uw transfer essay prompts

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Main Content

You are required to complete a Personal Statement as part of your application. This is a critical part of your application, both for admission and scholarship consideration. Content, as well as the form, spelling, grammar, and punctuation will be considered. When you write your personal statement, tell us about the aspects of your life that are not apparent from your academic record.

Personal statement

Freshman applicants will choose one of the following prompts (400-600 words):

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

2.) Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.

3.) An essay topic of your choice. If you have written another admissions essay that captures what you want the UW Tacoma Admissions Committee to know about, feel free to share it with us. Be sure to include the topic or question you answered. 

Transfer applicants are asked to address the following writing prompt:

Describe how personal, professional or educational experiences have shaped your academic, career and/or personal goals. How will UW Tacoma help you attain these goals? (650 words)

Other comments (optional)

If there is anything else you think we should know, you can include that in the "Other Comments" section of the application.

Tips for Success

• Tell us who you are. We encourage you to share those aspects of your life that are not apparent from your transcripts. Be concise, but tell the whole story even if you need a little more space. All of the information you provide in your application and statement will remain confidential.
• Be specific. Personal Statements too often include sentences such as "I've always wanted to be a Husky" or "My whole family attended the UW." Though this may be important to you personally, such statements are not particularly valuable to the Admissions staff. Why? Because they don't tell us anything distinctive about your experiences and ultimate goals.
• You are a college student. Your Personal Statement should reflect the experience and maturity of someone who has already attended college. It should reflect your understanding of the components of an undergraduate education, such as general education and the major. We want to read how your academic and personal experience to date fits into your academic, career and personal goals and how UW Tacoma can help you attain these goals.

Write your statement first in a word processing program (such as Word). Then copy/paste your work into the application text box.

Here are some tips on  how to write a great college essay .

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University of Washington Essay Prompts and Tips (2022-23)

July 24, 2022

The University of Washington’s main campus in Seattle isn’t the type of public school that just services local residents. Rather, UW-Seattle attracts twice as many applicants from out-of-state/country than in-state each year. Top-ranked computer science, engineering, business, and nursing programs, in particular, attract an endless stream of high-caliber applicants from around the globe. Great grades and test scores will put aspiring Huskies on strong footing. However, the University of Washington also requires you to address two supplemental essay prompts.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into UW? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into the University of Washington: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Let’s dive right in and begin examining the one required essay, one required short response, and optional Additional Information section.

University of Washington Essay Prompt #1 (required)

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

This essay prompt succeeds in being both a) simple and straightforward and b) immensely challenging for many applicants. As you brainstorm, remember that the admissions committee is not looking for a rambling list of things you believe in the abstract. Instead, they are specifically asking for one experience that is revealing of your character and/or life story.

For many students, settling on a singular incident in their lives that will speak volumes about the core of their being is not an easy task. You could write about a moment of individual triumph here, but don’t rule out sharing about an incident where, for example: You are not the hero of the story, you had a humbling experience, or you changed a previously held belief.

The good news here is that you have up to 650 words to tell this story, which means you will have plenty of real estate in which to share rich details that will make your essay more compelling.

University of Washington Short Response #1 (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)..

Straight from the UW admissions staff, “Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.”

Your answer here could be about an ethnic, religious, or neighborhood community/identity or a group of individuals who gather for a club, sport, or service project. Whichever elements you choose to focus on, make sure that you use your writing ability to  show  the admissions officer what type of community member you are rather than merely  telling  them.

You can also discuss how you have engaged with your high school local/community and what you have learned from interacting with people of a different ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual identity, etc. Draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in your community. You can also speculate how that is likely to manifest on the University of Washington’s campus. Research and cite student-run organizations at UW-Seattle, local nonprofit groups, or anything else you are excited about. The admissions committee wants to understand precisely how you will contribute to their campus community of 35,000+ undergrads. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here.

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

Unlike many optional essays that are not really optional for serious applicants, the UW Additional Info essay is one that you can feel free to skip unless you have a serious hardship/limiting circumstance to report. For more, visit our blog entitled: Should I Use the Common App Additional Info Section?

How important are the essays at the University of Washington?

UW-Seattle only labels three factors as being “very important” to the admissions process. Those factors are: the rigor of your high school coursework, GPA, and your application essays. In fact, the essays are rated as being of greater importance than test scores, extracurricular activities, or talent/ability.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your University of Washington supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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Transfer application

Follow this checklist to make sure you have everything you need to submit a complete application for transfer admission.

• Review major requirements
• Personal statement
• Send transcripts
• Application fee
• Sending test scores

Are you interested in applying as a transfer applicant for spring quarter? Be sure to review these guidelines .

Make sure you also know what’s not considered .

1. Review major requirements

The process of applying to a major can be complex. Some UW programs require that you enroll at the UW before applying to the major, while others require a separate application in addition to the UW application. Use the MyMajor tool to determine what your major requires.

2. Personal statement

Your personal statement should be a comprehensive narrative essay outlining significant aspects of your academic and personal history, particularly those that provide context for your academic achievements and educational choices. Learn more about format, required and optional elements and tips for writing your personal statement .

3. Send transcripts

A high school transcript (if less than 40 quarter credits of transferable coursework) and official college transcripts are required components of your application file. Learn more about sending your transcripts , including what makes them official .

4. Application fee

U.s. transfer students.

The application fee is nonrefundable, and must be submitted each time you apply. It cannot be transferred to another quarter, to another campus of the UW or to another student.

