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College Essays

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

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

Feature Image: Cody Logan/ Wikimedia

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Is the Common Application Essay Prompt?

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

This is the Common App essay prompt you must answer:

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

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

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

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

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

Tips For Brainstorming Topics for Your University of Washington Essay

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

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

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

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

What Is the Short Answer Prompt?

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

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

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

For the UW short response essay, here is the required prompt:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Should You Add in the Additional Information Section?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Should You Use the Additional Space? How?

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

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

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

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

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Tips and Advice for the University of Washington Essays

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

Proofread Your UW Essays

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

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

Get Editing Help

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

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

Be Specific

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

Read Essays That Got Students Into UW

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

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

What's Next?

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

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

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

Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar.

Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges.

Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now :

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

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University of Washington Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are University of Washington's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into University of Washington and build a strong application.

School location: Seattle, WA

This school is also known as: U Dub, UW

Admissions Rate: 47.5%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at University of Washington is 47.5% . For every 100 applicants, 48 are admitted.

This means the school is moderately selective . The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

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University of Washington GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.83

The average GPA at University of Washington is 3.83 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.83, University of Washington requires you to be near the top of your class , and well above average. Your transcript should show mostly A's. Ideally, you will also have taken several AP or IB classes to show that you can handle academics at a college level.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.83, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

University of Washington hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to University of Washington will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

University of Washington SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1340

The average SAT score composite at University of Washington is a 1340 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes University of Washington Moderately Competitive for SAT test scores.

University of Washington SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1320, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1500. In other words, a 1320 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1500 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

University of Washington has the Score Choice policy of "All Scores."

This means that University of Washington requires you to send all SAT scores you've ever taken to their office.

This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. For example, if you scored an 1300 on one test and a 1500 on another, they won't actually average the two tests.

More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Even better, some schools form a Superscore - that is, they take your highest section score across all your test dates and combine them.

Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that University of Washington will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. But how many is too many?

From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit . The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. They'll just focus on your score.

If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. They'll question your study skills and ability to improve.

But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1340, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

University of Washington ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, University of Washington likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 30

The average ACT score at University of Washington is 30. This score makes University of Washington Strongly Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 29, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 34.

Even though University of Washington likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 29 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 30 and above that a 29 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 30 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to University of Washington, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 30.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

University of Washington considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission . Scoring a 1500 SAT or a 34 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 47.5% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 3.83. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 1320 SAT or a 29 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of University of Washington here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $80
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 3
• Electives 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes November 15 March 15

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 1410 Seattle, WA 98195
• Phone: (206) 543-9198 x9198

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:

Note the final application deadline of December 1. No transcripts or letters of recommendation are required -- unless you are applying to the Honors program, in which case you will submit one letter in addition to extra honors essays on the UW application. More info on applying to honors available here.

UW offers merit scholarships, some with applications and some that you are automatically considered for. Check out their scholarships page for more information.

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in University of Washington, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to University of Washington.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than University of Washington. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for University of Washington, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for University of Washington, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If University of Washington is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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The W Requirement

Additional writing.

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

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

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

W-course Guidelines

Guidelines for teaching W courses are now housed on the For Faculty > Teaching W Courses section of this web site. Please consult that page for revised guidelines, along with extensive guides on assignment design, assessment, academic integrity, and writing instruction while working with TAs.

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Essay Scoop: How to Answer University of Washington Essays

Julia de Raadt

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

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

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

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

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

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

The application specifically states,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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University of Washington: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

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The University of Washington is a large public research university with an acceptance rate of 52%. Located in Seattle, Washington, the university is one of the top public colleges in the country. UW is a member of the Association of American Universities for research strengths and has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.

Considering applying to the University of Washington? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Why the University of Washington?

• Location: Seattle, Washington
• Campus Features: The largest university on the West Coast, the University of Washington's attractive campus sits on the shores of Portage and Union Bays, and some locations have views of Mount Rainier. Spring sees the campus explode with cherry blossoms.
• Student/Faculty Ratio: 21:1
• Athletics: The Washington Huskies compete in the NCAA Division I Pac 12 Conference .
• Highlights: A highly-ranked public research university, the University of Washington has strengths that span a wide range of academic fields. Students can choose from over 180 majors.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, the University of Washington had an acceptance rate of 52%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 52 were admitted, making UW's admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

The University of Washington requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 81% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of UW's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to the University of Washington scored between 600 and 700, while 25% scored below 600 and 25% scored above 700. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 620 and 770, while 25% scored below 620 and 25% scored above 770. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1470 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at the University of Washington.

