative manuscript. Interested students should apply in the prose category.

Is a certain type of writing emphasized or favored in the University of Washington’s Creative Writing Program?

We do not have programs in any sort of genre writing. Within the category of literary fiction and poetry, our faculty write and teach in a wide variety of styles.

Can I apply in both prose and poetry?

When applying to the program, applicants must choose between either  prose or poetry. Separate faculty committees review each genre, and should you be accepted, it will be in one genre only. Students may take workshops in the other genre, but their thesis must be in the genre in which they were accepted.

What is the admissions procedure? On what do you base acceptance?

The faculty members read the writing sample first (but only if the file is complete). If there is interest in the sample, the faculty will then review an applicant’s entire file. At that point, they are especially interested in statements of purpose and letters of recommendation.

What can I do to increase my chances of being accepted into the MFA program?

Submit your very best writing. Get letters of recommendation from people familiar with your creative writing and with you as a student. Make sure your application and all supporting material arrive by the deadline. 

Can I get advice from a faculty member or staff member regarding my application materials?

Unfortunately, due to the large number of applications we receive each year (and our focus on our current students), we are unable to offer advice for or critique of in-process applications.

Will I improve my chances for acceptance if I visit your campus?

No. Some applicants do choose to visit the UW campus to help them decide if they want to apply to the MFA program. As a rule, the Director of Creative Writing meets with applicants only after they have been accepted. The best time to visit is after we’ve accepted you. Then you can meet students, as well as get a sense of the faculty and the place so you can make an informed decision about coming here.

Is there any advantage to sending in an application long before the deadline?

No. The faculty members begin reading applications after the January 2nd deadline.

I am a non-native English speaker. Do I need to submit official test (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) scores?

If submitting test scores, official TOEFL, IELTS and/or Duolingo test scores are required. Information on how to send test scores can be found on the UW Graduate School’s website here: https://grad.uw.edu/admission/understanding-the-application-process/admissions-faqs/#Tests .

I am a non-native English speaker and meet the minimum admissions requirements. Why do I need to also submit TOEFL or IELTS scores?

The UW Graduate School has two policies in connection to this: Policy 3.2 and Policy 5.2.

• Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements lists the minimum English language proficiency requirements for graduate study at UW. 
• Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English lists the additional English language proficiency requirements for students who wish to be employed as a TA. 

Because we admit students to the MA/PhD program with funding in the form of an Academic Student Employee (ASE) teaching position, non-native English speakers must also meet the requirements listed in the UW Graduate School’s  Policy 5.2 in order to be eligible to teach.  

There are a variety of ways to show English language proficiency in Policy 5.2. Typically, the best way to demonstrate proof of English proficiency is to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Can I submit Duolingo scores to meet UW Graduate School Policy 5.2?

No, Duolingo scores do not meet the requirements listed in Policy 5.2. If submitting Duolingo scores, you must also meet the requirements listed in the UW Graduate School’s Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English to be considered for an ASE position.

How do I know if my official test scores have been added to my application?

You can confirm transmission of electronic test scores by logging into your  application , and checking your Application Status Page > Tests section (successfully sent scores will show a date under “Date Received” column). 

Do my letters of recommendation have to be from college professors?

The most useful letters of recommendation come from teachers familiar with your creative writing and with you as a student. Letters from other college professors, who may be familiar with your habits as a student and with your academic writing for example, can also be helpful. Letters from employers, unless the work was directly related to writing, are less helpful to us.

Can I submit four letters of recommendation?

While the requirement is only three letters of recommendation, you do have the ability to submit four names of recommenders in the application portal.

Can my recommendation letters arrive after January 2nd application deadline?

While letters should arrive by January 2nd, we will still consider letters which arrive within 48 hours of this deadline. Please note that it is the applicant’s responsibility to communicate with their recommenders well in advance of the deadline, so as to ensure that letters can be uploaded on time.

My writer is having an issue with the recommendation link. What should I do?

If your writers are having issues uploading their letter, they are welcome to email it directly to [email protected] . Note: we are unable to upload recommendation letters until your application has been submitted.

Are there specific guidelines for formatting the resume?

We don't have any specific requirements for the formatting of the resume. In formatting a resume, the main concern is that your most important qualifications and experience should stand out on a quick perusal.

Even though they are no longer required, should I still submit my GRE scores?

If you have already taken the GRE and wish to submit scores you may do so. However, it will not disadvantage you in any way if you do not submit GRE scores.

Can I apply after the January 2nd deadline? Do you offer extensions?

The application is due at 11:59pm on January 2 nd (if January 2 nd falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the application is due the following Monday). We typically do not offer extensions.

Can the application fee be waived?

The UW Graduate School offers fee waivers to applicants who qualify for financial need; for more information, see the Graduate School's website: https://grad.uw.edu/admission/application-fee-waivers/ .

Can I apply to the MFA and MA/PhD programs simultaneously?

You need to apply to each program separately, which means two separate applications and two fees.

What kinds of funding are available?

We offer a funding package to all admitted MFA students. The funding package includes a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a monthly stipend for two academic years, contingent on satisfactory academic progress and performance of duties. Funding includes a combination of teaching and fellowship quarters. During the teaching quarters, students will be responsible for teaching one class each quarter. Most classes will be in the composition program; there are are a limited number of opportunities to teach an introductory creative writing class in their genre. During the fellowship quarters, the monthly stipend amount may be lower.

What does the Teaching Assistantship involve?

During the first year, you will teach one section of freshman composition each quarter. While you are responsible for your own class, you will get lots of training and help from the Director of the Expository Writing Program. In the second year, TAs may be able to teach the introductory class in their genre, under the supervision of the Director of Creative Writing. In return, you will receive a tuition waiver, student health, dental and vision insurance, and a monthly stipend during the academic year.

Is there a foreign language requirement?

Can i transfer credits from another graduate school.

Once an applicant has been admitted, a limited number of credits may be transferred to apply toward the literature requirements of the degree. This evaluation is done on a case-by-case basis.

