uw bothell essay prompt

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University of Washington-Bothell Campus’s 2024-25 Essay Prompts

Additional info short response.

UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints. Our individual communities might be a cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe a community you are part of and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington.*

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 * There are unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended

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Freshman writing section

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 [required]

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

Maximum length : 650 words

Short response [required]

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

Maximum length : 300 words

Tip :  Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.

Additional information about yourself or your circumstances [optional]

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

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

Maximum length : 200 words

Format for the essays

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

Tip :  Write like it matters, not like you’re texting. This is an application for college, not a message to your friend. Get some hints in the video:

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

Per Washington state law and University of Washington policy , all admissions staff are mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. Any statements in written materials that give admissions staff reasonable cause to believe abuse or neglect of someone under the age of 18 may have occurred must be reported to Child Protective Services or the police. Learn more about University reporting requirements . 

If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault or other sexual misconduct, RAINN is a national hotline that provides support and referrals. Call 800.656.4673 or visit the website for a chat option. For individuals who have experienced domestic violence or intimate partner violence, the National DV Hotline offers phone, chat, and text options for support.

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How to Write the University of Washington Essays 2024-2025

The University of Washington has 2 essay prompts, plus an optional one and an additional one for Honors College applicants. The first one is a personal statement-style prompt, as UW does not require you to submit the main Common App essay, and the second is about how your communities have shaped you. The Honors College question asks you to discuss your excitement about learning.

While we normally encourage you to write optional essays, this one is asking about exceptional circumstances, so you should only respond unless you actually have something relevant to share.

Read these University of Washington essay examples written by real students to inspire your writing!

University of Washington Essay Prompts

All applicants.

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

Prompt 2: Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington. (300 words)

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

You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education

Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations, you have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended. (200 words), uw interdisciplinary honors program applicants, we want to understand your 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 words), all applicants, prompt 1, tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words), understanding the prompt.

This essay is similar to the personal statement you may have already written for other colleges, but UW actually does not require the submission of the Common App essay, and instead has their own prompt. If you are planning on also submitting the Common App essay, take care that the information you share here is not redundant with what you wrote about there.

In terms of topic, you can write about nearly anything. The admissions committee wants to learn about your inner qualities through a specific experience or story. That could be a moment of growth, a decision that reflects your values, or an instance where you demonstrated important traits like resilience, empathy, leadership, or adaptability.

At 650 words, you have enough space to share a rich, detailed narrative. However, avoid trying to cram in two unrelated stories, or cover too many themes. Instead, focus on one clear, cohesive experience, and dive deeply into it. Your goal is to show, through storytelling, how this experience either revealed or shaped a key part of who you are.

Brainstorming Questions

To find the right story, ask yourself:

• What is a moment in my life where I was challenged, and how did I respond?
• Is there an experience that shaped how I see the world or approach problems?
• When have I had to make a difficult decision that required me to reflect on my values?
• What’s a moment where I helped someone, stood up for something, or took a risk?
• When have I learned something important about myself or the world around me?

Try to come up with a list of 10-15 possibilities. Even if you’re drawn to one story right away, having options allows you to choose the one that’s truly the best fit for this prompt. Plus, thinking through different experiences can help you start to identify common themes throughout your growth, which you could highlight in this essay.

What Makes a Good Response

A strong response will:

• Focus on one specific experience that highlights an important aspect of your character. The whole essay doesn’t have to revolve around a single moment, but if you include different anecdotes, the connections between them should be obvious.
• Show growth or insight , to illustrate how the experience helped shape your broader worldview or approach to life.
• Engage the reader with vivid storytelling , by using descriptive language to make your narrative come alive.
• Reveal self-awareness , through thoughtful reflections on what you learned or how you changed.
• Connect the story to your present and future , so that UW admissions officers can see how the experience continues to influence who you are and what you hope to achieve at UW.

