university of washington secondary essays

Secondary Application

The University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) invites select applicants to complete the Secondary Application after receipt and review of their AMCAS application. Unlike many medical schools, UWSOM does not request Secondary Applications automatically; applications are screened to determine if a Secondary Application will be requested. Applicants with an AMCAS legal state of residence of Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho will receive the Secondary Application invitation after undergoing an automated academic screen. Washington applicants also undergo this automated academic screen, then will receive an invitation to complete a questionnaire about their residence history. Once they have submitted this questionnaire, they will then be invited to complete the Secondary Application. Out-of-region (non-WWAMI) applicants undergo an academic screen and then are asked to submit a pre-secondary statement. Prior to receiving the Secondary Application, they will be reviewed to determine if they are a mission fit for the program. The completed application materials listed below must be received no later than  December 1   at 11:59 pm PT. If all materials are not received by this date, the application will no longer be considered. We expect applications to be correct and complete when submitted. If you feel your application will be substantially better after completing additional experiences, we recommend that you wait to apply. For this reason, the UWSOM does not accept written activity updates. Grade updates (i.e., official and unofficial transcripts) for future and in-progress coursework are required. Additional letters of recommendation and changes in contact information should be sent through AMCAS. If you are offered an interview, you may share any updates with your interviewers at that time.

Medical Scientist Training Program, MSTP (M.D./Ph.D.) applicants will need to initiate their supplementary application on the MSTP website . Applicants applying to BOTH the M.D./Ph.D. and the M.D.-only program will need to submit two supplementary applications (one to each program). Check with the MSTP office for its application deadlines .

Secondary Application requirements:

Additional Short Essays (250-word limit each)

• The UWSOM aims to build a diverse class of students to enrich the field of medicine. What perspectives, identities, and/or qualities would you bring?
• What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them?
• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or people you have worked with?
• Describe your competency by explaining how you have explored and come to understand issues in the social sciences and humanities as they relate to the practice of medicine.

For re-applicants: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application?

For Wyoming applicants: Describe your experiences in Wyoming that have influenced and/or informed your decision to pursue a medical career? For re-applicants not offered an interview,  read our advice.

Letters of recommendation

Submit a pre-medical committee evaluation and up to three additional letters, or submit a minimum of three and up to six individual letters from writers who can speak to one or more of the following:

• Academic ability
• Commitment to service
• Leadership potential
• Clinical or research experiences
• Interpersonal skills
• Interaction with patients
• Ability to function on a team, and/or potential as a physician
• Respect for others
• Communication skills

The collection of letters should provide a balanced and well-rounded view of your candidacy for medicine. Letters of recommendation from people who know you well can give the committee a better understanding of who you are. Consider current employers, people at your volunteer or shadowing opportunities, teaching assistants, etc.  It is strongly encouraged that letters be printed on university, company or personal letterhead and signed. Letters of recommendation that are missing letterhead and/or signature will be given less consideration.

All letters of recommendation should be submitted via the  AMCAS Letter Service .

See  Guidelines for Writing Letters of Recommendation  for additional assistance.

Background and personal information

Provide additional information about your background:

• Graduating high School information: high school name and zip code
• Where you graduated high school
• Where you had the most formative/meaningful experiences
• Where you grew up
• Where your parents live
• Where you have lived the longest
• Is your hometown rural?
• Federally recognized tribe registration
• Identification with a Southeast Asian community (Bhutanese, Burmese, Cham, Hmong, Khmer, Lao, Mien, Thai, or Vietnamese)

Policy acknowledgments

Applicants are expected to read and comply with the UW School of Medicine student policies . Applicants who do not agree to these policies will not be considered for admission.

Prerequisites worksheet

NApplicants will be asked to list courses they believe meet the required pre-medical course requirements for the UWSOM. Applicants will be able to note current/future coursework.

Foundations site preference

Washington applicants have the choice of spending their Foundations Phase of the curriculum (first 18 months) in either Spokane or Seattle . Applicants make this choice in the Secondary Application, and if offered an interview, will be interviewed for one cohort or the other, not both. Once an applicant interviews for -- or is accepted to -- one of these cohorts, they cannot switch between the two. No appeals will be accepted. Spokane students will study on the Gonzaga University campus, and Seattle students will study on the University of Washington - Seattle campus. Both sites offer outstanding educational opportunities with identical course objectives and common exams. Spokane’s class size is 60, Seattle’s is 100 (including out-of-region and MSTP students). College mentors, preceptors, student interest groups, Pathway programs, and other learning and personal resources are available at both sites. At both sites current students can work with urban and rural patient populations, pursue research opportunities, and explore a broad range of specialty interests. There is no requirement to have lived in either city before in order to apply, nor to have a specific background or interest. In the Secondary Application, applicants will have access to a website created by current medical students that has information about why they chose their Foundation site and what they see as the unique strengths of each site. Statistics about how many applicants apply to and interview for each site are available here .

Optional: TRUST and CUSP application

There is an optional section on the Secondary Application to apply to the TRUST program or CUSP. All WWAMI applicants are eligible to apply for TRUST within their own state. Washington applicants can only apply for either TRUST or CUSP, not both. Out-of-region applicants can apply to CUSP only.

All CUSP and TRUST application materials are due with the rest of the Secondary Application no later than December 1 at 11:59pm PT.

State residency certification

Candidates from  Wyoming ,  Alaska ,  Montana and  Idaho  will be required to submit residency certification from their respective state certifying officers. Washington  residents will be asked to complete a residence history questionnaire, and then may or may not be required to provide additional documentation to demonstrate their legal residence. Washington residents should be  prepared to verify their state residency  at any point in the application process.

Application fee

The UWSOM Secondary Application fee is $35. If an applicant feels that it is a burden to pay this fee, they can request to have it waived.

University of Washington Secondary Application Essay Prompts & Tips

• Cracking Med School Admissions

The University of Washington secondary application is not too long and difficult, but it is hard to stand out. The University of Washington secondary essay prompts don’t change too much year to year, so this is a great secondary to pre-write and submit early! The admissions office removed the infamous autobiography essay , which was incredibly tough for premedical students. Now, the UW secondary application essays are open-ended in nature.  It is your job to incorporate your experiences in a personal, non-generic way. University of Washington favors in-state residents of students who have worked & lived in Washington state throughout their premed careers. They also like students who live in the Pacific Northwest United States. Read our tips on how to stand out in your University of Washington secondary application .

