western washington university personal essay

Writing Personal Statements

What is personal statement?

The personal statement (also known as a statement of purpose) is an essential piece of your application to graduate or professional school.   It usually consists of a brief history about yourself while addressing your academic and career goals. It offers the admissions committee to hear your “voice” and portray relevant experiences that showcase your strengths and preparation.

How to I get started?

• Use clear organization and the mechanics of an academic essay by including a strong opening or thesis, details to support your claims, and a clear summarization.​
• Read each prompt carefully and make every effort to understand and respond to it.​
• Remember that this isn’t a research paper, it’s a personal essay—using clear, easy to understand language is more important than trying to sound “academic.” The committee is trying to get to know YOU so be as authentic as you can.

What should I write about?

Here are some questions  to help you shape your composition (allow yourself some time to free write and get your ideas flowing):​

• What are your career goals?​
• When did you originally become interested in the field?​
• What people or life events shaped or influenced your goals?​
• How have you learned about and explored the field?​
• What work or volunteer experiences contributed to your knowledge?​
• Are there gaps or discrepancies that should be explained?​
• Have you overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships?​
• What personal characteristics enhance your performance?​
• What skills and traits do you bring to the program?​
• Why are you interested in “x” school?

What are some other writing tips?

Be selective and don’t bore the reader with too much detail 

Capture attention but do not use quotes.

Show the committee that you have thought carefully about your application and have specific experiences and reasons why you are   applying to this   particular program .

For example, medical school applicants saying they are good at science or statements such as “I like working with people.”

Readers may have differing opinions from yours—such as religion and politics.

See how it flows; remember that admission committees will read   many   of these, so make yours compelling and easy to read. 

DO NOT rely upon spell-check. Have others review your statement. 

• Your first draft   doesn’t   have to be perfect initially. Seek feedback and  be prepared to edit .  ​
• Useful resources include professors, friends, family, professionals   you have   worked with.  ​
• You can also connect with the   Hacherl   Research & Writing Studio , located in Wilson Library’s Learning Commons area.

We are here to help!

As you develop your personal statement, remember that we are here to help!  Ensure that your resume will earn you an ​interview by scheduling an appointment with a graduate school advisor or requesting written feedback via email.​

Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short. Henry David Thoreau

Western Washington University | WWU

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Want to see your chances of admission at Western Washington University | WWU?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Western Washington University | WWU’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Additional info essay.

Describe any special circumstances that created challenges or opportunities for you while in high school and what you learned from those experiences. This might include personal or academic challenges, being the first person in your family to pursue college, inconsistent grade trends, a grade point average or test scores that you feel do not reflect your potential, or anything else you feel the Admissions Committee should know about you and your ability to succeed in college.

College of Interdisciplinary Studies Essay

Describe your educational goals, academic interests, and the reason you are applying to Fairhaven College. The best length for the essay is whatever length it takes you to respond to the prompt in its entirety. If the essay you used for your Western application addresses these components, you can upload the same essay.

Select-A-Prompt Essay

Help the Admissions Committee learn about you beyond what we can see in your academics and activity list by expanding on one of the prompts below. Your response will be reviewed for both admission and scholarship purposes.

Your essay must be your own work. Please do not use another writer‘s work, or make use of Artificial Intelligence software (Chat GPT, Bard, etc.) to write your essay. If plagiarism or use of AI is suspected or determined, your application may be deemed incomplete or withdrawn from consideration.

Most essays are about 500 words, but this is only a recommendation, not a firm limit. Feel free to take what space is necessary for you to tell your story. You can find tips for writing a strong application essay on our website.

Please select one of the essay prompts and provide your response. Provide your essay response below. Note: If you feel you have already addressed this in your Common App Personal Essay, please copy the relevant section of your essay into the essay box below.

Describe one or more activities you have been involved in that have been particularly meaningful. What does your involvement say about the communities, identities or causes that are important to you?

Share a meaningful experience and how this has helped shape you in your preparation for college. This could be related to your passions, commitments, leadership experience, family, or cultural background.

Admissions essay - topic of your choice. If you have written another essay that captures what you want the Admissions Committee to know about you, feel free to share it here.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement.

Before you begin, take time to think about the following key concepts you'll be writing about.

Tell a Story

As you explore these questions, look for a single concept that best defines who you are and/or where you are going. The unifying theme you choose is important: It will help you organize your ideas, select supporting evidence for claims of what you have achieved, and provide a roadmap for your readers. It will also convey to the readers how you see and understand yourself.

You might begin by asking yourself:

• “What are the qualities, values, goals, experiences, and activities that best define who I am?”
• “What individuals, experiences and challenges that have influenced my thinking and career goals?”
• “What are the most important things for the committee to know?”
• “What do I hope to achieve and why I believe my goals are worth working toward?”