Hypothetical Student Examples

Here are three examples of hypothetical students and how they could approach this essay:

• Kaitlyn, an aspiring journalist : Kaitlyn could write about an experience where she reported on a sensitive local issue in her high school newspaper, and ended up facing backlash from some students and faculty. She could then reflect on her commitment to truth, the ethical dilemmas she faced, and how this experience shaped her passion for investigative journalism.
• Daniel, a first-generation student interested in medicine : Daniel could share a story about helping his mother navigate a complex healthcare system when she fell ill. He could discuss the frustrations and obstacles they encountered and how this experience inspired his desire to become a doctor focused on patient advocacy.
• Aaliyah, a dancer and choreographer : Aaliyah could recount an experience where her team was preparing for a major competition, but a key dancer was injured just days before. She stepped up to re-choreograph the routine, which taught her leadership, adaptability, creativity, and resilience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being too general : Don’t try to cover multiple experiences or traits in one essay. Admissions officers aren’t expecting you to tell your whole life story in 650 words, and trying will likely cause your essay to feel scattered. Instead, focus on one story in depth, to immerse your readers in one cohesive narrative.
• Overloading on achievements : The point of this essay is to demonstrate your character, not to list accomplishments. Be sure the essay focuses on the story’s emotional impact and your personal growth, not your more objective achievements that admissions officers can already see in other parts of your application, like your transcript.
• Cliché topics without a unique angle : Avoid overdone topics like a sports victory or a volunteer trip unless you can provide a truly fresh perspective that is highly personal and not predictable.
• Lack of reflection : Don’t just tell the story—explain why it matters for understanding what kind of UW student you’d be. Reflect on how it shaped you, what it taught you, and how it will continue to guide you moving forward.

Excerpts of Good and Bad Examples

Good Example (shows vivid storytelling, clear character development, and insightful reflection):

“The clatter of pans echoed through our small kitchen, but the dinner we were about to serve didn’t match the chaos. I carefully plated the tamales, as my mom directed me in Spanish, her words cutting through the steam from the stove. This wasn’t just any dinner—it was a meal for the Lopez family, who had recently lost everything in a house fire. 

My mom had volunteered our family to help, and for the first time, I realized how much work goes into preparing a meal for someone in crisis. After I worked side by side with my mom, it was worth it when I saw the relief in Mrs. Lopez’s eyes as we handed her the trays of food.

That night, my mom explained why she always helped others, even when we didn’t have much to spare. ‘When you give,’ she said, ‘you make the world feel a little lighter for someone.’ Her words stuck with me, and over the next few years, I started to see small ways I could make others’ lives easier—whether that was tutoring classmates, organizing a school drive for a local shelter, or just listening to a friend in need.

Preparing tamales that night shaped my commitment to service. It wasn’t about grand gestures; it was about consistency and kindness. Now, as I apply to college, I want to pursue a career in social work, to make sure others feel the same kind of support that my mom showed the Lopez family that night.”

Why this works : This essay uses vivid imagery to tell a specific, personal story. The writer clearly connects the experience to their overall character, through a thoughtful reflection on how it shaped their values and future goals. The story is engaging, meaningful, and authentic.

Bad Example (feels generic and lacks depth):

“Throughout my life, I’ve always been a hard worker. I’ve faced many challenges, but I always push through because I’m determined to succeed. One example of this was when I had to juggle school and work last year. It was really difficult to manage my time, but I learned that I’m good at prioritizing and staying organized. These traits will help me succeed in college because I know how to manage my responsibilities effectively. I’m proud of my ability to work hard and stay committed, no matter what comes my way.”

Why this doesn’t work : This essay is vague and tells instead of shows. It doesn’t include a specific story or example, and the reflection is shallow. There’s no emotional depth or insight into the writer’s character beyond a basic statement about being hardworking, which doesn’t do anything to set them apart from the thousands of other applicants to UW.

In Conclusion

By choosing a personal, meaningful story and reflecting on how it shaped you, you will create an essay that gives UW’s admissions committee a strong sense of who you are, what you value, and how you’d contribute to their campus community in a way nobody else can.

All Applicants, Prompt 2

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

This question serves two purposes: it gives UW an opportunity to learn more about how you developed your values, and it allows them to consider how you might interact with others on campus. It is easy to get mired in focusing on describing your community, but remember, UW wants to learn about you through seeing how your community impacted you.

Use a description of your community to frame your essay, but always remind yourself to connect the story back to how it changed you. Once you have framed the essay with a description of who you have become as a result of your community’s impact, be sure to extend this thread to your potential future influence on UW.

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

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

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

All Applicants, Prompt 3 (optional)

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

This portion of the application is optional, and while we recommend that you fill out most “optional” essays, this space is truly optional. If you don’t have any unusual circumstances, you can leave it blank without penalty. If feel that the parameters apply to you, you should fill this section out.

