uw transfer application essay

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants are students who are currently or were previously enrolled at a college other than the University of Washington - Seattle after high school. Running Start students who are currently in high school and/or did not continue with college after high school graduation are not considered transfer students and should apply as direct-to-major applicants . Students who are already enrolled at UW can apply to the Allen School using our current UW student pathway. The Allen School does not accept undergraduate applications from post-baccalaureate students . This page focuses on the transfer application process. You can learn more about our undergraduate majors here !

Information for Prospective Transfer Students

Info Sessions

The Allen School offers an information session for prospective transfers on the second Thursday of every month from 3:30PM - 4:30PM PT.

Transfer Thursday Drop-Ins

Meet with an ambassador.

If you are interested in learning more about the student experience at the Allen School, you can schedule an appointment to chat with a current student from our ambassador team!

Schedule an Appointment

Prospective transfer students can schedule a virtual appointment via Zoom with someone from our transfer team. Please note that advisers cannot read your application!

How to Apply

Key dates & deadlines.

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

Transfer Application Process

Below is a step-by-step outline of the process for applying to the Allen School as a transfer student. For more details, check out our Guide for Transfer Students (PDF).

The UW Transfer Application

• The first step in applying to the Allen School is to submit the UW Transfer Application for Autumn or Spring quarter.
• You should list either Computer Science or Computer Engineering as your first choice major.
• If there is another major on campus that interests you, you have the option to list it as your second choice major. If you are listing a second choice major, please make sure you learn about their admission process since admission to majors varies by major. Since Allen School applicants are considered in one pool, you should not list an Allen School major as your second choice major.

If you miss the UW application deadline, you will not be able to apply to the Allen School as a transfer applicant. The links below may help you in planning for your UW Transfer Application.

• UW Office of Admissions - Transfer Students
• Spring Quarter UW applications

The Allen School Departmental Supplemental Application

• The next step for transfer applicants who want to be considered for direct admission to the Allen School is to fill out an Allen School Departmental Supplemental Application (departmental application).
• In order to be eligible, students must have their prerequisites completed by the departmental application deadline (see the preparing to apply section for more details).
• Please note that the departmental application is completely separate from the UW Transfer Application and will generally be open for about two weeks before it is due.

You are welcome to begin working on your departmental application essay before the application opens. The departmental application essay prompt can be found here . If you are having trouble completing the application, there is a “help” tool that can be very useful for answering your questions. If you cannot find the answer using the “help” tool, you can email our transfer recruitment team at [email protected]

Preparing to Apply

Academic requirements.

All academic requirements must be met by the departmental application deadline for the quarter that you are applying. If any academic requirements are not satisfied, the applicant is not yet eligible for transfer admission.

• Transfer applicants must complete a minimum of 30 graded credits prior to applying. Credit by exam programs like AP and IB, while transferable, are not considered graded credit and cannot be counted toward this requirement.
• Transfer applicants must meet the Allen School's prerequisite courses for admission (listed below). These courses must be completed and graded prior to the departmental application deadline.

Determining Course Equivalency▼

If you are attending a Washington State community or technical college, you can also use our online Equivalency Guide to determine the transferability of your coursework. If your coursework is from another college or university, you can use our online UW course catalog to determine which courses at your institution are most closely related to our prerequisites at UW. It is important to note, though, that the UW is unable to make evaluations for transfer credit until after an applicant has been admitted.

Please note that taking two semesters of Calculus is considered equivalent to taking three quarters of Calculus.

Credit By Exam▼

If you have completed exams for credit such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or A Level & AS Level exams, please refer to the UW Office of Admissions for information on how your credits would transfer to UW. Please note that English Language & Composition credit from the AP exam is not equivalent to the English Composition prerequisite for admission and does not meet the UW composition requirement.

Prerequisite Exception Requests▼

All applicants to the Allen School are required to complete the Allen School prerequisite courses (shown above) by the departmental supplemental application deadline for the quarter that they are applying.

In recent years, we have offered a prerequisite exception request process but we do not know yet whether that process will continue next year. You should make every effort to have your prerequisite coursework completed prior to the departmental application deadline for the cycle that you plan to apply. Please check back after November 1 for updates.

Allen School Departmental Supplemental Application Checklist

• Review the information on the Transfer Students Webpage
• Use the Determining Course Equivalency section (above) to find out the best way to identify equivalent courses at your current institution and the University of Washington. Then, make a plan to complete all Allen School prerequisite courses before the Allen School Departmental Supplemental Application deadline (January 16 for Spring; April 5 for Autumn)
• Apply to the UW - Seattle using the UW Transfer Application (by December 15 for Spring or February 15 for Autumn) and list CS or CE as your first choice major. Learn about how to apply to the UW as a transfer student. You are not done applying, the Allen School requires a departmental application
• Begin reviewing the departmental application essay prompt (always available); please note that the rubric is closely based on the prompt so you should plan to answer all questions and follow the formatting guidelines . Check to make sure you included relevant information from your UW application in your departmental application. The Allen School does not have access to your UW application when reviewing the departmental application
• Create a list of all post high-school employment, research, volunteer work, extracurricular activities and clubs that you’ve been involved in since high school; you will put these in the activities section of your departmental application
• Complete and submit your departmental application . Please note that the application is only open for about 2 weeks so you should plan to prepare in advance. If you will have additional comments not included elsewhere, you may add them to the “Additional Comments” section of the departmental application. This application requires unofficial copies of your transcripts from all higher education institutions that you attended including grades from your most recent quarter
• Wait for your admission decisions from the Allen School and the UW! Ensure that you are checking the email address that you provided on your application in case we need to contact you!

Download the Transfer Application Checklist

Download the cs transfer planning worksheet, download the ce transfer planning worksheet.

Application Review

Holistic review process.

The Allen School admission uses a holistic review process, which considers academic background, personal statement quality, experiences and activities, higher education institution(s) attended, and residency. Priority is given to students who are transferring from a Washington State Community or Technical College (WA CTC) with about two years of coursework (90 quarter credits). We recognize that transfer students often have complex academic histories so upward grade trends are looked at positively, with most recent grades and grades in prerequisite subject areas being weighted most heavily in the academic review. Applicants are encouraged to give context to any academic inconsistencies on their transcript by explaining any circumstances that may have affected their academic performance in their application essay. Most students in our program are transferring from WA CTC and have a GPA of a 3.75 or better. Domestic non-resident (out-of-state) students, international students, and students transferring from a school that is not a Washington State Community or Technical College typically have a GPA of 3.9 or better.

For additional resources at the UW, please visit our Apply page!

Allen School Transfer Applicant FAQ

Program eligibility questions.

What are the Allen School’s transfer admission statistics? ▼

Admit rate for all transfer applicants: 20% (69/334)

• Washington residents: 33% (59/177)
• Non-resident: 2% (1/56)
• International: 9% (9/101)

91% (63/69) of admits are transferring from a Washington State Community or Technical College

Is there a minimum GPA required for admission to the Allen School? ▼

No. Due to the Allen School’s holistic admission review process, there is no minimum GPA required for admission. However, it is important to note that admission to the Allen School is competitive. The average incoming GPA for Washington state resident transfer admits is 3.75 or higher. The average incoming GPA for domestic non-resident and international transfer admits is 3.9 or higher. We understand that each transfer applicant has a unique story behind their transcript, and encourage students to share their academic journey in the departmental application’s personal statement.

Does the Allen School offer undergraduate evening or weekend classes? Does the Allen School offer a remote bachelor’s degree program? ▼

No. The Allen School does not offer undergraduate evening or weekend classes or a remote bachelor’s degree program. Transfer students admitted to the Allen School can expect to attend a full-time undergraduate program that offers a wide variety of classes that use theory, exploratory labs, and course projects to teach computing concepts.