• Application fee: $80
• Fee waivers are available for U.S. applicants (including undocumented students) with confirmed financial hardship. 

Learn more about the application fee and applying for a fee waiver .

International transfer students

• Application fee: $90
• Fee waivers are not granted to international applicants.

Learn more about the application fee .

5. Sending test scores

U.s. transfer students — sat/act.

The UW no longer requires SAT or ACT scores (read the  June 11, 2020 announcement for more information) for transfer applicants. Students who have taken the exams are welcome to send their scores, however, there is absolutely no advantage or disadvantage in doing so . Learn more about test scores and how to request them .

International transfer students — English proficiency

International students must submit English proficiency test scores that meet the minimum requirement for admission to the Seattle campus of the UW. SAT and ACT exams are not required for international students. Learn more about English proficiency .

The online application is closed.

Things we do not consider

No interviews/demonstrated interest.

The UW does not conduct formal interviews or consider demonstrated interest in the admission decision.

No letters of recommendation

We ask that you not to send letters of recommendation or other supplemental materials such as drawings, CDs, DVDs, books or other portfolio type items. We will learn everything we need to know about you through your application and essay responses.

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Student guides

Transfer student advising guide.

As a transfer students, navigating the UW can often feel overwhelming, especially during your first year. The transfer student advising guide is intended to help you identify meaningful activities, and prompt questions to ask yourself and your adviser during your first few quarters at UW. 

Transfer student guide

Pre-enrollment Pre-enrollment activities Plan for admission to your intended major. Explore admission process on major department websites. Sign up for Transfer Advising and Orientation (A&O). See New Husky Admissions Website for things to do before enrolling. Ensure transcripts are submitted. Reflect on how you will use your remaining general education course requirements and electives to enhance your UW education. Plan for personal and academic adjustments to your new institution (i.e. moving closer to campus, working fewer hours, using study resources). Explore activities outside the classroom you would like to get started on or continue from your previous institution. If applicable, connect with DRS, VEBO, OSVL, OSFA, HFS. Questions to ask yourself  What strengths do I bring from my previous academic and life experience to UW? Have I anticipated what my commute, job and academic schedule will look like? Questions to ask your adviser at Advising and Orientation  How can I best prepare to make the most out of my first quarter? Given my academic goals, how should I plan and prioritize classes and other activities? I know I have limited time at the UW, but want to be as engaged as possible. What are some ways to do this once I arrive on campus?

Quarter one Quarter one activities  Have a plan and timeline to declare your major. If your intended major is capacity constrained, create a parallel plan. Learn about the UW Satisfactory Progress Policy and how it might impact you. Attend information sessions or visit/contact an adviser in your intended department(s). Connect with your assigned adviser and/or departmental adviser regularly. Attend the New Transfer Student Welcome sponsored by UAA and OMAD. Start exploring research and engagement opportunities available to you in your departments/colleges of interest. Attend the RSO Fair. Sign up for a Handshake account. Attend class and learn how to adjust your study habits to the UW. Connect with the Commuter and Transfer Commons. Questions to ask yourself What part of my academics am I enjoying the most? What am I finding most challenging? What is my plan to take care of myself emotionally and physically this year, while also balancing my academics? What new opportunities do I want to explore? What am I learning about myself and my interests during this transition to my new institution? Where will I find familiarity in a time of transition? How am I creating and forming community at UW? Questions to ask your adviser Is my course and major trajectory realistic and strategic? How will the satisfactory progress policy impact me, if at all? What are ways that I can achieve my goals, beyond just my major choice? How should I plan for studying abroad or other experiential learning opportunity? How should I think about incorporating it into my academic planning?

Quarter two Quarter two activities  Connect with faculty and advisers in your intended department(s). Begin to think about your plans for the summer. Do you plan to work? Take coursework? Volunteer? Consider applying for an on-campus job. Sign up to participate in the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Declare/apply to your major or work with your adviser on a pre-major extension plan. Use what you learned Autumn quarter to adjust study and time management approaches. Explore new student organizations related to your major and/or career goals. Questions to ask yourself What did I enjoy at my previous institution that I want to continue at UW? How do my interests inside the classroom relate to activities I might want to be involved in outside the classroom? What am I doing well, to maintain my physical, mental, and social well being? What adjustments do I want to make to help me to feel my best? What adjustments do I need to make in my study strategies? Consult peers with similar interests to hear about their experiences. Questions to ask your adviser Beyond my major related courses, what are the options for how I can use my remaining credits? What are the best ways to benefit from working with advisers and faculty in academic departments? What are options for co-curricular involvement? How can I advance the exploration of my career interests? I was not admitted to my first choice major, how might I achieve my goals in a different major?

Quarter three Quarter three activities  Solidify your plan for summer and consider options such as working, participating in research, or studying abroad. Search Handshake for on and off campus summer job and internship opportunities and visit the Career and Internship Center to get your resume and cover letter reviewed. Attend the Job and Internship Fair. Attend and/or volunteer for the Undergraduate Research Symposium and/or meet with an adviser in the Undergraduate Research Program. Apply to be matched with Alumni through the Huskies@ Work Program to learn more about their career journeys and workplaces. Explore opportunities to serve as a mentor. Get involved in ASUW. Explore new student organizations related to your major and/or career goals. Questions to ask yourself What post-graduation plans do I have that require application preparation, standardized tests, etc. What kinds of activities can I be involved in related to my academic interests? What other courses or experiences do I want to have at UW? Are there minors I may want to pursue? Questions to ask your adviser How can I explore some of my interests through coursework that is outside of my major? What academic activities can I get involved in outside the classroom that will enrich my education? What factors should I consider when planning my summer activities?