When will letters of acceptance be sent?

We typically send out letters of acceptance in mid-March.

What is a profile of the successful applicant?

Most successful applicants to our program have a GPA of 3.7, majored in English, completed at least two writing workshops in their genre at the advanced level, and have completed an undergraduate degree within the last 2-10 years.

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Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

The academy is pleased to present the winners and honorable mentions for the 2024 human rights essay award.

The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law is pleased to present the winners  for the 2024 Human Rights Essay Award , sponsored by the Academy of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

• Winner: Spanish Trilce Gabriela Valdivia Aguilar – Peru: "Artificial Intelligence and Disinformation on the Internet: Regulations (in)compatible with the standards of protection of the right to freedom of expression in International Human Rights Law."
• Winner: English Leandro Léo Rebelo – Brazil: "Can prior censorship be a necessary tool for the protection of human rights?"
• Honorable Mention: Spanish Samantha Rodríguez Santillán – Mexico: "’That person is not me:’ Artificial intelligence as a new instrument of violence.”
• Honorable Mention: Spanish Javier Alendro Díaz Briceño – Honduras: "The Right to Privacy of Thought: Neurotechnology in the Inter-American Human Rights System."
• Honorable Mention: English Laura Ferla Tuma – Brazil: "Cyberbullying – The Contemporary Phenomenon of Violation of Human Rights of Youth in Digital Media: The Case of the Emerging Countries India, Brazil and South Africa."

This annual competition, open to lawyers from around the world, aims to stimulate the production of academic papers in the field of international human rights law and humanitarian law.

The theme for 2024 was "Protection and Guarantee of Human Rights in Digital Environments." Our Honorary Jury is impressed by the commitment demonstrated by the authors in writing valuable academic pieces, essential for fostering knowledge and education in human rights. We trust that together, we can contribute to the strengthening of International Human Rights Law.

The winning essays in English and Spanish will be published in the American University International Law Review (AUILR). AUILR is an essential journal with relevant academic material, receiving approximately 1,500 submissions annually and publishing a wide range of academic works from professors, judges, practicing attorneys, and distinguished legal thinkers.

We invite you to visit the American University International Law Review page for more information about our journal. You can even check previous publications  at this link: https://auilr.org/current-issue/

By Tatiana Bances Lange and Gabriel Ortiz Crespo

Human Rights Events

Two Exceptional Journalism Students to Share 2024 Gridiron Scholarship Award

You are here: american university school of communication news two exceptional journalism students share 2024 gridiron scholarship award.

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Two Exceptional Journalism Students Share 2024 Gridiron Scholarship Award

The Gridiron Club and Foundation of D.C. has been a long-standing financial supporter of American University School of Communication (AU SOC) journalism students.

Our latest scholarship applications asked students to articulate the role of journalism in democracy while identifying two challenges facing the industry and their plans to tackle those issues.

A judging panel made up of professional journalists was impressed with the thoughtful, passionate responses. The competition was intense, with a significant number of excellent entries.

We’re thrilled to announce our two winners for 2024. The $5,000 scholarship pool was split between one highly qualified undergraduate journalism major and one graduate student in the Journalism and Digital Storytelling (JRDS) program.

"The Journalism and Digital Storytelling graduate program has allowed me to exercise my creativity while learning new skills that will prepare me for success in a modern journalism field. I have always been passionate about increasing voter education and participation," said Ansbacher. "I look forward to entering the field of journalism to achieve my goal of providing the public with straightforward, concise, and truthful information with which they can form views of the world around them and engage with society. The Gridiron Club’s support of the next generation of journalists is pivotal to the continuation and success of the profession, and I am grateful for their generosity and investment in my education. "

Partouche said, "I'm honored to have been recognized by the Gridiron Club and Foundation, and I'm excited to continue my journey in journalism with the support of the club while I pursue new opportunities in the field."

*WAMU is licensed by American University.

Selective Inference: Approaches & Recent Developments

There is growing appreciation of the perils of naively using the same data for model selection and subsequent inference; such “double-dipping” is now frowned upon in many disciplines. Sample splitting has become the de facto solution, but it reflects only one possible solution to the challenge of choosing data-driven hypotheses for subsequent inferential investigation. Indeed, there are some cases, e.g., with dependent data or when using unsupervised methods like clustering, where it is not clear how to appropriately conduct sample splitting. The statistical sub-field of “selective inference” embraces this challenge with the goal of offering methods in this setting that are both valid and powerful. In this talk, I’ll discuss some alternatives to sample splitting drawn from recent and current statistical work. I’ll discuss approaches based on both conditioning and data thinning. The "conditional” approach adjusts for exploratory analyses by conditioning on the selection event. I’ll review some cases where this approach has been used successfully, but note that it requires the development of potentially technically challenging and bespoke methods. Another alternative to sample splitting is “data thinning,” which can enable greater selective flexibility and can be especially useful in settings where sample splitting is not readily applicable. I’ll illuminate both approaches by discussing some ongoing projects. This presentation will include joint work with Daniela Witten, Ethan Ancell, and Olivia McGough.

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Adjunct Faculty - CAS Department of Literature and Writing Studies Program

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• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
• American University is an E-Verify employer.

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The hidden river

Hoeferlin on watersheds, climate change and how the river shapes St. Louis

The Mississippi River defines St. Louis, shaping its life and culture.

But today, for many St. Louisans, that connection has been broken, said Derek Hoeferlin , chair of landscape architecture in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis.

In this video, Hoeferlin, who was born and raised in St. Louis, describes how a highly managed system of locks and dams has transformed the river over the last century — and how that transformation affects local perceptions as well as potential responses to climate change. He also introduces viewers to a rare 10-mile stretch, just north of downtown, that remains almost eerily free of commercial traffic.

“You hear things like trains or planes flying over you,” said Hoeferlin, author of “Way Beyond Bigness: The Need for Watershed Architecture” (2023). “But other than that, it’s just you, the canoes and the wildlife.” See also: For Sam Fox student perspectives on the Mississippi and Hoeferlin’s work, see this YouTube Short .

