informatics_map.aspx.css Admissions - Informatics (BS) - Information School | University of Washington

Applying for Admission to the Informatics Major

The Informatics program admits majors once a year for Autumn quarter only. The following links provide more information on the application process of these three groups of applicants:

Personal Statment (for UW Students and Transfers)

Prepare your personal statement (typically 2 pages) before you begin the online application.  The statement must be an electronic document in Microsoft Word, RTF, or ASCII text format. At the end of the online application form, you will upload your personal statement to our server. 

The personal statement should include the following:

  1. Be sure to include your full name and UW ID number, if you have one, on your statement.
  2. The Informatics major focuses on integrating people, information, and technology.  Please choose one of the topics below to express your interest in the Informatics program.
    1. Given your interests, academic preparation, work experience, personal and/or cultural experience, describe how you might contribute to the Informatics major and/or to the field.
    2. Describe a critical problem you perceive existing at the intersection of information, people, and technology. Why is this problem interesting to you? In other words, what is it about you personally that makes this problem important and interesting?
  3. Include any additional information that is important for the Informatics Admissions Committee to know:
    1. Demonstrated commitment to Informatics (e.g., related courses you have taken, work experiences, internships, etc.)
    2. Hardships and barriers you may have had to overcome (e.g., disabilities or socioeconomic disadvantage)
    3. Any exceptions or special considerations you are requesting (e.g., substitution of a transfer course or request for provisional admission pending completion of prerequisite courses).