TABLE OF CONTENTS
(click to skip ahead)Want to attend college at one of the greenest schools in the country?
You’re in luck: In addition to its strong academic reputation (and the claimed “greatest setting in college football” at Husky Stadium), the University of Washington is considered one of the top 20 most environmentally friendly/sustainable universities in the US.
(Plus, Seattle is a pretty rad place.)
Below, we’ll talk you through how to write the University of Washington personal statement and supplemental essays, with examples and tips + analysis for how to write yours.
If you want to get a clearer sense of all that the University of Washington is looking for, you can explore an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set. And for insights into how the university envisions itself and its role, and how it wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan. Reading through these will give you a strong idea of what UW values.
What are the University of Washington Supplemental Essay Prompts?
Prompt 1- Personal Statement
Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650)
Prompt 2- 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)
Prompt 3 Additional Information (Optional)
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
Prompt 4 UW Honors Program
We want to understand your enthusiasm for learning unfamiliar things and exploring different ways of thinking.
Tell us why you are excited to push your education outside the areas of learning you are most comfortable with. (450)
Guidance from UW
Here’s what UW directly mentions in its Common App guidance:
Tips
Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. We welcome your imaginative interpretation.
You may define experience broadly. For example, experience could be a meeting with an influential person, a news story that spurred you to action, a family event, or something that might be insignificant to someone else that had particular meaning for you.
If you don't think that any one experience shaped your character, simply choose an experience that tells us something about you.
Personal statement
The personal statement is our best means of getting to know you and your best means of creating a context for your academic performance. When you write your personal statement, tell us about those aspects of your life that are not apparent from your academic record:
a character-defining moment
the cultural awareness you've developed
a challenge faced
a personal hardship or barrier overcome
How to Write the University of Washington Supplemental Essay Prompt #1
Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650)
Assuming you’re applying to other schools on the Common App, you can simply use your Common App personal statement here.
We have a full guide to how to write your college essay here (or a guide with different personal statement examples and analysis here, or also here).
Here’s the short version:
Basically, college admission officers are looking for three things in your essay:
Who is this person?
Will this person contribute something of value to our campus?
Can this person write?
Ideally, your essay will communicate these answers to the above questions:
An interesting, versatile, dynamic student (and human) with much to offer the UW community, as evidenced by this fabulous essay.
An enthusiastic yes—check out all the ways.
Ta-da!
Personal statements differ from a typical five-paragraph, argumentative English class or research essay in a few ways.
While class essays are meant to showcase how a student thinks…
Personal statements should illustrate how students think, feel, work, play, and live.
This means that, unlike most literature class essay assignments, personal statements are great spaces to confidently use “I” statements, get a little vulnerable, and show the reader who you really are.
In other words, put the personal into your personal statement.
The goal of your personal statement is to find a topic that demonstrates the skills, qualities, values, and interests you’ll bring with you to a college campus.
A great personal statement helps the reader:
Feel closer to and empathize with you
Identify your insights on your past experiences and growth
Recognize your values
Sense the time, process, and craft that went into your final draft
How to best structure your statement depends on your topic and the answers to the following questions:
1) Do you feel like you’ve faced significant challenges in your life … or not so much?
And
2) do you want to write about them? (Because, to clarify, you don’t have to write about a challenge you faced. That’s a common misconception. But it’s definitely a misconception.)
If you said no to either or both parts, then the Montage Structure is what you’ll probably want to try. (Here’s the guide to the Montage Structure, and here’s the guide to brainstorming a montage topic.) If you said yes to both parts, then a Narrative Structure is most likely to work for you. (Here’s a guide to the Narrative Structure, and here’s a guide to brainstorming a narrative topic.)
Regardless of which structural approach you choose, you’ll want to do some thorough brainstorming before you write, and these exercises are a great place to start.
Here’s a strong montage example essay.
Example:
“The United States is under attack!” My eyes widen listening to the words coming from the speaker. “The nuclear missile program has been compromised and you’re now locked in the presidential bunker, moments away from war.” That doesn’t sound good. “You have sixty minutes to disarm the missiles, good luck.” The fate of the world is in my hands…
The fate of the world isn’t actually in the hands of a 17-year-old girl (I hope). This is just the name of the game when it comes to escape rooms. I first suggested that my family attempt one when we started encountering communication issues; now they're the tradition that brings us closer, allowing us to learn more about each other in a mind-bending way. However, the lessons I’ve taken away from escape rooms extend much further than this.