Your Personal History

• Family and friends – those who influenced your values, ideas, interests, and goals
• Education - special programs, influential classes and/or professors, and independent research projects; informal experiences, such as books or lectures that have had an impact on your thinking and/or career choices
• Work experiences and internships – those that enabled you to develop/discover leadership abilities, introduced you to new ways of thinking about the world, taught you new skills
• Travel – opportunities to learn new perspectives, new ways of doing things; experiences that have made you aware of challenges and/or problems that you would like to help solve
• Community service – activities that put you in touch with people who are different from you, that enabled you to assume new responsibilities, that gave you a vision of what might be achieved
• Political activities – experiences that instilled an appreciation of the democratic process or, conversely, alerted you to the problems our society faces
• Talents – the importance of music, art, writing, sports, etc. to your life

Before You Begin

Read the assignment carefully and be sure you clearly understand what you are asked to write about.

Get to Know Your Audience

Review the application materials carefully. They often provide information about who will be reading your application as well as guidance on how you should think about your audience. Committee members may or may not have in-depth knowledge of your field.

If you are applying for a specialized fellowship, you can probably assume that readers will have some technical knowledge of your field. If, on the other hand, you are applying for a general scholarship – i.e. one that is open to students from a broad range of fields, you should explain briefly the points that would not necessarily be understood by a general audience.

Get Organized

A personal statement should flow naturally. That does not mean, however, that it should, in its final form, lack any organizational structure.

As one final step before you begin to write, you might sketch out a basic outline – i.e. a logical progression of ideas that you want to include. In the process of writing, you are likely to discover a better arrangement, and, as that happens, follow your instincts.

The initial outline can serve as a check that important ideas and critical points are not lost in the creative process. It should not, however, undermine the creativity, originality, or inspiration that accompanies the writing process. Let your personality – including a sense of humor – emerge.

Writing the Personal Statement

A few pointers to keep in mind as you write and, further down the line, as your re-write and revise your essay:

• Be yourself. Speak with your own voice, sharing your own ideas about your own goals. Ask others to read your essay and give you feedback, but preserve your own voice.
• Think in terms of telling a story: make your writing fresh and engaging.
• Write clearly, simply, and concisely. Write clearly and honestly about yourself and your aspirations.
• Open the essay with a strong paragraph that provides a framework and introduces critical elements that you intend to explore in the main body of the essay. Find a way to catch the readers’ attention.

In the main body of the essay

• Describe your experience in your field of study and convey your knowledge of the field.
• Refer to classes, conversations with experts, books you have read, seminars you have attended, experiences you have had.
• Make a convincing argument that you know something about the career you have chosen.
• Do not overstate your achievements. Be prepared to acknowledge your role as part of a team.
• Focus on a few, well-chosen examples, and use these to develop your ideas. Depth is better than breadth. Select experiences that have been most important, those that have shaped your development and defined the direction you have chosen.
• Be current. Concentrate on where you are now and where you are going.
• Address weaknesses in your resume by providing honest explanations – for example, feel free to explain that you had financial responsibilities that prevented you from participating in community service or assuming leadership positions.
• Avoid obvious clichés.

Once finished with the essay:

• Proofread and ask others to proofread. -Check spelling and grammar.
• Does the essay flow naturally? Is it organized? Logical?
• Does the main theme come through clearly? Is it powerful? Convincing?
• Have you provided relevant examples and explained them appropriately?

Psychology Department

Major Application Short Answer Essay Questions

The  Major Application Short Answer Essay Questions * provide students interested in applying to WWU's psychology or human development majors an opportunity to convey who they are and how their individual lived experiences, values, and goals align with their intended major.

Please respond to both prompts with no more than 250 words each (overall word limit of 500 words; exceeding 250 words per prompt will result in application points lost): 

• In the Department of Psychology, we encourage and educate majors to apply psychological science to address societal needs and problems. What societal issues motivate you to pursue a degree in psychology? How and why? Please provide at least one specific example.
• Review the  Psychology Department Values Statement  and reflect on your own goals and values. In your own words, describe specific ways your participation in the major would contribute to creating this learning community for all members of the psychology program. These specific examples should derive from your upbringing, lived experiences, goals, personal values, and/or interests. 

*These prompts must be submitted before your new major application can be evaluated. The application portal will open at the beginning of fall, winter, and spring quarter.

Can't access the Short Answer Essay Questions?  Self-enroll in our Psychology Interest Canvas course

Curious about the Department of Psychology's DEI commitment? Check out our DEI Initiatives Webpage

Writing Tips to Consider

-Before crafting your response, reflect on your individual lived experience, strengths, academic history, etc.

-Address the prompts directly

-Think and write deeply, with full transparency

-Provide specific examples when possible

-Make sure who you are and how your goals/values align are crystal clear in your responses; consider what makes you a good fit in the Psychology Department

Remember: Quality of writing is not being evaluated; however, please use spell check and write in complete sentences to make sure your ideas come across as clearly as possible. Plagiarism of any kind is not tolerated.

Looking for Essay Response Support?