Comments and respectful dialogue are encouraged, but content will be moderated. Please, no personal attacks, obscenity or profanity, selling of commercial products, or endorsements of political candidates or positions. We reserve the right to remove any inappropriate comments. We also cannot address individual medical concerns or provide medical advice in this forum.

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University of Washington (UW) 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Nov 15

You Have: 

University of Washington 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: One 500 word essay (required), one 300 word essay (required), one 200 word essay (optional). Supplemental Essay Type (s): Oddball ,  Community , Additional Info 

At the UW, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300-400 words in length.

Please note that the uw essay questions must be answered within our application. for the common app, that means within our uw questions. we do not consider the common app essay., essay prompt, tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words max).

You can think of this prompt as the slightly more general cousin to the Common App’s first prompt, which is about your background. You can write about almost anything in your life experience that has shaped who you are today. But maybe you feel like you used your best story in your personal statement. What to do? Your goal is to reveal a different side of yourself, so try thinking in opposites! If your personal statement was about your family, maybe this essay could focus on school or work. If your personal statement was about your leadership skills, could this essay cover a time when you let someone else lead the way and learned something new? As you begin to zero in on the area of your life that you haven’t tapped into yet, think about how your past experiences still resonate in your life today. Maybe your summer job as a lifeguard taught a new sense of personal responsibility that has made you more attentive in your day-to-day life. Maybe an ill-fated childhood attempt to drink an entire carton of milk taught you how to balance enthusiasm and moderation in every major project you take on. The experience itself can be big or small, but its connection to who you are today must be clear. UW wants to know who you’ll be on campus, so show them!

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. (300 words).

Ah, the infamous “community” essay. Many schools ask students about their communities because they want to know how applicants relate to the people around them, forge connections, and commune with their peers. In this particular instance, the question calls attention to family as well, so consider how the people who you are related to (or those who you consider family even if they’re not bound to you by blood) have influenced your life and worldview. Maybe you’re very involved in your local synagogue, polka dancing club, or environmental organization. University of Washington wants to know about your life beyond the classroom and how you will continue those activities and interests on their campus. Why do you invest in the people you invest in?

Additional Information About Yourself or Your Circumstances (200 words)

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.

This prompt is an opportunity for you to explain just about anything else that you haven’t covered elsewhere on the application. Usually, we recommend this type of optional essay only to students who have experienced a major academic strain or have had noticeable blemishes on their records. One example could be the explanation of a complication, like an illness that caused you to miss school and impacted your grades. Perhaps your family moved around a lot, which made it hard to transfer grades or connect with your peers. Maybe an undiagnosed learning disability caused you major challenges in school until you learned how to cope with it.  UW’s prompt covers these circumstances, and invites responses from applicants who feel that their unique circumstances are not represented elsewhere in their application. 

Additional Space (Optional) (200 words)

You may use this space if you need to further explain or clarify answers you have given elsewhere in this application, or if you wish to share information that may assist the office of admissions. if applicable, be sure to include the question number to which your comment(s) refer..

Admissions is giving you one more opportunity to address anything that needs to be addressed. If you feel inclined to answer, think about what else might admissions officers might want or need to know about you. You have an additional 200 words at your disposal to speak to them in your own voice, so use them as long as what you’re writing isn’t simply filler — if that’s the case, it’s better just to leave this blank. 

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New Summer Temporary Hourly Position Template for Summer 2024

Dear Graduate Coordinators, Program Directors, and Financial Processors,

The Graduate School is pleased to make available the  new summer temporary hourly position template for Summer 2024. Employment offers for summer hourly positions must use this template. We will be discussing it further in our two scheduled summer work processing training session. We hope to see many of you at the first training later this afternoon:

Thursday, April 4 th at 2:10pm

Title: 2024 Graduate Summer Work Processing Session #1

Time: 2:10 PM – 3:10 PM

Link: URL: https://wsu.zoom.us/j/94895992368?pwd=dlh3RTdKNG9hM3FkR014c0N4UVNsUT09

Meeting ID : 948 9599 2368

Passcode : 259375

As a reminder, you can also visit the  Graduate School Assistantship webpage  to access the summer template letters, including this new hourly template. This page will be continuously updated during the WSU/UAW Contract implementation period.

Contract implementation will continue to be a work in progress, and we appreciate any feedback that you want to offer. Also, please let us know if we can assist you when processing your summer 2024 offers.

This email with links is also on our webpage at Faculty and Staff Updates.

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How to Write the Washington University in St. Louis Essays 2023-2024

Washington University in St. Louis, more affectionately known as WashU, requires all applicants to submit two essays, one of which offers three options for students to choose from. Additionally, applicants to the Beyond Boundaries Program and applicants to the Joint Program in Business and Computer Science will have to submit an additional essay for their respective program. There are also 2 required prompts for each of WashU’s three scholarship programs.

The application process at WashU is highly competitive, so you will need strong essays to stand out from the crowd. In this post, we’ll go over each prompt in detail and explain how to successfully write it to help guide you through the process.

Read this WashU essay example to inspire your writing.

Washington University in St. Louis Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants, required prompt, please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. undecided about your academic interest(s) don’t worry—tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. remember that all of our first-year students enter officially “undeclared” and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. you can explore all of our majors and programs on our website. (200 words), all applicants, optional prompt, this optional question allows you to add another dimension to your application – something that the admissions committee might not learn by reading your transcript or your personal statement., if you prefer, you may focus your optional 90-second video submitted through the washu pathway on addressing one of these three questions. (students who choose to submit a written response to one of these questions may still opt in to sharing an optional video)., washu is a place that values diversity of perspectives. we believe those perspectives come from a variety of experiences and identities. respond to one of the following prompts to help us understand “who are you” (250 words).

Option A: Discuss a fresh perspective or opinion you brought to a collaborative setting or project.

Option B: Describe a community you are a part of and your place within it.

Option C: Tell us how your life experiences have impacted the way you view or interact with your community.

