washington and lee university essay prompts

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Application Advice Thoughts on Personal Statements, Optional Essays, and Letter(s) of Recommendation from the Admissions office

Personal statement.

Should you take the advice of your-pre-law advisor / mom / roommate / old flame who's in law school / uncle who thought about a law career-and write about: the deplorable state of the justice system / your infatuation with all things W&L / the non-profit organization you started when you were eight / your mock trial triumph? 

At W&L Law, our mission is to craft as lively a classroom conversation as we possibly can. With approximately 120 seats per year, this can be quite a challenge. The personal statement is an opportunity for you to give us a sense of who you are beyond what we can glean from the rest of your materials. 

So tell us something about yourself that we won't discover otherwise.  

We recommend that you imagine the admissions committee considering two files with the same numerical qualifications-which one gets the last available spot? Your personal statement will be read aloud. What do you want us to know about you before we make a choice? What makes you who you are? 

Here are a few concrete guidelines:

• We read thousands of files, so you should strive for your personal statement to be memorable ... within limits. Accordingly, if you summarize your resume, you've wasted the opportunity.  On the other hand, iambic pentameter, baked goods, photo albums or the necessity of a decoder ring are not the sorts of "memorable" we're after.
• While the topic of your statement should actually be personal, it should stop short of triggering a "TMI" response . For most, this will rule out your assessment of the state of any particular aspect of the law, on one hand, and anything overly intimate on the other. In the world of personal statements, unique is good-unless it's very, very bad. If you'd feel queasy asking an acquaintance or potential employer to review your statement, we suggest you redraft.
• Every year we receive numerous well-written personal statements that highlight the aspects of W&L Law the writer finds attractive. This sort of statement almost never hurts an applicant, but hardly ever helps as much as a personal statement can. Your discussion of an aspect of the educational experience available here-no matter how eloquent-is not likely to stick with us very long. We know about us; tell us about you .
• Don't discuss your LSAT / GRE score or your grades in your personal statement. We accept any number of explanatory attachments to your application, and recommend you deal with these issues in a separate submission. There's more to you than your numbers, after all!
• Write it yourself . We know there are writing services and even fill-in-the-blank forms-every year applicants taking advantage of these tools find themselves defending allegations of misconduct before the LSAC. We can assure you: it's not worth it. We also know there are plenty of people whose thoughts you value, and we're occasionally treated to the details of an applicant's editing process in a "show changes" version of their personal statement.
• By all means, consult with people you think are knowledgeable, consider their comments as you draft and redraft. But before you submit your essay, pause for a day or two . Read it again. If it isn't your voice you hear when you read it, start over. You're embarking on a career where your ability to write persuasively will be your stock in trade. Consider this your first assignment.
• Proofread . You'll have read this thing innumerable times, so get someone you trust to read it too-preferably someone who knows the difference between its and it's, and other common errors that spellcheck won't cure. We're lawyers, and we can spot typos in our sleep - we just can't help it!
• Follow the rules . We provide guidelines on length and font size on our application. Ignore them and you run the risk of offending tired eyes, and worse, setting the bar for your statement higher than you would like.
• We're willing to take your application as sufficient evidence of your interest in studying law, so you needn't try to convince us of the sincerity of your ambition. Remember, we're trying to get an idea of the voice you might bring to campus .
• While you'll do a lot of talking about law here, of course, we're after a sense of what might inform your contribution to the conversation . So tell us about your losing season, your musical aspirations, that pivotal vacation experience, the single most important piece of advice you've ever received, your troubled (or wonderful) relationship with your sibling, why you volunteered-you get the idea. Those are the things that bring your application to life.

Optional Ethical Dilemma Essay 

The most common question we receive about our optional ethical dilemma essay is whether or not it is truly optional. Sure, you don't have to submit it, but it looks bad if you don't, right? Actually, we're perfectly happy to review your application without the optional essay, and there's no penalty attached to not providing one. We have received many successful applications to W&L Law that do not contain an ethical dilemma essay. 

So why write 500 more words? Put succinctly, it's another opportunity to stand out from the crowd. 

Often, some of the most memorable submissions are responses to this optional essay. Part of the reason is the nature of the prompt: writing about an ethical dilemma forces the applicant to tell a story, and the story centers on compelling set of facts. The topic also challenges the writer to describe a personal response to a difficult situation, so it is nearly impossible to write without conveying a sense of who you are. If your personal statement didn't wow us, your optional essay can save the day. 