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to the School of Medicine at University of Washington year after year.  To learn more about UW medical school interviews, opportunities, and the curriculum, read our Cracking University of Washington Medical School Admissions page.  

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University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023 – 2024

• We recognize that the world has changed significantly due to the global pandemic. Please share how COVID-19 has impacted you, your family, your community, and/or the patients that you would like to serve.  (250 words max)
• What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class? (250 words max)
• What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words max)
• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with? (250 words max)
• Entering medical students should understand the social forces that shape the health of the individuals and communities they will serve. This includes understanding how social contextual factors and policy operate at the community and national level to impact the health of individuals. Students should be familiar with disparities in health currently present in society and their underlying etiologies. Candidates seeking acceptance to UWSOM  can establish competency in this area through  course work in the social sciences, humanities or related interdisciplinary fields such as public health or ethnic and gender studies, clinical and/or population health research, service learning, lived experience or a combination thereof. Examples of social science/humanities coursework to consider: Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Religion, History, Philosophy, Literature.
• Describe your competency by explaining how you’ve explored and come to understand issues in the social sciences and humanities related to the “human condition”.

Out-of-region applicants  must have one of the following WWAMI ties in order to be eligible for consideration:

• Member of a federally recognized tribe whose traditional and customary tribal boundaries include portions of the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho
• Born in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
• Graduated from high school in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
• Have a parent who currently lives in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho
• Currently live and/or have lived in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR
• Active military member who is stationed in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho

Tips to Answer University of Washington Secondary Application Essays

University of Minnesota Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance: The University of Washington secondary essay prompts don’t change too much year to year, so this is a great secondary to pre-write and submit early!

• Download  all  our HIGH-YIELD tips for secondary essays:  Cracking Med School Admissions Secondary Essay Guide

University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #1: To make your University of Washington secondary essays memorable, write as many stories as possible. 250-300 words is enough space to incorporate stories. For example, in the question, “ How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician, ” you can include a memorable patient encounter. We would also recommend prioritizing stories from community service and clinical experiences in the Washington State region.

University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #2: Include stories and experiences in Washington state. Can’t emphasize this enough!

University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #3: Convey your knowledge about Washington state’s and the Pacific Northwest’s healthcare issues and current events. For example, you can write the COVID-19 issues you witnessed in Washington state. Stronger essays will include how you tried to improve these healthcare disparities or health issues during the pandemic. 

• You can also read different perspectives about the current events there, helping you to answer the University of Washington secondary application essays!

University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #4: Don’t forget to incorporate a little bit about “Why University of Washington” throughout the essay(s) you respond to. Talk about specific projects, community volunteering,  and research you want to do at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Read our University of Washington Medical School Admissions information to answer why this medical school ? 

University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #5: Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you through our secondary essay packages . 

[Read Tips For Other Schools’ Secondary Essays: University of Wisconsin , Oregon Health & Sciences University , University of Utah , University of Arizona – Tucson & Phoenix ]

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University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022 – 2023

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University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022

• Use this opportunity to provide any autobiographical information which you feel would be helpful for the MSTP office. (250 words max)
• If you are not currently enrolled in coursework (nor planning to be enrolled throughout the application process), please describe your activities in this period. (250 words max)
• Please use this space to supplement your AMCAS Personal Comments. (MSTP will consider information provided here as well as your AMCAS Personal Comments) (250 words max)
• How did you find out about the University of Washington’s Medical Scientist Training Program? (250 words max)

University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2020 – 2021

University of washington medical school secondary application essay prompts: 2019 – 2020.

• Your AMCAS personal statement and experiences are already on file with our office. If your primary AMCAS application hasn’t discussed the origin and development of your motivation to be a physician including insights you’ve gained from exploring a career in medicine, and how your personal attributes would make you a good physician, please discuss those here. If you’ve already written about these items, don’t repeat what you wrote. Instead, use this autobiographical statement addendum to let us know more about who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician. This is another opportunity for you to express what you want the Admissions Committee to know about you. (250 words max)
• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you’ve worked with? (250 words max)
• How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician? (250 words max)

University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019

• The origin and development of your motivation to be a physician
• Your prior experiences in health care
• Steps taken to explore a career in medicine
• Your eventual goals as a physician
• Personal attributes that would make you a good physician
• Remember: Please do not repeat what you wrote in your AMCAS Personal Comments (this will already be on file with our office). If you have already covered all of the above topics in your AMCAS application, use this space to let the Admissions Committee know who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician. 
• How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician?
• What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class?
• What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them?
• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with?
• For Re-Applicants Only : From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application? (250 words max)

University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2017 – 2018

• If your primary AMCAS application hasn’t discussed the origin and development of your motivation to be a physician including insights you’ve gained from exploring a career in medicine, and how your personal attributes would make you a good physician, please discuss those here. (250 words max)
• If you’ve already written about these items, don’t repeat what you wrote. Instead, use this autobiographical statement addendum to let us know more about who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician. This is another opportunity for you to express what you want the Admissions Committee to know about you. (250 words max)
• How do you see historical and structural inequities affecting the patients you have worked with and will work with, and how do you as a student and physician address these broader causes of health disparities? (250 words max)

University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2016 – 2017

• Remember: The Personal Comments section of the AMCAS application may be used to satisfy this requirement, or an additional autobiography may be submitted with your secondary materials. Your AMCAS personal statement will already be on file with our office.
• How do your experiences match the mission and values of the University of Washington School of Medicine?
• What obstacles to your goals have you experienced and how have you dealt with them?
• For Re-Applicants Only : From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application?

University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2015 – 2016

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How to Write the University of Washington Essays 2023-2024

The University of Washington has two supplemental essays that are required for all applicants, and one optional, “additional information” prompt. While we typically encourage students to respond to any optional prompt, this one is actually optional, as you should only respond if there truly are unusual circumstances that have impacted your high school career. If you are applying to UW’s Honors Program, you will also have to write an additional essay.

UW is one of the top public universities in the country, with elite STEM programs and a location that offers unparalleled access to Amazon and Microsoft, among other influential companies, so you’ll want to make sure your essays truly shine. In this post, we’ll break down how to brainstorm for and write each one, so you can be sure you’re putting your best foot forward.

Read these University of Washington essay examples to inspire your writing.