Beyond Boundaries Applicants, Required Prompt

The Beyond Boundaries Program equips students with a set of tools to critically understand and make a difference in a complicated world where challenges require diverse perspectives and skill sets. What is the big societal issue you would like to tackle? Who would you need on your team? What would you contribute to the team? (250 words)

Joint Program in Business and Computer Science Applicants, Required Prompt

Students in the joint program in business and computer science will be equipped with the fundamental knowledge and perspectives of computer science and business and will have unique opportunities to converge these two disciplines..

This is a distinctive degree program that captures the intersection of business and computer science and the growing demand for people with this special and sought-after skillset. Graduates of the program will able to pursue careers in technology, data analytics, finance, consulting and business development, to name a few.

Tell us how you would use this combined degree to explore the intersection of these two disciplines? (200 words)

Danforth scholars program applicants, required prompts:.

Prompt 1: Chancellor Danforth and Mrs. Danforth deeply cared about building trust within the community and being of service to others. As servant leaders, they demonstrated a true passion and commitment to enhancing the experiences of students, staff, and faculty. In the words of Dr. Danforth, “The achievement of understanding, mutual trust, and appreciation is not only an end in itself, but it is also the prerequisite for major progress.” How have you demonstrated your commitment to servant leadership and improving community? Please provide 1-2 specific examples. (Maximum 250 words)

Prompt 2: Our lived experiences shape our worldly perspectives. As a community, we aim to learn from one another through attentive listening and meaningful dialogue. How will your lived experiences impact the Danforth Scholars Program? (Maximum 200 words)

Ervin Scholars Program Applicants, Required Prompts

Prompt 1: Dr. John B. Ervin was a nationally renowned black educator and the first African American Dean at Washington University in St. Louis. The Ervin Scholars Program was founded on and continues to live out his legacy and the legacy that scholars have built over 35 years. Reflecting on his biography and the history and legacy of the Ervin Scholars Program, how have you taken action to champion diversity in your own life? Please provide 1-2 specific examples. (Maximum 250 words)

Prompt 2: Our lived experiences shape our worldly perspectives. As a community, we aim to learn from one another through attentive listening and meaningful dialogue. How will your lived experiences impact the Ervin Scholars Program? (Maximum 200 words)

Rodriguez Scholars Program Applicants, Required Prompts

Prompt 1: Annika Lynn Rodriguez was born and raised in Puerto Rico prior to attending Washington University. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from WashU’s Olin School of Business in 1996, majoring in international business. While a student, she championed awareness for students of all backgrounds, including starting WashU’s first Latin American Awareness Week. She joined the Peace Corps after graduation and was sent to Honduras to support and engage with communities in need. Tragically, she was killed in a flash flood while serving. In remembering her, a friend said, “Annika gave herself wholeheartedly to every person who entered her life.” Reflecting on Annika Rodriguez’ history and legacy, How have you demonstrated your commitment to serving others and championing cultural awareness and understanding? Please provide 1-2 specific examples. (Maximum 250 words)

Prompt 2: Our lived experiences shape our worldly perspectives. As a community, we aim to learn from one another through attentive listening and meaningful dialogue. How will your lived experiences impact the Rodriguez Scholars Program? (Maximum 200 words)

This is a classic example of the “ Why This Major? ” essay question. The goal of this prompt is to understand your interest in your selected major and how your background supports that major. If you’re undecided, that’s totally fine (as the prompt even says!), but you’ll still need to explain your interest in the potential major you selected on your application.

You only have 200 words, so it’s important to keep your answer succinct and informative. The major you choose is likely related to one of your biggest interests or passions, which makes this a great opportunity to showcase your personality to admissions officers.

A good essay would introduce the major, articulate the core reason(s) that you are interested in this major, give specific examples from both inside and outside the classroom of your positive experiences with the subject, and describe what you hope to achieve with that major. To effectively answer this prompt, you need to show the admissions officers why you enjoy this topic, rather than just telling them. An essay that tells why you are interested in a major might look like this:

“I want to study architecture at WashU because I want to build houses one day. I love looking at buildings and seeing all the different designs and structures. I have enjoyed building things from a young age. When I was five years old, I got my first set of Legos and I have built countless houses, skyscrapers, and landmarks since then. I also enjoyed my wood-working class sophomore year of high school, where I tried to build scale models of buildings I had seen while traveling.

An architecture major would be perfect for me, since I would be able to continue building different structures. I’m also interested in studying abroad to experience different types of architecture in different countries. I think WashU’s architecture program would be perfect for me to build on my current interests and learn new skills.”

While this student does include everything they are supposed to, they tell the reader everything by directly saying what they enjoy or think, which leaves the essay looking a bit bland. The same student could write an essay that shows their interest in architecture if they write something like this:

“My feet were aching after walking through the streets of Paris all day, and I begged my mom to go back to the hotel so I could relax. Three more blocks. Eagerly picking up the pace, I rounded the corner and my little brother knocked into my frozen body. Marble pillars glistened in the sunlight, intricate carvings graced every side, and a giant green dome crowned the top of the Paris Opera House.

All the pain dissipated as my feet carried me closer to the most breathtaking feat of architecture I had ever laid my eyes on. Fascinated by the glamor and opulence of the opera house, I took in every detail from the giant arches to the tiny inscriptions. The next fall, when my wood-working teacher announced our independent projects, there wasn’t a moment of hesitation in my mind when I decided to construct a replica of the Paris Opera House.

At WashU, I will take classes like Architectural History: Antiquity to Baroque and participate in the Sam Fox Florence Architecture study abroad program to continue learning about European architecture. With the skills and knowledge I will gain at WashU, I will be able to combine the splendor of old architecture with the practicality of modern architecture.”

This second response is engaging, descriptive, and it conveys the student’s passion for architecture without them having to say “I like architecture” even once. This student is also able to talk about how their passion developed both inside and outside of the classroom, demonstrating their true passion for the subject.