Requirements

The University of Washington does not require the optional SAT essay section. Note that UW participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. SAT Subject tests are not required at the University of Washington.

ACT Scores and Requirements

The University of Washington requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 30% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of UW's admitted students fall within the top 15% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to the University of Washington received a composite ACT score between 27 and 33, while 25% scored above 33 and 25% scored below 27.

The University of Washington does not require the ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, UW superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

In 2019, the middle 50% of the University of Washington's incoming class had high school GPAs between 3.72 and 3.95. 25% had a GPA above 3.95, and 25% had a GPA below 3.72. These results suggest that most successful applicants to UW have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The​ admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to the University of Washington. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of Washington, which accepts just over half of applicants, has a selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, the University of Washington has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule . Note that the University of Washington does not use letters of recommendation in the admissions process. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside UW's average range.

In the graph above, the green and blue dots represent accepted students. As you can see, the majority of students who got in had an unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher, an SAT score (ERW+M) above 1050, and an ACT composite score of 20 or higher. Strong students can be rejected if they don't have high grades in challenging AP , IB, and Honors courses.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Washington Undergraduate Admissions Office .

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University Of Washington Supplemental Essays + Examples

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 12/5/23

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

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

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

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

The University of Washington Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

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

UW Essay Prompt #1

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

UW Essay Prompt #2

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

UW Essay Prompt #3

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

• You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education
• Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations
• You have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended (200-word limit)”

How to Write Each Essay Prompt for the University of Washington 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Examples of UW Supplemental Essays That Worked

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

Sample Essay #1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Essay #1 Worked

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

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

Sample Essay #2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Essay #2 Worked

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

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

Sample Essay #3

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Essay #3 Worked

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

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

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

Get More Sample Essays Here!

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

Insert tool 

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. How Important Are the University of Washington Essays?

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

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

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

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

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

5. How Can I Improve My UW Supplemental Essays?

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts

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

We believe in you, and you should, too!

Access 190+ sample college essays here

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Each UW school and college interprets the General Education requirements somewhat differently. If you have not yet decided on a major, we recommend working toward the requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences. If no foreign language is indicated, it means that no college coursework is required if the undergraduate admission requirement (two high school years or two college quarters of one foreign language) has been met.  

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Academic writing sample.

Your academic writing sample must be in English and should showcase your best philosophical work to date.  A typical writing sample is 15-20 pages (when double spaced and in 12-point font), not including reference page(s).  We don’t recommend a paper shorter than 10 or longer than 25 pages. Writing samples should be clearly written and go beyond superficial summaries of philosophical positions to engage in clear argumentation, detailed analysis, evaluation, and/or engagement with texts.  Writing samples are evaluated primarily for their ability to demonstrate skills needed for more advanced scholarship.

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In your statement of purpose , briefly describe: (1) your background in academic philosophy, (2) what areas of philosophy you want to work on in graduate school, and how they connect to our department's strengths. 

Optionally, please also describe:

(3) any non-academic experiences that add perspective and breadth to your intellectual work, (4) any philosophically-relevant background in the sciences, engineering (including computer science), or mathematics, (5) any experiences or qualifications that show an ability to get things done in challenging circumstances, and (6) any special circumstances that have negatively affected your academic record. 

Please limit your statement to 750 words or less.

Letters of Recommendation

You will need three letters of recommendation to support your application. You should request letters from scholars who know your work well and are able to write a strong letter regarding your potential to succeed in a philosophy graduate program. Generally, letters from philosophers will be more beneficial and carry more weight. Be sure to request letters well in advance to ensure that your letter writers have ample time to upload your letters prior to the application deadline.

You will identify your three recommenders in your online application by submitting their names and email addresses. The application system will then automatically send each recommender an email with instructions on how to upload your letter. There is no recommendation form. Letters should be on letterhead from the recommender’s organization. Please note: the UW Graduate School online application is not associated with Interfolio and cannot accept recommendation letters via Interfolio and/or your recommender’s Interfolio email.

TOEFL Scores [if needed]

Applicants must meet English language requirements at the time of application. Native English speakers automatically meet this requirement.

For most non-native English speakers, this will require submitting TOEFL scores (with some exceptions).

To determine whether you need to submit TOEFL scores, see Admissions Criteria .

TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date, and must be valid on the application deadline. Official TOEFL scores (if needed to meet English language proficiency requirements) must be self-reported on the online application form and official scores sent to institution code 4854. Please allow 14 business days from the date you request scores from ETS for them to reach the Graduate School.