This is your chance to explain anything that hasn’t been addressed in other parts of your application. Since the maximum is 200 words and the prompt is straightforward, you can (and should) also be totally straightforward in your response, rather than painting a picture with vivid imagery. 

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

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

For the second:

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

For the last prompt, you can briefly state school-related limitations or opportunities, like if your school did not have an AP or IB program, or if it did have a special internship program that you participated in but haven’t had room to mention elsewhere.

This prompt asks you to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity and willingness to challenge yourself academically. The admissions committee is looking for students who are excited to engage with diverse subjects and new ways of thinking—students who thrive when stepping outside their academic comfort zones, and thus will take full advantage of the unique opportunities at UW’s Honors College.

This essay is almost the opposite of the traditional “Why Major?” question , in that you’re being asked not what you’re currently most passionate about, but why you’re eager to engage with topics that are unfamiliar or outside your main areas of expertise. This prompt aims to uncover:

• Your desire to be intellectually challenged.
• Your openness to interdisciplinary learning and diverse perspectives.
• Your motivation to pursue a holistic, well-rounded education in the Honors Program.

To get started, consider the following:

• What subjects or areas of knowledge have you encountered that initially felt unfamiliar or difficult, but eventually sparked your curiosity?
• Have you ever taken a class, participated in an extracurricular activity, or read about a topic that was outside your usual interests, but that you felt a connection to anyways and ultimately changed the way you think?
• What excites you about learning in general? Why do you believe in the importance of exploring topics beyond your comfort zone?
• How do you handle the challenge of learning something new? What strategies or mindsets do you adopt?
• Why do you want to be in the Honors Program, specifically? How will it help you push the boundaries of your education?

A good response to this prompt will:

• Highlight your intellectual curiosity : Show genuine excitement for learning and discovery, especially when stepping into unknown or challenging territory.
• Show openness to new perspectives : Describe how going outside your comfort zone can broaden your thinking and understanding of the world.
• Be specific : Provide examples of past experiences where you encountered new topics, ideas, or ways of thinking that challenged or excited you.
• Reflect on personal growth : Explain how exploring unfamiliar areas has helped you grow as a learner, thinker, and overall person.
• Connect to the Honors Program : Mention specific aspects of the UW Honors Program (such as interdisciplinary learning or Honors Study Abroad Programs) that will support your desire to push your educational boundaries.
• Samantha, an aspiring computer scientist with a passion for ethics: Samantha could write about how she first learned about ethics in a biology class when talking about testing on animals. At first, the abstract discussions felt unrelated to her coding skills, but soon she realized the ethical questions were directly relevant to issues like AI development. This experience sparked her interest in exploring how technology intersects with moral and philosophical dilemmas, and she’s eager to take advantage of the Honors Experiential Learning opportunities at one of Seattle’s many tech startups to see how these ideas play out in the real world.
• Jacob, a biology student also interested in public policy: Jacob could describe a time when he joined a student group focused on climate change advocacy. He was used to thinking about environmental issues through a scientific lens, but this group introduced him to the legal and political challenges of addressing climate change. He could reflect on how stepping outside the lab and into the world of public policy made him realize the importance of interdisciplinary thinking in solving global problems, and how he will take advantage of the Honors Program’s Partners in the Parks initiative, where students spend a week at a National Park learning about research and management issues, to learn even more about how to develop comprehensive, data-driven solutions to climate change.
• Alex, a visual artist curious about data science: Alex could talk about how, during a museum internship, they encountered data visualization for the first time, in an exhibition quantifying lives lost during various wars. They had always viewed art and numbers as opposites, but seeing data used to tell stories and convey beauty opened Alex’s mind to the potential of merging creativity with analytics. They’re excited about the Honors Program’s study abroad opportunities, like the program “Art and Activism in the Nordic Region,” because they want to learn more about how art can be used to drive concrete change.
• Focusing too much on your current comfort zone: This essay is about stepping outside of what you know well, so avoid spending too much time discussing your established academic strengths and interests.
• Writing generically about curiosity: Avoid vague statements about loving to learn or enjoying challenges without backing them up with specific examples. Be as detailed as possible about a time when you actually encountered something new and unfamiliar.
• Neglecting the Honors Program: Be sure to tie your essay to specific opportunities in the UW Honors Program that will help you explore new ideas and disciplines. Note that the examples above go beyond just the Honors Program being interdisciplinary, and instead build a concrete bridge to specific opportunities that will allow them to explore their particular interests.
• Overloading on achievements: Don’t turn this essay into a résumé. Instead, focus on your intellectual growth and what excites you about venturing into new academic territories. Your response should complement, not repeat, the information found in your transcript.