The other thing this essay does well is connect the student’s interest to WashU by mentioning specific classes and programs that appeal to them. This is much more effective in showing genuine interest to admissions officers than making vague statements about enjoying architecture, as the student does in the first response.

With this in mind, you are equipped to write a stellar response to WashU’s supplement prompt. Good luck! If you’re applying to any special programs, stick around for a breakdown of those prompts.

All Applicants, Optional Prompt Introduction

All applicants, optional prompt, option a, discuss a fresh perspective or opinion you brought to a collaborative setting or project. (250 words).

Choosing this prompt will give you the option to discuss traits like your creativity, teamwork, intelligence, leadership, and ingenuity. If any of these characteristics sounds like you, you should seriously consider responding to this option. Admissions officers are asking this question to learn both about your intellect and problem-solving skills, as well as how you work with others.

When it comes to writing this essay, the best strategy is to tell a story. That doesn’t mean you should just include an anecdote in the hook and then transition away from it—writing like that tends to be less engaging and more focused on telling, rather than showing. In order to fully captivate your readers, you need to pick a specific moment and expand it into a story that encapsulates the entire essay.

To ensure your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end, you can use the following steps as guidance for your writing.

Step 1: Set the scene

Like any good story, you need to start by establishing the equilibrium that exists before any conflict arises. If you think about your essay in the context of a traditional story arc, this would be the exposition.

Show the reader where you are, why you’re there, who you’re with, when it is, etc., so that they have enough imagery to place themselves in the situation. Since this essay is on the shorter side, you won’t have a ton of space to focus on setting the scene. A sentence or two should be sufficient. The examples below demonstrate good hooks that are both enticing and provide context:

“Whoever said group projects are a blast has clearly never endured the cosmic slowing of time, the rhythmic tapping of pencils, and the zoned-out stares that result from Mrs. Green’s third-period English book clubs.”

“Seated criss-cross-applesauce on the lip of the stage in a semicircle, the cast of Hairspray anxiously awaited our director’s notes on our abysmal run-through.”

Step 2: Explain the conflict

The next step in a good story is some sort of conflict—and no, we don’t mean a physical fight. While conflict can be physical, it will probably be emotional or mental in most of the stories you would share with a college admissions committee. You want your essays to be free of any violence or similar questionable subject matter.

This should be pretty straightforward and, like the setting of the scene, shouldn’t take up too much space in your essay. You need to highlight that there was some interpersonal or situational issue that prevented your group from performing at its best—that way, your contribution and solution to the issue can be the main focus of your essay.

It’s possible that you think your story is free of conflict, but conflict can really come up anywhere. Maybe your group just had no ideas about what topic to choose for a presentation—that’s conflict. Or perhaps your entire group agreed on one way to complete a task, but you wanted to try something new—that’s also conflict.

Step 3: Show the reader what you contributed

This is where the bulk of your essay should be focused, but notice the keyword: show . Telling the reader your new idea or opinion would make for a rather straightforward essay that reveals very little about your thought process and interpersonal skills. By showing with imagery and details, you can make much more of an impression on the admissions committee.

You might want to include your internal dialogue to demonstrate your inner thoughts and feelings towards the situation:

“Everyone was talking over one another and not a single word was processed. If we could just discuss this civilly, then we might stand a chance of turning the paper in before the deadline.”

Another strategy to show what you brought to your group is including dialogue. Adding snippets of conversation between you and your team members adds some flow to the essay and can easily demonstrate your attitude towards the situation with the word choice you use. Just be careful not to include too much dialogue, otherwise your essay might read like a novel.

You can also choose to focus on your feelings and your group members’ feelings. For example, maybe everyone was feeling unmotivated and lazy, which made you upset, but rather than accept defeat you decided to use humor to diffuse the tension and started suggesting silly ideas until something stuck.

There’s many ways to go about showing rather than telling, so don’t feel like you’re just constrained to these options. As long as you’re able to communicate what your fresh perspective or idea was and how you presented it to your group, you should be fine.

It’s also important to include where your idea came from. Whether you had a fresh perspective because your background is different from that of other people in your group, or you’re generally a creative person who’s always coming up with new ideas, make sure the admissions committee understands where your contribution came from.

Step 4: Demonstrate your impact

In the conclusion of this essay, you’ll want to demonstrate how your idea or opinion impacted your group. While the impact could be something along the lines of getting a good grade or winning some competition, we’d urge you to dig a little deeper and think about a more personal impact you had.

Did your perspective change your group members’ minds about the topic? Did your solution allow your team to engage in an activity they were unfamiliar with and, in turn, they all learned a new skill? Try and think about the impact you had on others beyond the obvious things that come to mind and you will impress the admissions committee with your astute perspective.

All Applicants, Optional Prompt, Option B

Describe a community you are a part of and your place within it. (250 words).

College is one big community, and WashU is curious to see how you will fit into their campus community. This prompt is very straightforward, but it also gives you a lot of freedom to talk about any community that is meaningful to you and what you do as a part of it. The goal of this essay is to demonstrate that you are an active community member and can fit right in at WashU.

It’s extremely important that you pick a community that is central to your life and that you play a large role in. Here are a few examples of communities you could consider:

• Religious community
• Racial or ethnic community
• Sports teams
• Clubs and extracurricular organizations
• Volunteer organizations
• Political movements
• Apartment building or street block
• Online communities or groups
• Community of people who share a similar hobby or interest

As you can see, there are many different ways to approach this essay. Once you know what community you want to write about, you need to discuss your role within the community.

A quick note if you intend to write about your racial background: In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court  struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling, however, still allows colleges to consider race on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts.

This is not exactly a traditional diversity prompt, and by no means are you required to choose your racial or ethnic community as your topic for this essay, but if you feel that this aspect of your background has impacted you significantly, you may wish to consider choosing the third option for this prompt instead. That said, feel free to write about a racial or ethnic community for this option if you want to.

When choosing a community, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can only talk about one where you were a leader or contributed to some big project—even as a member of the community you could still play a large role. When you’re thinking about the role you played, ask yourself these four questions:

• What actions do I take?
• Why do I enjoy being in this community?
• How do I impact others in my community?
• What do I learn from being a part of this community?