In addition, the essay raises issues that are central to a legal education and the practice of law, so when you write about them, you will showcase the sensibility you'll bring to your studies. What's the worst case scenario? What's the right result? Who should have the power to decide? How do you manage the individuals or institutions involved? Which consequences are fair and which aren't? How do you redress unfairness?  

Applicants who take the opportunity to submit the optional essay put their reasoning skills on display, and it's almost always to their benefit to have done so.

Letter(s) of Recommendation

For law school applicants, gathering recommendation letters can be daunting. 

Before we move on to the "who" part of the letter of recommendation process, let's begin with the "how many." Specifically, how many letters of recommendation should you submit? This is a fairly common question, and each year we see applications with six or seven (or more) letters of recommendation. This is way too many.  

We require one letter of recommendation, but we will accept up to four letters in your file.  

As a cautionary note, though, we encourage all applicants to identify only recommenders who really know them well. Some students feel they HAVE to submit four letters, because that is the maximum, where in reality they have two or three people who can really speak to their skills and abilities, and other voices are superfluous.

While we appreciate the multiple perspectives additional letters often provide, we only have a limited time to spend with each file, and too many letters can do your application a disservice.  

Lawyers are decision-makers, and during the application process you may have to make some tough decisions.  

For example, rather than having six people write recommendations on your behalf, pick the two or three recommenders among this number who can provide the best and most complete picture of you as an applicant and a future law student. One or two good letters will say far more than seven average ones, and making this choice will save you from frustrating and offending your file's reviewer. 

Now that we've discussed how many, let's talk about the "who": Who should write your letters of recommendation? Here are a few tips:

• We recommend that at least one of your letters be from a professor or someone who knows your academic abilities well. When you're thinking about which instructors to ask, don't just consider the classes in which you made an A. Think about that seminar you took last year that was really challenging or that upper-level elective that was so hard you had to go to office hours every week. Law school isn't going to be easy, and we're always interested in hearing about how you responded to a challenge. 
• If you've been out of school for a while, you may feel that certain professors can't speak to who you are at this particular moment in your life. If this is the case, don't worry. At the end of the day, it's more important that your writers know you well than that they know you from the classroom .
• We want as broad and complete a feel for you as a person as possible, so hearing from two recommenders who know you from the same context is usually not as helpful or informative as the perspectives of two people with whom you've interacted in disparate settings.

Give your recommenders plenty of time to write your recommendation-for instance do not contact them two weeks before the application deadline. And when you ask a recommender to write your recommendation, provide her with a copy of your resume. These "little" details can often make a tremendous difference as you put together your application and will ultimately make for a much more compelling file.

At W&L Law, we are looking for people who will be a good "fit" at our school, and this is an assessment that encompasses both the numerical and personal aspects of your application.  

We want students who will be able to manage the intellectual challenge of attending one of the nation's great law schools, but we're also looking for people who will come to campus, get involved, and be good citizens. In light of this calculus, every aspect of your application matters, and we will read everything you submit. What do you want your application to say about you? What do you want us to know about you? This is your chance to answer these questions. 

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the Washington and Lee Essays 2016-2017

Named after George Washington and Robert E. Lee, Washington and Lee University was established in 1749 in Lexington, Virginia. The institution is split into two undergraduate divisions: the College and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics. Special aspects of Washington and Lee­­­ include the student-run honor system where undergraduates schedule their own final examinations (that are taken unsupervised) and a classy annual ball.

Going back to the political roots on which it was founded, W&L has another tradition in the mock convention, held the winter term of every presidential election year where the entire student body comes to together and chooses a presidential candidate from the party not in power in the White House.

Staying true to the fathers who founded the institution, Washington and Lee University has produced a myriad of prominent politicians including three Supreme Court justices, 27 Senators, 67 US. representatives, and 31 State Governors.   

Washington and Lee Application Essay Prompts

All items on Washington and Lee’s writing supplement are optional. However, applicants who wish to be considered for W&L’s merit-based aid must submit a Johnson Scholarship Application essay. Even though the writing supplements (if you are not applying for a Johnson scholarship) are optional, writing answers to these questions can only benefit you, as admissions officers will see your dedication to the school.

OPTIONAL QUESTION 1

Please elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or meaningful life experiences. (250 words maximum)

There are two main purposes of this essay. The first is to give you a chance to elaborate on an activity you wrote about briefly in the extracurricular section of the Common App. If there is an activity you are particularly passionate about, but did not have the chance to write about it in your regular Common app essay, this is a chance to further elaborate the extent of your role and the impact the activity had on your high school experience.