The instant the timer starts ticking downwards, my eyes dart left and right. 60… 59:59… Any of the various items meticulously placed around The Treehouse’s setting could serve as a vital puzzle piece. My analytical mind not only helps plan my getaway in an escape room, but also enables me to look after my community. Living in Chicago’s southside but attending a school near downtown let me witness first-hand the disparities regarding funding and profitability between start-ups created by minorities in my predominantly African American community and nonminorities in the financial district. This observation prompted me to develop an entrepreneurship program that introduces Black girls to resources needed to create their own businesses. Being Black is a substantial part of my identity, so it’s important for me to see others of a similar complexion in a position to make a difference. I strive to make others feel represented, and my ability to analyze situations to create opportunities allows me to do this.
The door to a second room pops open. 36:28… 36:27… Escape rooms spark a sense of curiosity that I couldn’t imagine gaining elsewhere. Upon entering The Wizard of Oz, I’m left wondering how the trees placed before me are programmed to blink in Morse code. This curiosity extends into other aspects of my life, leading me to question, for example, how Bernoulli's principle permits objects to levitate through air currents despite seemingly unbalanced forces. Or what the greatest possible length for a straw is (after dragging a tube-like model up three flights of stairs, I can confidently say 32-feet). The creative facet of escape rooms also triggers my innovative spirit. Though time-consuming, I enjoy scouring leftover craft supplies to find popsicle sticks for my latest Rube Goldberg machine because it allows me to experiment with creating systems to solve everyday tasks. By letting my thoughts run wild and engaging in clever endeavors, I gain a feeling of satisfaction knowing that some day the product of my doing will impact a project expanding beyond myself.
The last room looms. 2:01… 2…
I don’t always escape the rooms in time. The Museum Heist is an example—ultimately, the challenge of squirming through vents and deactivating lasers triumphed over me. Yet I left grateful knowing I’d be better prepared for our next puzzle. And I’ve worked hard to not let other setbacks deter me. I was crushed after finding out I didn’t advance to nationals in my freshman year of Business Professionals of America, but after tweaking my presentation with the feedback provided, I emerged stronger the following year, earning second place. I approach new situations eager to participate, willing to fail, and determined to grow because each experience enables me to seek improved solutions moving forward. I’ve learned that success comes with roadblocks, but outcomes are even more satisfying with a story to tell.
I’m ready to enter the next stage of my life as an engineer with the insights that escape rooms have given me. Maybe I’m prepared to have the fate of the world in my hands after all. Bring on the (figurative) missiles!
Tips + Analysis
Share your story. The UW prompt specifically asks you to “Tell a story from your life…”. While the example above is a montage essay, notice that it still neatly fits within UW’s prompt. In particular, in our opinion, what your reader will care most about and want to see are details and experiences that address the “demonstrates your character or helped to shape it” part of the prompt, since those are things that help them understand what you bring to the campus/community.
Write strong transitions, which connect your montage “frame” with your values and other experiences. This allows you to unify your theme while also giving you the space to write about other experiences—what makes this a successful montage essay. This student, at the beginning of every paragraph, makes a reference to escape rooms, connects it to a value, then writes about an experience that demonstrates that value. Specifically, for UW’s prompt, the body paragraphs could serve as experiences that “demonstrate your character.” (For more on paragraph flow, check out this guide for revising.)
In conclusion, you don’t need an extensive one. If you notice the conclusion, this student does not summarize all the values they’ve gained and the lessons they’ve learned. They have a simple, future-facing ending (next state of my life as an engineer) that also does a call-back to the introduction (fate of the world, bring on the (figurative) missiles, which neatly wraps up the essay. For a 650-word PS, you’d be better off dedicating the time you might spend summarizing toward showing another new value or experience, instead. (For a guide to different techniques for essay endings, check this out.)
How to Write the University of Washington Supplemental 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 University of Washington. (300)
This is a pretty standard “How will you contribute…” prompt—for a full guide to those prompts (and other kinds of “diversity” prompts), head here. Here’s a shorter version:
In this essay prompt, UW wants to understand how your life experiences have prepared you to contribute to their diverse student community. Let's break down the key components of the prompt to guide your approach
Which of your life experiences have had the most impact on your personal development? This essay offers the opportunity to delve into specific experiences that have shaped your perspective on life, education, and more.