If you can answer these questions, you can write an essay that is personal and informative. Including self-reflection, especially for the third and fourth question, will demonstrate your critical thinking and maturity to the admissions committee.

Finally, the last part of this essay is being able to look beyond your past experiences in your community and apply them to a broader context. The first way you can go about this is by applying a lesson you learned from being a part of the community that you take with you in all other aspects of your life.

For example, a student might have learned the power of collective action from being a part of the March for Our Lives community, which they have applied to other issues they care deeply about so they can achieve results when everyone bands together.

The other way to broaden the horizons of your essay is to talk about WashU. In fact, even if you go the first route and discuss a lesson you learned, you should still consider bringing WashU in to show how you can apply that lesson on campus.

Maybe your Indian community at home is extremely important to you, so you’re looking forward to joining the Indian dance team on campus to stay connected to that community. Or, perhaps you’re planning to start a fashion entrepreneurship club on campus to create a community that currently doesn’t exist.

By the end of your essay, the admissions committee should know exactly what you value in a community and should be able to imagine you in specific WashU communities. Ending the essay with your community involvement at WashU is a nice way to leave the admissions officers with a positive impression of you as an involved student.

All Applicants, Optional Prompt, Option C

Tell us how your life experiences have impacted the way you view or interact with your community. (250 words).

A quick note: As mentioned before, the recent Supreme Court decision striking down the use of affirmative action in college admissions has caused many colleges to implement open-ended prompts like this that allow you to discuss life experiences. Colleges are still allowed to consider race on an individual basis, so if you feel as though your racial background has impacted you significantly, use this prompt to share that with the admissions committee.

Race is by no means the only way to approach this topic; students with any impactful life experience are welcome to choose this option. You might consider answering this prompt with what you think is the most important part of your identity, then continue with a small discussion about how that aspect of your life is relevant to you and your other general experiences.

Such a response might be written about one of the following scenarios:

• Using your fluency in another language to help members of a specific community.
• Interpreting a text in class differently from your classmates because of your ethnic culture.
• Having a friend of a different background who has changed your perspective on something important.
• Having an illness or disability that helps you view accessibility through a different lens than your peers.
• Being part of a niche interest group/fandom and trying to represent the group faithfully when talking to people who aren’t members of it.

Simply listing things that generate diversity should be avoided. Sure, your identity includes your ethnicity/race, gender identity, sexual orientation, country of origin, and even languages you speak, but writing that laundry list out with no elaboration doesn’t contribute much to your application. Instead, pick one or two aspects of your identity, and elaborate on them using anecdotes about your experiences.

Also, bear in mind that the traditional markers of identity listed about aren’t the only ones you might discuss. There are other aspects of identity that can contribute to the ways in which you might interact with the community around you, including your socioeconomic class, your hometown, any illnesses/disabilities you might have, and even your interests or hobbies.

You are the only person who has lived your own unique life, so strive to convey that through individuality and specificity in your response. This prompt, like all the others, is an opportunity to showcase your unique life perspective. You don’t want to waste this opportunity by writing down some bland dictionary definitions.

Think of what life experiences have been meaningful to you, or what you consider to be a particularly significant aspect of your life. From there, think of personal anecdotes or stories about how these experiences have contributed to your growth or development as a person.

Beyond Boundaries Prompt

The beyond boundaries program equips students with a set of tools to critically understand and make a difference in a complicated world where challenges require diverse perspectives and skill sets., what is the big societal issue you would like to tackle who would you need on your team what would you contribute to the team (250 words).

WashU’s Beyond Boundaries program is all about addressing the big issues facing the world and equipping students to be creative, informed problem solvers. Your essay will be an important factor in determining whether or not you are the type of person they are looking for, so your essay needs to emphasize personal qualities like global awareness, problem solving, creativity, curiosity, and collaboration.

This prompt follows a pretty typical structure “Global Issues” prompt , but like other WashU prompts, there is an extra focus on teamwork. Not only do you need to demonstrate what problem you want to fix, but you also need to explain who you will work with and how you’ll work together to achieve the solution.

The first step is to choose a societal issue you want to focus on. It can be global, regional, or local. The key is to choose something that you genuinely care about and have some connection to. Don’t pick a topic just because you think it’s what admissions officers want to hear—that almost never goes well for applicants.

Your connection could be related to your lived experiences. For example, a student who lives in a food desert might choose to write about solving food insecurity. Alternatively, you might have exposure to an issue from a class or club. For example, a student who represented China in a Model UN conference learned about the mistreatment of the Uyghur people during their research, and might want to write about developing a solution to that issue.

In your essay, be sure to explain your connection to the issue you chose. This is where you can build credibility and empathy, while really showing the admissions committee your dedication to addressing problems facing the world. When considering explaining your connection, consider the following example students:

The first student writes: “Addressing rising sea levels before it is too late must be the number one priority of our generation.”

The second student writes: “The deafening crash of the waves drowns out the sounds of my childhood. I can’t bear the thought of the pastel blue houses I’ve known all my life being pulled out to sea as nothing more than driftwood when the sea level rises a mere two inches more.”

The second student very clearly has a personal stake in the issue and is passionate about solving it. Like the second student, you should write about an issue you are truly involved in. Strive to convey what solving this important issue would mean to you personally.

Next, you need to describe who will help you achieve your goals and what everyone involved will bring to the table, including yourself. WashU isn’t looking for you to list out a dozen NGOs or broad political structures like the Senate as your answer. Instead, they want to see that you make thoughtful, informed decisions.

Maybe you pick an established organization like the NAACP that shares your mission and could provide you with resources to solve the problem. Or, perhaps you want to create a team of young, like-minded students you will meet in a particular class or club at WashU. Or, maybe there’s a WashU professor who is an expert on the issue you care about that you would love to work with.

The main takeaway is that you should focus on the depth you go into about why you choose a particular group, rather than the breadth of all the stakeholders who will be useful in solving the societal issue. When choosing members for your team, think quality over quantity.