If you were the president of an a cappella group, go into detail about what you did for the group and how being president of that particular group shaped you — for example, perhaps it taught you how to resolve conflicts among group members or how to accept failure gracefully. To highlight personal passion or growth, choose an activity that has a particularly deep significance to you, such as volunteering at the local hospital after going through treatment there.

To highlight your capacity in a certain field, you can also choose to discuss research or internship experiences. As long as you focus on how you grew as a person and learned more about a field, these can set you apart from applicants who have not had a chance to work in a professional context.

However, always tie the internship or research job with work you would like to do at Washington and Lee (for example, working with a specific professor on a project that is related to one you did at the lab at which you interned). It would be to your advantage to do some research on W&L’s specific academic departments if you plan to follow this route; don’t be afraid to name drop lab projects that you’ve researched to show your interest in this particular school.

Another purpose of this essay is to give students who held a part-time job an opportunity to provide more details about their situation. Sometimes students write off work experiences as different from and not as “credible” as typical extracurricular activities, like clubs or academic teams, but they can actually set you apart from other applicants, particularly if your work experience offered you a chance to try something new, provided you with some sort of obstacle that you were able to overcome, or shaped the way you think about the world.

For example, if you had a math-tutoring job and found you greatly enjoyed explaining abstract concepts to kids, you may now have a budding interest in studying both education and math. In turn, this could have inspired you to want to create an interdisciplinary math and education major, which you could do with Washington and Lee’s flexible curriculum.

You can also take this opportunity to briefly explain the circumstances that caused you to take a part-time job (such as if money was tight at home, you are saved up for a medical mission trip, etc.), and then paint that circumstance in a light that will reflect positive character traits.

For example, if you took a job to save money so that you could go on a medical mission trip over the summer, you can talk about what led you to make that decision, and how the dedication and patience you developed in the process might affect how you want to spend your undergraduate career at Washington and Lee University. Oftentimes, holding a job and being a student at the same time is complicated, and whatever characteristics you developed through the experience (selflessness, humility, maturity) can be highlighted in your essay.

You can also take this opportunity to highlight aspects of yourself that you feel were not mentioned in your Common App. If it is clear in your application that you enjoy music and theater, but there is not much about your love for robotics, write about the time you made your first robot or entered your first robotics competition.

OPTIONAL QUESTION 2

Please elaborate on how you have familiarized yourself with Washington and Lee University and what led to your decision to apply. (250 words maximum)

This is a standard “ Why X School? ” prompt, and although it is not given as much weight as other essays or different parts of your application, an extremely well-written response (or one that is obviously not your best piece of writing) may be what determines your admission status to Washington and Lee.

The key to this type of essay is to avoid generic statements such as “the campus is beautiful,” or the “students have a tight knit community,” that apply to literally hundreds of schools around the country. Admission officers want to see that you want to attend Washington and Lee University because it has appealing aspects other than the fact that it is a top-notch institution.

Accordingly in your essay, you want to refer to factors that are specific and unique to Washington and Lee. Consultants at CollegeVine have provided a brief list of unique characteristics of W&L, but strongly suggest you personally research the school to come up with more personal and tailored reasons for wanting to attend the university.

• The front campus was designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior in 1972 (one of three college campuses to be so designated), highlighting the historical importance of the University.
• Within a two-hour drive from campus is access to over four million acres of national and state forests, including Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trial.
• W&L’s campus dining facilities offer fresh products including pizza that’s made from scratch and hand stretched, entrée meats that are roasted in-house, hand-cut French fries using local potatoes, and plentiful vegan/vegetarian options.
• Washington and Lee houses several secret societies including the Mongolian Minks, the Cadaver Society and the Sigma Society.
• Students in the Williams Investment Society manage one million dollars of the University’s endowment, primarily in equity securities.

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Best of luck in getting to Lexington!

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How to Write the WashU Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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Washington University in St. Louis , colloquially known as WashU, is a selective private research institution with an acceptance rate below 12%. WashU’s vibrant student life ; extensive research, study abroad, and interdisciplinary programs ; and supportive Taylor Family Center all serve to attract thousands of applicants every year. WashU’s accomplished alumni include Peter Sarsgaard, Pooja Kumar, Andrew McCabe, and Rochelle P. Walensky. Hoping to join their ranks? First, you’ll need to nail your WashU supplemental essays. Let’s dive in.