Unofficial Transcript(s)

You will need to upload PDFs of your unofficial transcripts for any previous studies that you include in your application. You do not need to send official transcripts with your application, but will be asked to provide them to the Graduate School for verification if you are offered admission and intend to matriculate at the University of Washington.

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First-Year Admission

Applying as a first-year to the Honors Program

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

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

Who are Honors students?

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

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

RSVP HERE FOR AUTUMN 2023 SESSIONS

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

Important Dates

Application process.

To access and submit the Honors application questions:

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

Honors Essay

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

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

Essay Prompt for Autumn 2024

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

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

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

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

Read our Tips for Applying for more detailed advice.

The Honors Holistic Review & Test Scores

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

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

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

Read our admissions FAQs

FROM THE DIRECTOR

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

Connect with UW Honors:

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

© 2024 University of Washington | Seattle, WA

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

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Nov 15

You Have: 

University of Washington 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

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

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

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

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

Short Response

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

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

Additional Information About Yourself or Your Circumstances (200 words)

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

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

Additional Space (Optional) (200 words)

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

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

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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.

Expand your experience 

The UW Honors Program is a curriculum, a community, and much more! Our students are enthusiastic learners from all backgrounds and majors seeking to expand and deepen their education.

Honors options

Learn more about UW Honors

Who are Honors students?

Quick facts

• There are three Honors options to choose from: Interdisciplinary, College, and Departmental Honors.
• Honors courses fulfill the UW general education requirements.
• The Honors curriculum integrates research, leadership, community service and reflection.
• $1.2 million annually in resident and non-resident scholarships.
• Honors floors in the residence halls.
• Students take ~one Honors class per quarter.
• There is no one type of Honors student. Honors student majors range from English to computer science, psychology to biochemistry, engineering to public health.

How to join Honors

Freshman admission.

Second Year Admission

2nd Year Apply

Transfer Admission

Transfer Apply

Departmental Honors

Interdisciplinary Honors Freshman admissions

If applying to the UW as a freshman, you will find the Honors application — consisting of an additional Honors-specific essay — within the UW application. 

The 2024 Honors application essay prompt

Respond to the prompt using no more than 450 words .

We want to understand your desire to learn new things and to push your education outside of the areas of learning that you are most familiar with. Tell us why this type of learning interests you and which subjects you’re excited to explore in college.

Tips for applying

Scholarships, freshman admissions process and timeline:.

• Apply via the UW application by the UW application deadline.
• The Honors Program reviews applications separately from UW Admissions.
• You must be admitted to UW to be admitted to the Honors Program.
• In recent years Honors has received 5,000-7,000 applications per year, admitted approximately 1,100 applicants and enrolled approximately 230 students.
• Honors holistically evaluates applications.
• The Honors admission decision has no bearing on the UW decision.
• The Honors Program sends a separate decision email after you are officially admitted to the UW. Expect to receive a decision email from Honors between March 15 and April 15.

Prospective undergraduate students

Welcome! The Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (OMSFA) works with students who are currently enrolled at the University of Washington. We look forward to working with you once you become a UW student. In the meantime, please review the basic information below to get started in understanding the scholarships available from UW and beyond.

Scholarship Information for Future Huskies

Incoming freshmen.

Our office is not involved in selecting or awarding scholarships to incoming freshmen, but we can provide a basic overview and starting points. The majority of scholarships UW has to offer to incoming freshmen are based entirely on the admission application; no additional application is needed, though you should complete the FAFSA to ensure maximum eligibility.

• Domingo-Viernes Scholarship from the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies. Applications are typically due in April each year.
• Crabby Beach Foundation or Kathryn Hinckley-Martin Scholarships from the School of Art + Art History + Design. Applications are typically due in early-September each year.
• Ellis Civic Fellowship from the Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center. Applications are typically due in mid-September each year.

Admission-based Scholarship Opportunities :

• APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO UW : To be considered for admissions-based scholarships, you need to submit your UW admission application by the November 15 deadline. The UW Admissions Office provides a limited number of admissions-based scholarships for incoming students (including the Purple & Gold Scholarship ), along with additional information about resources and programs.
• CONSIDER APPLYING FOR HONORS : Those interested in the UW Honors Program Admissions Scholarships should connect with the Honors Program directly for admission information and details.
• ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIPS : Many academic departments have scholarships they offer during the admission process to students who indicate their interest in that major/department.
• ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS : Incoming freshman student-athletes can access information about UW athletic programs and how they support student-athletes at GoHuskies.com .
• NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID : The Office of Student Financial Aid provides information on applying for, qualifying for, and receiving financial aid, including need-based scholarships.
• The University of Washington does not participate, at the undergraduate level, in any programs that allow out-of-state students to pay in-state tuition.