University of Washington Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words)

Prompt 2: 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 UW. (300 words)

Prompt 3 (optional): You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. For example, you may use this space if:

You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education

Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations, you have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended. (200 words), uw interdisciplinary honors program applicants.

We want to understand your desire to learn new things and to push your education outside of the areas of learning that you are most familiar with. Tell us why this type of learning interests you and which subjects you’re excited to explore in college. (450 words)

All Applicants, Prompt 1

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words).

This prompt is the first of the five options on the Coalition Application and is purposefully phrased nebulously to allow for a wide range of responses. You can relay any experience that reflects or shaped who you are. 

To start, examine your many identities, and choose one that you want to highlight. All experiences are valid, whether they are traditional or unconventional. Focus on the things that make you different from others, and reflect on how they shaped you as a person. Remember that this is your main college essay, so be sure to pick an experience that was integral to your growth throughout high school. 

This is a good chance to tell the story behind any major extracurriculars on your activity list. For example, you might write “debate team captain” as an extracurricular, but this essay is where you can recount the grit and dedication it took for you to reach that position, as you once were extremely shy. You can also use this space to explore identities that don’t appear elsewhere on your application, such as your role within your family. For example, you can write about how you tutor your younger brother in math, and how watching his face light up after understanding a new concept sparked your love of teaching. 

A common theme across all college essays is “show, don’t tell.” This phrase is thrown around frequently, but is easier said than done. A few things to keep in mind when showing rather than telling are vividness and authenticity, which can be created by invoking imagery and specific details. For example, rather than saying “I like tennis and the game has always fascinated me,” try conjuring an image in the reader’s mind such as “At the start of my first official match, I gripped my trusted red racquet tightly, swaying ever so slightly from foot to foot in the ‘ready’ stance that I had practiced for years.” While the first response may be true, it is generic and can apply to any tennis aficionado. The latter response better authenticates your experiences than the former, and demonstrates your sincerity to readers. 

All Applicants, Prompt 2

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 uw. (300 words).

This question serves two purposes: it gives UW an opportunity to learn more about how you developed your values, and it allows them to consider how you might interact with others on campus. It is easy to get mired in focusing on describing your community, but remember, UW wants to learn about you through seeing how your community impacted you. Use a description of your community to frame your essay, but always remind yourself to connect the story back to how it changed you. Once you have framed the essay with a description of who you have become as a result of your community’s impact, be sure to extend this thread to your potential future influence on UW.

There are several ways to interpret community. You could interpret it in the literal sense by explaining how your hometown and family have guided your ambitions. For example, maybe growing up on your family’s farm inspired your appreciation for agriculture and working with your hands. You hope to share this appreciation with other students by working on the UW farm and organizing workshops where students can learn how to plant their own flowers or herbs.

Or, perhaps the community you want to highlight is less conventional, such as the coffeeshop you work at. You could discuss how your coworkers are from all walks of life, and how you’ve befriended a retired older couple that picks up weekend shifts. They offer you advice based on their many life experiences, showing you the importance of having an older mentor. This makes you want to join the Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter at UW.

Regardless of what your community is, be sure to highlight how you’ll contribute to UW’s diversity, whether that’s through your perspective, actions, ideas, cultural traditions, etc.

All Applicants, Prompt 3 (optional)

You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. for example, you may use this space if:.

This portion of the application is optional, and while we recommend that you fill out most “optional” essays, this space is truly optional. If you don’t have any unusual circumstances, you can leave it blank without penalty. If feel that the parameters apply to you, you should fill this section out. This is your chance to explain anything that hasn’t been addressed in other parts of your application. Since the maximum is 200 words and the prompt is straightforward, you can (and should) also be totally straightforward in your response, rather than painting a picture with vivid imagery. 

For the first prompt, an example of a response could be:

“In the sophomore year of high school, my dad was diagnosed with cancer, and it profoundly affected multiple areas of my life, including my academic performance. For that reason, there is a significant dip in my grades in the spring semester of that year.”

For the second:

“Because my parents own a small restaurant, it is often my responsibility to watch my younger siblings while they are working, and even help out by doing the dishes or bussing tables in my free time. For that reason, I was unable to join as many extracurriculars as my after school time went towards helping ensure the family restaurant was running smoothly.” 

For the last prompt, you can briefly state school-related limitations or opportunities, like if your school did not have an AP or IB program, or if it did have a special internship program that you participated in. Keep in mind that some universities designate admissions officers to research your region and know what programs your school has or doesn’t have – this might be something you want to look into before filling out this section. However, you might want to fill out this section if the school you’re applying to does not have regional admissions officers.

If there is a specific school program or opportunity that you wish to mention, we recommend doing so via your activity list or one of your essays, rather than in this short, 200-word window. If you find that you don’t have space in the rest of your application, then this section is fine.

Please reflect and respond to the following question, and in doing so explain your interest in the UW Interdisciplinary Honors Program. What is interdisciplinary learning and why is it important to you? (300 words)

While you might be tempted to approach this prompt in the way you would approach a traditional “Why This Major?” essay, hold on for a second and reread the prompt. Rather than being asked why you are pursuing a particular major or area of study, you’re being asked about why learning new things interests you and which “subjects you’re excited to explore in college”. 

Although you will likely be most excited to study the topics relevant to your major, this prompt specifically requests that you “push…outside of the areas of learning that you are most familiar with.” UW admissions officers are hoping to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of your intellectual potential, so your response should focus on a topic other than your intended major.

However, be sure to discuss an area of interest that has some alignment with the rest of your application, so that it doesn’t feel totally out-of-the-blue. If you’ve never been a part of any music-related classes or activities, writing about your passion for songwriting may feel a little disjointed. 

Of course, our identities are complicated, but remember that the people reading your applications don’t know you outside of what you tell them, which means it’s crucial that the various pieces of your application come together to form a cohesive unit. Otherwise, your readers may not understand who exactly you are.

To give an example of something you could write about, maybe your intended major is biology, but you’ve also studied Latin throughout high school. You could focus your essay on how you hope to read ancient and medieval scientific texts, to learn more about how human understanding of the world around us has evolved.

Another approach to this essay could be identifying a topic that has nothing to do with biology but ties into some aspect(s) of your identity. Perhaps growing up in a multilingual, bi-racial household, with parents from South America and East Asia, meant you were constantly participating in family gatherings and celebrating holidays with very different cultural contexts. In college, you hope to study anthropology and sociology, even though you have no direct experience with either of those subjects, so that you can not only understand your own identity better, but also be better prepared to engage with those who have their own complicated stories.