The WWU  Hacherl Research & Writing Studio  is ready to support your major application essay response writing process with a variety of connection options:

Daily Studio Hours :  https://library.wwu.edu/rws Request an Appointment :  https://wwu.libcal.com/appointments/rws Online Chat :  https://askus.library.wwu.edu/chat/widget/9c7774dae5b758529d82f5bc433029ca Submit a Draft :  https://library.wwu.edu/node/2341

Essay responses are the #1 way you can influence and improve your major application outcome.

Connect today!

Spring '24 Major Application

Available Friday 4/5 @ 8:30AM through Friday 4/19 @ 11:59PM

Apply in THREE easy steps:

1. Submit a  Major Application Webform

2. Complete the  Major + Graduation Requirement Review  that matches your intended major

3. Submit responses to the  Major Application Essay Questions

Need access to the review and essay questions?  Self-Enroll Here

Currently enrolled in PSY 203 as a transfer student?

Optional Step #4: Submit a  Major Application Exception

Past acceptance rates and data can be found  here

Art of the Essay: Writing the Body

Course number, course description.

This is an advanced level course in the art of essay writing—what some call the "personal essay" and others call "creative nonfiction." The etymological roots of the word "essay" mean simply to try, to make an attempt. In our essays we will be making honest attempts to say clearly and creatively what it is swirling around inside us. Essayist Scott Russell Sanders says:

Unlike novelists and playwrights, who lurk behind the scenes while distracting our attention with the puppet show of imaginary characters, unlike scholars and journalists, who quote the opinions of others and shelter behind the hedges of neutrality, the essayist has nowhere to hide. While the poet can lean back on a several-thousand-year-old legacy of ecstatic speech, the essayist inherits a much briefer and skimpier tradition. The poet is allowed to quit after a few lines, but the essayist must hold our attention over pages and pages. It is a brash and foolhardy form . . . which relies on the tricks of anecdote, conjecture, memory, and wit to enthrall us.

This course will challenge each of us to push the boundaries of the personal essay form, focusing particularly on "writing the body," surely a potentially brash and foolhardy topic if there ever was one. And perhaps something vital and necessary, close to the skin, something we rarely take the time to explore in words. What is the body? Our bodies? Mine? Yours? What are the connections between body and mind? Body and soul? Body and the food we eat, the liquids we drink, or the air we breathe? What is the history of our bodies? How do family, culture, and identity shape the ways we see and feel about our bodies? What do scars, moles, creases, hair, bones, pain, diseases say about who we are? What can we mean by producing a "body" of writing? Each of us will explore these questions and more and write and share three full revised and finished personal essays, each of them illuminations on the rich and intriguing possibilities in writing the body.

Prerequisites

FAIR 201A and FAIR 202A, and 300-level writing course.

Materials Fee

Required texts.

Alexander Chee, ed., THE BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2022; Sonya Renee Taylor, THE BODY IS NOT AN APOLOGY; and selected readings on Canvas by other writers, including Esmeralda Santiago, Kyoko Mori, Rosario Ferre, Anne Carson, Jenny Boully, James Baldwin, Lidia Yuknavitch, Ruth Ozeki, PK Price, adrienne maree brown, Anthony Farrington, and James McKean.

Credit/Evaluation

Faithful attendance and participation in the work, writing workshops, and discussions of the class. Completion and quality of reflections, writing exercises, and essays, three longer essays revised, finished, and shared.

Course Instructor(s)

Course subject.

• Faculty & Staff

Students admitted to the UW now have until June 1 to commit, a result of FAFSA delays. We anticipate that financial aid offers will be sent in late April or early May.

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.

WWU Honors College

A community of students who want to expand their college experience with an interdisciplinary focus.

The WWU Honors College is no longer accepting applications for Fall 2024. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected] .

All on-time, complete applications received by the deadline will receive a decision no later than mid-March. 

Application Steps

Please note: To prevent the application portal from automatically timing out during your submission process, it is highly encouraged to have both the personal essay and writing sample prepared prior to opening your application portal.

Students New to Western: 

• The Common App takes 24 hours after submission to appear in our system, so students will not have access to the Honors application until then.
• Complete the Honors application for new students linked below. The login will be the same account you used to submit your WWU application.

Current Western Students:

CURRENT Western students are those who are ACTIVELY enrolled in classes at Western at the time they apply. Do not use the Current Student Application form if you are not registered for classes at Western yet.

• Fall Quarter applications are due by the Priority and Regular Admission Deadlines listed above.
• Winter Quarter applications are due the Friday before Fall Quarter finals week.
• Spring Quarter applications are due the Friday before Winter Quarter finals week.

Required Honors Application Materials

Submit a sample of your best, analytical academic written work. Honors is interested in a student's ability to analyze issues, books, and so on, to frame and develop an argument. The writing sample should be an academic writing piece that provides an analysis or logical reasoning response for the committee to review. Most commonly these kinds of papers come from English and history classes. Although we do not need to see the graded work, we do ask that you refrain from updating your writing sample and submit your original work for the committee’s review.