Transfer Students

Transfer students may be able to apply concurrently for admission and scholarships offered by specific academic departments, some of which may require an additional application. Deadline dates vary with each department. Please inquire with the department(s) you are targeting.

Additionally, UW offers six scholarships open to students transferring into UW from Washington State community colleges:

• The Martin Achievement Scholarship funds students who have demonstrated signs of exceptional ability in art, humanities, music, science and/or leadership at the community colleges. Scholars are selected early in their community college career (in the first year, or at least with one full year left to complete at the community college) and will fund, encourage and support their study and eventual transfer to the UW Seattle campus.
• The Martin Family Foundation Honors Scholarship funds community college students of exceptional ability and outstanding achievement to complete their baccalaureate degree at UW Seattle. Scholars are selected during their transfer year.
• The University Washington NASA Space Grant program awards the NASA Space Grant Community College Transfer Scholarship to promising community college students planning to continue their studies in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
• The Alan R. Spence Transfer Support Fund was established to support transfer students in their educational pursuits at the University of Washington. Dr. Spence had a long career as an educational leader at several Washington state community colleges, including 24 years at Pierce College. Valuing the community college system as a place where student can begin their journey through higher education regardless of their circumstances and backgrounds, Dr. Spence worked tirelessly to ensure that institutional barriers would not impeded a student’s ability to be successful. Every-other year the Spence Fund will award approximately two or three scholarships of up to $1000 each to UW students who entered as transfer students.
• Domingo-Viernes Scholarship from the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies. This scholarship is awarded yearly to either graduate students or entering freshmen or transfer students to any of the University of Washington’s three campuses (Seattle, Tacoma, or Bothell). In their applications, students must show commitment to the principles of justice and equality and demonstrate financial need. Students with an interest in labor studies or a family background in labor and social justice are encouraged to apply.
• Crabby Beach Foundation or Kathryn Hinckley-Martin Scholarships from the School of Art + Art History + Design. To be eligible for these scholarships, you must be a freshman or transfer student who has applied and been accepted to the UW, and will start as a full-time undergrad beginning Autumn quarter and is intending to major in art, art history or design at the UW School of Art + Art History + Design.

Learn more from the UW Admissions Office information regarding resources and programs.

The Office of Student Financial Aid provides information on applying for, qualifying for, and receiving financial aid, including need-based scholarships.

Incoming International Students

When enrolled at UW, international students will have access to limited institutional funding options. Though not exhaustive, the list includes merit based scholarships available through academic departments, other scholarships open to all UW students, grants that support various student experiences (for example the Mary Gates Endowment for Students ) and on-campus student work positions.

U.S. immigration laws require international applicants to provide proof of financial support before the university can formally offer admission and issue appropriate immigration documents. Students, their families and sponsors must assume all financial responsibility for tuition and living expenses. It is very important that applicants review the expected expenses before deciding to apply for admission.

The UW Admissions Office provides student with information about resources and programs. International Student Services has information regarding visa requirements. Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS), a community non-profit organization, enhances international understanding and promotes cultural exchanges between UW international students and Americans.

Additional Scholarship Search Tools:

Search the list of scholarships in our database open to incoming students, some of which may be open to all students, regardless of citizenship status.

The following are online scholarship search resources for international students to search through many additional scholarship opportunities:

• Institute of International Education
• International Education Financial Aid
• Study in the USA
• NAFSA Association of International Educators
• EduPASS Financial Aid for International Students
• US State Department’s Education USA

Search for scholarships beyond UW

There are many scholarships out there that can support your studies at UW, both from the UW itself and from local and national organizations, foundations, etc. Do some searching to maximize your options! You are welcome to search through the database of scholarships our office maintains, as well as using other scholarship search tools available to search more broadly.

Consider your options widely as well. There are scholarships geared toward academic interests, activities, heritage, identities, future goals, other personal aspects. Also, consider scholarships for both the short-term and the long-term, not just those you can apply for right now, but several years in the future as well. Document your search efforts and keep track of the scholarships that look good but for which you might not yet be eligible.

FAQs from prospective students and families

I’m an incoming student starting this fall, can i apply to scholarships now.

For everyone: We encourage you to search and apply for scholarships offered outside of the UW (from local, national international foundations, organizations, companies, etc.). The Washboard is a good place to start for local-to-Washington opportunities. Use the advising and counseling services at your current school for support.