Good and Bad Examples

Good Example (highlights the student’s intellectual curiosity and includes a specific experience that shows how stepping outside their comfort zone led to growth):

“As someone who has spent most of my high school years immersed in STEM, enrolling in a creative writing class last year felt like diving into the deep end of unfamiliar waters. I signed up on a whim, hoping to add some variety to my schedule, but I soon realized just how uncomfortable I was when I couldn’t rely on formulas or equations to find a ‘correct’ answer. Instead, I had to navigate the ambiguity of fiction, where the strength of an idea came not from its accuracy, but from its emotional resonance.

I struggled at first, feeling out of place among students who seemed more naturally inclined toward literary expression. However, as we studied authors like Gabriel García Márquez and Virginia Woolf, I began to appreciate how stories could explore human experience in ways that science alone couldn’t. 

One assignment required us to write a short story based on an emotion we’d never personally experienced, and I chose grief—a daunting task. I spent hours researching the psychology of loss, reading memoirs, and watching interviews with survivors of tragedies. Immersing myself in the grief of others showed me the power of emotion alone to communicate lessons that empirical data alone cannot.

In the Honors Program, I’m eager to push my boundaries even further by enrolling in classes that challenge me to think outside of the scientific framework I’m most comfortable with. ‘HONORS 210 D: Aristotle’s Concept of The Tragic in Theory and Practice’ would be a fantastic opportunity for me to continue my exploration of grief through philosophy, a field I’ve never explored, and ‘HONORS 220 A: Storytelling in the Sciences’ would give me guidance on how to bring some of the lessons I’ve learned from the humanities back to my STEM work.

My experience in my creative writing class taught me that knowledge from one discipline alone is incomplete. In college, I look forward to continue opening doors that I previously would have never even knocked on, as there’s no telling how what lies behind them could shape my understanding of the world.”

Why this works : The essay tells a specific story about an academic challenge, and the student clearly explains how the experience pushed them out of their comfort zone. The reflection is thoughtful, and the connection to the Honors Program is clear.

Bad Example (lacks depth and concrete examples, and feels generic as a result):

“I have always loved learning new things and exploring unfamiliar areas of knowledge. Ever since I was young, I’ve been curious about the world and excited by the prospect of discovering new information. Whether it’s science, history, or literature, I enjoy learning different perspectives and pushing myself to think in new ways. 

I believe that true intellectual growth comes from stepping outside of what you know and being open to ideas that challenge you. That’s why I’m excited about the University of Washington Honors Program—it will allow me to learn across disciplines and push my education to new heights.”

Why this doesn’t work : This essay is too vague and doesn’t provide specific examples of the student stepping outside their comfort zone. The language is generic, the reflection lacks depth or personal insight, and the motivation for pursuing the Honors Program is impersonal. Essentially, the student simply states they like learning–which will be true of anyone applying to this program–without showing how they’ve engaged with unfamiliar subjects in the past, or what specifically they’re hoping to get out of this program at UW.

By selecting a specific example of when you’ve explored unfamiliar areas and reflecting on what you learned from the experience, you can craft a strong, engaging essay that demonstrates your intellectual curiosity and readiness for the challenges of the University of Washington Honors Program.

Where to Get Your University of Washington Essays Edited For Free

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

Need feedback faster? Get a  free, nearly-instantaneous essay review  from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

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Discover all the information you need to get your UW Bothell application started. Learn more about the qualities and characteristics we’re looking for in our review process. Also, find out about important deadlines you won’t want to miss.

First-year student

You are a first-year student if you have not attended a college or university following the summer of your high school graduation or obtaining your GED.

Transfer student

You are a transfer student if you have completed (or will complete) college coursework from a regionally accredited college or university following the summer after your high school graduation.

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An international student is an applicant who is not a United States citizen or permanent resident and plans to attend a college, university or other post-secondary education institution in the U.S.

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You are a post-baccalaureate student if you have earned a bachelor’s degree and are seeking admission for an additional bachelor’s degree and NOT a graduate degree.