Questions for departmental advisers What scholarships exist within my major department that I can be considered for? Based on my interests, are there any special course offerings you suggest that I take next year, or professors to take classes with? How can I get involved in research within the department? What opportunities for leadership or mentorship are available within the major?

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Transfer Students

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

Information for Prospective Transfer Students

Info Sessions

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

Transfer Thursday Drop-Ins

Meet with an ambassador.

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

Schedule an Appointment

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

How to Apply

Key dates & deadlines.

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

Transfer Application Process

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

The UW Transfer Application

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

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

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

The Allen School Departmental Supplemental Application

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

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

Preparing to Apply

Academic requirements.

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

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

Determining Course Equivalency▼

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

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

Credit By Exam▼

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

Prerequisite Exception Requests▼

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

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

Allen School Departmental Supplemental Application Checklist

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

Download the Transfer Application Checklist

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

Application Review

Holistic review process.

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

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

Allen School Transfer Applicant FAQ

Program eligibility questions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Applicant Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Admission Questions

How is the departmental application reviewed? ▼

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

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

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

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

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

Where can I find my admission decision? ▼

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can I appeal my Allen School transfer admission decision? ▼

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

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

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

Other Computing Related Degree Programs

Related Majors ▼

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

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

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

Other Programs in Washington State ▼

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

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

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

Transferring to the UW

Plan your application.

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

Identify application timeline

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

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

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

Identify which quarter you want to transfer to the UW

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

Know UW application deadlines

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

Know UW major application deadline

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

Connect with your UW Admissions counselor

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

List of Majors

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

List of Undergraduate Majors

Exploring Major Alternatives

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

Exploring Majors Tool

Meet regularly with an academic adviser at your current institution

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

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

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

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

Review UW Admissions' website and departmental websites

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

Identify pre-requisite courses for intended majors and alternative majors

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

Review information on choosing majors and the transfer equivalency guide

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

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

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

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

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

Sign-up to receive important email reminders through UW Admissions

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

Visit campus and experience student life

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

Attend Transfer Student Preview

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

© 2024 University of Washington | Seattle, WA

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 4 tips for writing perfect university of washington essays.

College Essays

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

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

Feature Image: Cody Logan/ Wikimedia

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Is the Common Application Essay Prompt?

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

This is the Common App essay prompt you must answer:

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

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

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

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

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

Tips For Brainstorming Topics for Your University of Washington Essay

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

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

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

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

What Is the Short Answer Prompt?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Should You Add in the Additional Information Section?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Should You Use the Additional Space? How?

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

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

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

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

Tips and Advice for the University of Washington Essays

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

Proofread Your UW Essays

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

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

Get Editing Help

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

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

Be Specific

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

Read Essays That Got Students Into UW

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

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

What's Next?

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

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

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

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

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University of Washington-Bothell Campus’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Diversity 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.

Additional Info Short Response

Additional information about yourself or your circumstances 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

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

Am I a transfer applicant?

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

Transfer Admissions Journey

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

Step 1: Explore

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

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

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

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

Find out how to apply to UW Bothell.

CHECK EMAIL & MISSING ITEMS

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

Read more about what to do after you apply.

Step 3: Enroll

Accept your admission.

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

DON’T FORGET ABOUT FINANCIAL AID

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

Learn more about financial aid.

EXPLORE MORE STEPS

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

Read more about admitted students.

Transfer Application Deadlines

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

Start your application

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

Transfer credit policies

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

Transfer planning worksheets

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

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

Tips for Applying

Honors essay prompt tips.

• Honors Essays should add additional information to your UW application – don’t repeat what you’ve already written in your general UW essays. Remember that Honors admissions reviews your entire UW application as part of the holistic review process.
• Read the prompts carefully and try your best to respond to the whole question.
• Don’t tell us what you think we want to hear! When students do this, they often end up repeating what we’ve said on our website. We want to learn about you and your individual interests – don’t be afraid to be different!
• Use the space wisely! Take the time to learn about our program, then answer the prompt with our curriculum in mind.
• Our essay prompt should not be a list your accomplishments or past achievements
• Reflection is a core value and component of our curriculum and we are looking for evidence of self reflection in your essays. Reflection can happen in many different ways, but a helpful place to start is to ask more questions that help you dig deeper into the initial prompt. Below we list some additional questions that you may want to consider.

Interdisciplinary Honors 2024 Essay

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

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

We hope to see students demonstrate that they have done their research and that they understand the program that they are applying for. We want to see evidence of how their values and goals align with those of the UW Honors Program and why they are enthusiastic about joining this community. Here are some questions that may help you reflect more deeply on why you want to be a part of the Interdisciplinary Honors community:

• In your own words, what do you like about learning and pushing yourself outside your learning comfort zone?
• How does interdisciplinary learning enhance your understanding of the world?
• How do you hope to engage with what UW Honors offers to further your education and personal growth?
• How do you individually connect with the goals and values of the UW Honors Program and why are they important to you?
• Why does interdisciplinary learning matter to you personally? Why does it matter for our broader world?
• What have you done in the past that supports what you tell us in your essay? Don’t focus entirely on past experiences, but providing evidence to back up claims you make strengthens your essay.
• Why are you applying for Interdisciplinary Honors (as opposed to only pursuing Departmental Honors through your major)? If you plan to pursue both Honors pathways, explain what you hope to uniquely gain from pursuing a degree with Interdisciplinary Honors.
• Why is community important to you, and who do you hope to meet in the Interdisciplinary Honors community?