Note that the prompt asks you to not only describe one of your academic interests, but also explain “why this type of learning interests you,” with regards to interdisciplinary learning. To answer this part of the prompt, you’ll want to identify one or two of your goals for college, and how you see interdisciplinary learning in particular helping you reach them.

The second example given above already does this, as the student explains that they want to be able to better communicate with people from cultural backgrounds that differ from their own, and they clearly connect that goal to the subjects they are focusing on. 

The student in the first example is starting to get to this component of their essay, but needs a little more personal connection. They could get that by, for example, writing about how they’re not sure how they can best utilize their skills within the vast field of biology–as a doctor, researcher, educator, or something else–and throughout college, hopefully exploring the history of the subject will give them a clearer idea of the right path ahead.

Here are some finals tips for you to consider when responding to this essay: 

• 450 words is on the long side for a supplemental essay, so take the time to share an anecdote that integrates your interest in a specific topic with your background, personal values, and overall love of learning, rather than just stating your points in a direct, factual way
• Explain why the University of Washington specifically can help you reach your goals, by referencing a few course offerings, campus organizations, research opportunities, and so on that align with your interests
• Not to sound cheesy, but have fun! As we noted at the beginning of this breakdown, you have more freedom here than in a “Why Major?” essay, so highlight your curiosity, excitement, and any quirky connection you have to your topic, rather than worrying about whether or not you’ve taken enough APs or done enough extracurriculars related to your topic

Where to Get Your University of Washington Essays Edited 

Do you want feedback on your UW essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

University of Washington School of Medicine Secondary Questions

Here are the secondary prompts for University of Washington School of Medicine.

1. How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or people you have worked with? (250 words)

2. The UWSOM aims to build a diverse class of students to enrich the field of medicine. What perspectives, identities, and/or qualities would you bring? (250 words)

3. What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words)

4. Describe your competency by explaining how you have explored and come to understand issues in the social sciences and humanities as they relate to the practice of medicine. (250 words)

5. For re-applicants: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application? (250 words)

6. For Wyoming applicants: Describe your experiences in Wyoming that have influenced and/or informed your decision to pursue a medical career? (250 words)

2022-2023 University of Washington Secondary Essay Prompts 1. We recognize that the world has changed significantly due to the global pandemic. Please share how COVID-19 has impacted you, your family, your community, and/or the patients that you would like to serve.

2. How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you’ve worked with?

3. What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class?

4. What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them?

5. Demonstrated competency – Social sciences, Humanities or “Human Condition”

• Entering medical students should understand the social forces that shape the health of the individuals and communities they will serve. This includes understanding how social contextual factors and policy operate at the community and national level to impact the health of individuals. Students should be familiar with disparities in health currently present in society and their underlying etiologies. Candidates seeking acceptance to UWSOM  can establish competency in this area through  course work in the social sciences, humanities or related interdisciplinary fields such as public health or ethnic and gender studies, clinical and/or population health research, service learning, lived experience or a combination thereof. Examples of social science/humanities coursework to consider: Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Religion, History, Philosophy, Literature.
• Describe your competency by explaining how you’ve explored and come to understand issues in the social sciences and humanities related to the “human condition”.
• Use this opportunity to provide any autobiographical information which you feel would be helpful for the MSTP office.
• If you are not currently enrolled in coursework (nor planning to be enrolled throughout the application process), please describe your activities in this period.
• Please use this space to supplement your AMCAS Personal Comments. (MSTP will consider information provided here as well as your AMCAS Personal Comments)
• How did you find out about the University of Washington’s Medical Scientist Training Program?

An autobiographical statement which should include (250 word limit):

• The origin and development of your motivation to be a physician
• Your prior experiences in health care
• Steps taken to explore a career in medicine
• Your eventual goals as a physician
• Personal attributes that would make you a good physician

Please do not repeat what you wrote in your AMCAS Personal Comments (this will already be on file with our office). If you have already covered all of the above topics in your AMCAS application, use this space to let the Admissions Committee know who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician. 4 or 5 additional short essays (250 word limit each)

• How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician?
• What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class?
• What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them?
• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with?
• For re-applicants: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application?”
• If your primary AMCAS application hasn’t discussed the origin and development of your motivation to be a physician including insights you’ve gained from exploring a career in medicine, and how your personal attributes would make you a good physician, please discuss those here. (250 word count)
• If you’ve already written about these items, don’t repeat what you wrote. Instead, use this autobiographical statement addendum to let us know more about who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician. This is another opportunity for you to express what you want the Admissions Committee to know about you.
• How do you see historical and structural inequities affecting the patients you have worked with and will work with, and how do you as a student and physician address these broader causes of health disparities? (250 word count)
• How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician? (250 word count)
• What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class? (250 word count)
• What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 word count)

An autobiographical statement which should include:

• The Personal Comments section of the AMCAS application may be used to satisfy this requirement, or an additional autobiography may be submitted with your secondary materials. Your AMCAS personal statement will already be on file with our office. (250 words)

3 additional short essays (250 word limit each)

• How do your experiences match the mission and values of the University of Washington School of Medicine?
• What obstacles to your goals have you experienced and how have you dealt with them?

Reapplicants:

• From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application?

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• Baylor College of Medicine Secondary Questions
• East Tennessee State James H. Quillen College of Medicine Secondary Questions
• Florida International University College of Medicine Secondary Questions
• Wake Forest School of Medicine Secondary Questions

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 4 tips for writing perfect university of washington essays.

College Essays

The University of Washington is often ranked among public Ivy Leagues —that is, public schools with the academic clout and selectivity to elevate their reputations. So if you want to be a Husky, it's not just about good grades and test scores. You'll also need to prove yourself with a good University of Washington essay, combining your technical skill with your knowledge of the school and your reasons for wanting to attend to attract attention from admissions officers.

But to do that, you need to know how to write great UW essays. The University of Washington uses the Common Application , which can be submitted to multiple schools and includes an essay section with several different prompts. The supplemental UW essay prompts are pretty standard, but we have all the helpful tips you need to make sure your application is set to impress.

Feature Image: Cody Logan/ Wikimedia

What's Included in the University of Washington Essay Section?