As you discuss what others will contribute, also include what you will bring to the table. What knowledge or skills do you already possess that make you uniquely qualified to address this issue? Similarly, what knowledge and skills will you acquire with a WashU education that will be useful in tackling the issue? Don’t forget to highlight yourself in your essay—after all, you’re trying to convince WashU to admit you , not the other people helping to solve the problem.

Joint Program in Business and Computer Science Prompt

This is a distinctive degree program that captures the intersection of business and computer science and the growing demand for people with this special and sought-after skillset. graduates of the program will be able to pursue careers in technology, data analytics, finance, consulting and business development, to name a few..

For this prompt, you want to convey how you plan to synthesize two different topics into one passion that you possess. The prompt itself lists possible careers and specifically asks “how you would use this combined degree,” so this essay should focus on your future plans and possible careers you are considering.

Since you only have 200 words, don’t spend half the essay discussing your interest in business and the other half discussing your interest in computer science. In fact, the majority of this essay should be about the fusion of the two subjects.

To successfully write this essay, you should include a discussion of what drew you to the intersection of business and technology, what your career plan post-graduation is and why, and what resources or offerings in the program would be helpful to you. Now, let’s run through what should and should not be included in each part of the essay.

What drew you to these topics?

While this shouldn’t be the majority of your essay, it’s important that you address this question to demonstrate your passion for this unique combination of disciplines. A brief anecdote would be good to include at the beginning of your essay.

For example, a student who was so fascinated by trends in the stock market that she generated detailed charts and graphs could discuss how she organized data and analyzed the graphs she made. Or, a student who coded her own app so customers of the bakery she worked for could order ahead might describe the challenges she overcame to make the app.

What do you plan to do?

Answering this question should be the bulk of your essay as admissions officers want to know what creative aspirations you have that other applicants don’t. For this section, you might want to expand on an experience or project you worked on in the past that you want to delve deeper into. If you don’t already have much experience in these two fields, you can go into detail about your aspirations.

For instance, if you want to start your own technology company, you should discuss your inspirations, how you plan to overcome challenges with the knowledge and skills you’ll acquire at WashU, and why these two disciplines are essential to your future goals. The key is to be specific and exciting. WashU is looking to admit students who will be impressive alumni, so show them how you plan to make an impact down the road.

What resources will you use?

Finally you should mention how the goals you want to accomplish will only be possible if you obtain this education from WashU. You could talk about specific classes that pique your interest, professors you want to conduct research with, and extracurricular opportunities that fit your niche.

It’s important that you intertwine the program’s resources with your future plans and interests to actually demonstrate your passion for these topics. You want to convey specific ways in which WashU will provide you with a fulfilling education. You do not want to simply name-drop random professors or classes without establishing a connection, though. Additionally, the resources you discuss should be unique to this specific program at WashU, and not available anywhere else.

Danforth Scholars Program, Prompt 1

Chancellor danforth and mrs. danforth deeply cared about building trust within the community and being of service to others. as servant leaders, they demonstrated a true passion and commitment to enhancing the experiences of students, staff, and faculty. in the words of dr. danforth, “the achievement of understanding, mutual trust, and appreciation is not only an end in itself, but it is also the prerequisite for major progress” how have you demonstrated your commitment to servant leadership and improving community please provide 1-2 specific examples. (maximum 250 words).

Apart from Dr. Danforth’s quote, this is a fairly standard instance of the community service essay, so check out CollegeVine’s guide dedicated just to this kind of prompt!

Danforth Scholars Program, Prompt 2

Our lived experiences shape our worldly perspectives. as a community, we aim to learn from one another through attentive listening and meaningful dialogue. how will your lived experiences impact the danforth scholars program (maximum 200 words).

Brainstorming Your Topic:

This prompt essentially boils down to its last sentence—how will your lived experiences impact this program? That is a very open-ended question, which you could use as a road into just about any topic. That freedom means that the brainstorming process is crucial to writing a strong response. If you don’t already have a clear sense of what you want to say, your essay may end up all over the place.

One good way to focus your brainstorming is through the prompt’s attention to dialogue. You’re likely going to share anecdotes and advice with your peers at WashU, as you probably already do with your friends and family right now. Questions like the following may help you start figuring out what you want to write about:

• Which stories do you tell most often?
• When you meet someone new, what are some of the first things you usually talk about?
• When you give advice, which experiences do you draw on?
• How have the experiences from the previous question shaped you into who you are today?

Hopefully, thinking through these slightly more targeted questions will give you some ideas about what you might want to include in your essay. You only have 200 words to work with, so you’ll probably have to home in on one experience to use as the foundation for your essay. Once you have an idea of the general structure for your essay, you can then connect bigger picture takeaways to it, which ensures that your essay is cohesive.

One thing you should avoid is rewriting the same essay as the previous prompt. You don’t need to go into another story about your impact on your community here. You have more of a chance to be creative and try to convey a different message from the previous one.

For example, maybe you choose to focus your essay on your tradition of getting an owl-themed trinket anywhere you go on vacation, and how this small, seemingly silly routine has given you something consistent across different periods of your life. Perhaps this consistency is something that grounds you, and you might share this story with your future peers to help them come up with their own ways to order and appreciate the big events in their lives.

Remember, the Danforth Scholars Program , as well as the Ervin Scholars Program and Rodriguez Scholars Program , are centered around the ideas of leadership, community service, and diversity. Try to find a life experience that touches on at least two of those values so you can discuss how you will bring the lesson it taught you to WashU.

Tips for Writing Your Essay:

As noted above, for this prompt, brainstorming is more than half the battle. If you have a clear game plan before you start writing, actually getting the words down will hopefully be more about finding the right phrasing and crafting smooth transitions than actually generating content.