Submit a personal essay answering  both  of the below prompts in a single document. This may be written as a single essay, in which the word count does not exceed 600 words. Or you may answer the prompts separately (but in the same document) keeping to a 300-word limit per prompt.

• At WWU Honors, our motto is to cultivate community by striving compassionately for knowledge. How do you see yourself upholding these community values while at Western and beyond?
• The Honors College curriculum is a combination of interdisciplinary study (the First-Year Sequence and Senior Seminars) and disciplinary study (Colloquia). Our courses unite around common conceptual pursuits, such as the nature of justice, power, and love; the processes by which humans make decisions and determine values; and the relationships between individuals and the communities they inhabit. Reflecting on your lived experiences, in what ways will/should these types of discussions contribute to your college experience and your future goals? 

Letter(s) of recommendation from a teacher or counselor are highly recommended but not required.

The Honors admissions team has access and will review all materials you submit to WWU - including letters of recommendation submitted with your general application. With that in mind, it is more beneficial for you to submit different letters of recommendation than the ones you have already sent to WWU.

Letters of recommendation can also be submitted by emailing them to [email protected] .

Western Washington University

Western isn’t a place where you show up for four years, learn a few things, and get a job that bores you. That’s for normal schools. We want people with an appetite for ambition and who want to make a positive impact in their communities. Through close relationships with professors and a community dedicated to equity, justice, sustainability, and academic excellence, we help people find their purpose. And we inspire them to pursue that purpose with everything they’ve got. We bring together those who want to change the world with the people who are changing it.  This is a place where, together, we can MAKE WAVES. Incredible Location: Western's campus is in the heart of the beautiful city of Bellingham, an ideal college town located between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC on the Puget Sound. Academic Excellence: Whether you choose from one of our 200+ academic programs or design your own major, you'll enjoy the full support of world-renowned educators who will help bring your ideas to life. Unlimited Opportunity: Western offers more than 200 clubs on campus, career connections, outdoor adventure, research, and leadership opportunities.

Academic programs.

• Art & Design
• Communication
• Engineering
• Finance/Accounting
• Government/Political Science
• Liberal Arts
• Performing Arts
• Social Science

Student experience

• Co-op/Internship Opportunities
• Disability Services
• Intramural/Club Sports
• LGBTQIA Services
• Military/Veteran Services
• On-Campus Housing
• Study Abroad
• Undergraduate Research

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

• You will receive a response from the Office of Admissions by December 31.
• You’re guaranteed expedited scholarship review and financial aid notification if admitted.
• You still have until May 1 to confirm your intent to enroll.

Western Washington University (WWU) does not accept Common App for Transfer students. Transfer students inside and outside the United States may apply using our Transfer application . Students who continue to earn college credits after high school graduation (excluding credit earned during the summer after high school graduation) are considered transfer students. Visit our Transfer page for more information .

Additional Information

Take a tour of Western's beautiful campus! Let our student tour guides lead you and a small group on a 60-minute campus tour. They will give you the inside scoop on everything Western and answer your questions as you explore. There's also a 30-minute admission information session included in the tour. To schedule a visit, click here!

Admissions office

516 High Street Bellingham , WA 98225 , United States of America

Phone number

(360) 650-3440

For first-year students

Admissions website.

admissions.wwu.edu/

Financial aid website

www.finaid.wwu.edu/

Undocumented or DACA students

admissions.wwu.edu/undocumented-students

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What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

5 University of Washington Essay Examples by Accepted Students

What’s covered:, essay example #1 – diversity, cripplepunks, essay example #2 – diversity, community in difference, essay example #3 – diversity, food, essay example #4 – diversity, dinnertime conversations, essay example #5 – interdisciplinary studies, where to get your university of washington essays edited.

The University of Washington is a selective school, so it’s important to write strong essays to help your application stand out. In this post, we’ll share essays real students have submitted to the University of Washington. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Read our University of Washington es say breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

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 University of Washington. (300 words)

The first time I looked up the term cripplepunk I was in ninth grade, almost bedbound with severe hip pain. It took half a second for the page to load, and another half a second for me to process what I was seeing. There before me, against the muted grey of my phone’s dark mode, is the community I thought I would never have. I could have scrolled for hours, absorbing the images of models in powerchairs wearing ornate gowns, snarky patches on guide dog vests, and decorated canes. I kept coming back to the page, enchanted with the movement. Although the term cripplepunk wasn’t used until 2014, the spirit of the movement is present in most disabled people, from Frida Kahlo to the participants in the Capitol Crawl. The cripplepunk movement is intentionally subversive, fighting against the ableism and pity that disabled people encounter at every turn. Cripplepunks take a “so what if I am?” approach to ableism, refusing to be ashamed of symptoms, accommodations, or mobility aids. It’s a diverse movement too, where a 60-something veteran dealing with decades-old injuries can guide me through the process of buying and decorating my first cane. In cripplepunk circles, a deafblind Black woman can teach the world that disabled people can have dreams for their futures. The cripplepunk movement is a movement where I can offer sympathy, advice, and support to the same people who helped me through otherwise isolating moments and new cripples alike. That work doesn’t just happen online though. My work as a cripplepunk happens everywhere, classrooms and grocery stores alike, by being visibly and unashamedly disabled, vocally confronting ableists, and campaigning for greater accessibility.

