ADMISSIONS TO UW: The Basics

Admissions to UW requires careful planning. Just so you know, for autumn admissions, the UW application period commences on September 1st annually, with deadline dates available at https://admit.washington.edu/apply/freshman/. You have the flexibility to apply through either ApplyWeb or the Common App, and your choice of application platform does not impact your chances. Both application methods share the same deadline of November 15, and admission decisions will be made and communicated between March 1 and March 15.

Applicants self-report their courses on the application in a minimum of six subject areas, and show a final official   transcript if admitted and plan to enroll. If your preferred major is eligible for Direct to Major or Direct to College admission, remember to designate it as your primary choice on the application to receive automatic consideration. high school second-choice majors are not eligible for direct admission programs.

For U.S. freshman students, the application fee is $80, and fee waivers are available upon request. Please note that spring freshman applications are not accepted. For international freshman students, the application fee is $90, and, unfortunately, fee waivers are not available. Additionally, winter and spring international freshman applications are not accepted.

SAT or ACT: To Take or Not?

For the majority of applicants, the University of Washington no longer requires SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled applicants and students from schools with non-standard grading practices which do not provide letter or numeric grades must still submit SAT or ACT scores. Additionally, international students are required to submit English-proficiency test scores that meet the minimum admission requirement. Good SAT or ACT scores can still help get you admitted to UW, but if you’d rather not test, that is now a viable option.

UW Essays: More Important Than Ever

Because the SAT and ACT are now optional, the essays become a more important part of the UW application. The UW requires two essays. The first is the Common App’s personal statement, which asks applicants to tell a story illustrating their finest qualities in 650 words or less. This essay is quite challenging, and applicants are advised to start early and consider outside consultation, like from Seattle’s Best Tutor’s counseling and editing services. The second essay asks students to spend 300 words elaborating on one of their “communities,” which the prompt defines as broadly as possible; as students can write about their family, ethnicity, clubs, sports teams, work experiences, or any aspect of their identities, this piece is often easier than the personal statement.

Transcripts

Do not send high-school or college transcripts unless you receive a request from the Office of Admissions. Whether you are applying as a domestic or international student, if you have attended an educational institution outside the United States that adheres to a national compulsory curriculum, you must upload a scanned, unofficial copy of your transcripts for grades 9 and above as part of your application. Please refrain from sending hard copies of high school transcripts or mid-year school reports to the Office of Admissions.

Wrapping Up Admissions to UW

The University of Washington doesn’t conduct formal interviews or factor in demonstrated interest when making admission decisions. Please refrain from sending letters of recommendation or any supplementary materials such as drawings, CDs, DVDs, books, or portfolio-type items. They rely on your essay responses to gain a comprehensive understanding of your qualifications. Find out how to optimize these, and the rest of your application, at seattlesbesttutor.com.