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How to Write the University of Washington Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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The University of Washington (UW), which has three campuses in Seattle , Tacoma , and Bothell respectively, enrolls more than 60,000 students . The UW’s vibrant student life , impactful research , and diverse academic opportunities all contribute to its high U.S. News and World Report ranking at #7 in Best Global Universities . The UW’s accomplished alumni include Rainn Wilson, Frank Herbert, Tim Lincecum, and Gita Gopinath. Hoping to become a Husky? First, you’ll need to nail the University of Washington supplemental essays. Let’s dive in.

UW’s 2024-2025 Prompts

The University of Washington sets three essay prompts for applicants. The first two prompts are required, while the third prompt is optional and only applicable to students who feel that their applications are missing something crucial. A lot of emphasis is put on the University of Washington supplemental essays in the application process, so let’s break those prompts down.

The UW Required Essay Questions

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words or fewer), our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the uw. (300 words or fewer), the uw optional essay question, you are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. for example, you may use this space if: you have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education. your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations. you have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended. (200 words or fewer), we’ll review your essay.

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

General Tips

Writing the University of Washington supplemental essays is easier said than done, so here are some tips to help you write stand-out essays! Let’s dive in.

Imagine your reader.

While writing the UW essays, it can be helpful to think through each sentence as though you are speaking it to the admissions officer who will eventually read your writing. Your reader is a stranger who may or may not have the rest of your application materials in front of them. They’re evaluating you as a person, writer, and student all at the same time. What do you want them to know about you? How do you want to say it? While writing, try to answer these questions.

Context matters.

It’s important that you provide context to the story or stories you tell about yourself. Your reader doesn’t know what kind of high school you attended or how many siblings you have. If there is information that will help your reader understand your story, you should include it. If you’re having trouble determining whether to include a certain piece of context, ask someone who doesn’t know the story you’re telling to vet whether they can understand what’s going on without the context.

Details, details!

Details can make or break your essay. Details make an essay personal and special. On the flip-side, too many details can bog down your essay. So here’s a quick guide to what details you should include, and which you should avoid:

• Vivid, sensory details
• Personal details that show your personality
• Details about the time and place
• Humorous details (if tonally appropriate)
• Contextually necessary details (see the section above)
• Repetitive details (avoid using synonymous adjectives)
• Abstract details
• Long asides, regardless of whether they are humorous
• Contextually unnecessary details

With these general tips, you should have a good sense of what kind of information to include in your essays. That said, if you’re looking for more tips, check out the general tips in our other supplemental essays articles!

You may notice that this prompt looks extremely similar to the prompt for the Common App personal essay. Notably, the UW admissions team does not review the Common App essay. Their admissions team does, however, review this essay prompt. Thus, if your Common App personal essay fits within the parameters of this prompt, you can reuse it here. Check out our article on the Common App personal essay prompts for the 2024-2025 application season for more info.

Most likely, your Common App personal essay will fit within the parameters of this prompt. If it doesn’t, consider whether it is sufficiently focused on you, your life experiences, and your worldview. These are the topics a Common App personal essay should focus on, so this may be a sign to pivot your essay. If your essay does focus on you but doesn’t quite answer the prompt in describing any of your life experiences, we recommend using the same tactics as you would for a Common App personal essay to write the UW personal essay. Who knows, maybe you’ll even like your UW essay better than your Common App personal essay and opt to replace it!

This prompt asks you to reflect on your identity, background, and experiences as a community member. Then, the prompt asks you to extrapolate from your past experiences to envision how they will inform a future UW experience. Because the UW admissions team is trying to predict whether you will be a good fit for their student community, they seek to understand what mindset, background, and perspectives you intend to bring to the UW. Furthermore, by sharing who you have been in the past, you can potentially indicate who you will be in the future.

As the prompt indicates, you should take an expansive interpretation of the word “community” when answering this prompt. Likewise, you should interpret the word “diversity” expansively. Although the stereotypical interpretation of the word “diversity” limits it to identifiers like race and gender, it also extends to gender/sexual identity, cultural background, ethnicity/nationality, immigration status, neurodivergence, political beliefs, academic or other interests, disability, socioeconomic status, and much more.