WashU’s 2024-2025 Prompts

Required washu essay questions, please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. undecided about your academic interest(s) don’t worry—tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. remember that all of our first-year students enter officially “undeclared” and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. you can explore all of our majors and programs on our website. (200 words or fewer), optional washu essay questions, washu supports engagement in the st. louis community by considering the university as “in st. louis, for st. louis.” what is a community you are a part of and your place or impact within it (250 words or fewer), washu strives to know every undergraduate student “by name & story.” how have your life experiences shaped your story (250 words or fewer), washu scholarship essay questions, danforth scholars program: chancellor danforth and mrs. danforth deeply cared about building trust within the community and being of service to others. they embodied a spirit of servant leadership, enhancing the experiences of students, staff, and faculty. reflecting on the lives and legacies of the danforths , share a specific example of how you have demonstrated a commitment to servant leadership and improving your community. (100 words or fewer), ervin scholars program: the ervin scholars program is open to only u.s. citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented or daca students living in the u.s. dr. john b. ervin was a nationally renowned black educator and the first african american dean at washington university in st. louis. reflecting on his biography and the history and legacy of the ervin scholars program , share a specific example of how you have taken action to champion diversity in your own life or community. (100 words or fewer), rodriguez scholars program: annika lynn rodriguez championed awareness for students of all backgrounds, including starting washu’s first latin american awareness week. reflecting on annika rodriguez’s history and legacy , share a specific example of how you have made a commitment to fostering cultural awareness and understanding. (100 words or fewer).

General Tips

Your WashU supplemental essays need to be concise and snappy in order to effectively get your points across in the limited words you have available. So, let’s dive into two general tips for cutting down your word count without cutting out meaning.

Go easy on the adjectives and adverbs.

Adjectives and adverbs are a powerful tool for the writer. However, when overused or employed redundantly, they can prevent your essay from reaching its full potential.

Common overuses of adjectives and adverbs include the following:

• Without further clarification, the adjectives “thoughtful and considerate” are redundant.
• Unless there is prior implication of falsely happy occasions, there’s no need to use “truly” here.
• With the “like” in this sentence, the comparison is clear, and “basically” only detracts from the strength of the comparison.
• The usage of the word “long” and the redundant phrase “each and every” (only one of these words is necessary) adds some consonance/assonance to the sentence but does not impact the meaning.

Although none of these usages are grammatically or syntactically incorrect, they add extra words to your sentences when you have limited words available.

Watch out for prepositional phrases.

Prepositional phrases are often necessary, but many students trying to cut down on their essays’ words overlook the ways prepositional phrases bulk up their sentences. Here are some examples:

• The phrase “of all” adds emphasis in this sentence, but it does not change its fundamental meaning.
• A rewrite of this sentence using fewer words could look like, “This sentence’s components aren’t my favorite syntactical elements.” That’s eight words instead of thirteen!
• This sentence could be more concisely reworded to, “My brother completed the assignment unaided.” That’s six words instead of ten. Note the removal of the passive voice as well.

This prompt is a fairly standard college essay prompt, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. WashU seeks self-motivated students who are excited to learn. So, in this essay, you should explain what gets you excited to learn. Maybe your interest in mathematics originated from a life-changing event. Or perhaps you just enjoy reading, and that’s why you’ve decided to pursue a degree in English literature. Alternatively, maybe your interest in international affairs is driven by a desire to pursue a future career in international law. Whatever subjects intrigue you, and for whatever reasons, it’s important that your essay is authentic and precise.

If you’re having trouble coming up with your “why,” consider coming up with answers to the following questions:

• What makes this subject or these subjects more interesting than other subjects?
• What is the most interesting fact you have learned in this academic area? Do you seek to learn more facts like this one?
• What questions do you have about the world? How will further study help you answer these questions?
• What are your career goals? How do they relate to your intended area(s) of study?
• What current social issues keep you up at night? How does your intended course of study relate to these issues?
• In what ways does this subject or these subjects bring you joy?

After answering these questions, you should hopefully have identified some concrete reasons for selecting your intended academic area(s). If not, consider whether these are truly the area(s) of study that interest you. Are there any areas that interest you more?

Once you’ve identified your reasons, focus on explaining, in your essay, why these reasons are important to you. Be specific and detailed, and you’ll have a compelling essay.

This prompt analogizes your experiences in a community to your future experiences in the St. Louis community. This is because the WashU admissions team is seeking students who will see St. Louis as a community, not just a place to live while working toward a degree.

Thus, bear in mind how the reader may compare the story you tell in this essay to the person they envision you becoming at WashU. In other words, the story you tell may indicate to the admissions team whether you’re a good fit. They may also use your essay to decide whether you’d be an additive member of the community.