There are two required essays you need to write for the University of Washington, along with an optional third essay. These essays are:

• Common App essay (650 words)
• Short response (300 words)
• Additional information (optional, 200 words)

Part of the Common App includes answering an essay prompt in 650 words or less. While there are seven Common App essay prompts, the University of Washington doesn't allow you to choose which prompt to answer; all applicants must answer the same prompt and submit them as part of their Common Application .  

The University of Washington application also includes a required short response question of 300 words and an optional short essay of 200 words.

Additional space is available, but it's recommended that you don't take it unless you absolutely need it. Show restraint when responding to UW essay prompts; it shows that you can be concise and follow directions , and you won't run the risk of volunteering too much information or making yourself memorable for the wrong reasons. That said, we'll cover some exceptions below!

What Is the Common Application Essay Prompt?

Although there are seven Common App essay prompts , the University of Washington requires you to answer a specific prompt; you don't get to choose. The maximum length of this essay is 650 words, but the University of Washington recommends the essay be closer to 300-400 words.

This is the Common App essay prompt you must answer:

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

This essay prompt is pretty broad; it allows you to focus on any significant experience in your life. To answer it effectively, you'll want to relate a specific anecdote or event that had a strong impact on you as a person and how you define yourself today.

When answering this prompt, you'll want to choose a particularly significant experience. It doesn't need to be super rare, but the experience should hold deep meaning for you. Ask yourself: what defines you? What do you find important? Can you connect a key part of your personality or a goal you have to a specific event in your life?

You should also focus on only one experience. Don't try to cram in as many stories as possible—concentrate on the one incident that's most important to you, and use this essay as a chance to really delve into the specifics of it. How did the experience make you feel at the time? Why did it have such an impact on you?

If you decide to write about a negative experience, try to put a positive spin on it. You don't need to stick with a happy-go-lucky story—maybe you lost a friend because of a heated argument, or forgot to pick up your little brother from school one day. Regardless of the incident, keep the focus on how this situation ultimately taught you something important about life, such as the value of responsibility or the meaning of maturity.

Tips For Brainstorming Topics for Your University of Washington Essay

If you're struggling to come up with an experience to write about, try these brainstorming ideas:

• A time you helped someone in need, such as a friend, a classmate, or a sibling, and how your assistance revealed to you the value of cooperation or compassion. For example, did you tutor a peer in math? Help your sibling recover from a bullying incident?
• A time you made a mistake or acted against your true character and what this taught you about morality and being true to yourself. Perhaps you lied about a grade you got to your parents or said something out of anger to a friend and later regretted it.
• An incident that emphasizes a particular skill or ability you have. For example, you could write about the time you organized a winter holiday food drive at your high school and how it highlights your leadership skills and passion for social work.
• A time you faced a challenge and how you ultimately overcame it. Maybe you struggled severely with geometry and were about to fail your math class, but because of a great friend who encouraged you to keep trying, you eventually raised your grade from a D- to a B.

When writing this essay, make sure to avoid pretending something is more important or unique than it actually is. Don't tell a story the admissions committee has likely heard hundreds of times. Choose an event that speaks to your life and has had a large impact on how you see yourself. Basically, don't write about what you think the admissions committee wants to read. For example, instead of discussing how you've been in Honor Society since 9th grade, it'll be a lot more interesting if you wrote about somebody you met through Honor Society or why you decided to drop out of it.

Also, don't focus too much on the negative part of the story. While it's OK to write about a time when you made a mistake, did something wrong, or faced a challenge, try to avoid writing only about the bad parts. Your story should overall be optimistic and reveal something positive about yourself.

What Is the Short Answer Prompt?

Once you've finished the Common Application essay, the University of Washington has an additional requirement for you—a short response question with a 300 word limit.

The University of Washington suggests that concise writing is particularly valuable, and recommends that the Common App essay be between 300 and 400 words rather than 650. Though they don't offer word count recommendations for the other prompts, it's best to assume they're looking for short answers. Cutting out 100 words might feel excessive, but do try to leave some breathing room within your essay rather than squeaking in right under the allotted 300 words .

Additionally, the University of Washington states that students tend to answer this essay more informally than the longer essay. However, they expect formal, polished essays for both prompts, so don't slack off on proofreading or editing this essay.

For the UW short response essay, here is the required prompt:

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 UW.

UW offers a helpful tip right below the prompt: "Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints." What this means is that UW wants to see students who are going to be right at home in that diverse student body. When answering this question, consider specifically what you might add to the community. What perspective do you bring? What traits make you a good fit?

Some students might struggle with this, because it's easy to assume that UW means they're only looking for students from diverse backgrounds, such as students of color, LGBTQ+ students, or students of other marginalized identities. But the prompt doesn't at all mean that you have no chance if you don't belong to one of those communities. Students who fit into those groups may have an easier time of identifying what diversity they bring to the school, but belonging to a marginalized group doesn't in any way guarantee admission.

The University of Washington is looking for students who foster and embrace diversity, so be sure to think on those terms. Consider, for example, how your rambunctious family Thanksgiving taught you to embrace chaos, and how your ability to stop Great Aunt Kathy from throwing mashed potatoes at your cousin for bringing up a sensitive political issue translates to a college campus. Think about how having several different friend groups in high school—nerds and jocks, for example—taught you to move between spaces while always being your authentic self.

For students who are of marginalized backgrounds, the same advice still applies. You likely have different lived experiences than other students, but UW wants to know exactly what you're going to bring to the student community . You can discuss advocacy work, for example, or how your less advantageous upbringing taught you to work hard for everything you want. Always come back to that request to "Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW."

Embracing diversity isn't just about being a member of a marginalized community; think about how you participate in your social groups and how your experiences before college will help you have and, more importantly, create a good experience for others. Again, it's not about what identity you do or do not have, but rather about how you build communities and support others. UW is a big school, but you'll still be interacting with people from all walks of life on a daily basis—how will you navigate difference and fit into a student body made up of so many different people?

Let UW know exactly how they're going to help you make a slam dunk.

What Should You Add in the Additional Information Section?

The University of Washington essay prompt offers an additional 200 words for you to talk about yourself and your unique circumstances. This section is optional, and UW advises that the following types of students may benefit from taking the opportunity to expand on their application:

• You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education
• Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations
• You have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended

Even if you don't fall into one of these groups, it's wise to take advantage of this additional space. Everyone has a goal that's important to them, after all, which is explicitly included in the second bullet point. However, you only have 200 words, so you'll need to make them count .