How will you contribute? Make sure your answer to this question is clear. How have these experiences positioned you to make an impact at UW? What do you bring to the school and community (in ways that maybe others don’t)? While it doesn’t have to be truly unique, it’s great to aim in that direction: the best response will highlight a contribution that only you (or maybe you plus a few other applicants) would think to make.
Again, one important aspect with this prompt is its focus on your contribution to the UW community.
Another detail to note is UW’s encouragement to show where you come from—the people, places, and things that have shaped who you are today. This is your chance to connect your unique upbringing, in a very broad sense of the word, with what has helped make you unstoppable. So take it.
While there are many things outside of “community” that might fit this prompt, if you’re looking for a way to brainstorm ideas, that’s a good place to start. (Especially since “community” and “identity” tend to overlap a lot. But keep in mind that you’ll want to include some “how will you contribute” details in your essay—this isn’t just a “tell us about a community” prompt.)
For a full guide to “community” essays, head there.
Here’s how to brainstorm possible essays:
Step 1: Brainstorm (all about you).
Do the “If You Really, Really Knew Me” Exercise.
Step 2: Research the college (learn all about them).
Make a copy of the “Why us” Essay Chart 2.0, research the school you’re writing your essay for, and fill in the first two columns.
Once you’ve done these exercises, you’ll have a better sense of:
YOU: A bunch of different talents/skills/identities/qualities that you’ll bring to a college campus, and
THEM: A variety of programs/courses/clubs/affinity groups that your college offers.
Step 3: Connect you… to them (i.e., the college you’re applying to).
Make connections between what the school offers and what you’re interested in.
Here’s an example essay (written for MIT’s version of this prompt) with analysis:
Example:
“I don’t have a mommy – and no, I was not adopted.” This was an early attempt, (albeit from a five-year old’s perspective), to proudly explain to my classmates that I had two dads (yes they are gay!) and was conceived via invitro-fertilization. Looking back, this statement undoubtedly triggered several conversations around my classmates’ dinner tables. Years later, I learned how my simple declaration broadened many family’s perspectives.
I was raised as part of a community that proudly celebrates diversity and encourages change through personal interaction. My parents and I are not the kind to go to protests. While we greatly respect those loud voices, we find influencing others on a personal level can be a more effective way of instigating change. Throughout my formative years, being part of one-on-one personal interactions within a predominately heterosexual community allowed me to witness the dismantling of stereotypes one person at a time.
At MIT, I aspire to perform similar roles, broadening perspectives and strengthening the LGBTQ+ climate through personal relationships. By being open with my gender identity, having a great sense of humor, and embracing my peers and professors in thoughtful, relaxed one-on-one conversations, I hope to develop strong bonds founded in mutual respect. Just as MIT can be considered the home of science, MIT should be a home for the LGBTQ+ community. My dream is to form relationships that have a cascading effect at MIT through developing new champions and strengthening the climate for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. (247 words)
Tips & Analysis:
Share (a core part of) your world view. We’d recommend thinking about everything that UW is getting elsewhere, through your personal statement, activities list, and additional info section. Then assess: what aren’t they seeing yet? Remember, your essays’ primary function is to help a reader see who you are, what you value, what you bring to their campus and community. This essay uses the prompt as an opportunity to share a core part of their growing up, and how that shaped their values (celebrating diversity, encouraging change, personal engagement)
Half for you, half for them. Give or take—it doesn’t have to be a perfect 50/50 split. But notice that about 60% of the word count here is used to share specific details and insight gained from the student’s background. Then, about 40% is used to connect to specific aspects of the college community that the student wants to engage with, and how they want to do so (using specific examples and verb phrases) in order to show how they’ll contribute to the school. Be sure you’re including a decent amount of word count that gets really specific with how whatever aspects of background/identity you’ve discussed in the first half will allow you to add to the lives, perspectives, and understanding of other students in the second half. (And for more on how to mostly show, but probably tell a little in college essays, head there.)
Example:
When I left India a couple summers ago, our family housekeeper Shakeela, who has known me since birth and is basically one of my moms, said, “Runab, in the States, never forget where you come from.” Back then, it seemed pretty simple, because how could I ever forget that I am Indian and that I was born in Northern Bangalore?
I didn’t understand what she meant until I found myself thinking about my job at Trader Joe’s. I valued the clean shelves and variety of tasty products. I loved cracking jokes with Jennifer, a stay-at-home mom whose daughter Sylvia played with my glasses, talking to Stanley, a car retailer from across the street, and discussing the 12 ways to cook a potato with Joanne, a marketing consultant, who shopped there every Saturday. It was a good place … right?