Read our First-year Overview

Read our admissions FAQs

FROM THE DIRECTOR

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

Connect with UW Honors:

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

© 2024 University of Washington | Seattle, WA

Apply as a Transfer Student

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

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

Every year, we are fortunate to receive hundreds of applications from a diverse range of students who are incredibly bright, engaged, and passionate. They have challenged themselves and those around them to make a difference in the world. They know that the University of Wisconsin–Madison is their next step toward something extraordinary—a place where they can lead, make discoveries, tackle key issues, gain knowledge, and establish lifelong friendships.

You can apply online using the Universities of Wisconsin Application .

In addition to submitting your application, you will need to submit all required materials to complete your application. All required application materials must arrive in our office by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the noted deadline dates.

We strongly recommend that you request materials early and allow plenty of time for them to arrive to our office.

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How Can We Best Assist You?

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Are you looking for more general information about transferring to UW–Madison?

• Check out our upcoming Virtual and In-Person Info Sessions and Visit Opportunities , including specific sessions for transfer students.
• Curious about what we look for in our applicants? Visit our website to learn more about our holistic application process and what we look for when reviewing applications.
• Information about financial aid and scholarships can be found on the Office of Student Financial Aid website .

Do you have specific questions about the transfer admissions process or application?

• Review the required application materials and application and materials deadlines (below).
• Schedule a 30-minute virtual meeting with a Transfer Admissions Counselor to discuss specific questions. Please note: we are not able to provide academic advising during this meeting.

Do you have questions beyond the application process, such as degree requirements and course selection as you prepare to transfer?

• Interested in learning more about requirements for a specific major or one of our Schools and Colleges? The  Undergraduate Guide contains information about the many academic programs available here at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
• Cross-College Advising Service works with undecided students on our campus and may be able to answer questions about degree programs you are interested in. You can reach out to them via phone at 608-265-5460.
• Some School and College advising offices have the capacity to work with prospective students. A link to each of their websites is located on the Transfer Transition Program website , or contact information may be provided in the Guide .

Are you wondering how, or if, your courses will transfer?

• Unfortunately, we are not able to pre-evaluate courses for prospective students. To see how courses will transfer, we recommend you utilize Transferology . If you are admitted to the university, you will receive a detailed transfer credit evaluation that outlines exactly how your credits will transfer to UW-Madison . Students can also earn Credit by Exam .
• For help in finding and interpreting UW-Madison equivalencies that you find on Transferology, check out our guide to  Understanding Transferology Equivalencies .

Are you a Madison College student?

• Check out the upcoming Madison College Advising and Transfer Events for transfer students

Transfer Application and Materials Deadlines

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

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

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

Academic Course Preparation

Prior to applying for transfer admission, students must have completed (or be completing) at least 24 semester hours of transferable course work. This essentially equates to one year of college-level study. We do not accept transfer students at the freshman level.

When reviewing applications, we pay particular attention to the college-level course work you have completed, and specifically:

• Cumulative grade point average (GPA). Competitive not only for admission to the university, but for your intended major as well. Please note: GPA calculations will include all grades received for repeated courses; the initial grade, as well as grades received in second and subsequent attempts will be included in the GPA calculation.
• Rigor of course work. Appropriate for continued study at UW–Madison and increasing in difficulty.
• Course breadth. Showing a combination of English, math, science, literature, social science, and world language.
• Grade trends and patterns. Steady or improving trends and patterns that show consistency across all academic areas.
• Required courses. Applicants must have completed one year each of high school algebra, plane geometry, and college-preparatory math, and two high school years or two college semesters of a single world language.

High School Record

Your academic performance in high school will be more or less important to us depending on how many college credits you have earned. Generally speaking, students who are in their first two years of college-level coursework will have their high school records more carefully analyzed. The more college-level work you have completed, the less we will rely on high school performance criteria such as rigor of coursework, academic GPA, grade trends, and class rank.

Regardless of the number of college credits earned, your high school transcript (supplemented in some cases by your college transcript) must show that you completed the following required course work:

• Algebra: One year in high school
• Plane Geometry: One year in high school (cannot be modified, basic, or informal)
• College-Preparatory Math: One year in high school, or one college course at the level of Algebra 2 or beyond
• Single World Language: Two years of the same language in high school or two semesters of the same language in college*

*Students who have studied a world language using only Rosetta Stone have not fulfilled the world language requirement.

American Sign Language (ASL) may be accepted to meet the world language requirement for admission if it is taken through the student’s school and is reflected on an official transcript.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity is valued in our community and in the admission process. By signing your application, you certify that it is complete and accurate. We hold you accountable to ensure the authenticity and honesty of your application; essays; self-reported grades, courses, and test scores; and additional materials subsequently submitted.

Required Transfer Application Materials

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

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

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

1. Admissions Application

Transfer students can apply using the Universities of Wisconsin Application .

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

2. Application Fee

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

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

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

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

3. Two Essays

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

You will need to answer the following prompts:

• This part is all about you. Tell us about something you’ve done—academically or personally—and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?
• Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

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

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

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

4. Course and Grade Information

College Transcripts:

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

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

Official transcripts should be sent directly from each school attended.

How to Send Official Transcripts

Applicants that are currently or were previously enrolled at Universities of Wisconsin institution or branch campus, or UW Colleges Online must submit their transcripts according to the Universities of Wisconsin guidelines .