Do I need to complete an associate’s degree before transferring? ▼

No. The completion of an associate’s degree is not required for admission to the University of Washington or the Allen School. However, applicants are encouraged to review UW’s transfer credit policies regarding the Washington community and technical college Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) for additional information about how an associate’s degree may impact your transfer credit if accepted - https://admit.washington.edu/apply/transfer/policies/#wa-ctct .

Can I apply before I’ve completed two years at a community college or university? ▼

Yes. If you have met the Allen School's academic requirements for transfer admission, you are welcome to before you have completed two years of coursework. However, please keep in mind that the Allen School gives priority admission to applicants who have about two years of coursework (90 quarter credits) completed.

Do AP or IB Courses count toward the 30 graded quarter credit minimum to apply? ▼

Unfortunately, no. Exams for credit do not count toward as graded credits.

Can I apply if I have more than two years of community college or university coursework completed? ▼

Yes. As long as you do not have a prior bachelor’s degree and have met UW’s minimum admission requirements and will fulfill the Allen School’s prerequisite requirements in time, you are welcome to apply for transfer admission. Please note that the University of Washington has transfer credit policies that determine how prior transfer credit can apply towards an undergraduate degree at UW - https://admit.washington.edu/apply/transfer/policies/#restrictions .

If I have a prior bachelor’s degree, can I still apply as a transfer applicant? ▼

No. Due to extremely high demand for our program from first-time bachelor's students, the Allen School is not currently accepting applications from students looking for a second bachelor's degree (i.e., post-baccalaureate applications for a bachelor's degree) - https://www.cs.washington.edu/academics/ugrad/admissions/postbac .

Can I reapply to the Allen School as a transfer applicant if I have been denied before? ▼

Yes. The Allen School does not have a limit on the number of times a transfer applicant can apply for admission. However, we strongly encourage all applicants denied admission to the Allen School to consider alternative undergraduate computing programs at other institutions or alternative computing-related majors at UW given how competitive admission is to the Allen School.

Applicant Questions

Can someone review my transcript to see what classes will transfer to UW-Seattle? How will I know if my credits will transfer? ▼

With that said, our recruitment team is happy to connect with you via email ( [email protected] ) if you have remaining questions about whether or not you are eligible to apply. Please note that receiving permission to apply is not a guarantee that all of your prerequisite coursework will transfer as expected through the transfer credit review. Please keep in mind that our Allen School transfer team is unable to provide individualized academic plans for transfer applicants.

Can someone at the Allen School review my personal statement for the departmental application? ▼

No. The Allen School is unable to provide personal statement review for transfer applicants seeking admission. For support in writing your personal statement, please use writing and transfer resources at your current institution. All transfer applicants can make an appointment with someone on our transfer recruitment team to speak broadly about the application process but we are unable to read your personal statement as we serve on the admission committee. Historically underrepresented students of color (African American, Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian) can reach out to the UW’s Multicultural Outreach and Recruitment team for additional support.

Can I have the Allen School’s prerequisites for admission in-progress or planned at the time of application as a transfer student? ▼

Prerequisite courses may be in progress when you apply to the UW, but they should be completed by the departmental application deadline. For example, if you are applying for Spring quarter, they must be completed by January 16. They can still be in progress when you apply to the UW before December 15. At most institutions, this means that Autumn is the last quarter that they can take a prerequisite course for Spring admission.

Do I need to provide all college/university transcripts if it's been years since I last attended or if I no longer want the transfer credit? Do academic credits expire? ▼

All transfer applicants, U.S. and international, are required to submit unofficial college/university transcripts from each institution attended for their Allen School departmental transfer application. Academic credits do not expire and an applicant’s entire academic record will be considered in the transfer departmental application admission review process. The University of Washington does not practice grade forgiveness. Failure to disclose and submit unofficial transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, even if no credit was earned, may result in denial of admission or dismissal from the UW. The Allen School transfer admission committee recognizes that students may have academic inconsistencies in their academic record. Since the Allen School practices a holistic admission review process, transfer applicants are encouraged to discuss any academic inconsistencies or provide additional context to their academic history in their personal statement.

Can I use the same personal statement for both the UW transfer admission application and the departmental application? ▼

No. Transfer applicants should write their essay answering the specific questions in the departmental application personal statement prompt. Keep in mind that the Allen School transfer admission committee will not be reviewing your UW transfer admission personal statement, so please repeat any relevant information you would like to have considered.

Does the Allen School accept supplementary materials for the transfer departmental application such as letters of recommendation? ▼

No, the Allen School does not accept supplementary materials such as letters of recommendation, applicant portfolios, or interviews from transfer applicants in the departmental application review process.

Admission Questions

How is the departmental application reviewed? ▼

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

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

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

Does the Allen School transfer admission committee review my UW transfer admission application and personal statement? ▼

No. The UW transfer admission application process is separate from the Allen School’s transfer departmental application process. Applicants should include any relevant information from the UW transfer admission application in the departmental application that they would like to have considered by the Allen School’s transfer admission committee.

Where can I find my admission decision? ▼

Your admission decision will be sent to the email address that you provided in your application.

When will I find out my admission decision from the Allen School? ▼

Transfer applicants that submit a departmental application to the Allen School are notified of their admission decision via the email address provided in their application. For spring applicants, departmental admission decisions are sent in early February. For Autumn applicants, departmental admission decisions are sent in mid-May. The Allen School does not send hard copy letters for admission decisions.

If I am accepted to the Allen School as a transfer applicant, can I defer my offer of admission? ▼

No. You may not defer your offer of admission to another entry term. The offer of admission is valid only for the quarter indicated on your offer letter. If you are unable to attend the UW at this time but wish to enroll for a future quarter, you will need to file a new application to UW and submit a new Allen School departmental application and meet all requirements and deadlines.

What if I am admitted to UW but not admitted as a transfer student to the Allen School for Autumn admission? ▼

Transfer students who are admitted to UW as pre-majors should consider whether or not there is another major on campus that they are interested in. Students who enroll at UW as pre-majors and want to apply to the Allen School will need to apply through our Current UW student pathway. This pathway is highly competitive and there is no guarantee of admission for students who pursue this option. It is only recommended that students enroll at UW as a pre-major if they have other interests outside of the Allen School. Additionally, coming to UW as a pre-major transfer student often extends the amount of time until a student can graduate. For this reason, we highly recommend that students that are not offered direct transfer admission to the Allen School plan for another major at UW or consider similar computing programs at other institutions. For assistance with academic planning as a pre-major student, please connect with an academic adviser in Undergraduate Academic Advising at UW to discuss your options - https://www.washington.edu/uaa/advising/ . It is not possible to be admitted to UW as a pre-major student for spring admission.

Can I appeal my Allen School transfer admission decision? ▼

The Allen School does not offer admission decision appeals. If you were not admitted to the Allen School, you would need to reapply to be considered for admission into the Allen School again.

Are transfer students eligible for UW scholarships and financial aid? ▼

Transfer students that are accepted to the University of Washington and accept the offer of admission are eligible for scholarships and financial aid. The Allen School offers departmental scholarships for undergraduate students including incoming transfer students - https://www.cs.washington.edu/academics/ugrad/current-students/resources . For questions about financial aid, please refer to the UW Office of Student Financial Aid’s website - https://www.washington.edu/financialaid/ .

Other Computing Related Degree Programs

Related Majors ▼

Some students intending to study Computer Science or Computer Engineering may not ultimately gain admission to the Allen School, while others may discover another major that is better for their strategies and goals. Students in other majors enjoy access to our non-majors courses , can serve as Allen School teaching assistants, and can participate in Allen School research.