For instance, a student from a rural community will have something to add to a group of students from urban communities, and vice versa. A student who grew up cheerleading will have a different high school experience compared to another student who pursued classical music, and another student who didn’t have time for extracurriculars because they were helping out in the family business. Whatever, wherever, and whoever you come from, the UW wants to understand what makes you, you. No one is “too boring” or “basic” to write a great response to this question, because everyone is unique. What will make you stand out is whether you share the personal, thoughtful, and specific details of your life experiences, and how vividly you imagine yourself contributing to the UW community.

For many applicants looking back at their applications, something seems missing. If there was a drop in your grades during sophomore year and nowhere else in your application did you have the opportunity to explain this situation, this essay is your chance.

If you faced a significant hardship in your personal life, perhaps you want to explore that hardship here. Or if you faced a financial or other barrier to participating in certain extracurricular activities (for instance, you were accepted into a selective academic summer camp but couldn’t afford to attend), then you may wish to provide those details in this essay.

The above are just a few of the many examples of topics you could write about in this essay. Before beginning your draft, think about your application as a whole. Does it truly show you as you are? As a student, classmate, friend, and family member? If so, then remember, this prompt is optional. But if not, you’ll want to provide details here. “Details” is a key word. You’ll need to be specific for the admissions team, who doesn’t necessarily know you very well, so they can fully understand the situation you choose to describe. Once again, be genuine and specific, and this essay has the potential to strengthen your application.

If you need help polishing up your University of Washington supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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University of Washington (UW) 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Nov 15

You Have: 

University of Washington 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: One personal statement, 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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My UW essays

Here are all the essays I wrote for admission to the University of Washington. The UW application actually did not allow unicode characters like smart quotes and em-dashes, nor did it accept italics, so the essays as displayed here are in their intended form, not as they were submitted. Note that I don’t necessarily agree with all of what’s said below anymore (hence the belief tag).

Thanks to KL for the extensive feedback I received while writing these essays. I also received minor feedback from others.

General admission essays

Personal statement.

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

Having lived both in the United States and Japan, I have suffered the common problem of balancing one’s identity: whether to stay essentially in one land and occasionally poke one’s head out to say hello to the other; whether to play the eclectic magician and pull from both roots the cure to the disease of nationalism; whether to proclaim one’s allegiance to humanity and humanity alone, thus avoiding the question altogether. It would be wholly dishonest to say I have dealt with the problem well; but in my personal experience I have seen transformations of my thought, whose culmination isn’t so trite as “I have gained useful experiences from both cultures”!

But allow me to declare that I will approach this topic from the more fragile, Japanese side. My childhood, from years three to ten, was spent in Japan. Strangely, though I lived in Tōkyō—the center of action—my mind recalls almost a pastoral perfection from this period. This does not imply any geographic quality, but rather that life, because of my innocence, seemed detached: the summertime fireworks, with the delicious smoke, were severed from the piling of dark leaves and playing with sticks, and both of these were separate from the long walk along the river with friends, chasing after a milk bottle cap.

Fly forward five years from my last year in Japan, and we are three years behind the present: there is a change; I live in Bothell; the mind is forming an opinion. During a summer visit to Tōkyō, I saw the sultry streets of my old home clearer than in any previous year, with all its ugly connectedness obvious: the odor of cigarettes and urine painted on every surface; people lined up to feed the machines of pleasure with their overtime pay; everyone buying a train ticket to go nowhere and do nothing, only to find a nervous comfort in their own nests again. This impression, almost oddly artistic by now, so thoroughly shattered the idyllic vision of my childhood city that despite the urgings of my family, I did not return to Japan the following year.

Though I would not discover the works of the author Ōe Kenzaburō until much later, I can see now that I was in the process of being uprooted by what Ōe calls the Ambiguous: a dissonance engendered by two contradictory impressions. This particular incarnation of the Ambiguous occupied me for two years, and for these years my only contacts with Japan were conversations with my Japanese mother, and the Japanese school that I attended on Saturdays, which was steadily becoming for me an annoyance. But (if the continued anachronism is to be pardoned) Ōe had spent his life in Japan, so for him the Ambiguous was unavoidable; for me, the situation was quite different: having spent half of my life in the US by this time, I saw myself a refugee, a vehement critic of that derelict nation, who through reason alone had justified the superiority of the country with the global language.