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

High School Transcripts:

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

5. One Required Letter of Recommendation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Send Official Test Scores

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

Duolingo English Test (DET)

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

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

Optional Transfer Application Materials

Act and sat scores.

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

Transferring Your Credit

Transfer Transition Program

Transfer Agreements

2023-2024 Common App essay prompts

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We are pleased to announce that the Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2023-2024.

It’s not just for the sake of consistency that we have chosen to keep the essay prompts the same for the upcoming application year. Our past research has shown that overall satisfaction with the prompts exceeded 95% across our constituent groups - students, counselors, advisors, teachers, and member colleges. Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations.

We know some schools are beginning to have conversations with juniors and transfer students about their college options. As we’ve always said, this is not a call for students to begin writing. We hope that by sharing the prompts now, students will have the time they need to reflect on their own personal stories and begin thinking about what they want to share with colleges. As you assist students with their planning, feel free to share our Common App Ready resource on approaching the essay (in English and Spanish ). You can also visit our YouTube channel to view our breakdown of all 7 Common App essay prompts . 

"Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations." Meredith Lombardi, Director, Education and Training, Common App

Students who are ready to start exploring the application can create their Common App account prior to August 1. With account rollover , we will retain any responses to questions on the Common App tab, including the personal essay.

Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2023-2024.

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

We will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section. 

News and updates

Driving Growth: See how these universities boosted enrollment

Financial aid is complicated

Washington State University applications surge with help from Common App

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

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Nov 15

You Have: 

University of Washington 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

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

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

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

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

Short Response

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

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

Additional Information About Yourself or Your Circumstances (200 words)

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

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

Additional Space (Optional) (200 words)

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

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

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After Unexplained Infertility, Carli Lloyd Is Pregnant And Sharing Her Story For The First Time

“In times of struggle, we see what we are made of.”

Being a mom was always something I wanted, but it wasn’t necessarily something that was always on my mind. As a professional soccer player, I was on the sole mission of becoming the best in the world. In order to get there, I knew soccer had to be my number one priority. It would require a selfish mindset.

My husband, Brian, and I met in high school, so we’ve been together for 24 years. He supported me through every step of my career, and without his support, I never would have reached the heights I did.

When I retired in 2021 at age 39, I’d spent 34 years of my life playing soccer, 17 of them professionally. Having a baby was on our mind, and I thought putting it off for a little bit longer to enjoy life wouldn’t pose an issue. For the first time, soccer wasn’t my priority. I could actually choose what I wanted to do and spend time with Brian, my family, and my friends without soccer consuming my mind and body. (In retrospect, I wish I had been more educated about pregnancy and how to prepare for it, and that I looked years ago into the options I had for freezing my eggs.)

The only thing that changed when I retired was that I wasn’t training or playing. I was very grateful for the opportunities that continued to come my way. I was flying all over for appearances, shoots, speaking engagements, and filming for the Special Forces show, and I got to play in an amazing charity soccer match.

In the summer of 2022, Brian and I thought it was time to try to get pregnant and see where it would lead us. My whole life revolved around defying odds and proving people wrong. Soccer taught me how to work hard, persevere, be resilient, and never give up. I would do whatever it took to prepare, and usually when I prepared, I got results. But I found out that I didn’t know much about this world. I was very naive to think that we wouldn’t have any issues getting pregnant. And so it began. The casual whatever happens, happens turned into disappointment month after month. I was starting to feel like this was a race against the clock—my 40-year-old biological clock.

The journey began to eat me alive and consume me.

I kept saying to myself, “Why is my body failing me?” I had taken such good care of myself, was never a smoker, didn’t drink much. I started talking to a former teammate who had gone through similar struggles, and she helped guide me and encourage me. She suggested I start building a support team around me. I began doing acupuncture and going to a health and wellness center that could help with the process. Brian and I also decided to both get checked out to make sure there were no issues going on.

After getting all the necessary tests done, there was nothing standing in our way except my age. I left that visit with the doctor asking when I wanted to start in-vitro fertilization. I was taken aback, as we were in the early stages and I hadn’t even thought about IVF. I wasn’t ready to go down that road. In my mind, we could still get pregnant naturally and just needed to give it some time.

The months continued to pass, with the thought of trying to get pregnant constantly on my mind. I decided to schedule a consultation with another fertility doctor. I asked around about other doctors, and Dr. Louis Manara at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Fertility in Voorhees, New Jersey, came highly recommended. At this point, my COBRA insurance that I had for a year after I retired was expiring. We didn’t have any insurance at the consult, but I didn’t care, as I wanted to hear what he had to say.

I met with Dr. Manara, who has been a fertility doctor since 1985. He gathered some information about myself and Brian. He was empathetic, knowledgeable, and honest. He said, “With your age and the timing, the best and most straightforward route is to do IVF.” I fought it so much up until this point. As a woman, I wanted to get pregnant naturally because that’s what our bodies are supposed to be capable of. I felt like my body let me down. But at that moment, I was ready to take the next steps.

The first time I sat in the waiting room, I remember feeling really ashamed and embarrassed. I wanted to put my head down, afraid that people would recognize me. I felt as if I shouldn’t be there. But as time went on, I realized that we’re all human and many women are going through similar struggles. There’s a stigma that comes with needing help or needing to go through fertility treatments. It isn’t talked about enough, but it’s just a different process ​​to get to the same end goal: becoming a parent.

We began our first round of IVF in April 2023.