Below is a sampling of other majors on the UW Seattle campus you may want to explore, based on your interest in our program. Please note that most of these majors are also competitive so it is important to reach out to them and discuss their application procedures.

• Applied & Computational Mathematical Sciences
• Electrical Engineering (particularly the embedded systems track)
• Geography (particularly the geographic information systems track)
• Human Centered Design & Engineering
• Informatics
• Linguistics
• Mathematics

Other Programs in Washington State ▼

There are similar programs in the area which take transfer students, and we highly recommend that you apply to multiple programs if you're sure you want to study Computer Science or Computer Engineering. You should consider:

• University of Washington Bothell
• University of Washington Tacoma
• Bellevue College - Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Cascadia College - Bachelors of Applied Science in Mobile Application Development
• Central Washington University
• Central Washington University @ Des Moines
• Eastern Washington University
• Evergreen State College
• Green River College - Bachelor of Applied Science in Software Development
• Gonzaga University
• Lake Washington Institute of Technology - Bachelor of Applied Science in Software Development
• North Seattle College - Applied Bachelor’s in Application Development
• North Seattle College - Computer Science Bachelor of Applied Science (B.S.) Degree
• Pacific Lutheran University
• Renton Technical College - Bachelor of Applied Science in Application Development
• Saint Martin’s University
• Seattle Pacific University
• Seattle University
• University of Puget Sound
• Walla Walla University
• Washington State University
• Washington State University @ TriCities
• Washington State University @ Vancouver
• Western Washington University
• Whitman College
• Whitworth University
• Complete list of all WA State Colleges and Universities

Please email the Allen School transfer recruitment team at [email protected] . We encourage all prospective transfer applicants to the Allen School to attend an information session. We are happy to answer your questions!

Transferring to the UW

Plan your application.

Are you considering attending the University of Washington as the next step on your educational journey?

Identify application timeline

Explore majors, make an academic plan, research tuition and associated cost, connect with the uw.

The UW has a lot to offer. To get started visit the tabs on the left to learn about the application timeline, understand the cost, and begin to prepare your academic plan.

All prospective transfer students are invited to attend Transfer Thursday prior to applying to the UW. The afternoon includes an admission presentation, followed by information sessions or drop-in advising by different academic programs and departments. These vary from week to week. Consult the schedules to choose a Thursday that’s best for you.   

Identify which quarter you want to transfer to the UW

Make sure your intended major offers admission for the quarter you intend to begin attending the UW by consulting Choosing a Major Page , an interactive tool for transfer students provided by the Office of Admissions. Then consult this list of application dates and deadlines .

Know UW application deadlines

The Office of Admissions provides a guide for transfer students to ensure you have all of the appropriate materials to apply. When you're ready, file the application .

Know UW major application deadline

You can use Choosing a Major Page , an interactive tool for transfer students, to check the admission policy, curricular options and quarters of application for every UW major.

Connect with your UW Admissions counselor

Stay informed by connecting with your counselor if you have any questions about the application process.

List of Majors

Start by reviewing the List of Undergraduate Majors at the UW. Some majors admit students in good academic standing at any time (open), while others have requirements before admission (minimum) or limited capacity for applicants (capacity-constrained).

List of Undergraduate Majors

Exploring Major Alternatives

Some UW majors are capacity-constrained, meaning not all students interested in that major can end up studying it. Many must find an alternative. This tool is designed to help you explore related majors with similar coursework, career opportunities, and topics of interest.

Exploring Majors Tool

Meet regularly with an academic adviser at your current institution

Share your goals of transferring with your academic adviser early on. Work together to identify how you can reach your goals and what will need to be accomplished at your current institution to do so. Download the Transfer Roadmap Worksheet and make sure you don't miss any steps.

Attend a Transfer Thursday and Transfer Student Preview Day at the UW

Transfer Student Preview Day is a program that happens each year in December for those interested in transferring to the UW. Registration will open in November, learn more on the admissions website.

Every prospective transfer student should attend a Transfer Thursday session before applying for admission. Find out about the admission process, meet with an adviser, and learn more about the UW's academic areas of study, as well as other topics such as financial aid and housing. Transfer Thursday is also available as a webinar for those unable to attend in person.

Review UW Admissions' website and departmental websites

Browse the UW's various academic programs . Most departments offer regular information sessions introducing the major and its required courses. Get in touch with departmental advisers to find out when sessions will be offered and to learn more about the program. UAA Advising also has some great general suggestions on how to choose a major .

Identify pre-requisite courses for intended majors and alternative majors

Read about holistic review , minimum subject requirements , the transfer GPA , AP and IB , guidelines for veterans and homeschooled students , and other essential policies affecting transfer admission .

Review information on choosing majors and the transfer equivalency guide

As you are considering major(s), you'll find them organized on the choosing majors  page according to admission type (open, minimum requirement and capacity-constrained). Understand how your credits will transfer to the UW. Also check to see how your credits will transfer if you are currently enrolled at a Washington State Community and Technology College using the equivalency guide . For Washington State Community and Technology College students (CTC), use MyPlan to track how your CTC credits will transfer to the UW as well as measure your progress towards a UW degree.

Know the UW FAFSA/WASFA priority date (January 15th)

The UW’s priority date for filing the FAFSA is now January 15, rather than February 28. Your FAFSA should be received at the federal processor by January 15  for priority consideration of all of our aid programs. It is not too late to submit your FAFSA. If your application is submitted after January 15, you will still be considered for federal aid, including Pell Grant and student loans.

Review UW Financial Aid net price calculator and expected family contribution (EFC) estimater

UW undergraduates receive about $400 million in financial aid per year. Over 60% of our undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. We know that many families are concerned about their ability to pay for college. This estimator service will give you an estimate of the type and amount of aid undergraduate students in similar financial situations as yours have received to attend the UW.

Sign-up to receive important email reminders through UW Admissions

When you sign up for our email list, you'll get connected to the UW and stay informed about how to submit the strongest application, deadline reminders, majors and academic programs, campus tours and information sessions, and UW visits to your area. 

Visit campus and experience student life

Take an in-person campus tour or engage in the virtual options. Attend a Husky Hangout to learn more about the student life experience while connecting with current students. 

Attend Transfer Student Preview

Interested in transferring to the UW? Transfer Student Preview is a program for students (and their families) to learn more about UW programs and services and connect with departments.

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Extracurriculars.

How to Write the University of Washington Essays 2023-2024

The University of Washington has two supplemental essays that are required for all applicants, and one optional, “additional information” prompt. While we typically encourage students to respond to any optional prompt, this one is actually optional, as you should only respond if there truly are unusual circumstances that have impacted your high school career. If you are applying to UW’s Honors Program, you will also have to write an additional essay.

UW is one of the top public universities in the country, with elite STEM programs and a location that offers unparalleled access to Amazon and Microsoft, among other influential companies, so you’ll want to make sure your essays truly shine. In this post, we’ll break down how to brainstorm for and write each one, so you can be sure you’re putting your best foot forward.

Read these University of Washington essay examples to inspire your writing.

University of Washington Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words)

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 words)

Prompt 3 (optional): You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. For example, you may use this space if:

You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education

Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations, you have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended. (200 words), uw interdisciplinary honors program applicants.

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. (450 words)

All Applicants, Prompt 1

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

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

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

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

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

All Applicants, 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 words).

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

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

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

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

All Applicants, Prompt 3 (optional)

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

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

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

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

For the second:

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

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

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

Please reflect and respond to the following question, and in doing so explain your interest in the UW Interdisciplinary Honors Program. What is interdisciplinary learning and why is it important to you? (300 words)

While you might be tempted to approach this prompt in the way you would approach a traditional “Why This Major?” essay, hold on for a second and reread the prompt. Rather than being asked why you are pursuing a particular major or area of study, you’re being asked about why learning new things interests you and which “subjects you’re excited to explore in college”. 