But could Shakeela shop there? A housekeeper who worked 18 hours a day, 6 days a week, while getting two kids through school—could she afford to shop there?
Even though I had a job, I still come from a privileged background. I cannot take my roots for granted, and that especially includes the people who have allowed me to come this far.
I will work to help my fellow Huskies recognize that UW is more than just the students and faculty and that there are so many more people who each help make this community diverse. Whether it be through helping facilitate discussions about the inequalities in elections in Young Democrats at UW or through exploring the way we craft our opinions with classmates in Development of Prejudice, I will use my experience in learning about social disparities and privilege to promote a more inclusive community at UW in the classroom and beyond.
Tips + Analysis
Taking “background” one step further. As mentioned above, the contribution essay is a version of the diversity essay. While the student could have focused just on their background of being Indian (tip: you don’t have to focus on race or ethnicity), they take it a step further by writing about how a specific experience they had while living in India influenced their thoughts and perspective about privilege, and the role that others had in uplifting them. Even though their background played an important role (maybe they wouldn’t have had this experience elsewhere), it’s the mindset that’s the center of the essay—evidenced by how they hope to “facilitate discussions about inequalities” in the last paragraph.
Specific references to the university. Even though this student could have easily written, “Whether it be through helping facilitate discussions about the inequalities in elections or through expiring the way we craft our opinions, I will use my experience…” the references to specific UW communities that this student would engage with and how, make the essay more unique to both them and the school. By doing this, you help the admissions officer envision what it would be like to have you on campus.
Level up through details. Just from this one essay, we learn that this student had a close relationship with their family housekeeper, they were born in Northern Bangalore, work at Trader Joe’s, create connections with others (referring to customers by name), and that they are considerate—questioning whether their housekeeper would be able to shop at Trader Joe’s. Though not explicitly stated, these details further show the reader (btw, here’s an in-depth guide to how to show, not tell) aspects of this student’s life and their values beyond what they’re directly trying to respond with. While we encourage you to think of the core values for a certain essay or body paragraph, there will always be secondary values that are transmitted through this attention to detail.
How to Write the University of Washington Supplemental Essay Prompt #3
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
(200 words)
This is basically the same as the Additional Info section of your Common App. You can find a complete guide for that section here.
the University of Washington Supplemental Essay Prompt #4
We want to understand your enthusiasm for learning unfamiliar things and exploring different ways of thinking.
Tell us why you are excited to push your education outside the areas of learning you are most comfortable with. (450)
University of Washington’s Honors Program has a “rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum that promotes expansive, innovative thinking and conscious global citizen,” where they ask students to “take intellectual risks” and “seek an understanding of the interdependence of all branches of knowledge.”
So it’s no wonder that this prompt asks prospective Honors Program students to touch on just that: interdisciplinary education and your enthusiasm for it.
To brainstorm or create an outline for this essay, you might consider the following elements:
Think about a time when you learned something completely new or explored different ways of thinking. This could be something you learned from a class, from speaking to someone with different interests or skill sets , or from engaging in an activity outside of your comfort zone.
What did you learn from that experience? By asking yourself what you learned, you can further elaborate on how that experience influenced you or made you feel. Did the experience make you excited to seek other ways to expand your knowledge? Did the experience allow you to make connections between a comfortable area of study and a new area of study? If so, how did the new area of study enrich your understanding of a comfortable area of understanding? Reflecting on how this experience influenced you will help explain your reasoning behind and enthusiasm for learning unfamiliar things in the Honors Program.
What might you be interested in exploring next, and why? In this section, you would have the freedom to touch on your intellectual curiosities for the future—what you hope to explore next at UW. Stronger responses might include more concrete details about specific classes or topics you hope to explore, and why. The “why” could be anything from curiosity to learn new things, or enthusiasm to explore innovative ways of approaching a problem in your selected field of study.
With a 450-word max, you’ll have ample space to reflect and elaborate on each section, ultimately showing your past and present (an experience with interdisciplinary learning) and future (how you hope to continue pursuing interdisciplinary learning at UW).
Special thanks to Elica for contributing to this post.
Elica (she/her) is a college essay specialist who has a love of language in all forms; she has degrees in linguistics, has taught academic writing at the university level, and has been coaching students on their college and graduate school admissions essays for over 7 years. When she’s not working with students or writing, Elica can be found reading, printmaking, and exploring nature.
Top Values: Collaboration | Curiosity | Patience