What the Essay Did Well

One of the primary strengths of this “Diversity” essay is its writer’s enthusiasm about the cripplepunk movement, which helps readers feel connected to them. At the very beginning of this response, we are introduced to the term ‘cripplepunk,’ but just like the student, we are not exactly sure what it means. We go through the process of learning about the movement with the student as they bring to our minds “images of models in powerchairs wearing ornate gowns, snarky patches on guide dog vests, and decorated canes.” By bringing us along to their first introduction to cripplepunk, this student forms a connection between themself and the reader. We get “enchanted” alongside them.

At the same time, we get enchanted by the student, who positions themself as mature and insightful. As they describe how the cripplepunk movement wasn’t labeled until 2014 but “the spirit of the movement” existed long before, they address the ways that community doesn’t need to have a name to exist. They position community as anything that makes individuals not feel alone, then follow that description up with a definition of community as “people who help others through otherwise isolating moments.” This deeper reflection displays this student’s insightful-nature and maturity.

Finally, this essay’s structure works very nicely. It is simultaneously anecdotal and reflective, and, to top it all off, the student provides an image of them in “classrooms and grocery stores alike” showing off their diversity and their pride. The anecdote draws the reader in, while the reflection reveals this student’s personality and perspectives. Combined, the reader gets a good idea of who this student is and how they would fit into the campus community.

What Could Be Improved

The one thing this essay didn’t address was how this student will add to the diversity of the University of Washington. Although we get a good sense of the unique community this student came from and how it shaped them, we still want to know how they will contribute to their campus community. This student could have easily revised the last few sentences to say something along the lines of this:

“I intend to bring the cripplepunk movement with me to the University of Washington. I’ll proudly display myself on campus so I can teach my fellow classmates about disabilities and encourage other disabled students to be unashamed of who they are.”

Reworking the conclusion to discuss how they will take the lessons they have learned from being part of the cripplepunk community and share those lessons with a new community would show admissions officers exactly what this student would bring to campus. It doesn’t have to be an extensive response, but the essay should include some reference of University of Washington. 

In my youth, I found solace in communities of my peers who shared portions of my identity; from speaking the same second languages to sharing similar tastes, I was quick to bond with those I was similar to. 

When I moved to Oregon, I found myself miles away from these connections. My fragmented identity found little to attach to my peers. Inkling connections uprooted as I attended three different middle schools throughout my years. “Community” felt like a bubble I was floating upon, inherently a part of yet never fully immersed. 

At the end of math class towards the middle of eighth grade, I felt a tap on my shoulder. A tall girl with glasses and a tooth gap stood behind.

“Do you want to sit with us at lunch today?”

Stemming from this small invitation, I found myself part of a community of peers with whom I never thought I could relate. Our interests diverged and collided in all regards; we were of different gender identities, sexual orientations, and ethnic backgrounds. While I was the only person of color in our friend group, I cherished the different experiences we brought to the table. I recounted my struggles accepting my culture while I heard the stories of my friends who were dealing with gender dysphoria. 

In the following years, I wholeheartedly applied this multifaceted outlook to my sense of community. I engaged with peers both different and similar to me; I found community at Indian festivals with my fellow South Asian peers and community with my closest friends with whom I can form strong emotional connections, despite our dissimilar backgrounds. 

This ever-growing sense of community has helped me thrive and will better help me engage within the student body at the University of Washington

As this student explores the struggle of finding community, their essay not only reads like a Diversity essay but also like an Overcoming Challenges essay . 

The main strength of this essay is the arc it presents. We learn about their background (moving around a lot) and we learn that community didn’t always come easy for them. The sentence “‘ Community’ felt like a bubble I was floating upon, inherently a part of yet never fully immersed” articulates their isolation particularly well. At the same time, this sentence shows their profound awareness of the true meaning of community. They understand that being a part of a formal group like a school organization, an ethnic group, or a sport does not necessarily mean one feels community.

As the essay progresses, the student comes to understand that community does not have to exist within any formal bounds at all. You can find community with people completely different from you. Through their reflection, this student clearly shows an understanding of the importance of diversity. Not only is this essay able to demonstrate the meaning of community to this student, but it also displays how diversity is an integral part of community, which is exactly what admissions officers want to see.  

The beginning of this essay is a little slow, so the whole essay would benefit from reordering it and changing the structure a bit. Essays tend to start off with an anecdote to hook the reader and then go into more elaboration. However, it takes a few sentences before this student gets to their anecdote. We learn about this student’s experience feeling part of (or isolated from) a community prior to middle school, but the essay isn’t overly engaging before the anecdote.