Although you will likely be most excited to study the topics relevant to your major, this prompt specifically requests that you “push…outside of the areas of learning that you are most familiar with.” UW admissions officers are hoping to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of your intellectual potential, so your response should focus on a topic other than your intended major.

However, be sure to discuss an area of interest that has some alignment with the rest of your application, so that it doesn’t feel totally out-of-the-blue. If you’ve never been a part of any music-related classes or activities, writing about your passion for songwriting may feel a little disjointed. 

Of course, our identities are complicated, but remember that the people reading your applications don’t know you outside of what you tell them, which means it’s crucial that the various pieces of your application come together to form a cohesive unit. Otherwise, your readers may not understand who exactly you are.

To give an example of something you could write about, maybe your intended major is biology, but you’ve also studied Latin throughout high school. You could focus your essay on how you hope to read ancient and medieval scientific texts, to learn more about how human understanding of the world around us has evolved.

Another approach to this essay could be identifying a topic that has nothing to do with biology but ties into some aspect(s) of your identity. Perhaps growing up in a multilingual, bi-racial household, with parents from South America and East Asia, meant you were constantly participating in family gatherings and celebrating holidays with very different cultural contexts. In college, you hope to study anthropology and sociology, even though you have no direct experience with either of those subjects, so that you can not only understand your own identity better, but also be better prepared to engage with those who have their own complicated stories.

Note that the prompt asks you to not only describe one of your academic interests, but also explain “why this type of learning interests you,” with regards to interdisciplinary learning. To answer this part of the prompt, you’ll want to identify one or two of your goals for college, and how you see interdisciplinary learning in particular helping you reach them.

The second example given above already does this, as the student explains that they want to be able to better communicate with people from cultural backgrounds that differ from their own, and they clearly connect that goal to the subjects they are focusing on. 

The student in the first example is starting to get to this component of their essay, but needs a little more personal connection. They could get that by, for example, writing about how they’re not sure how they can best utilize their skills within the vast field of biology–as a doctor, researcher, educator, or something else–and throughout college, hopefully exploring the history of the subject will give them a clearer idea of the right path ahead.

Here are some finals tips for you to consider when responding to this essay: 

• 450 words is on the long side for a supplemental essay, so take the time to share an anecdote that integrates your interest in a specific topic with your background, personal values, and overall love of learning, rather than just stating your points in a direct, factual way
• Explain why the University of Washington specifically can help you reach your goals, by referencing a few course offerings, campus organizations, research opportunities, and so on that align with your interests
• Not to sound cheesy, but have fun! As we noted at the beginning of this breakdown, you have more freedom here than in a “Why Major?” essay, so highlight your curiosity, excitement, and any quirky connection you have to your topic, rather than worrying about whether or not you’ve taken enough APs or done enough extracurriculars related to your topic

Where to Get Your University of Washington Essays Edited 

Do you want feedback on your UW 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!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Transfer admission

Ready to join our community of innovators in the UW Engineering? The key to a successful transfer application is to plan, complete the required coursework and pay close attention to the deadlines. Use this page to help you prepare.

of WA state community and technical college applicants are admitted to engineering majors

Of all transfer applicants are offered admission into an engineering major, of students seeking a b.a. degree started at the uw as a transfer student, 1. prepare your transfer plan.

Expand All | Collapse All

Research majors and their admission

• Areas of impact Reflect on our engineering areas of impact to help you identify multiple majors that align with your interests.
• Explore UW Engineering Continue your exploration by reading an overview of each department, including information on degrees offered, research and more.
• Compare required courses by major Make sure you are major-ready. Compare application and enrollment requirements for each engineering major.
• UW equivalency guide Find out how courses you have taken at Washington community and technical colleges will transfer to the UW.

Note: While General Chemistry II will sometimes transfer as Chemistry 1XX, students who complete General Chemistry I & II* with accompanying lab at a Washington State Community College will satisfy the admission and graduation requirements for the CEE, ISE, MSE and ME departments. *Courses such as Chemical Concepts, Introductory Chemistry and Chemistry Prep classes will not satisfy this requirement.

Meet with your current college adviser to plan

Since some prerequisite courses will only be offered in certain quarters, it is critical to know the timing of the course offerings at your college. Be proactive about taking prerequisite courses to ensure you are ready when it is time to apply.

2. Know your application deadlines

You will need to apply to the UW and to the departments that offer the majors you are interested in pursuing. Engineering departments accept applications and admit students to the majors at different times. Keep these different deadlines in mind as you prepare to apply to both the UW and the majors.

International transfer students are only admitted for autumn quarter unless you are already in the U.S. and meet department admission requirements for bioengineering or chemical engineering, in which case you are welcome to apply for admission in the spring.

Timeline: applying for spring admission

Majors admitting during this admissions cycle: Bioengineering, Bioresource Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Computer Engineering

UW application opens

UW deadline

Engineering application opens

Engineering deadline 5 P.M. PST

Admissions decisions announced

Timeline: applying for fall admission

Majors admitting during this admissions cycle: Aeronautics & Astronautics, Bioresource Science & Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Human Centered Design & Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering and Mechanical Engineering

Engineering deadline

Admission decisions announced

3. Connect with us

If you have a general question about the College and its departments, email us or call (206) 543-1770 to ask a question or set up an appointment. Both in-person and virtual advising options are available.

Transfer Thursday sessions: every Thursday 3-4 p.m. PST

UW hosts Transfer Thursday each week of the academic quarter to support prospective transfer students. The College of Engineering provides a drop-in advising hour every other week (January 11 & 25, February 8 & 22, March 7, April 4 & 18, May 2, 16, & 30) ) with a general engineering adviser via Zoom following the UW-wide Transfer Thursday session. Some individual engineering departments also hold Transfer Thursday drop-in hours or maintain availability for scheduling advising appointments (see below). During these sessions, you can ask questions more specific to the departments and majors of your interest.

Connect with specific Engineering departments

4. apply to the uw and majors of interest, apply to the uw.

Prepare to apply to the UW by the application deadline listed for your intended start quarter. You must complete the UW application deadline to be able to apply to an engineering major.

• UW application deadlines for transfer students

UW application

Apply to engineering majors

You will be applying to engineering majors before you receive an admission decision from UW Admissions.

• Submit an application for each engineering major you would like to be considered for. Instructions and more details can be found on the major application.

Major application

Scholarship opportunities

In addition to the UW student scholarships and financial aid , we encourage you to apply for our College scholarships .

Engineering department advisers can provide you with information about scholarship opportunities for specific majors. Scholarship opportunities for transfer students are ]available through the UW and partner organizations.

Transfer Student Information and Resources

This page includes information for students interested in transferring to the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington (UW Seattle Campus).

Who is considered a transfer student?

Transfer students come from different institutions such as:

• A Washington State College or University
• An out-of-Washington State College or University
• An International College or University
• UW Bothell or UW Tacoma

Applying to Foster

Transfer students should apply to Foster via the Standard Admission process. Note that you must submit two applications: one to Foster and one to the UW Office of Admissions.

• Be sure to read the “Transfer & Running Start Freshman Applicants” section!
• UW Admission: Check the UW Admissions website for UW application deadlines and requirements. Visit the UW Transfer Application website for an application checklist.

Be sure to thoroughly review the websites above, as there are different requirements for both applications. For example, the UW application requires official transcripts, and the Foster application requires unofficial transcripts in PDF format.

Connect with Foster

There are many opportunities for transfer students to connect with resources within Foster!