You do want to make sure that, like in any college essay, you’re utilizing the “show, don’t tell” strategy. In other words, rather than telling something to your reader directly, describe a moment or situation that illustrates the point you’re trying to make. To see the benefits of this approach, compare the following two excerpts from hypothetical essays:

Excerpt 1: “For as long as I can remember, I’ve collected owl trinkets on family vacations. In 2009, I got my first one, a ceramic burrowing owl from Tucson, Arizona. The most recent addition to my collection was a dense, bronze owl from Athens, who I was especially excited about since owls are the symbol of Athena, the patron goddess of that city.”

Excerpt 2: “As my family enters the small, dimly lit shop at the end of one of Athens’s many winding streets, my eyes immediately lock onto the shelves upon shelves of owls. Huge, marble ones that cost hundreds of euros, and tiny, wooden ones as spindly as a toothpick. After much deliberation, I select a dense bronze fellow who is barely an inch high. I can already envision how he’ll look on my desk at home, lined up next to all the other owls I’ve collected over the years.”

These two excerpts give us basically the same information, but the first presents it to us in a very dry, factual way. The second, on the other hand, drops us right next to the writer as they pick out their latest owl, and includes vivid descriptions that make this excerpt much more engaging to read.

Since you only have 200 words at your disposal, you should keep your stylistic flourishes limited, but don’t feel like you can’t use them at all. That being said, in your early drafts, don’t focus on this kind of finer detail. Make sure you have a personal, informative, cohesive essay first, then take the time to add the cherries on top later.

To connect your experience and its lesson to the program, visit the program’s web page and do a little research on the values it holds in high regard. Since each of the three scholarship programs offers this as their second prompt, all three program web pages are linked above, just before this tips section.

Mistakes to Avoid:

As we hinted at in the brainstorming section above, the biggest potential pitfall with this essay is that—because of the open-ended, narrative nature of this essay—you may end up adrift, without any clear focus point to anchor you. To avoid that happening, don’t just rattle off a bunch of vague, Hallmark card lessons. Instead, follow the strategies laid out in the previous two sections to ensure that the points you make are clearly connected to your own personal experiences.

The other thing you want to be sure to avoid is repeating information that can already be found elsewhere in your application, namely in your Common App essay. If you already wrote about your owl collection there, you want to pick something else to focus on here. You only get so many opportunities to share your personality with Princeton’s admissions officers, so don’t waste one by telling them things they already know.

Ervin Scholars Program, Prompt 1

Dr. john b. ervin was a nationally renowned black educator and the first african american dean at washington university in st. louis. the ervin scholars program was founded on and continues to live out his legacy and the legacy that scholars have built over 35 years. reflecting on his biography and the history and legacy of the ervin scholars program, how have you taken action to champion diversity in your own life please provide 1-2 specific examples. (maximum 250 words).

At its core, this is a standard diversity prompt . Be sure to check out our linked post for all the tips and examples you need to write a successful essay! That being said, there are a couple of things to note:

First and foremost, you should note that earlier this year, the United States Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling, however, still allows colleges to consider race on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts. If you feel that your racial background has impacted you significantly, this is definitely the place to discuss that.

Second, a typical diversity prompt generally asks about your background, life experiences, or identity, and how these things have shaped you into the person you are now. This prompt is a little bit different in that it’s asking how you’ve “taken action to champion diversity in your own life.”

The act of championing diversity can take many forms. Perhaps you’ve led a march for gender equality after a major institutional injustice occurred, or maybe you do something on a much smaller scale, like teaching kids in your neighborhood your native language. However you support and advocate for diversity is fair game for this prompt.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box—after all, diversity encompasses many things. You might think of a more traditional aspect of identity, such as ethnicity/race, country of origin, first language, gender identity, or sexual orientation. But diversity also includes things like your hometown community, socioeconomic status/income class, illnesses/disabilities, and even interests or hobbies!

Ervin Scholars Program, Prompt 2

Our lived experiences shape our worldly perspectives. as a community, we aim to learn from one another through attentive listening and meaningful dialogue. how will your lived experiences impact the ervin scholars program (maximum 200 words).

Like the Danforth Scholars Program’s second prompt, this is a great example of the classic “Community” essay !

Rodriguez Scholars Program, Prompt 1

Annika lynn rodriguez was born and raised in puerto rico prior to attending washington university. she received a bachelor of science in business administration degree from washu’s olin school of business in 1996, majoring in international business. while a student, she championed awareness for students of all backgrounds, including starting washu’s first latin american awareness week. she joined the peace corps after graduation and was sent to honduras to support and engage with communities in need. tragically, she was killed in a flash flood while serving. in remembering her, a friend said, “annika gave herself wholeheartedly to every person who entered her life.” reflecting on annika rodriguez’ history and legacy, how have you demonstrated your commitment to serving others and championing cultural awareness and understanding please provide 1-2 specific examples. (maximum 250 words).

Looking through the lens of Annika Rodriguez’s enduring legacy at WashU, this prompt asks you how you’ve demonstrated your commitment to two things—serving others and championing cultural awareness and understanding. In order to successfully address both parts of the prompt, you’ll want to incorporate elements of both the community service essay and the diversity essay .

The most effective response to this prompt should reflect on your community service experiences from the perspective of cultural awareness. If you volunteer at a local cultural center—like one that practices and preserves traditional Indian dances, or one that teaches children about traditional Mexican holidays and cultural practices, for example—this is the perfect place to write about that.

Even if you don’t have a service experience that is directly tied to cultural awareness, you can respond to this prompt. For example, you might tutor someone in another language, or perhaps you volunteer at a nursing home and teach the residents a card game from your hometown. Remember, the idea of “cultural awareness” encompasses many things that can be used to respond to this prompt—even something as simple as spreading a tradition that began in your city.

Rodriguez Scholars Program, Prompt 2

Our lived experiences shape our worldly perspectives. as a community, we aim to learn from one another through attentive listening and meaningful dialogue. how will your lived experiences impact the rodriguez scholars program (maximum 200 words).

This prompt is identical to the Ervin Scholars Program’s Prompt 2, apart from the name of the program, so you’ll once again want to tackle this as a traditional “Community” essay !

Where to Get Your WashU Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your WashU 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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