Also, remember to pick just one community to focus on in this essay. Moreover, be sure to pick a community that you personally belong to, as opposed to a community you have served or interacted with. Feel free to interpret the word “community” broadly. Furthermore, you can write about your school, your family, your culture, your religion, your sports team, etc.

If you hold a certain identity and have found community with other members of that identity, then you can write about that community. This community could be online or in-person, based in your neighborhood or ranging internationally. As long as it’s important to you, it’s a solid choice of topic.

If the prompt above about community doesn’t speak to you, or you’d just prefer to provide more or different insights regarding your background, then this is a great prompt for you to answer. This prompt provides you with the space to discuss your life experiences. You can write about life-changing conversations, experiences with identity, moving to a different place, or whatever feels most important to you.

If you’re having trouble deciding on a topic, consider what topics you’ve written about already. If your Common App essay already discussed your religious background, then perhaps you should focus on a different topic in this essay. Alternatively, if you feel that the WashU admissions team won’t have a complete picture as to who you are unless you take the time to write about your LGBTQ+ identity, then perhaps you should do so here. Moreover, if your application is very STEM-focused, you may want the reader to know that you have other interests. In that case, this essay could be a great place to elaborate on the other hobbies or activities that have shaped who you are today.

Answering this essay prompt gives you the opportunity to score a significant scholarship package. Recipients enjoy “full-tuition scholarships with a $2,500 stipend or half-tuition scholarships. The scholarship is renewed each year for the duration of the degree program, provided you progress academically and uphold the high standards of character required of scholars.” Thus, it’s in your best interest to write a strong response to this essay question.

The term “ servant leadership ” refers to “a leadership style in which leaders put the needs, aspirations, and interests of their followers above their own,” according to the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. In other words, you should use your 100 words for this essay to share your experience leading others in a way that put those whom you led above yourself.

Per the prompt’s wording, focus on one specific example , instead of a series of examples or trend in your community service actions. In addition, use precise language and explain why you pursued this service and what it meant to you. If you have space, describe a lesson or two that this experience taught you.

If you’re curious, read more about the Danforth Scholars Program here .

This prompt is for students interested in receiving “full-tuition scholarships with a $2,500 stipend or partial-tuition scholarships.” Note that applicants to this program must also maintain high academic standards, like the students in the Danforth Scholars Program. However, this program is limited to applicants who are “U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented or DACA students living in the U.S.” If you’re included in the relevant demographic for this prompt, it’s likely worthwhile to make an attempt at this essay question.

In this short essay, you must focus on one specific example of an action you’ve taken, initiative you’ve spearheaded, conversation you’ve held, or the like for the purpose of demonstrating your commitment to the cause of diversity. If diversity is important to you and you have sought to promote diversity, then you should probably apply for this scholarship. If not, then you may want to look at other prompts.

Remember to be specific and precise in your response. Quantify your impact and share how the experience impacted you. For instance, state the exact or approximate number of hours you worked or people you helped. Additionally, describe a lesson you learned or a way your perspective shifted. Don’t worry about discussing ways you continue to champion diversity or plan to in the future. Instead, focus on the most meaningful experience you have had that involved action you took to promote diversity. Make sure you share who you impacted and why this was meaningful to you!

If you’re curious, read more about the Ervin Scholars Program here .

If you’re hoping to be among the lucky WashU students who receive “full-tuition scholarships with a $2,500 stipend or partial-tuition scholarships,” this essay prompt gives you that chance. If you are able to compose a stellar essay about your authentic experience fostering cultural awareness and understanding, then you’ll have a shot at joining the Rodriguez Scholars Program. Note that like the other scholarships described above, participation in this program is contingent on maintaining certain academic standards throughout your undergraduate career.

This essay should highlight one specific example of community service you have pursued. Specifically, you should focus on a time when you pursued community service that positively impacted others through “cultural awareness and understanding.” Unsure whether your community service work fits under that umbrella? Consider whether cultural difference was integral to your work. Did your work serve to raise awareness, provide education or training, promote connections across cultures, or something similar? If so, this is the prompt for you. If not, perhaps review the other two scholarship options listed above.

You may be wondering why community service is integral to this prompt, given that the prompt uses neither of those two words. Check out WashU’s resources on the Rodriguez Scholars Program and its application process. Conducting thorough research on this program will help you identify the implicit expectations for applicants. Through this process, you’ll better understand what you should aim to highlight in your essay response.

If you need help polishing up your WashU supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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University of Washington (UW) 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Nov 15

University of Washington 2024-25 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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