1. Transfer Thursdays/General Information Sessions: If you are planning to apply to Foster as a transfer student, consider attending an online General Information Session led by a Foster Academic Adviser, held on Thursdays. Please see the bottom of the Admissions Information Sessions & Workshops page for specific dates and link information.

2. Drop-in Advising: Have a quick transfer question? Attend a Drop-in Advising session. See Drop-in Advising for schedule and link information.

3. Foster Opportunities for all students: If you are not yet admitted to Foster, there may be opportunities for you to join groups, programs, and activities within the Foster community. See Foster opportunities for all students here.

For additional transfer prerequisite information and application info, please see the “Transfer & Running Start Freshman Applicants” section of the Standard Admission page.

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Notice | First-year admitted students now have until June 1 to commit, a result of FAFSA delays.

Transfer Students

Applying to college is exciting but going through the process can bring up a lot of questions. We’re here to help you along the way. This page will take you through the basics and lead you to the detailed information you need.

Am I a transfer applicant?

You are considered a transfer applicant if you have completed (or will complete) college coursework from a regionally accredited college or university following the summer after high school graduation, but have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree.

Transfer Admissions Journey

What can you expect when you apply to UW Bothell? The admissions journey below outlines the full process from beginning to end.

Step 1: Explore

The discovery phase in your college search is a time to explore your passions and see how we can help you achieve your goals.

Read more about why UW Bothell is a great place to learn and grow!

Come experience the sights and sounds of our park-like setting and determine if it’s the right fit for you.

Set up a virtual or in-person campus visit.

Speak with your admissions counselor to review transcripts or answer your questions about the application.

Schedule an appointment with your counselor.

Step 2: Apply

Review admission requirements.

The type of requirements an applicant must fulfill depends on how many credits have been completed at the time of application.

Review transfer admission requirements.

REVIEW TRANSFER CREDIT POLICIES

UW Bothell has specific policies regarding transfer credit for students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.

Review our transfer credit policies.

DETERMINE YOUR DATES & DEADLINES

When you apply to UW Bothell as a transfer student, you must also apply to your desired major.

Review important dates & deadlines for transfer students.

USE OUR TRANSFER PLANNING WORKSHEETS

Transfer planning worksheets will help you plan your course of study prior to transferring to UW Bothell.

Find the transfer planning worksheet for your desired major(s).

COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION

Transfer students use the CollegeNet application, which serves as both the general UW application and the application for your intended major.

Find out how to apply to UW Bothell.

CHECK EMAIL & MISSING ITEMS

After you apply, we will if reach out if something is missing and/or to submit final high school or community college transcripts.

Read more about what to do after you apply.

Step 3: Enroll

Accept your admission.

You did it! Being admitted to UW Bothell is a big accomplishment and another step towards making your dreams a reality. Accept your offer of admission to become a member of the Husky family by paying the $250 deposit.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT FINANCIAL AID

If you are seeking assistance to help fund your UW Bothell education, consider applying for financial aid. The priority application deadline is January 15 of each year, but you can still apply for financial aid after the deadline.

Learn more about financial aid.

EXPLORE MORE STEPS

Get ready for your arrival on campus by completing all the remaining next steps, such as submitting vaccine documentation and attending Orientation.

Read more about admitted students.

Transfer Application Deadlines

As a transfer student applicant, you’ll apply directly to your desired major. Please review our program admission deadlines to see when your desired major accepts applications throughout the year.

Start your application

The University of Washington Bothell seeks students who can benefit from its wealth of academic and cultural opportunities and can contribute to its amazing energy and rich diversity of experiences. Our holistic review process looks beyond grades and standardized tests.

Transfer credit policies

To students pursuing a first bachelor’s degree, the Office of Admissions awards transfer credit according to the guidelines discussed here. Admissions reserves the right to accept or reject credits earned at other institutions of higher education.

Transfer planning worksheets

Transfer planning worksheets will help you plan your course of study prior to transferring to UW Bothell. They provide a fill-in-the-blank format to track your progress to UW Bothell. The guides also contain information regarding:

• How to be a competitive applicant
• UW Areas of Inquiry requirements (General Education)
• Prerequisite courses and equivalencies

• College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs)
• College-Level Work In High School
• Homeschooled Students
• Community College Option
• Upcoming School Visits
• Course Equivalency Guide
• Transfer FAQs
• Graduate Students
• Schools & Programs
• Using the GI Bill
• English Language Proficiency
• Submitting Standardized Test Scores
• Submitting Transcripts
• Writing Your Personal Statement
• Achievements And Activities
• Confirm Your Enrollment
• DACA & Undocumented Students

Transfer Admissions Requirements

Main content.

Transfer students who hold more than 40 transferable college credits at the time of application, meeting these criteria will qualify for review:

Minimum requirements for consideration:

• Hold a minimum 2.0 transferable college GPA
• Submit all official college transcripts
• Proof of English proficiency , in some cases. Please review link for more information.

To be considered a more competitive applicant:

• Adhere to the above requirements
• Apply by posted deadlines
• Present a transferable GPA that is greater than the minimum. A 2.5 is considered more competitive. A 2.75 may qualify you for assured admission.

Additional requirements if you have earned fewer than 40 transferable academic college credits after leaving high school (except in the case where the college credits were all earned the summer immediately after high school):

• Fulfill the College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs)
• Submit your high school transcript
• Submit your SAT/ACT test scores  (optional)

Application Process

• Complete the UW Tacoma Transfer Application*
• Pay the $60 application fee ($75 for international applicants) when you submit your application
• Write your personal statement
• Submit standardized test scores (optional)
• Submit your transcripts

*A complete application includes all supplemental materials, essays and transcripts.

Major, pre-major, or undeclared?

Transfer applicants can apply to be admitted directly to a major, or can apply as a pre-major or an undeclared student. Read more about transfer admission options.

Admission to a degree program

If you have met the minimum number of credits and fulfilled the prerequisites, you can apply to a degree program at the same time you apply for admission. If you are admitted to the university and have indicated you wish to apply for an academic program, your application will be forwarded to the requested academic program for review.

If you have completed 75 or more credits already, you are strongly encouraged to do this.

• Review specific degree-program admission requirements

Application Dates

Autumn Quarter

• March 15  Priority application date & priority scholarship deadline
• July 31  Final application deadline

Winter Quarter

• October 15  Priority application date
• November 15  Final application deadline

Spring Quarter

• January 15  Priority application date
• February 15  Final application deadline                                     ​​​​

If an application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the effective deadline is the next business day. All materials must be received by the application deadline.

Office Location

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Prepare Your Essay

You are more than facts and figures.

It doesn’t get said enough, but your UWs are literally looking for reasons to admit you. That’s why they ask for an essay. They simply want to hear about you. Take your time. Give it some thought, share it with a few people you trust, and revise.

In the end, it’ll be worth it.

All Universities of Wisconsin ask the following question of freshmen and transfer applicants:

All UWs This part is all about you. Tell us about something you’ve done — academically or personally — and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

If you apply to UW-La Crosse or UW-Madison, you’ll need to answer a second question, as well:

UW-Madison Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

UW-La Crosse Please respond to ONE of the following: (1) How will your life experiences or commitments enrich the UW-La Crosse campus community? OR (2) Tell us why you are interested in attending UW-La Crosse and what aspects of the campus are especially important to you.

Tips & Recommendations

We’ve collected some of the best tips and recommendations for writing a great essay.

University of Washington Information School

Informatics.

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Transfer Student Admissions

If you are not currently enrolled at the University of Washington on the Seattle campus but are planning to transfer in for autumn or winter quarter, you must first apply to the UW as a transfer student . You'll then need to apply separately to the Informatics program. You'll hear back about each separately. 