Our plan was to stash as many embryos as we could because we would love to have two children, and now was the time to retrieve my eggs at a younger age. So, again, being a bit naive, I’m thinking, We’ll get four on the first one. Totally. Not a problem .

During my career, I put myself through rigorous workouts, did ice baths every day, and had a very high pain tolerance. I was always “no pain, no gain.” So, for me, the injections were the easy bit, and I did all of them myself. The hardest thing was the emotional toll. The uncertainty. The waiting. The constant worrying about what if .

I had 20 eggs retrieved, but we expected those numbers to dwindle after they were fertilized by day five and six. Then the numbers are expected to dwindle even more when the embryos are sent for genetic testing. So it was a waiting game that we literally had no control over. And it’s hard. I felt all the emotions during my career—stress, worry, fear, anxiety—but I’d never felt all the emotions that IVF brought on. I felt completely out of control. It’s an indescribable roller coaster unless you go through it.

After my first egg retrieval, I was waiting for the call to find out how many embryos had made it after day six. I was in Washington, D.C., in the dining hall of the Capitol building, doing media and meeting with senators about the excitement of the upcoming 2023 Women’s World Cup with the team at Fox Sports.

When the nurse called, I had to excuse myself. She told me that three embryos had made it, which meant we would likely end up with even less than that after genetic testing. The nurse needed an answer on whether we wanted to hold off on genetic testing and do another retrieval. We could group the first and second rounds together to save money, or go ahead with sending these three off to get tested. Genetic testing results usually took one to two weeks.

.css-1cugboc{margin:0rem;font-size:2.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-family:Domaine,Domaine-roboto,Domaine-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;color:#f7623b;font-weight:bold;}.css-1cugboc em,.css-1cugboc i{font-style:italic;font-family:inherit;}.css-1cugboc b,.css-1cugboc strong{font-family:inherit;font-weight:bold;} “I felt all the emotions during my career—stress, worry, fear, anxiety—but I’d never felt all the emotions that IVF brought on. I felt completely out of control.”

I started tearing up. The emotion hit me like a ton of bricks, and all I wanted was to be alone in private. I hadn’t said anything to my colleagues at Fox. I felt incredibly rude and apologized profusely, and they supported me even though they had no idea what was going on. Meanwhile, we started our tour around the Capitol building.

I called Brian and shared the news with him and couldn’t control my emotions. But I had to pull it together. I called my other friend who had gone through the IVF journey and was supporting me every step of the way, asking her if we should do another cycle right away or wait for the genetic results.

I was just so gutted. My expectation was that we would get enough embryos this first round, we would do a transfer, I would get pregnant, and then I would go work at the World Cup in July, and everything would be absolutely perfect. But life is never perfect and never how you plan it. That was when I realized you cannot have any expectations going through this process.

We decided to try a second round of IVF the following month.

We chose to pay to send the embryos off for genetic testing. We wanted to know how many genetically normal ones we had before we started a second round. Two of our embryos came back genetically normal, so now we had a bit of a dilemma. If we wanted two kids, both embryos would have to work. We went back and forth about whether to do another cycle, and there’s never a right or wrong answer. You just make a decision that inevitably decides the path. It’s also a costly decision.

A lot of this was paid out of pocket, because our health insurance didn’t cover it. I know that many people struggle to even be able to consider fertility treatments, so we were very grateful that more rounds of IVF was an option for us.

My schedule was insanely packed throughout this process, but this cycle was particularly challenging. Anyone who has gone through IVF knows that you are at the mercy of your body and you don’t control the timing. It took a lot of patience and understanding when my agent would tell some of the brands I was working with that, confidentially, I was going through this and we may need to reschedule some events. Believe it or not, I was able to get through everything seamlessly. One shoot I had with Delta required stopping the shoot so I could do my injections. We were shooting all over D.C., and I had a 15-minute window to duck into a hotel bathroom, do my shots, and come back out.

My body responded well to the medication and there were no issues retrieving eggs. The issue I was faced with was finding quality eggs that would fertilize and become strong embryos. This time, three made it to day six, and next was the genetic testing process.

I was in Los Angeles, about to host my soccer clinic, when the nurse called. I was walking to get breakfast with my cousin Jaime and my coach and friend Shaun. The nurse told me that zero embryos had come back genetically normal. The entire cycle was a wash—a complete waste of time and money.

My clinic was starting 30 minutes later in front of 100 kids, and once again I had to wipe away tears and carry on. My cousin Kerrie, who lives in Los Angeles, met us for dinner that night. Thankfully I was not alone and had Kerrie, Jaime, and Shaun by my side. I cried to Kerrie and Jaime in my hotel room, explaining the journey. They both said to stay hopeful and that it will work out the way it is supposed to work out.

At this point, I didn’t have time to do another retrieval cycle. I was leaving for Australia for the Women’s World Cup with Fox Sports at the beginning of July. I also was so emotionally drained that I needed a break. My thoughts were consumed with this. It was time to get away, let loose, have a cocktail or two, and enjoy my experience. And that is exactly what I did. I was surrounded by an incredible team of people working the Women’s World Cup, and it was the exact break I needed.

But I was still left with the decision of what to do. I s two embryos enough? Do we take our chances? Do I go through another retrieval? Brian was ready to go through with a transfer, but I wasn’t quite sure, and he knew I wasn’t ready to make a decision. But I didn’t need to have an answer right away. I had plenty of time to think.

We went ahead with our first embryo transfer in October.

