Audience Tools

Master of Science in Information Management

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MSIM Application Materials

MSIM MyGrad Application

The online application opens annually on Sept. 1. Visit the MyGrad online application and create a login ID and password.

Retain your login ID and password, as you will need them to:

  • Save a partially completed application
  • Pay the application fee ($85 payable by debit or credit card)
  • Monitor the submission of recommendations and test scores (if applicable)
  • Check the status of your application

Once you have paid the fee, you will be unable to make further changes to your application with the exception of letters of recommendation, contact information and transcript updates.

Application Fee and Fee Waiver

The application fee is $85 USD, payable online by debit or credit card. Qualified applicants can request a fee waiver through the Graduate School on the "Pay fee and submit application" section of the MyGrad application. The iSchool is not able to waive the application fee.

Application Materials

Personal Statement

Please tell us “your story” by describing life opportunities and challenges you have faced and how these experiences have served as motivation and preparation to pursue a UW MSIM degree. You may include cultural, societal, geographical, financial, educational and other factors that have shaped who you are and form your unique offering to the MSIM program.

(~500 words; graphics can be included but are not required)

Statement of Purpose

Based on your knowledge of the UW iSchool and the MSIM program, please describe your motivation for pursuing a UW MSIM degree. Include your past preparation for your fields of study, your professional/academic plans while an MSIM student and your future career goals. Please be specific about why the UW MSIM program is a good fit for you in the context of your values and goals.

(~500 words; graphics can be included but are not required)

Recommendations (3 Required)

Enter the names and contact information for three recommenders into the MyGrad application. These individuals will be sent an e-mail prompt with instructions for submitting their recommendation online.

Request recommendations from three people who know you well and who are able to comment on your academic competence, ability to engage in graduate study, potential for future success in the information management profession, or who can comment on your employment experience. Unless academic- or work-related, do not submit recommendations from family members, clergy, or friends.

Résumé or Curriculum Vitae 

Upload a PDF of your résumé or curriculum vitae. There is no preferred formatting or specific requirements that need to be met. However, your submission should include the following information, as applicable:

  • Academic history (including institution, degree, dates of attendance)
  • Professional experience (including employer, position title, and dates of employment)
    • Mid-Career MSIM applicants must demonstrate at least five years of full-time, professional work experience in technology, information, or management positions.
    • Applicants to the Full-Time program are not required to have work experience.
  • Involvement with volunteer, community, and/or diversity-related activities including the organization, position title, and dates of service
  • Honors, awards, publications, and presentations
  • Research experience

Extenuating Circumstances (optional)

If there are extenuating circumstances, not addressed in other sections of your application, related to your academic transcript, resume, test scores or other facets of your application that you would like the admissions committee to consider, please describe them. Please limit your response to 250 words.

Scholarship Information (optional)

All applicants are automatically considered for a limited number of iSchool merit-based scholarships. If there is additional information you would like to provide the committee that you feel is relevant to your being considered for a scholarship, please let us know. (Please limit this response to 500 words.)

In the past, we have had specific scholarship money for new students who are employed by the state of Washington, first-generation college students, or students who are active duty military or have veteran status. Please indicate if you fall into one or more of these categories. This information will not be used during the decision-making process. It will only be used for scholarship consideration, after admissions decisions have been made.

**Responding to this question does not guarantee that you will receive a scholarship.**

Specialization Selection (Full-Time/ Early-Career program applicants only)

In Question 4 on the Program Information Page in MyGrad, applicants are required to indicate their specialization preferences.

1-year Option

Applicants to the 1-year option will list their top two specializations in ranked order. Applicants not planning to do a specialization should select "No specialization."

Applicants must select at least one specialization (or pick "No specialization") and can list a second. Picking two specializations is not required.

2-year Option

Applicants to the 2-year option will list their top three specializations in ranked order. Applicants not planning to do a specialization should select "No specialization."

Applicants must select at least one specialization (or pick "No specialization") and can list two more. Picking more than one specialization is not required.

Applicants will also confirm their specialization preferences and their program option in the body of the MyGrad application.

Transcripts

In the Report Prior Schools section of the MyGrad application, list all schools (colleges, universities and institutions) where you have earned collegiate-level credit.

In the Submit Transcripts section of the application, upload a transcript for each school listed.

Each transcript should be complete, legible and include the following: name of the institution, name of the student, dates of attendance, courses taken, grades/marks/credits earned and be organized by term (quarters, semesters or trimesters).

Please observe the following guidelines:

  • All transcripts should be submitted through MyGrad. Please do not mail (or email) transcripts to the iSchool unless specifically directed to do so.
  • The following types of documents can be accepted:
    • Unofficial transcript from the school, often a PDF
    • Official transcript that the applicant scans and uploads into MyGrad
    • Information from an online system or dashboard (Applicants are welcome to copy/paste into a Word document. As long as it is complete and legible, we are happy to accept it.)
  • Degree audits cannot be accepted in place of a transcript as they are not a comprehensive summary of the coursework a student has attempted.
  • Applicants should not submit transcripts that they have typed out themselves. Any documentation that is submitted should originate from the degree-granting institution.
  • Foreign transcripts: if not in English, must be accompanied by an English translation.
  • Certificate coursework: You only need to provide a transcript for certificate coursework if you earned academic credit in the process of earning the certificate. If you earned continuing education units (CEUs), a transcript does not need to be submitted.
  • Study abroad (credits earned at a school outside the U.S.): Please refer to instructions for foreign transcripts.
  • Study abroad (credits earned at a school inside the U.S.): Transcripts that fall into this category should be submitted as any other domestic transcripts.
  • Transcripts from a clearinghouse or automated service may not be accessible when submitted through MyGrad. As such, it is best to avoid using these services, if possible.
  • In order to submit electronic transcripts, the applicant should have them sent to themselves and then upload them into MyGrad.

Please note: The MSIM admissions committee retains the right to require that official transcripts be submitted for review at any time; during the application process or after admissions decisions have been made.

Applicants admitted to the program who accept the offer of admission will be required to submit official transcripts from all degree granting institutions to the Graduate School.

GRE/GMAT Scores

Early-Career (formerly "Full-Time") MSIM program

Applicants are required to submit official test scores for either the GRE or GMAT (not both). Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score reports should be electronically reported to the University of Washington.

Note: Applicants to the Early-Career MSIM program are exempt from submitting official GRE or GMAT scores if one of the following is met:

  • Applicants who have earned a professional or doctoral level degree from an accredited institution in the United States (PhD, MD, JD, etc.) are not required to official submit GRE or GMAT scores. (Having a master's degree does not provide exemption from the GRE/GMAT requirement.)
  • Applicants who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Informatics from the University of Washington are not required to submit official GRE or GMAT scores. (The Informatics degree may be in progress at the time of application.)

Mid-Career MSIM program

Applicants to the Mid-Career MSIM program are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores.

English Language Proficiency Requirement for Non-Native English Speakers

Proficiency in English is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of citizenship) must demonstrate proficiency with the English language. The most common way to fulfill this requirement is to submit official TOEFL scores. The ETS report code is 4854.

For the Early-Career program, the minimum TOEFLiBT score is 100. The Mid-career does not have a minimum TOEFL requirement.

Additional ways to fulfill the English language proficiency requirement are outlined in UW Graduate School Memo 8. The MSIM admissions committee will accept any form of documentation listed, except the IELTS. The MSIM admissions committee will not accept the IELTS to fulfill the UW English language proficiency requirement.

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