Informatics has two admissions cycles per year:

• The application to start the program in Winter 2025 will open in September 2024, with a deadline in early October 2024.
• The application to start the program in Autumn 2024 will open in March 2025, with a deadline in early April 2025.

Note, if you are enrolled at the UW Seattle campus during the application process, you are not considered a transfer student, though you may have transferred in for a previous quarter. 

Application requirements

To apply to the Informatics program as a transfer student, UW Bothell student or UW Tacoma student, you must:

• Submit a UW transfer application by the specified deadline. Learn more about the transfer process . *Note: International applications are only accepted for the Autumn Quarter.
• Complete all three  prerequisite courses by the end of the quarter prior to submitting your application.
• Online application
• Schools and transcripts
• Prerequisite courses
• Application essay

See the Application Materials page for detailed information on each of the above items.

More information

• Learn more at a planning session or recruiting event.
• See our Advising & Support page for current drop-in advising hours
• Join the UW iSchool prospective student email list

Full Results

Customize your experience.

• 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.

Civil Engineering

College of Engineering

Minor available

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree provides students a broad-based educational experience, enabling them to address complex and multi-faceted civil engineering problems in construction, transportation, structural, transportation, water and environmental engineering. After completing the required 300-level core curriculum, students may explore the areas of their interest with greater focus in their senior year or explore a variety of topics at the 400-level.

Major category : Capacity-constrained

Curricular options : Civil Engineering

Topic(s) : Engineering

Applicant type

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman , including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).

Quarters of general admission to UW : autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring / summer

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

• Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
• Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
• Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
• UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

Please contact the department for details about the application process.

• Transfer students must submit two separate applications: one to the Office of Admissions and one to Civil Engineering.
• To be eligible to apply, you must have a 2.0 (“C” grade) minimum GPA in each prerequisite course and a 2.5 cumulative GPA in all the prerequisites. These are minimums; the actual GPA of those admitted is much higher.
• To plan your transfer, be sure to utilize the engineering transfer admission website and contact the department if you have additional questions. A separate departmental application is required in addition to the UW application for admission. For more information, visit the department’s website.

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student .

Courses required for the major:

• MATH 124 NSc RSN – Calculus Analytic Geometry I 1
• MATH 125 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry II 1
• MATH 126 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry III 1
• MATH 208 NSc – Matrix Algebra 2
• CHEM 142 NSc RSN – General Chemistry 1
• PHYS 121 NSc RSN – Mechanics 1
• PHYS 122 NSc – Electromagnetism 1
• Complete one of the following courses:   AMATH 301 NSc – Beginning Scientific Computing or CSE 122 NSc RSN –  Introduction to Computer Programming II or CSE 142 NSc RSN – Computer Programming I or CSE 160 NSc – Data Programming
• A A 210 NSc – Engineering Statics 1
• CEE 220 NSc – Intro Mechanics of Materials 2
• M E 230 NSc – Kinematics and Dynamics 2
• English composition C 1

Courses recommended for the major:

Entering transfer information:.

Total undergraduates: 212 Total from Washington community colleges: 50

Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):

3.75 – 4.00: 8 3.50 – 3.74: 10 3.25 – 3.49: 12 3.00 – 3.24: 13 2.75 – 2.99: 2.50 – 2.74: 2.49 and below:

Career outcomes

Required Application Materials and Documents

In order for your application to be reviewed for admission, it must be submitted with the non-refundable application fee or fee waiver, and all supporting documents must arrive in our office by our deadline . We highly recommend allowing ample time for materials to arrive.

Any outstanding materials will be noted under “Tasks” on your “To Do List” in your Student Center .

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First-Year Applicants

A first-year student includes anyone who is currently a student in high school or who has not taken college coursework since graduating from high school.

First-Year Application and Materials Deadlines

Applications and all required application materials must arrive in our office by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the noted deadline dates.

Please note that it may take up to 72 hours for our system to reflect that you have submitted an application; you will receive an email the next business day acknowledging its receipt.

Students who submit their application within 5 days of the deadline will not receive a reminder of materials that are missing from their application.

Early Action is non-binding. You’ll receive your admissions decision earlier but will not be required to commit until the national deadline of May 15.

Transfer Applicants

A transfer student is anyone who has attended another college or university after graduating from high school and wishes to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at UW–Madison.

In order to be eligible for transfer admission, you must have completed or be in the process of completing at least 24 transferable semester hours of college-level work after high school graduation. AP, A-Level, IB, and CLEP cannot be used toward the 24 transferable credit requirement. We do not admit freshman-level transfer students.

Transfer Application and Materials Deadlines

Required first-year application materials.

We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received. These deadlines and requirements pertain to both domestic and international applicants.

Application requirements for admission to the university are the same for all students, regardless of the academic major/area of interest.*

*Students who wish to be considered for direct entry to a program in the areas of dance or music will also need to complete an additional application and an audition. Learn more about our Direct Entry  process.

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

1. Admissions Application

First-year applicants can apply using either the Common Application  or the Universities of Wisconsin Application

UW–Madison does not prefer one application over the other. Please choose only one application and use only that application all the way through to submission.

Please note that we do not start processing fall term applications until September 1.

Applicants will be asked to identify both a first and second choice major when completing the application for admission. If we are unable to offer you admission to your first choice major, your second choice will be considered in our application review to assess interest and preparation. Due to the competitive nature of some of our programs, admissions expectations may be different for students pursuing majors in business, engineering, dance, and music. We encourage you to visit our direct entry page to learn more.

2. Application Fee

The application fee is $70.00 US and is non-refundable.

Electronic payment is preferred. If you apply using the Universities of Wisconsin Application, the fee can be paid by check or money order, drawn on a bank located in the United States and payable to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Send the check or money order to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment . Please include the applicant’s name with payment. Do not send cash.

Application fee waivers are available for applicants with financial hardship. Eligible students can request a fee waiver as part of their application. If you did not request an application fee waiver at the time of application, but are eligible to have your fee waived, you may print the Application Fee Waiver Request Form and have your counselor/advisor submit it to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. If the College Board or ACT grant you a fee waiver, we will also accept it.

3. Two Essays

As part of our holistic review, we refer to the essays you submit to understand more about you. What you choose to share gives us an idea of who you are and what you want to accomplish as part of our community. Tell us about you and your unique story to help us know you beyond your GPA and test scores. Your essays might also be used for campus program and scholarship review.

If you apply using the Common Application, you will be asked to respond to one of the  first-year Common Application essays . If you apply with the Universities of Wisconsin Application, you will need to answer the following prompt:

• This part is all about you. Tell us about something you’ve done—academically or personally—and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

All applicants will also need to respond to this prompt:

• Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

Keep these tips in mind as you work on your writing:

• Develop your thoughts before you begin the writing process, and create an outline.
• The maximum word count for each essay is 650, but we recommend planning for 300–500 words.
• Do not type directly into the web form. Instead, work on your draft in word processing software.
• Allow time to develop and revisit your writing.
• Check for spelling mistakes and ask someone to proofread your final version.
• Be genuine and honest in your writing.

4. Course and Grade Information

We require course and grade information from all schools you attended for grades 9–12.

If you apply via the Common Application, you may meet this requirement one of two ways*:

• Self-report your coursework within the application to meet the course and grade information requirement to complete your application for admission

– OR – 

• Have your school submit an official transcript from your school(s).

If you apply via the Universities of Wisconsin Application, you may meet this requirement one of two ways*:

• Submit an unofficial transcript within the Universities of Wisconsin Application at the time you complete it

       – OR – 

*If you have already graduated from high school, an official final transcript with your graduation date is needed to meet this requirement.

How to Send Official Transcripts

Students applying from outside the United States can find  country-specific official transcript requirements here .