For freshmen:   The majority of scholarships UW has to offer to incoming freshmen are based entirely on the admission application and no additional application is needed. These awarding processes are managed by UW Admissions and individual academic departments. Please review the list above of the few UW scholarships that require additional application. 

For transfer students : If you are a prospective transfer student from a community college in WA, please consider applying for the Martin Family Foundation Scholarships .

Are scholarships available for out-of-state students?

Yes. Though some scholarships at UW are set aside for in-state students, there are also many awards that don’t require WA residency.

Search for national scholarships that don’t require specific state residency and be sure to search in your home state as well. 

There are some local scholarships that define residency in their own way, differently from UW’s definition. So it’s important to read eligibility criteria carefully and fully.

Are scholarships available for international students ?

Yes. Though scholarship options are more limited for international students, there are scholarships that are open to all students. Please review the information above.

What is the d ifference between merit-based and financial-based scholarships?

Some scholarships will require financial need as a basis for eligibility. If you are eligible, your application will still be reviewed on its merits.  Scholarships that do not require financial need for eligibility are often considered “merit-based.” 

“Merit-based” scholarships are awarded based on more than just GPA. Although selection criteria and missions vary across scholarships programs, most will highly value depth of engagement in your academic interests, community, and other areas of interest.

There are no scholarships awarded solely based on GPA and/or test scores.

Can we meet with an advisor to get a head start?

Our small office is dedicated to supporting current UW undergraduates and alumni. If you are a prospective student, we look forward to working with you once you attend UW.

If you are a current UW undergraduate, start by checking out our quick “Scholarship Search” video and plan to attend a “Getting Started” workshop. Do a little searching on your own, and then make an appointment with an advisor.

Is the OMSFA database the only place to look for scholarships?

There are a lot of terrific free resources to help you search and find scholarships. Our database is limited, and we advise you use multiple sources. Check out our search tool list here .

FAQs about the Purple & Gold Scholarships

Where can i get information about the purple & gold scholarship.

The UW Admissions Office manages the selection process for the Purple & Gold Scholarship for incoming out-of-state freshmen. Disbursement of funds is managed by Student Fiscal Services. Please contact those offices for additional information.

I was offered a Purple & Gold Scholarship, who can I talk to about it?

The UW Admissions Office manages the selection process for the Purple & Gold Scholarship for incoming out-of-state freshmen. Please contact Admissions for additional information about your award. Please note that award decisions are not negotiable.

If you’ve already accepted your offer of admission to UW and have questions about how the scholarship will be disbursed to you, please contact Student Fiscal Services .

I was not offered a Purple & Gold Scholarship, who can I talk to about it?

The UW Admissions Office manages the selection process for the Purple & Gold Scholarship for incoming out-of-state freshmen. Please contact Admissions for additional questions. Please note that award decisions are not negotiable.

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

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

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

Read this WashU essay example to inspire your writing.

Washington University in St. Louis Supplemental Essay Prompts

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

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

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

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

Beyond Boundaries Applicants, Required Prompt

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

Joint Program in Business and Computer Science Applicants, Required Prompt

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

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

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

Danforth scholars program applicants, required prompts:.

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

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

Ervin Scholars Program Applicants, Required Prompts

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

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

Rodriguez Scholars Program Applicants, Required Prompts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All Applicants, Optional Prompt Introduction

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

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

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

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

Step 1: Set the scene

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

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

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

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

Step 2: Explain the conflict

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

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

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

Step 3: Show the reader what you contributed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Step 4: Demonstrate your impact

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

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

All Applicants, Optional Prompt, Option B

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All Applicants, Optional Prompt, Option C

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beyond Boundaries Prompt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joint Program in Business and Computer Science Prompt

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

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

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

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

What drew you to these topics?

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

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

What do you plan to do?

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

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

What resources will you use?

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

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

Danforth Scholars Program, Prompt 1

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

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

Danforth Scholars Program, Prompt 2

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

Brainstorming Your Topic:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tips for Writing Your Essay:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mistakes to Avoid:

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

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

Ervin Scholars Program, Prompt 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ervin Scholars Program, Prompt 2

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

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

Rodriguez Scholars Program, Prompt 1

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

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

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

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

Rodriguez Scholars Program, Prompt 2

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

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

Where to Get Your WashU Essays Edited

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

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

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

WashU Supplemental Essays 2023-24

Are you thinking of applying to Washington University? If so, you’ll need to focus on creating the strongest WashU supplemental essays you can in order to impress Washington University admissions. The Washington University supplemental essays form a key part of any impressive application. 