Again, UW mentions earlier in their guidelines for the writing section that they value brevity. Don't try to hit that 200 word mark just because it's there—use only the space that you need. Be succinct and clear about any obstacles you've overcome, what draws you to your major, and what makes you want to attend UW specifically.

For example, say you, like many prospective UW students, are interested in becoming a doctor. The University of Washington is highly ranked among medical schools , so saying you want to go there because it's a good medical program isn't doing any legwork in setting you apart from other students . Instead, use this space to talk about why your major is important to you, and why placement at UW is going to help you achieve more.

Following the medical school example, maybe your primary care doctor was a UW grad, and the depth of care they gave you convinced you it wasn't just what you know as a doctor that matters, but also how you deploy that knowledge. Because you want to make the same difference in somebody's life, you're applying to UW to have access to the same information and instruction that your doctor did. In essence, use this space to explain something you didn't have space to explain elsewhere, but make it count .

Be careful not to retread the same ground! This is an opportunity to flesh out your application, not to hammer something home. If you haven't had a chance to discuss that your grades slipped sophomore year because of a family illness or that your local library has a special box for you because of all the engineering books you keep checking out, now's the time to mention it. Keep it short, direct, and original—the admissions office is reading this supplemental section in the context of your application, so you don't need to revisit anything.

Careful not to fall into the trap of using more space than you need.

Should You Use the Additional Space? How?

It can be tempting to use UW's provided additional space to squeeze a few more words into your application, but resist it . Those word counts are there for a reason, and you should aim to get under, not exceed them.

That said, there are legitimate reasons to use this additional space. The University of Washington mentions clarifying answers from elsewhere on the application or providing extra information to the admissions office.

If you have special considerations as a student that you want to be sure the office is aware of, but that you didn't discuss in the previous additional information section, you could include that here. You could also include relevant awards or distinguishing recognition you've received. If your high school had an unusual grading system, it might be useful to explain how to interpret your grades.

But don't take the lack of a word requirement to mean that you can talk about whatever you want, or that you should use this space to expand on one of your earlier essays . Use only what you need, no more. Try to keep it under 200 words. Brevity is important!

Tips and Advice for the University of Washington Essays

Specific advice for each prompt will help you craft a better essay, but there are some general things to keep in mind, too !

Proofread Your UW Essays

It's a small space, so there should be fewer mistakes, right? Nope . You still need to proofread . Consider writing your essays by hand and then transcribing the drafts—it feels like more work, but turning written words into typed words is a great way to spot mistakes. Go through multiple drafts, and read your essay out loud before you submit it.

Don't let typos get through; no matter how good the rest of your essay is, a typo will make it look as though you didn't edit it at all, suggesting you didn't take your time. Do everything you can to avoid the perception that you wrote it up without thinking! On the UW admission website they are very specific that you should “write like it matters, not like you’re texting. This is an application for college, not a message to your friend.”

Get Editing Help

Seek feedback from those you trust, not just those who are going to tell you your essays are great . You want your essays to be as good as possible, so let people who are going to be truthful with you make suggestions. They'll help you write a better essay, and a fresh pair of eyes can spot holes in your logic and errors you might miss after repeated revisions.

Think about going to teachers or counselors rather than friends or family. Though they undoubtedly want to help you, they might also be worried about hurting your feelings. Someone who's a little more objective but still wants to see you succeed is the kind of editor you want.

Be Specific

Always remember that you're applying to the University of Washington. Don't just write an essay that could impress any college (that's what the Common Application essay is for!); write one that ties into UW's core values . Their vision includes an emphasis on discovery, research, community, optimism, and even celebrating the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. All of these are angles ripe for exploration in your essays . If one of your answers is lacking, try folding a little of this vision into it by finding parts of your essay that match the mission and making them stand out more.

Read Essays That Got Students Into UW

It can be tricky finding essays that got applicants into UW, but it can also be a great indicator of what the school values in an application. Take these essays by Issa Rice . Though written for a different set of prompts, it's not hard to see why Rice was accepted.

Notice how his essays could only come from him; they're so tied to personal experience that it's unlikely anyone else would have the same essay. That's the kind of personalization you want to strive for. Your essay should speak about your own unique experience and leave the admissions office with a clearer picture of who you are as a person, not just as a collection of grades and test scores.

What's Next?

Crafting a perfect essay is just one part of the admissions process to the University of Washington. Because UW is a moderately selective school, you need to be aware of all admissions requirements before applying to be sure that your application is up to snuff .

As you're writing and rewriting your UW essay, be sure that it meets all the guidelines of a good college essay in addition to the UW requirements. A little extra polish will go a long way to cementing your application in the admission office's memory!

If you're struggling to understand why UW uses the Coalition App and what that means, never fear! We have all the information on what distinguishes one application system from another , helping you plan your college applications with less stress.

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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• Secondary Essay Prompts

Secondary Essay Prompts – University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle

Secondary Essay Prompts for the University of Washington School of Medicine

Below are the secondary essay prompts for the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, WA.

2019 – 2020

• 1. the origin and development of your motivation to be a physician
• 2. your prior experiences in health care
• 3. steps taken to explore a career in medicine
• 4. your eventual goals as a physician
• 5. personal attributes that would make you a good physician
• Please do not repeat what you wrote in your AMCAS Personal Comments (this will already be on file with our office). If you have already covered all of the above topics in your AMCAS application, use this space to let the Admissions Committee know who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician.
• How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician? (250 words)
• What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class? (250 words)
• What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words)
• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with? (250 words)
• For re-applicants: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application? (250 words)

2018 – 2019

This school requires CASPer (Computer Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) as part of the medical school secondary application.

Below are the secondary essay prompts for the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.

2017 – 2018.

• The University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle strives to ensure that its students become respectful physicians who embrace all dimensions of caring for the whole person. Please describe how your personal characteristics or life experiences will contribute to the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle community and bring educational benefits to our student body. (1000 characters)
• Is there any further information that you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your file that you were not able to notate in another section of this or the AMCAS Application? (1000 characters)
• Why have you chosen to apply to the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle and how do you think your education at University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle will prepare you to become a physician for the future? (1 page, formatted at your discretion, upload as PDF)

2016 – 2017

• An autobiographical statement which should include: The origin and development of your motivation to be a physician Your prior experiences in health care Steps taken to explore a career in medicine Your eventual goals as a physician and other issues of importance
• The Personal Comments section of the AMCAS application may be used to satisfy this requirement, or an additional autobiography may be submitted with your secondary materials. Your AMCAS personal statement will already be on file with our office. (250 words)
• 3 additional short essays (250 word limit each)
• How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician?
• How do your experiences match the mission and values of the University of Washington School of Medicine?
• What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class?
• What obstacles to your goals have you experienced and how have you dealt with them?
• For re-applicants: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application?