But a slower change came in the autumn of last year: I began to renew my interest in Japan. It is difficult for me to ascertain exactly what caused this change, but two possibilities seem the most likely. First, my increasing frustration with one of my passions, mathematics, convinced me to find an alternative topic of research, so that I could shift back and forth. Second, my interest in literature as an art led me to an obvious starting point: works written in Japanese. But by now the obstacle is obvious: my ability to use the language had thinly escaped destruction. Thus began my intense study of Japan. And here I am, one year later: I am still reading Ōe; I have returned to Japan; I am unsure what the solution is, but endurance—what Ōe calls nintai —is my tentative answer.

Word count: 648/650.

Short Response

Prompt 1. The University of Washington seeks to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. How would you contribute to this community?

The word “contribute” invokes in me a discomfort. On the surface, I see zealous students eager to spread their message, and demanding adults prodding them. And below, there is universal indifference, a kind of despair. But I cannot hold inside of me such ostentatious deceit—at least, not for long. For if I value one thing, it is small honesty.

I like to see myself as a stone, sunk at the bottom of a deep and sedulous river. I am breathless, and yet I ever so slightly hold back the current. This current—call it “intolerance” or “apathy”—swims in each of us, and, if we are unlucky, overtakes us. It cannot but seek the lowest elevation. On this riverbed, I am, by any definition, insignificant: I am just a small salience stuck in the mud. But I shall stand resolutely, open to any lifeless provocation; and given time, some others may join, forming a diminutive dam of detritus. No doubt some will become dislodged, and no doubt of those that are left, each of us is unimportant individually. But there is a chance, perhaps, that a fisherman on the bank will notice the current slowing; if not, all is well: the debris can feel it slowing.

Can one observe this river in reality? To be sure, the river exists, but its current is more chaotic; it is harder, then, to spot a pronounced thread. But one context in which I daily encounter it is what may be termed “educational desperation”. Being at times slightly better at navigating class material, I am sometimes asked questions. It may be a quick clarification for a passage in a novel, or an explanation of some concept in chemistry, or tips in computing a tricky integral. The current of questions is strong, and although I want to help, I know that answering these questions will have no effect on the current. To fight the current, one must strive for true understanding, not just a number. Curiosity is a requirement.

At times also I read a Japanese book at school. Then, occasionally, someone will ask me questions: “What language is this?” “So are you reading Sartre in Japanese?” “And which way do the words go?” Most of the time, the conversation will end quickly, and the inquirer will leave with nothing more than the added knowledge that some languages are written in different directions. But even this I find superior to helping with schoolwork, for I respond to a specific curiosity. These questions, moreover, can turn into more: it can propel someone into a promising study of Japanese writing or culture; this is the “true way”, in Kafka’s sense.

By being a stubborn stone in the river, that is, by quietly assisting those wanting to discover and understand, I believe I accomplish something important. In this sense, “contribute” becomes genuine, and becomes something I want to do in high school, university, and beyond.

Words: 488/500.

Honors essays

Interdisciplinarity essay.

Honors 1. Why do you want to incorporate our interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum into your undergraduate experience? What contributions will you make to our community?

Bertrand Russell wrote in the prologue to his Autobiography of three passions that guided his life: love, intellectual curiosity, and pity for the suffering. In educating oneself, although all three of these passions are important, one’s focus does become more intellectual. What is essential, then, is to allow oneself the freedom of moving between passions while also focusing on specific goals.

Even within intellectual pursuits there are perceived categorizations that can severely limit self-actualization. One such categorization is between the humanities and the sciences. I have always focused my studies on one or the other: when engrossed in the abstract beauty of set theory, I am less aware of literature; when I am engaged in studying James Joyce’s works, I do less mathematical proofs. A certain shift in focus is healthy, but a total severance is catastrophic, for being too narrow renders the mind provincial.

The other harmful categorization I see is between absorption and creation. Intellectual curiosity can mean seeking useful information; however, research is only half of the experience. It is important also to use one’s creativity, to apply one’s learning to bring about something new. Creativity is not simply completing assigned work: it means reading a mathematical proof and trying to attain a more general result; it means reading Joyce and trying to emulate his interior monologues.

Although creativity need not be public, I believe by projecting my work outward I can most contribute. Authors like Ōe Kenzaburō masterfully quote other writers in their works, spreading important insights. But sharing need not be as elaborate; it can be simple, like the illumination of a line of verse, or an obvious yet ingenious trick in proving a theorem. Learning, I believe, is the constant exchange of useful information: one cannot do it alone, for knowledge must be shared.