Washington University is a mid-size research university in St. Louis, Missouri. It’s one of the best colleges in the Midwest , just behind renowned universities like UChicago and Northwestern. Founded in 1853, WashU prides itself on academic excellence. In addition to excellent undergraduate programs, WashU also offers exceptional graduate programs.

What we’ll cover

In this guide, we’ll go over some quick facts about the Washington University essay. Then, we’ll answer some common questions about the Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays and give you some tips on how to write Washington University essays that stand out. 

Applying to college can be a daunting process. However, don’t let the WashU supplemental essays scare you. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Washington University supplemental essays. 

First, let’s go over some quick facts about Washington University and the Washington University essay. 

Washington University Essay: Quick Facts

• Washington University Acceptance Rate: 13%, according to U.S. News . U.S. News ranks WashU a most selective school. The Washington University ranking is #15 , nationally. 
• One 200-word essay
• Washington University Application: You can apply to WashU using either the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Make sure you have all of your required materials prepared before you submit your application. 
• Early Decision I: November 1
• Early Decision II: January 3
• Regular Decision: January 3
• Washington University Essay tip: Successful WashU supplemental essays will be authentic. The Washington University essay is a “Why Major” essay. Students should carefully consider their study interests and reasons behind them when crafting their WashU supplemental essays.

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website. 

Does Washington University require an essay?

First, let’s go over the basics: are there any required WashU supplemental essays?

The short answer is yes! There is one required Washington University essay. Keep in mind that the WashU supplemental essays might change slightly from year to year. Additionally, as a good practice when applying to any school, always check the admissions site for the latest information.  

When you hear people talking about WashU supplemental essays this year, they’re only talking about the “why major” essay. This means that all Washington University supplemental essays will focus on applicants’ future study interests. 

The WashU supplemental essays are an essential part of your application. To learn more about this year’s requirements for your Washington University supplemental essays, keep reading.

How many essays do you have to write for WashU?

If you’re working on your WashU supplemental essays this year, you’re in luck: there is only one required supplemental essay. However, this doesn’t mean that you should put less thought or effort into your Washington University supplemental essay. On the contrary, since you only have one chance to impress the Washington University admissions team, you need to make it count.

But how can students make their WashU supplemental essays stand out? Overall, there is no one set way of writing successful WashU supplemental essays. However, strong WashU supplemental essays will be honest, concise, and share something new about the applicant. 

Since there’s only one Washington University essay this year, you can put all of your focus into making this one essay the best it can be. This year’s WashU essay prompts are fairly straightforward: they ask you about your intended intellectual pursuits at WashU. 

After reading WashU supplemental essays, admissions officers will have a good idea of what applicants want to study and why. Additionally, they’ll know why students want to pursue their intended majors at WashU specifically. 

Washington University Supplemental Essay

As we’ve mentioned, your Washington University essay will discuss what you plan on studying at WashU and why. 

Here’s the prompt for the WashU supplemental essays:

WashU Supplemental Essay Prompt

Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. (200 words).

Seems pretty straightforward, right? In fact, you may have seen similar prompts in other schools’ essay requirements. Why Major essays are a favorite among admissions teams. So, it’s likely not unique to your Washington University application. In fact, you might even be able to reuse some parts of your answer for other essays—or use writing for other schools for your Washington University supplemental essays.

Understanding the prompts

This year’s prompt for the WashU supplemental essays essentially asks: why do you plan on pursuing your intended major? We call this type of essay a Why Major essay. Many universities want to learn more about your academic interests—namely, what course of study you will pursue. After all, attending college is first and foremost about learning. So, your WashU supplemental essays should explain what you want to study—but most importantly, why you want to study it. Successful WashU supplemental essays will also highlight a student’s specific interest in WashU. 

However, just because this prompt is common doesn’t mean that it calls for a common answer. In fact, great WashU supplemental essays will dive much deeper than simply stating facts and answering the prompt on a surface level. 

Keep in mind that students only have 200 words for their Washington University supplemental essays. So, every sentence counts. This doesn’t mean that students should frantically cram as much information as possible about themselves into their WashU supplemental essays. However, they should strategically use every word to tell a compelling story about themselves and their passions. 

How can you craft a successful why major essay in so few words? While there’s no one rule for writing successful WashU supplemental essays, there are some key tips you can keep in mind throughout the writing process.

Tips for approaching this why major essay

As you write your WashU supplemental essays, you might wonder how you can write something that stands out, especially with WashU essay prompts as straightforward as this one. How can you write something unique?

