GO-MAP is a resource and support office for graduate students of color. As such, you do not apply to GO-MAP directly for admissions to the UW, nor do you need to apply to join GO-MAP or to take advantage of the resources we offer graduate students of color.
Criteria for admission to graduate study are determined largely by the academic unit to which you seek admission. The deadline for application varies with each academic unit. Prospective applicants should contact either their program of interest or apply on-line. (Click here to see a complete list of programs and departments.)
A web version of the UW Graduate Catalog is available here.
A limited number of application fee waivers are available for US citizens, permanent residents and immigrants. All fee waivers are granted by the Office of Graduate Admissions as determined by financial need. The fee waiver application is part of the online application.
Completing the Application Process
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Contact your program of interest by mid-August in order to receive the most current admission information.
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Assess your own academic strengths prior to applying to graduate school. Most programs put more emphasis on courses taken within your undergraduate major. The Graduate School requires at least a 3.0 or B average, especially during your last two years of undergraduate work.
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Arrange to take the GRE or appropriate exam at least three months prior to the application deadline for admission. Contact your program of interest before taking a test. Scores must be received directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). For further information, contact ETS at gre-info@ets.org or www.gre.org. Individual graduate programs often will have additional requirements. (See Required Tests below for more information.)
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Request letters of recommendation from faculty with whom you have developed positive working relationships. Most academic units require at least three references.
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Prepare a statement of purpose that reflects your academic and career interests and goals, including experiences, ideas, and personal attributes you intend to bring to your graduate study.
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Submit the completed application and fee as soon as possible. Do not wait for faculty recommendations before applying for admission.
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Follow up with your graduate program of interest to make sure your application has been received and is complete. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application file is complete.
Most (but not all) graduate programs require a submission of the general GRE scores. Please check departmental requirements carefully to determine what, if any, test scores are required. If you have earned a doctoral level degree from an accredited institution in the United States, you may be exempt from the GRE requirement.
The GRE is now offered only in a computerized format in the U.S. You can register for the test and order previous score reports by going to the GRE website at www.gre.org. When scheduling the test, refer to departmental application deadlines to allow adequate time for scores to arrive.
Please note:
The GRE is administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS). The GMAT is administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Please contact these programs directly about test dates, fees, locations, etc.
Most UW graduate programs deadlines fall anywhere between early December to early March. We recommend that most applicants wishing to being graduate study Autumn Quarter take the GRE General Test* no later than October of the previous year. Again however, deadline dates for each UW graduate program varies by program. It is important that you contact your specific program to ask about their deadlines for application materials submission.
*Some graduate programs require a GRE Subject Test (or another, discipline-specific standardized test) in addition to the GRE General Test. It is the applicant's responsibility to clarify whether this is the case for their specific program.
In all cases, it is the applicant's responsibility to ascertain GRE registration deadlines, test dates, etc., and to insure that their GRE results will be communicated to their graduate program in a timely fashion so that these test results may be evaluated for admissions purposes.
The Graduate School application is now online.
You may pay the $45 application fee by
*Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card;
*Telecheck (Applicants with a US bank account only);
*US Citizens, permanent residents, and immigrants may also apply for a need-based application fee waiver online.
If you have further questions about the application process, contact your prospective department directly.
To get information about the graduate programs offered at the University of Washington, consult www.grad.washington.edu.
The Optional Personal Statement provides departments with the opportunity to solicit supplemental information about an applicant that may be beneficial in consideration of applicants for admission and/or financial support. It is intended to complement--not to replace--departments' existing Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement.
Click here to read former Associate Dean Johnnella Butler's memo concerning the need for and use of the Optional Personal Statement.
Click here to download the Optional Personal Statement in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
Establishing Washington State Residence
www.washington.edu/students/reg/residency2.htmlInformation about qualifying for Washington State residence may be found at
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
This section is under construction. Please check back!
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