If you were or are homeschooled, we will need additional documentation to complete a full, holistic review of your application. Learn more about specific application policies and requirements .

If you earned your General Educational Development (GED) certificate or a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) , submit your official score report in addition to all high school or home school transcripts.

Note: official transcripts from all schools and colleges attended (including dual credit) will be required prior to enrollment. Incorrect reporting of courses and/or grades may result in your admission offer being revoked and scholarship awards being forfeited. Official college transcripts are also required to award college credit. Official transcripts should be sent directly from each school attended.

GPA and Class Rank:  Applicants are expected to achieve a high level of performance in the course work they pursue and an increasingly strong academic record. We ask for your GPA and class rank. We also realize that many schools consider GPA on different scales and some do not report GPA or class rank at all. We consider both GPA and rank in the context of your school. We typically see unweighted, academic GPAs between a 3.8 and a 4.0, and a class rank in the 85–97 percentile.

5. One Required Letter of Recommendation

We require you to submit one letter of recommendation written by someone who can attest to your academic ability, such as a teacher, school counselor, or faculty member. If you choose, you can also submit another letter of recommendation from an additional source, such as an employer, coach, research mentor, community leader, or clergy. Students with an interest in engineering are encouraged to obtain a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher. Remember to have a discussion with your chosen recommender first to see if they are willing and able to provide a letter.

We encourage applicants who have been away from formal classroom teaching for an extended period to request a letter of recommendation from someone who can speak to their academic potential, such as an employer (preferably a supervisor or manager), a program or departmental trainer, or some other individual in an official instructional capacity.

Those who apply using the Common Application should request a recommendation through that system.

If you apply using the Universities of Wisconsin Application, select the link that best describes your situation:

• Invite someone to submit a recommendation  (I have my NetID)
• Invite someone to submit a recommendation  (no NetID)

Recommendations that are mailed to our office: Letters of recommendation must be sent directly from the school and/or recommender, in a sealed envelope. Recommendations  must include the applicant’s full name, birth date, and campus ID number (if known). Additionally, letters of recommendation from a school staff member may also be sent through Naviance. Please note that letters of recommendation expire after one year from the date it is written.

6. TOEFL, IELTS, and DET Scores (English Language Proficiency)

First-year applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score, unless English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school.

All English proficiency exams should be sent electronically, directly from the testing service.

Please note: Sending official test scores from the testing agency does have an additional costs and will add 3-6 weeks to the application completion process. Plan to send your test scores early to ensure your scores arrive before the the materials deadline.

We do not superscore any English Proficiency exam and score reports cannot be older than two years from the time you apply.

How to Send Official Test Scores

Duolingo English Test (DET)

• Minimum accepted score: 115+
• When submitting your score(s): Search category should be “Undergraduate,” then select “University of Wisconsin–Madison”
• Please do not send to offices listed under “Other,” as we are unable to retrieve those scores
• The DET should be sent with sub-scores
• Minimum accepted score: 6.5+.
• IELTS does not require a code.
• Select our account name, “University of Wisconsin, Madison Undergraduate”
• Please do not send paper copies of your IELTS scores.
• We do accept the IELTS Indicator.
• Minimum accepted score: 80+
• When submitting your score(s): TOEFL test code is 1846
• We do not accept “MyBest” score from TOEFL nor any English Proficiency exam
• For each TOEFL you submit, we will require the full score report
• We do not accept the TOEFL iTP Plus for China, but we will accept the iBT Special Home Edition

If you feel that you qualify for an English Proficiency Exam waiver based upon the requirements above, please submit all required transcripts to our office. Other test scores such as ACT, SAT, or AP (Advanced Placement) scores do not meet the requirements for a waiver. Once your transcripts are received in our office (are no longer displayed on your To Do List in your Student Center), we will determine your waiver eligibility. Waivers will not be processed prior to receipt of both the admissions application and transcripts.

Optional First-Year Application Materials

7. act and sat scores (test optional through the spring 2027 term).

Including scores from either the ACT or the SAT with your application is optional for students applying for admission through the spring 2027 term, with an application deadline of October 1, 2026.

You will not be disadvantaged in our evaluation process if you do not include these scores for consideration in your application.

More information on our test optional policy can be found by viewing our  ACT/SAT Test Optional FAQs .

You will indicate your choice regarding including test scores at the time of application. The choice that you indicate on your application is final.

If choosing to include ACT or SAT test scores with your application, submit your official scores directly from the testing site.

Please note sending official test scores from the testing agency does have an additional costs and will add 2–4 weeks to the application completion process.  Our test code is 4656 for the ACT and 1846 for the SAT. Do not send your results rush (SAT) or priority (ACT); we receive all scores electronically on a daily basis so there is not an advantage to rush or priority delivery.

Statement on Score Choice:  Students choosing to include test scores with their application are encouraged to submit all exam scores. It can be a benefit to see your complete testing history as part of our comprehensive review, and since we will only consider your highest score (by test date), there is nothing to be gained by suppressing scores through Score Choice. However, applicants are free to use the College Board’s Score Choice option for the SAT and/or the similar option offered by ACT. Superscores are not considered in our review.

Required Transfer Application Materials

Transfer students can apply using the  Universities of Wisconsin Application .

You will be asked to identify both a first and second choice major when completing the application for admission. If selecting a major in the School of Business or College of Engineering as your first choice major, you must select a second choice major outside of the School of Business or the College of Engineering. If we are unable to offer you admission to your first choice major, your second choice will be considered in our application review. Due to the competitive nature of some of our programs, admission expectations may be different for students pursuing majors in business, engineering, dance, and music. We encourage you to visit our direct entry page  to learn more.

Application fee waivers are available for applicants with financial hardship. Eligible students can request a fee waiver as part of their application. If you did not request an application fee waiver at the time of application, but are eligible to have your fee waived, you may print the Application Fee Waiver Request Form and have your counselor/advisor submit it to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

The application fee is not required if your last school attended is a UW System institution and it is within one year of enrollment as a degree seeking student at that institution.

You will need to answer the following prompts:

If you are applying to transfer from another Universities of Wisconsin institution, you will only be required to submit the second essay.

College Transcripts:

We require course and grade information from your enrollment in any and all colleges and universities. This should include all college-level coursework completed to date, including your current term in progress, and (if applicable) college classes taken while in high school.

You must submit an official transcript from all institutions(s) in which you were enrolled to meet the course and grade information requirement to complete your application for admission.

Official transcripts should be sent directly from each school attended.

Applicants that are currently or were previously enrolled at a UW College, a UW System branch campus, or UW Colleges Online must submit their transcripts according to the UW System guidelines .

High School Transcripts:

We require official high school transcript(s), sent to us by your school. We review your high school record to check for proof of graduation, the completion of core preparation requirements, and to learn more about your educational background. High school grades will play a more important role in the admission review for applicants who have completed fewer transferable college credits. If you earned your General Educational Development (GED) certificate or a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED), submit your official score report in addition to all high school or home school transcripts. If you were or are homeschooled, we will need additional documentation to complete a full, holistic review of your application. Learn more about specific application policies and requirements .

We require you to submit one letter of recommendation written by someone who can attest to your academic ability, such as a teacher, school counselor, or faculty member. Students with an interest in engineering are encouraged to obtain a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher. Remember to have a discussion with your chosen recommender first to see if they are willing and able to provide a letter. *

* While we would prefer to receive a letter from the most recent year/semester, many students are taking courses virtually due to COVID-19 and making connections virtually may be challenging for some students. If you think a letter from a past high school teacher, high school counselor, college teacher, or academic advisor can speak to your current strengths as a student, we will accept those letters to make admission decisions.