5 tips to get you started with your WashU supplemental essays: 

1. tell a story.

One way to make an essay as seemingly simple as the why major essay stand out is through a solid structure. With only 200 words, you can still include structural components that take the reader on a journey. Start with a hook that lets your reader know this essay will be different from the hundreds of other WashU supplemental essays that they’ve read that day. 

This hook could be an anecdote: a brief story about a moment that inspired your academic passions. Maybe you are motivated to study medicine because a family member was in and out of the hospital when you were growing up. Or, maybe you plan on majoring in psychology because you joined a peer counseling club in high school and realized how many people are struggling with mental health concerns. You don’t have to use dialogue (though many do!), but your hook should place the reader right in the heart of the action. 

Your hook could also be a quote. Is there something a teacher said to you along the way that inspired you personally or academically? Did you watch a documentary about a prominent thinker in your field where they mentioned something that stuck with you? Is there a line from one of your favorite writers that informs how you approach the world? The quote could even be a line from a poem or a song. 

Don’t be afraid to get creative: that’s what will grab your reader’s attention and make your WashU supplemental essays stand out. 

2. Be unique or original

Many students get tripped up by advice like this when writing their WashU supplemental essays. However, being unique really just means being yourself. So, in your WashU supplemental essays, simply write something specific to you and your experience. No one is like you, and therefore your own life experiences are inherently unique! 

For this why major essay, the more specifically you can convey your passions, the more your essay will stand out. The WashU supplemental essays ask what you plan to study at WashU. However, remember that the operative word here isn’t actually study, but you. What do you want to study, and why? Everyone has different reasons for pursuing a field. So, dive into your reasons for pursuing this intellectual path.

Getting specific

Let’s look at a sample scenario so you can get a feel for how successful WashU supplemental essays work. Many students, for instance, want to study computer science. If you write your Washington University supplemental essays around this topic, you might find it hard to stand out. Instead of saying “I’m interested in computer science because I want to learn how to build an app,” think about how your interest in CS is unique. Maybe you grew up gaming, and from the first moment you played Mario Kart you were awed by the world created within the game. So, you decided you just had to learn how it was built. Or, maybe you want to create an app that will solve a real problem—what problem is it? Why do you care about this specific issue? Or maybe you’ve already dabbled in coding—what did you make, and why? 

No matter the area of study, the one thing that will make your story stand out is that it’s your story. Don’t be afraid to tell it! 

3. Do your research

Remember, regardless of the question, successful WashU supplemental essays will show why you want to go WashU—not just why you want to go to college or what you want to study in general. One way to demonstrate this point is to do your research on WashU. Then, incorporate your findings into your WashU supplemental essays. 

Since this year’s Washington University supplemental essays are why major essays, take some time to look into the WashU majors . Sure, many schools have similar majors: English, history, math, psychology , and even a pre-med track. However, your Washington University supplemental essays let you showcase your interest in the majors that WashU has to offer. Additionally, 80% of all undergraduates at WashU pursue multiple majors or minors, so don’t be afraid to dive into multiple interests. 

Let’s say you want to major in history. But, because of your many years playing the saxophone, you’re also interested in pursuing a minor or double major in Jazz Studies . You might explore the connection between the two areas. For example, you might write about your fascination with how the Great Migration affected jazz in the north and the south. 

Or perhaps you’re thinking of studying chemistry to prepare you for a career in medicine but are equally fascinated by the history of medicine. Well, you might write about your interest in a minor in Medical Humanities . You’d emerge a better candidate for medical school and a lucky recipient of a well-rounded education. And, by specifying this in your WashU supplemental essays, you’ll immediately stand out from other pre-med applicants. 

4. Focus on your passions

Even though these WashU essay prompts focus on majors specifically, not everyone knows what they want to major in. So, what do you do if you’re undecided?

Use your Washington University supplemental essays as a way to explore your interests. Yes, you should probably list a specific major, but the major itself doesn’t need to be the focus of the essay. If you are applying to a prestigious university like WashU, you are probably intellectually curious and care about academics. Let this passion shine through! What do you genuinely care about? During your college experience, what do you want to learn? What experiences have sparked these interests? 

Pursuing multiple fields

Many students get stumped because they have multiple areas of interest. That’s perfectly fine! In fact, it makes you a dynamic candidate. However, when you’re writing your Washington University supplemental essays, think about how you could draw a thread between your areas of interest. Maybe you’re a dancer who adored AP Physics. It’s okay if you don’t know which of these passions you’ll follow—you can talk about both! 