“Lost its meaning” essay

Honors 2. Identify a word or phrase in common use that you believe has, “lost its meaning.” Explain what you think accounts for the loss of meaning and what might be done to restore appropriate meaning to the word or phrase you have identified.

No word in the English language has more exponentially deteriorated than the word “math”. The word generates an infinite conflict, for its whole geometry is false, and this can be proven algebraically. There are a few factors, but first we must ask “What do we now mean by ‘math’?” The conventional meaning is easy, for we all do “math”: we sit in a “math” class, listen to the teacher talk, scribble with a pen (hello Vi Hart!), “peruse” the “math” book. Now examine the inverse: who are the “mathematicians”? Do they go around reciting the digits of e or solving for the roots of a cubic function? Certainly not: that would be irrational.

The problem is that most people haven’t a clue what “math” really is. People think “math” is what they learn at school. But what they learn at school is … “computation”, which is what computers do (not humans). Real math isn’t a formula; it is an exploration. It is art in its highest form. Real math requires inquiry: how does a computer handle ones and zeroes? How can one deduce an optimal diet? Why does multiplication work in the first place? And so on: all questions that inspire curiosity.

What is in our power to solve this grave matter? To be perfectly honest, there is only an infinitesimal chance that we can contribute. But here is something that almost surely anyone can do: before spitting out, “I’m doing math” (with contempt), ask: “Am I really exploring ideas I am curious about?” If the answer is “No”, stop! Say “I’m doing some computations”. But most importantly: explore! Find an incongruity; seek, and sedulously pursue it. Don’t give up. Report to a friend your progress, and repeat ad infinitum !

Words: 290/300.

Extracurriculars

I believe these were limited to 100 words each.

Seattle Japanese School and Studying Japanese. I have attended the Seattle Japanese School since fifth grade. I have consistently earned good grades, and have also participated in school-wide events like the annual Sports Festival. However, as the school alone is inadequate for leaning Japanese, I also read Japanese literature to increase my knowledge. Most recently, I have been reading the works of Ōe Kenzaburō. It has been stunning to see that the literary techniques I had learned for English could be replicated in Japanese. As Ōe often writes about post-WWII Japan, I have also been influenced by his thoughts on psychological confinement and humanism.

Independent study of mathematics. Not being satisfied by mathematics at school, I have been dedicating my time to understanding the reasons why various concepts in mathematics work. To understand why addition and multiplication work consistently, I read and did exercises in Terence Tao’s Analysis I ; to see why numbers could be defined as sets, I began reading Bertrand Russell’s philosophy of mathematics and Paul Halmos’s Naive Set Theory ; to understand why material implication is defined the way it is, I spent two years reading blogs, PDFs, and various books on logic. Through this, I have trained my mind to be methodical but also creative.

Aikido. I have been participating in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. My current rank is 5th Kyu. Training with the people in my Aikido class has increased my strength and awareness, and practicing the moves in the art has allowed me to react to the various attacks. Psychologically, it has also alleviated my phobias of eye- and bodily-contact. Furthermore the experience has enriched my life even outside of the class. When walking around at school, for example, or when I am in very crowded places, I have an increased awareness of my movements.

Tutoring (various). I have tutored people on various occasions. Last year in school, I tutored students studying Japanese. It is difficult to say how much impact I had, but I was able to help them complete their homework. This year in school I have been tutoring (in Spanish) students that recently arrived from Mexico. Since my command of Spanish is weak, the experience has been refreshing as I fumble for the desired expressions. Outside of school, I have volunteered for the Study Zone program at my local library. Through this I have helped the community by making homework a little more bearable.

Trail party at the Soaring Eagle Park. On three separate occasions, I helped out within a trail party at the Soaring Eagle Park in Sammamish. The work consisted of various trail- maintenance tasks, such as digging trenches to carry eventual rain off the trail, clearing the foliage of a fallen tree, and replacing mud puddles with fresh soil. Learning about trail-maintenance and connecting with the other people there was enlightening. Moreover the raw physical exhaustion on all three days was intoxicating. Philosophically, knowing that all of my accomplishments would soon be washed clean by the rain was disconcerting but also oddly pleasing.

• A few people I know have similarly posted their college application essays online, including Brian Tomasik .