The anecdote livens up the essay and brings a renewed sense of excitement and engagement to the reader, so opening the essay with the story of getting invited to lunch would spur that interest from the beginning. After the quick anecdote, the student could explain why it was so meaningful to be invited to lunch and find a community at that table because they had felt that they were missing a community throughout middle school. Restructuring the essay like this would mean it wouldn’t be told chronologically, but a deeper emotional connection with the student, and interest in their story, would be established off the bat.

“Beta, food is ready,” Amma yells as I quickly traverse her words.  She made dosas and aloo curry, my favorite. I followed the strong, flavorful scent to the kitchen, the same place where I subsequently got serenaded by hymns sung by Amma.  I helped set up the table, decorated with a box of misplaced cheerios and a bowl of Gulab jamun Appa set out for us before he left for work.   I watched my brother go into the garden to collect one of our banana leaves, acting as plates for the eight guests arriving soon for lunch. The natural grassy smell that emanated from the leaves signaled Amma that guests would be coming soon. She laid out the dosas on the table and aloo in a bowl, exerting an ounce of pride from the squint of her eyes.  The aroma of dosas and aloo curry has followed my family for generations. Every generation that was taught the art of making a dosa assimilated a new idea, evolving my family’s South Indian cuisine. My appreciation of my community lies within its versatility for the continuation of traditions and beliefs, passing them down for generations to come.   Guests started coming in for lunch, holding their food, seasoned with the stories of their lives. Despite the incredible array of foods on the table, the box of cheerios remained in sight to the public. Like me, it didn’t align with the norms of its environment, but remained firm. Its bright yellow color pervaded, attracting many. However, it had its own stories and journey that couldn’t hold comparison to others. This “ambiguity” represents diversity within culture. Its multidimensional perspective allows for cuisine and culture to bring a multitude of stories together, creating a home for all, including me.

This essay exemplifies how to respond to the Diversity prompt, an essay archetype used by many colleges. Effective responses do just what this essay does, by describing both a culture and the applicant’s place within it. Especially successful essays convey important, relevant aspects of the community with quick yet evocative descriptions, like of the aloo curry and hymns, that also help readers get to know the applicant better. In this essay, we see their thoughtfulness, keen eye for detail, involvement with their family and community, and appreciation for their heritage. 

One more especially powerful aspect of this essay is the vivid, descriptive language. There’s the smell of curry, the sound of singing, and the visual of the bright yellow Cheerios box, all of which draw us into this student’s world with all five senses. In particular, the metaphor of the Cheerios box standing out in the midst of the home-cooked, traditional South Indian meal is unexpected and heartwarming, and helps ensure that this rich essay will make a strong impression on UW admissions officers.

Even in a strong essay like this one, there’s still room for improvement. One thing that would make this supplement more effective would be a bit more detail on the central metaphor of the Cheerios box. Why does the author align themselves with the American breakfast cereal, instead of the food being cooked by their grandmother? 

The description of the box as “not aligning with the norms of the environment” is compelling, but not supported by details about the applicant’s personality, or reflections on their identity. While metaphors are a crucial part of many college essays, you always want to be as explicit as possible about what a metaphor is saying about you, to ensure the admissions officer reading your essay fully understands your point.

Additionally, on a structural level, this essay would benefit from being split into two or even three paragraphs, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because one big block of text is a little rough on the eyes. Secondly, because breaking up your ideas ensures each one gets your reader’s full attention–at the end of each paragraph, they can reflect on the point you’ve just made before continuing on to the next one.

At my dining table, a silent war was being waged. Each side wielded glances, smirks, and snide remarks concealed under composed postures. The discomfort was palpable. Yet, newly eight-year-old me moved obliviously between my grandmas. To me, they were nearly the same person wh o loved me and, on this delightful occasion, had provided me with considerable compensation for lasting another year. 

My first call to battle came sitting in the passenger seat of my grandma, Judy’s Toyota. As we rolled through the hills of Idaho, she spoke to me about a recent election and her opinions on various healthcare issues. Moved from a place of deep sorrow, she described my Aunt’s struggle to obtain insurance due to a pre-existing condition. She suggested her solutions, and I listened attentively, curious about her ideas since I had yet to form my own.  

Months later, I found myself in a hammock under a sweeping eucalyptus, engaged in a similar discussion with my other grandma, Teresa. As a healthcare worker, she was very involved with the issue, yet her ideas fell completely opposite Judy’s. 

This was when I discovered the origin of the hushed hostility afflicting my family. 

The family I come from may seem divided with their vastly different views, but together, these women taught me the importance of being a listener. I learned that to understand an issue truly, you must first consider all thoughts and opinions, no matter how much you may disagree. The animosity I observed resulted from closed minds and echo chambers; from their discomfort, I’ve learned that progress can only be made through compromise and communication. At UW, I hope to contribute my distinct perspective on problem-solving alongside my engineering knowledge to collaborate with others through programs like Engineers Without Borders to create impactful solutions to universal problems. 