When I came home from Australia in August, I purposely waited to start the transfer process until I had adjusted back to the time zone and was feeling good. No matter how much you want to speed up this process, you can’t. It is very time consuming and unpredictable. We had two frozen embryos, and we decided to take the chance with one. We felt that maybe these two were meant to be our children.

The embryo transfer was quick and easy. You don’t have to be put under anesthesia like you do with an egg retrieval. I was still feeling as if I could somehow control this journey, so I went to the grocery store and purchased all I could to help allow my body to accept this embryo—pomegranate juice, pineapple, nuts, teas. I kept my socks on daily. I did a medicated transfer, which required daily progesterone shots on my butt, alternating sides every day. It was much easier having Brian do these for me while I lay on my stomach. He never liked having to do these. I didn’t like them either. I bled and had bruises and knots on each side of my butt.

So now the waiting began. To be honest, it was torture. My life stopped completely, as I felt like I needed to control everything for this embryo to take. I was traveling around this time and needed to wait an extra few days to go to the doctor’s office to get blood work to see if I was pregnant. Usually I would have gone in nine days after the embryo transfer. In my case, it was 12 days later.

I was driving to our local dump to throw trash and cardboard out, which I do quite often, when I received a call from Dr. Manara right before I pulled in. My heart was beating so fast, and I was holding my breath.

He shared the bad news: I wasn’t pregnant. I felt sick to my stomach. He was heartbroken for us. He said that even when you take all these steps, there’s only a 60 percent chance of a successful transfer with genetically normal embryos, and sometimes it just doesn’t work out. He suggested we go ahead with another retrieval since now was the time to get as many embryos as we could for future children. That afternoon, I had to put a smile on my face, wipe away tears, and shoot some social media content. Life went on.

I wanted answers. I thought maybe there was something I did wrong. I felt hopeless. I didn’t see light at the end of the tunnel. I had never been this broken in my life, ever.

My life had been revolving around all of this, consuming me. Everything I ate or drank, anything I did, there would be guilt. Should I have this? Should I not have this? Should I work out? Should I not work out? I was literally driving myself crazy. Throughout this entire process, my schedule was busy and I was juggling so much. I’d have to leave my home, go speak or do a shoot, put on a happy face, and pretend that none of this was going on in my world when it was eating me up every single moment of the day.

I’ve felt every emotion throughout this process. When I look back at all the things I went through on the soccer field—whether it was a poor performance, getting benched, or missing a penalty kick in a World Cup final—there was always something I felt I could do to control the situation. I would go out and work 10 times harder. I was incredibly focused during my career. The majority of the time, the world saw me in competitor mode. A machine. I was often emotionless and numb because that’s the only way I felt I was able to survive and thrive.

But this situation hit me so differently. I wasn’t emotionless or numb. Some nights I would lie in bed crying uncontrollably to Brian. I cried and worried a lot. I leaned on Brian more than I ever had, as well as on my family and friends. For the first time in my life, I needed their support to keep going.

Ultimately, we chose to do a third round of IVF.

Growing up, my parents attended church and would take me and my sister and brother. We attended Sunday school and some youth group events, but it wasn’t something I necessarily enjoyed. Throughout my career, I had many teammates who would hold Bible study on the road, and I would occasionally join in. It wasn’t until after our failed transfer, where I felt lost and completely hopeless, that my faith kicked in. Former teammates of mine would send me prayers and encouragement. I truly believe that everything in our lives happens for a reason. You can’t always see it or feel it in the moment, but when you look back in time, you understand it.

When I called my parents to tell them our transfer didn’t work, they both said, “It just wasn’t meant to be. For whatever reason, God has other plans for you. Don’t lose hope.” And while hearing this was hard to process, it was the only thing I could hold on to. I had to believe that what is meant to be will be and to trust the process. It sounded familiar. Something I would constantly tell myself during my career.

At the start of our third cycle, my mindset was totally different. I finally surrendered. Whatever was meant to be would be, and I had to continue to live life. Life is short. I didn’t want time to pass on by and look back and say I didn’t enjoy my life while we were going through this. You don’t get time back. So I tried to stop thinking about the future and started living in the present, one day at a time. We have chickens, so I spent time outside in nature with them, and that was very therapeutic. I started to journal every day. I wrote down my fears and worries, I read, and I prayed. For once, I became vulnerable and leaned on all the support I had around me.

Brian and I had a vacation planned to the Bahamas in December, and of course, here we are on unplanned IVF cycle number three at the mercy of my body’s timing. We hoped it wouldn’t interfere with our trip, but we knew we couldn’t control that. Thankfully, our third retrieval ended up being a week prior to our departure. The nurse called and left a voicemail as we were flying to the Bahamas letting us know we had four embryos that made it to day six, which was great news for us. Those got shipped off for genetic testing—more waiting. Two of those four ended up being genetically normal. After three retrievals, we had three embryos, and we felt good about that. Dr. Manara felt good about it as well.

“I tried to stop thinking about the future and started living in the present, one day at a time.”

We started the transfer process at the beginning of January, and our transfer was at the end of the month. Of course we had another trip scheduled. This time, I was invited to play in the Waste Management Pro-Am in Phoenix. I was now worried whether it would be okay to play and swing a golf club while we waited to see if this embryo took. I consulted with Dr. Manara, and he said it would be okay. It was nice to be away and have a distraction. Since we were traveling, I wouldn’t be able to go into the office to get my blood drawn to see if I was pregnant. So, instead of having to wait until we got home, the office wrote me a script to go while in Scottsdale.

