Six frequent questions about the admissions process:
Q: How difficult is it to get in, and how competitive is the program?
Informatics has a competitive admission process. The Informatics major admits approximately 70 students each year for an autumn quarter start.
Q: Is there more than one application cycle?
No. The Informatics major admits students once a year for Autumn term, with an application period between the beginning of Winter quarter and April 15.
Q: What is the minimum/average GPA of admitted students?
The minimum GPA for Informatics applicants is 2.0. For the past five years, the average GPA for students admitted to the major is 3.21. Some years may reflect a slightly higher or lower average. The typical GPA range in any given year is from 2.7 to 3.8 with a small number of students being lower or higher. Some students with a low GPA are admitted when those grades were due to extenuating circumstances or the student has performed very well more recently.
Q: What can I do to increase my chances for admission?
The most important criteria for admission are your overall GPA, grades in prerequisite classes (with an emphasis on grades for INFO 200 and CSE 142), and the strength of your responses to our admissions questions. The questions give you a chance to write about your passion and vision for the field, as well as address any challenges you have had along the way. Writing excellent responses and maintaining a strong GPA, especially in Informatics-related classes, are the best ways to increase your chances of being admitted.
For the questions, the committee will be evaluating:
1. Academic fit: Do your interests reflect the strengths of the school and why will Informatics help you accomplish your personal and professional golas more than another major?
2. Strengths that aren't reflected in the academic record: e.g. reasons for poor performance in a quarter (including how the issue was resolved); any hobbies, internships or extracurricular activities that make you a good candidate for the program.
3. Writing sample. Our graduates will likely be in client-facing positions and/or acting as liasons between the technical and non-technical functions. Ideally, you should be able to communicate with different groups and present your ideas concisely, accurately and in an engaging fashion. It is highly recommend you send a draft of your responses to UW Writing Centers and/or iSchool instructors/TAs/students for assistance.
Q: What should I take/list on the online application as my Social Sciences course?
It's best to list a course you did well in from the areas of psychology, sociology, anthropology or philosophy that relates to the human aspect of Informatics. Basically, the admissions committee wants to see competence and coursework in understanding human dynamics, as this is important in studying how humans relate to information and technology.
Q: When will I learn my admissions decision?
Each year, a certain number of students who have already completed all prerequisites by the end of Winter term and have both strong responses to our admission questions and grades are offered early decisions. This offer usually happens before the end of the spring quarter. The bulk of decisions are usually made after spring quarter grades are released and have time to be evaluated, usually mid- to late-July.