In this essay, which is another strong response to the “Diversity” prompt , the student does a great job of explaining how being around different opinions has shaped their own perspective, as well as capturing the role they play within their family. The response highlights what the student has learned not just about their grandmothers’ opinions, but about listening in general and forming opinions of their own.

This essay is also a good reminder that writing a strong response to this kind of prompt doesn’t require you to focus on a distinct culture–you can write effectively about aspects of your identity, like the conversations at your family dinner table, that aren’t typically associated with diversity. So long as your growth and character are at the center of the story, like they are for this student, the essay will do a great job of demonstrating who you are to the admissions committee. 

The other especially effective part of this essay is the end, where the author connects their theme to a specific program and future at UW. This detail goes above and beyond what the prompt asks for, to show admissions officers exactly how this student plans to participate in the University of Washington community. Although quick, this line drives home the relevance of this student’s skills and experience to UW’s values as an institution, which helps admissions officers picture them on campus.

While this kind of concrete connection to the school can take your essay to the next level, you want to be sure that you make the connection in a way that feels natural. The majority of your essay should focus on some aspect of your identity and what it reflects about your broader character–only mention something specific about the school if you have extra space, and it’s directly connected to what you’ve discussed. It’s always nice to have a cherry on top of an already strong essay, but ultimately the most important thing is always to answer what the prompt is actually asking.

What Could Be Improved 

Overall, this is a super strong essay, with very little to improve. The only thing that we would consider changing is the time periods the student chooses their examples from. While the anecdotes are strong and paint a vivid picture of a conflict that goes back years, stories from when the author was eight may seem less relevant to an admissions committee that is looking to admit that student ten years later. 

If you have a story that dates back to your childhood, you should weigh the benefits of starting at the very beginning of the story against the benefits of including anecdotes that show how you behave in that community now. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule here: simply be conscious about the choices you make with your essay, to ensure you communicate your key points as effectively as possible.

Prompt: Consider two very different subjects you have previously studied; tell us how you imagine bringing those together at UW to engage with a pressing societal concern. This could be a local, national, or global concern.

In my youth, my mother helped instill a curiosity about the natural world in me. Her work in consulting regarding climate change and environmental systems made me question my direct and indirect impact. I delved into these interests further in high school by taking broad coursework in the sciences. In AP Biology, I was baffled by the reactions and transformation that occurred with simple manipulation. In AP Environmental Science, I was able to apply these biological processes to environmental concepts I noticed on the daily.

In my junior year, I took AP Economics, a class on the polar opposite spectrum from biological and environmental sciences. However, while studying economics, I was able to establish connections between economic and environmental concepts. My father, who has a grounded education in economics, helped me understand the links between these seemingly disparate subjects. The subjects were foundationally interlinked; simple ideas coincided, such as the tragedy of the commons and its relation to marginal analysis. 

As I noticed these intersectional ties, I saw that addressing the impending climate crisis through an economic lens was necessary for implementable, impactful change. There were opportunities for the government to impact climate action— these included economic incentives and regulations to influence the market price, changing producer and consumer behavior to be environmentally friendly. These policies helped protect the welfare of not only the environment but also of individuals who are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. 

My interest in communication studies links to this; I hope to thoroughly understand these subjects in an interdisciplinary context to provide the means for others to do the same.

  At UW, particularly in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, I hope to conjoin my interests in economic policy, science, and communications to gain the leverage and sound academic foundation necessary to address these concerns.

One of the best things this essay did was make use of a simple structure. This prompt asks for a lot from students: discuss two interests, identify the relationship between the two interests, show that the relationship relates to a pressing societal concern , and describe how you will engage with that concern at UW. While it is possible to answer all of these questions with a creative structure, this student’s use of a simple structure helped keep all of the parts of the essay organized. The essay followed the same format as the prompt: two paragraphs about their interests and relationship between them, a paragraph on a societal concern, and two final paragraphs on how they will tie everything together at UW.

Utilizing this structure allowed the student to fully establish both of their interests as unique entities before combining them. Going into detail on what excited them about environmental science and economics in the first place made their genuine love for the topics shine through. Also, including specific concepts like biological reactions and tragedy of the commons shows this student’s knowledge in these respective fields, in addition to their passion.

This student also does a good job of explaining the relationship they see between environmental sciences and economics. Explaining how they were “foundationally interlinked; simple ideas coincided” gives some insight into how this student thinks. We learn that they used logic to connect seemingly different topics that share common ideas. Establishing this logic-based link helps us understand how they devised solutions to address the pressing issue of the climate crisis in the third paragraph. The reader is left with the impression this student is genuinely fascinated by these two topics and has an interest in continuing to combine them in the future.

This student struggles with the transition to discussing their future goals. Since they devoted a large portion of their allotted word count to their interests in science and economics, they were left with very few words to discuss their interest in communication and how all three fields can be tied together. This leaves the essay feeling rushed and less genuine at the end.  