We got up early, took an Uber, and walked into a Labcorp. I expected the results to come back three days later, since it was a Friday. The next morning I woke up early and noticed an alert in my portal that I could view the results. Since this was a Saturday, no one was at Dr. Manara’s office, so I got the news before they could call to tell me. Without clicking on the downloaded version, I saw only my beta hCG level. I texted my friend—the one who had been supporting me throughout this journey—a screenshot of the number. She texted in all caps: “OMG CARLI!!!!! YOU ARE PREGNANT.” Brian was just waking up as I shared the news. We hugged and held each other and, for the first time in a long time, felt at peace.

I was finally pregnant, but we weren’t ready to celebrate just yet.

While I wanted to jump up and down and celebrate, we knew we weren’t out of the woods. We would have four more blood tests to make sure my hCG levels were rising, and the ultrasounds would follow. Every appointment brought anxiety. Our first ultrasound was to confirm that the gestational sac was inside the uterus and everything was looking good. Since we had a ski trip coming up the following week, we went back to the office two weeks later.

During our second ultrasound, we were thrown a curveball. The baby still had a heartbeat, but the measurement was calculated at five days behind, and Dr. Manara was concerned to see this in a genetically tested embryo for which we knew the exact date of the transfer. I immediately thought I did something wrong.

Dr. Manara assured me this had nothing to do with skiing or traveling. He did say, “I’m still hopeful, but I am concerned that this could potentially lead to a miscarriage.” We left that visit extremely uneasy and worried. And I was leaving for Mexico the next day. We now had to wait another week after I returned from my travels to go back and make sure that everything was okay. Again, we held on to that faith that God has a plan and it will work out the way it is supposed to work out. I continued to journal. But it was never off my mind. I feared I’d miscarry at any moment.

This next appointment couldn’t come any faster. To say we were anxious and worried was an understatement. I felt as if everyone in the office was anxiously waiting as well. The ultrasound tech was quick to get in and make sure there was a heartbeat. And we had a heartbeat! What a relief. And the baby had gained a day and was now measuring four days behind. Dr. Manara was feeling a lot better after this visit, but he still wanted to check again, so we came back four days later to do another ultrasound.

Each week we went back, we would go in holding our breath. The ultrasound tech would say, “Okay, there’s a heartbeat,” and we all could breathe again. We didn’t want to let ourselves get too excited. But with every appointment since then, the baby’s been steadily progressing each week.

After 10 weeks of monitoring this pregnancy, it was time to graduate. In the IVF world, you graduate from your fertility clinic and then start going to your ob-gyn. It was bittersweet, and I knew I would miss everyone in the office. The most exciting moment was when I was done with the daily progesterone shots. I had some serious scar tissue, knots, and bruises that I couldn’t wait to go away.

Dr. Manara’s office is a very small practice with very special people. They made me feel comfortable and truly cared about me as a patient. Dr. Manara is the best; I am so grateful for the way he handles his patients, the knowledge and expertise he provides, and the care and empathy he showed throughout our entire journey. At every visit he is face to face with his patients, going over everything and answering any questions. I couldn’t have been any happier with my experience there.

It is still hard to believe I am pregnant. It truly is a miracle, and we are so excited to be parents!

I want to show other women going through IVF that they are not alone, and that good can come from this.

I’ve conquered the soccer world and I consider myself to be really strong, but I was at my weakest during this entire process. I want to show other women that it’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to feel broken and to feel hopeless, but to never give up and to keep going. We don’t know the future chapters of our lives, and it is important to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I went from feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and afraid to tell people that I was going through IVF to now wanting to share my story to help others. In times of struggle, we see what we are made of. We grow. We learn. And most important, we have more appreciation for the things we do have in life.

Going through something like IVF also puts things into perspective. I’ve been blessed with many things in my life. It was not easy for Brian and me to navigate the journey from high school to attending different colleges, to a professional career, and then a long-distance relationship as I traveled the world. Our relationship continues to be tested and strengthened. This experience brought us closer than I had ever imagined. I couldn’t have gotten through it without him. He kept me going. He would say, “Just trust. Trust that it’s going to work out.” His strength and calmness was something I never realized I needed.

I always try to extract positive things or lessons that come out of struggle. And there are many things, but the one that is truly special is that it brought me closer to my parents, as well as my sister and my brother, after years of not speaking. We can never get back lost time, but we can soak up all the present and future times together, and I am grateful for that. We are truly blessed with the family and friends we have in our lives who were there for us when we needed them the most.

Since I retired, my heart has come alive. I have felt I can be more like myself. I am not in the pressure cooker anymore. I can let my guard down and be more vulnerable. For those who have never experienced the national team, it’s hard to truly understand how cutthroat it is. For 17 years, I was a machine. I was on a mission. And the only way I felt I could achieve my dreams was to be like this. The women’s national team either makes you or breaks you. Only the strong survive. And now for the first time in my life, I needed others to help carry me along.

“I want to show other women that it’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to feel broken and to feel hopeless, but to never give up and to keep going.”

I have been told that nothing I have accomplished or faced in my soccer life will ever be as great as being a mom. I know this will change me forever, and I am so excited for the journey. This was not an easy journey, but that’s true of most things in life that are worthwhile. Brian and I look forward to loving and raising a strong little one to be the best version of themselves.

My story is currently a happy one, but I know there are other women who are facing challenges in their pregnancy journey. I see you and I understand your pain. My hope is that more and more women will speak up about this topic, because their stories helped me. I also wish for more resources, funding, and education around fertility treatments. There is much to be done, and I hope I can play a role in helping.

—As told to Amanda Lucci

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