Moreover, to write even more thoughtful Washington University supplemental essays, think about how your passions could intersect. Is there anything about you that you think primes you to be passionate about both dance and physics? Or, is there something that they have in common? 

Or perhaps you’d simply like to minor in dance and major in physics. You might look up where those buildings are on the WashU campus. Tell Washington University admissions a story of what your typical day would look like as a student, walking back and forth between the two buildings with the calculations for the perfect arc of a grand jeté lingering in your mind. 

5. Use impeccable grammar and spelling

This tip for writing strong Washington University supplemental essays should go without saying, but we’re saying it: your WashU supplemental essays should have perfect spelling and grammar. 

If you know that you struggle with these areas, you can always use an online spelling or grammar checker. Most documents will tell you if you spell something wrong, and some even intervene when your sentences run on or you miss a punctuation mark. 

Another tip for writing a grammatically coherent essay is to read the essay out loud. You can read it to yourself, or to a parent or friend. Reading the essay out loud will help you catch run-on sentences or clunky language. It will also help you catch any typos: words that you’ve repeated or a rogue word leftover from a previous draft. 

The last thing you want is for admissions to be distracted from your wonderful narrative because of careless mistakes. So, your Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays need to be perfectly written. And, since you only have one Washington University essay of 200 words to write, there’s no excuse for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Double and triple check your essay, and enlist help when proofreading. 

Preparing to write WashU supplemental essays

Overall, this year’s WashU essay prompts ask you to write about what you plan to study at WashU and why. Now that you’ve read these tips on how to write your Washington University supplemental essays, we hope that you feel more confident about writing your why major essay. For more tips on how to write the best Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays, and how to write great college essays in general, check out this guide . 

Before we conclude our guide on how to write the strongest Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays, let’s explore why writing strong Washington University supplemental essays matters.

Does Washington University in St. Louis care about essays?

We’ve discussed how to write the best Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays. Next, let’s talk about how the admissions team will review your essays. 

The Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays are a significant part of the application. As such, they can make a key difference in the admissions committee’s decision. Washington University is a prestigious university with many applicants each year. The Washington University acceptance rate is 13% , and the Washington University ranking is #15 in National Universities. Additionally, it’s considered one of the best colleges in the midwest . All of these factors make WashU a most selective school. Therefore, every part of your application counts. 

Understanding the review process

WashU approaches applications holistically. This means that they look at every part of your application, not just your grades or class rank. WashU will, of course, still take your academic standing into consideration. But, the admissions officers will also look at your Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurriculars. 

Similar to many other colleges, Washington University is currently test-optional . This means that you do not have to submit SAT or ACT scores as these metrics are not required . WashU will assess every application equally, regardless of whether or not you choose to submit test scores. If you are able to take the SAT or ACT and you score at or above the average for WashU, we recommend submitting your scores. If you do not take these tests, or if your scores would not help your application, you do not need to submit.

An important piece of the puzzle

Overall, the Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays are a significant part of the application. Though these essays are no more important than any other requirement, they are another piece of the puzzle that helps admissions officers get to know you. 

Your Washington University essay and the Common App essay are the only places in your application where you can express yourself in your own voice. With their Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays, students can speak directly to the admissions team. So, give them an idea of what kind of student you would be at WashU.

Looking for more advice on how to get into WashU? Check out our guide to give yourself the best odds of gaining admission. 

WashU Supplemental Essays – 5 Takeaways

We hope that after reading this guide on the Washington University in St Louis supplemental essays, you feel ready to tackle your Washington University essay. 

Here are five takeaways to remember when writing your Washington University essay:

• The Washington University acceptance rate is 13%, and the Washington University ranking is #15 in U.S. News’ Best National Universities list. This makes WashU a most selective school. So, you’ll need to write a strong essay in order to distinguish yourself from a competitive applicant pool. 
• There is one 200-word required Washington University essay. Make sure each word of your essay plays an important role in telling your story. 
• The WashU essay prompt for this year is a Why Major essay. So, carefully consider your academic interests. Research program offerings only available at WashU and, most importantly, expand on why they interest you.
• When writing your essay, remember these tips: tell a story, be original, do your research, focus on your passions, and always check your grammar. If you’ve done all these things, chances are you’ve written a solid WashU essay.
• Make sure that you prepare all of your materials before you apply and are mindful of the application deadlines: Early Decision, Regular Decision, and Early Decision II. Don’t wait until the last moment to get all of your application requirements together, especially the essay.

We believe that you can master the college process—and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.  We’ll help you gain acceptance into WashU, just like one of our favorite students . 

Now, go forth and write your WashU essay!

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

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