If they cut down on some words earlier in the essay—perhaps only mention their interest sparked from their coursework or their parents, rather than delving into detail on both—they could devote more space to their interest in communication studies later on. Then, this student could add more depth to the sentence “ My interest in communication studies links to this,”  by replacing it with something like:

“As I have seen the importance of science and economics for saving our planet, I have realized that interdisciplinarity is what will save the world. Disparate fields must join together for change to occur. I plan to join the inherently interdisciplinary communication studies program to show the world the importance of communication between disciplines.”

Do you want feedback on your University of Washington 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!

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How long have you been with us? : essays on poetry

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As a writer starting out in the early 1990s, Khaled Mattawa begins Meet the Poet-Stranger, the essay that opens this collection, I wanted the company of fellow immigrants who worked in the language of their adopted homelands, chiseling away at their exile and making a home for themselves in poetry. Throughout his career, Mattawa's thoughtful and politically astute considerations of what it means to create as a poet-stranger, particularly for those of Middle Eastern heritage, have been steeped in his personal experience as a Libyan-American writer. The essays included in this volume cover Mattawa's approach toward translating contemporary and classical Arabic poetry, the personal and international politics of poetry, and the difficulty of representing one's own family history in one's own writing. The concluding piece, Poems and Days (A Reader's Memoir), presents his deep engagement with the work of other poets during his formative years as a writer--

Feature Title

Tips for Transfer Students

How to stand out in the application process

Academic Advice

While academic achievement is the most significant factor in the application review, we also consider clarity of academic goals, completion of major prerequisites and related experiences, number of transfer credits, contributions to and experiences with multiculturalism, special talent, personal circumstances, and space availability.

Most of Western’s academic programs require prerequisite courses; some require a separate application, audition or portfolio as well. The most competitive applicants are those who have taken time to review the admission requirements for their intended major and complete as many requirements as possible prior to transferring. Gaining related work or volunteer experience can help, too!

Familiarize yourself with the requirements and application deadlines for your intended major

wwu.edu/majors

Determine which courses you can complete at your current college

admissions.wwu.edu/tceg

Learn more about transferring to Western Washington University

admissions.wwu.edu/transfer

Tips for your Admission and Scholarship Essays

The admission and scholarship essays are your chance to personalize your application. We believe that ability and potential are not measured exclusively by grades, and your essay can distinguish you from the rest of the applicant pool by providing information about your interests and goals, the experiences and perspectives you will bring to the Western community, and your potential for academic success.

Admission and Scholarship Essays

Essay Question 1 (optional for students with college level GPA 3.0 or higher; required for all other applicants)

Tell us about your educational and/or professional goals. What are you interested in studying, and why? Describe any steps you’ve taken to prepare for your intended major, related life experiences, enrichment activities, future plans, etc. In addition, feel free to address what makes Western Washington University a good match for your interests.

• What sparked your interest in your major or career direction? Describe your participation in classes, volunteer or work experiences related to your interests and goals.
• Detail the steps you have taken to research, develop and follow your academic plan.
• Describe why Western’s academic programs are a particularly good fit for you.
• If you have a dream job after graduation, tell us about it.

Essay Question 2 (optional for all applicants)

Western benefits from a student body whose interests and drive extend beyond the classroom. What interests or significant activities enrich your life?

• How do you spend your time? What is important to you, and why?
• Reflect upon your most meaningful experiences, describe how they have influenced you, and let us know how you want to be involved at Western and beyond.

Essay Question 3 (optional for all applicants)

Describe any special circumstances or hurdles that have challenged you personally or academically, and any steps you have taken to move beyond those challenges.

• Explain any personal factors that you feel have contributed to low or erratic grades or otherwise affected your academic performance.
• If you have experienced significant hardships that have made higher education a challenge, tell your story of overcoming these challenges. Take care to concentrate on the positive aspects of your character that have helped you successfully overcome your challenges and what you have learned.

General Essay Advice

• Rest assured there are no “right” or “wrong” responses, and responding to optional questions is completely up to you. We recommend 300-500 words per question; this is not a firm limit but a recommended range.
• Be authentic. Your essay should sound like it came from your own perspective, written in your own voice.
• Be careful if you “recycle” an essay. Respond to each university’s specific questions and always change the name to the school you are applying to if it appears in your essay.
• Presentation matters. Organize your essay and edit it to make sure you are being concise. Have at least one other person proofread your essay for style, organization, misspellings and grammatical errors.
• Take responsibility for your actions. If you have made decisions or mistakes that have impacted your academic achievement, take ownership and describe what you’ve learned.

Specific Scholarship Essays

Admitted students are automatically considered for a variety of presidential and donor scholarships. In addition, consideration for a Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) or Multicultural Achievement Program (MAP) scholarship requires an additional 300-500 word essay, available within the Transfer Application for Admission and Scholarships.

PTK Scholarship essay topic

List Phi Theta Kappa programs and activities you were involved in and/or additional honors attained while attending community college. Describe the extent of your involvement as well as any specific leadership positions held.

MAP Scholarship essay topic

Describe any activities you have been involved in related to diversity or multiculturalism and how you will actively contribute to a diverse campus community at Western.