Transfer applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit a official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score, unless English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school or a college level English composition course was successfully completed at an accredited US institution. This requirement will not be waived for English composition taken at U.S. branch campuses abroad.

We do not superscore any English Proficiency exam and score reports cannot be older than 2 years from the time you apply.

Optional Transfer Application Materials

7. act and sat scores (optional).

Scores from either the ACT or the SAT are not required of transfer applicants. However, you are welcome to provide us your scores. Your results will be considered as supplemental academic information and may help strengthen your application. Test scores can be sent directly from the testing service. Our test code is 4656 for the ACT and 1846 for the SAT. Do not send your results rush (SAT) or priority (ACT); we receive all scores electronically on a daily basis so there is not an advantage to rush or priority delivery.

Additional Required Materials for International Students

Application materials and process for reentry students, application materials and process for second degree students.

Transfer students are students who have earned or are currently earning college credit after high school. Students who previously attended UWM but have since enrolled at another institution should apply to UWM as a transfer student.

Preparing to Apply to UWM as a Transfer Student

During the college application process, you’ll be asked for a variety of information, including personal information and academic history. To make completing the application as easy as possible, we recommend having this information available when you start:

• A list of courses that are in progress if you are currently enrolled at another institution
• A list of activities and work experience
• Personal and parent information (if applicable), including address and contact information

UWM Application Essay

Please note: Students transferring from another UW school are not required to submit an application essay.

For all other transfer students, the application essay is your opportunity to tell your story by responding to the following prompt:

Tell us about something you’ve done — academically or personally — and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

Your application essay should include:

• Any academic and personal hurdles and/or challenges you’d like us to know about in the context of your application.
• Any information that is inclusive of your family or your community experiences.

Before you submit your application essay, please make sure to:

• Review your spelling and grammar.
• Ask someone to proofread your final version.
• Check that your essay is between 250 and 650 words in length.

Required Application Materials

High school and college/university transcripts.

Official final high school or GED/HSED and college transcripts must be sent directly from the schools you’ve attended for application review. UWM can’t accept copies from you. If you’ve attended multiple schools, official college transcripts from each school attended are required. If you’re currently taking college classes, please include a list of your current college classes on the application form.

Official transcripts can be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions through an approved electronic service or via mail to:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Office of Undergraduate Admissions P.O. Box 749 Milwaukee, WI 53201-0749

[email protected]

Test Scores (optional)

UW System institutions, including UWM, are not requiring applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores as part of the application process this year. UWM will consider applicants for admission with or without one of these standardized test scores. On the application, students can indicate whether or not they intend to send an ACT or SAT score to be reviewed with their application. Students who plan to send test scores can submit official scores directly from the testing service, self-report their test scores on the Common App, or complete the electronic self-reported test scores form.

Submission of test results is never required for students age 21 and older or applicants with at least 12 transferrable credits.

To send scores directly from the testing service, select UW-Milwaukee as a recipient (ACT school code: 4658; SAT school code: 1473).

Application Review

Transfer admission is a holistic process, and no single criterion guarantees admission. We take these factors into consideration:

• Demonstrated satisfactory academic progress
• Successful completion of college-level math and English courses
• Total credit hours completed
• Academic standing at your previous institution

If you have fewer than 12 transferable credits, UWM will also review your high school academic records.

Please keep in mind that some of UWM’s academic programs may have additional requirements for direct admission into their majors.

Credit Transfer

We value your work at other institutions, and we want to award as much credit as possible. After you’ve been admitted, the UWM Registrar’s Office will conduct an evaluation of your transfer credits. If you would like to assess how your courses may transfer before you receive your official evaluation, check out the Transfer Equivalency Database or create a  Transferology  account.

If you would like an unofficial credit evaluation prior to admission, please contact your admissions advisor. They will provide the evaluation for you, or connect you with an academic advisor in your intended major.

In general, transfer credit is awarded for college-level work completed at institutions accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Foreign institutions must be recognized by their ministry of education or the equivalent organization in their home country. Courses must be similar in nature, level, and content to a course in UWM’s undergraduate curriculum and applicable to one of our academic programs. Continuing education courses, graduate-level courses, and courses that are remedial, technical, vocational or doctrinal in nature are not transferable. 

Go to  Transfer Wisconsin  to learn more about how courses transfer in the University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, and Tribal College systems. If you have other questions regarding transfer credit, see UWM’s  transfer credit policies .

Please note: If you’ve taken Advanced Placement (AP) exams, International Baccalaureate (IB) exams or the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams, UWM must receive official test scores to evaluate your results for possible credit. These scores are not required for admission but are helpful in determining credits. See the  Registrar’s Office credit policies  regarding the transfer of non-coursework credit and military credit.

Related Links

• Articulation Agreements & Transfer Guides (if transferring to the Milwaukee campus)
• Guaranteed Transfer Admission / PantherTracks (if transferring to the Milwaukee campus)
• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Next Steps for Admitted Students
• Viewbook – English (PDF)

Fall 2025 UGA Essay Questions

  david graves        may 22nd, 2024 in blog.

For First Year students applying to UGA for Fall 2025, we will keep the same longer personal essay (250-650 words) as before, using the essay prompts from the Common App . The shorter UGA specific essay (200-300 words suggested) topic will also remain the same as last year, with the following essay prompt:

“ The transition from middle to high school is a key time for students as they reach new levels of both academic and personal discovery. Please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during this time. Please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself (we are not looking for a book report).”

• FYI – We are not restricting you to the exact years of 8th-9th grades, but rather the general timeframe of the middle to high school transition, which can extend somewhat further than one year on each end. Feel free to use your discretion in your choice of the timeline focused on the shift to your high school years.

As always, we also share an essay from an enrolling First-Year student that we believe shows great writing skills:

As a middle-schooler on the brink of entering high school, I was like lost cattle entering a vast social and academic wilderness. In the center, a winding, sun-soaked desert path stretched far into the horizon, beckoning my gaze with its promise of adventure and discovery. Enter The Alchemist and its magnificent idea of the “Personal Legend”– a life goal so lofty that it made locating my locker on the first day of high school appear easy. Forget about the difficulty of making new hobbies or friends; the content from this novel sure played an essential role in determining my ideology related to pursuing my future.

The protagonist enthusiastically praised the significance of believing in one’s dreams, which led my younger self down the correct path. Generating profits after extensive hours of work through my business, navigating changes in learning after COVID-19, and confronting adversity due to my darker skin color all presented difficult periods where persistence and faith were important in progress. Although self-belief was a crucial aspect of pushing through difficult times, it also motivated me to be more confident. Taking risks, from soloing in my 8th-grade jazz band to giving my crush a cringeworthy love letter, changed my belief in embracing adversity.

Furthermore, the book’s emphasis on interacting with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems mirrors my journey into the real world. Whether developing a dancing board at a Purdue summer camp or a calculus Halloween graph, collaboration enforces the ability to work with others who may share different ideas. Diverse backgrounds boosted my understanding, tolerance, and empathy while increasing my engineering career readiness. Not only was The Alchemist a great book, but it enforced critical systems that I use until this day to succeed in life. The Alchemist played an essential role in instilling new concepts I needed as an adolescent. “And when you want something, all the universe conspires you to achieve it.” Thank you, Paulo Coelho.  – Josh W, Collins Hill HS.

• This essay gives us insight into the student’s feelings and thoughts, and he shares his ideas through descriptive word choice. This is an excellent essay, but please know that we are not expecting this level of writing from the applicant pool overall. This essay example is meant to show our applicant pool how to express themselves through examples, personal growth and emotion. When we are reviewing essays, we are looking more at the student’s voice coming through and less on technical writing skills.

Tags: admissions , essays , file reading , freshman admission