Secondary essay webcast with Dr. Jessica Freedman, founder and president of MedEdits Medical Admissions.   Read more about Dr. Freedman.

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle

Topics covered in this presentation:

• When should I submit my secondary essays?
• Pay attention to the word/character limits.
• Can I recycle secondary essay prompts for multiple schools?
• Identify topics that you left out of your primary application.
• And, much more.

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle Admissions Requirements

Learn more about this school:

Secondary Essay Prompts By School

*Data collected from MSAR 2022-2023, 2022 Osteopathic Medical College Information Book, and institution website.

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on each medical school’s website. MedEdits does not guarantee it’s accuracy or authenticity.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Secondary Essay Prompts – Baylor College of Medicine

Secondary Essay Prompts – University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine

Secondary Essay Prompts – University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

Secondary Essay Prompts – Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Secondary Essay Prompts – Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN

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• Faculty & Staff

Students admitted to the UW now have until June 1 to commit, a result of FAFSA delays. We anticipate that financial aid offers will be sent in late April or early May.

How to apply

Follow this checklist to make sure you have everything you need to submit a complete application for admission.

The applications

Self-report your courses and complete cadrs, choose your program, the writing section, additional information about yourself or your circumstances, the application fee, send test scores, send transcripts.

Make sure you also know what’s not considered .

The UW application for freshman autumn admission opens September 1 each year. (See dates and deadlines for additional information.) You may apply to the UW using one of two applications — ApplyWeb or the Common App. Please apply with only one application . The UW does not have a preference of application platform. The deadline for both is November 15, and decisions will be released March 1–15.

Ready to get started?

• Apply using ApplyWeb
• Apply using the Common App

Questions about the applications?

• Instructions for ApplyWeb
• Instructions for the Common App
• Join us for a webinar about applying with the Common App.

NOTE : The UW will not accept the Coalition application for the autumn 2023 – 24 application cycle.

All freshman applicants will self-report their courses on the application. A minimum level of preparation in six subject areas must be met for admission. (Learn more about satisfying CADRs .) You are required to provide complete and accurate information when self-reporting. Although official transcripts are not required at the time of application, you will be required to provide a final official high school transcript if you are admitted and plan to enroll at the UW.

If your first-choice major participates in Direct to Major or Direct to College admission, be sure to select it as your first choice on the application to be automatically considered. Second-choice majors are not considered for direct admission programs.

The writing section is a required and important part of your application. Learn more about the essays , including prompts and word count. 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.

Maximum length : 200 words

You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information here if something has particular significance to you. For example, you may use this space if:

• You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education
• Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations
• You have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended

U.S. freshman students

The application fee is nonrefundable and must be submitted each time you apply for admission. It cannot be transferred to another quarter, campus of the UW or to another student.

• Application fee: $80
• Fee waivers available
• Spring: freshman applications not accepted

Learn more about the application fee .

International freshman students

The application fee is nonrefundable, and must be submitted each time you apply for admission. It cannot be transferred to another quarter, campus of the UW or to another student.

• Application fee: $90
• Fee waivers not available
• Winter/Spring: international freshman applications not accepted

The UW no longer requires SAT or ACT scores for most applicants. Homeschooled applicants and applicants who come from schools with non-standard grading practices that do not have letter or numeric grades are still required to submit SAT or ACT scores. Learn more about SAT/ACT scores .

International freshman students — English proficiency

International students must submit English proficiency test scores that meet the minimum requirement for admission. Learn more about English proficiency .

U.S. schools and international schools that follow a U.S.-style curriculum

Do not send high school or college transcripts unless you receive a request from the Office of Admissions. The application asks you to provide a detailed account of your academic coursework, and that’s all we need to review your application.

Schools outside the U.S. that follow a national/local curriculum

Regardless of whether you are applying as a U.S. or international student, if you have attended a school outside of the U.S. that follows a national compulsory curriculum, you are required to upload a scanned, unofficial copy of your transcript for grade levels 9 and higher as part of your application.

Do not mail high school transcripts or mid-year school reports to the Office of Admissions.

Things we do not consider

No interviews/demonstrated interest.

The UW does not conduct formal interviews or consider demonstrated interest in the admission decision.

No letters of recommendation

We ask that you not send letters of recommendation or other supplemental materials such as drawings, CDs, DVDs, books or other portfolio-type items. We will learn everything we need to know about you through your essay responses.

No Common App personal essay

The Common App personal essay will not be reviewed as part of your application to the UW. Be sure to complete the UW writing section to tell us everything you want us to know.

Medical School Secondary Application Prompts

Secondary Essays by School/Program

The Med School Insiders Secondary Application Database is updated for the 2023 application cycle! Medical schools are sorted alphabetically below. 

Each school’s prompts are accompanied by expert tips and strategies to help you craft a more effective secondary application. To take your secondary applications to the next level, take a look at our secondary application packages !

A B C D E F G H I J   L M N O P   R S T U V W   Y

Albany Medical College (Albany, NY)

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University (Bronx, NY)

Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX)

Boston University School of Medicine (Boston, MA)

Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (Greenville, NC)

Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School (Providence, RI)

California Northstate University College of Medicine (Elk Grove, CA)

California University of Science and Medicine (Colton, CA)

Carle Illinois College of Medicine (Urbana, IL)

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Cleveland, OH)

Central Michigan University College of Medicine (Mount Pleasant, MI)

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, CA)

Chicago Medical School – Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science (North Chicago, IL)

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (Cleveland, OH)

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (New York, NY)

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (Camden, NJ)

Creighton University School of Medicine (Omaha, NE )

CUNY School of Medicine (New York, NY )

Dartmouth Medical School (Hanover, NH)

Drexel University College of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

Duke University School of Medicine (Durham, NC)

East Tennessee State University – James H. Quillen College of Medicine (Johnson City, TN)

Eastern Virginia Medical School (Norfolk, VA)

Emory University School of Medicine (Atlanta, GA)

Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine (Boca Raton, FL)

Florida International University College of Medicine (Miami, FL)

Florida State University College of Medicine (Tallahassee, FL)

Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine – Quinnipiac University (North Haven, CT)

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Scranton, PA)

George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (Washington, DC)

Georgetown University School of Medicine (Washington, DC )

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (Nutley, NJ)

Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA)

Hofstra University Zucker School of Medicine (Hempstead, NY)

Howard University College of Medicine (Washington, DC )

Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, IN)

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD)

Loma Linda University School of Medicine (Loma Linda, CA)

Louisiana State University HSC – School of Medicine at New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)

Louisiana State University HSC – School of Medicine in Shreveport (Shreveport, LA)

Loyola University Chicago – Stritch School of Medicine (Maywood, IL)

Marshall University – Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine – Minnesota (Rochester, MN)

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine – Arizona (Scottsdale, AZ)

Medical College of Georgia – School of Medicine (Augusta, GA)

Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI)

Medical University of South Carolina – College of Medicine (Charleston, SC)

Meharry Medical College (Nashville, TN)

Mercer University School of Medicine (Macon, GA)

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (East Lansing, MI)

Morehouse School of Medicine (Atlanta, GA)

Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine (New York, NY)

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (Old Westbury, NY)

New York Medical College School of Medicine (Valhalla, NY)

New York University School of Medicine (New York, NY)

Northeastern Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) (Rootstown, OH)

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Chicago, IL)

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (Rochester, MI)

Ohio State University College of Medicine (Columbus, OH)

Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine (Portland, OR)

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine (Hershey, PA)

Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) (Ponce, Puerto Rico)

Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center (Chicago, IL)

Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School (Newark, NJ)

Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (Piscataway, NJ)

Saint Louis University School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO)

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (Caguas, Puerto Rico)

Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota (Sioux Falls, SD)

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (Springfield, IL)

Stony Brook School of Medicine at University Medical Center (Stony Brook, NY)

Stanford University School of Medicine (Stanford, CA)

SUNY Downstate Medical Center – College of Medicine (Brooklyn, NY)

SUNY Upstate Medical University – College of Medicine (Syracuse, NY)

Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

Texas A & M Health Science Center – College of Medicine (College Station, TX)

Texas Tech University HSC – Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (El Paso, TX)

Texas Tech University HSC School of Medicine (Lubbock, TX)

Thomas Jefferson University — Sidney Kimmel Medical College (Philadelphia, PA)

Tufts University School of Medicine (Boston, MA)

Tulane University School of Medicine (New Orleans, LA)

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences – F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (Bethesda, MD)

Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine (Bayamon, Puerto Rico)

University at Buffalo – School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Buffalo, NY)

University of Alabama School of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)

University of Arizona College of Medicine (Phoenix, AZ)

University of Arizona College of Medicine (Tucson, AZ)

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – College of Medicine (Little Rock, AR)

University of California Davis School of Medicine (Sacramento, CA)

University of California Irvine School of Medicine (Irvine, CA)

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA David Geffen) (Los Angeles, CA)

University of California Riverside School of Medicine (Riverside, CA)

University of California San Diego School of Medicine (San Diego, CA)

University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (San Francisco, CA)

University of Central Florida College of Medicine (Orlando, FL)

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (Chicago, IL)

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (Cincinnati, OH)

University of Colorado School of Medicine (Denver, CO)

University of Connecticut School of Medicine (Farmington, CT)

University of Florida College of Medicine (Gainesville, FL)

University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (Honolulu, HI)

University of Illinois College of Medicine (Chicago, IL)

University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine (Iowa City, IA)

University of Kansas School of Medicine (Kansas City, KS)

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (Lexington, KY)

University of Louisville School of Medicine (Louisville, KY)

University of Maryland School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD)

University of Massachusetts School of Medicine (Worcester, MA)

University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (Miami, FL)

University of Michigan Medical School (Ann Arbor, MI)

University of Minnesota Medical School – Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN)

University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth (Duluth, MN)

University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine (Jackson, MS)

University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine (Kansas City, MO)

University of Missouri–Columbia School of Medicine (Columbia, MO)

University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine (Omaha, NE)

University of Nevada–Reno School of Medicine (Reno, NV)

University of Nevada–Las Vegas School of Medicine (Las Vegas, NV)

University of New Mexico School of Medicine (Albuquerque, NM)

University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill School of Medicine (Chapel Hill, NC)

University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences (Grand Forks, ND)

University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (Oklahoma City, OK)

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Pittsburgh, PA)

University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (Rochester, NY)

University of South Alabama College of Medicine (Mobile, AL)

University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine (Tampa, FL)

University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine (Los Angeles, CA)

University of Tennessee HSC College of Medicine (Memphis, TN)

University of Texas Austin Dell Medical School (Austin, TX)

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Medicine (Galveston, TX)

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine (Edinburg, TX)

University of Texas Houston McGovern Medical School (Houston, TX)

University of Texas San Antonio School of Medicine (San Antonio, TX)

University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical School (Dallas, TX)

University of Toledo College of Medicine (Toledo, OH)

University of Utah School of Medicine (Salt Lake City, UT)

University of Virginia School of Medicine (Charlottesville, VA)

University of Vermont College of Medicine (Burlington, VT)

University of Washington School of Medicine (Seattle, WA)

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (Madison, WI)

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (Nashville, TN)

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (Richmond, VA)

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (Roanoke, VA)

Wake Forest University School of Medicine – Bowman Gray Campus (Winston-Salem, NC)

Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine (Spokane, WA)

Washington University in St. Louis – School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO)

Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit, MI)

Weill Cornell Medicine Medical College (Manhattan, NY)

West Virginia University School of Medicine (Morgantown, WV)

Western Michigan University School of Medicine (Kalamazoo, MI)

Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine (Dayton, OH)

Yale University School of Medicine (New Haven, CT)

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March 1, 2024

Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis) Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]

Ranked fifth for research by U.S. News & World Report , Washington University (WashU) School of Medicine provides exciting opportunities for medical students to participate in research at the basic science or clinical levels. The school looks for students who have strong ties to their communities – along with excellent communication skills, a dedication to service, and well-rounded interests. 

Ready to get to work on your WashU School of Medicine secondary essays? Read on. 

WashU School of Medicine secondary essay tips

• WashU School of Medicine application deadlines

WashU School of Medicine class profile

Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. (3000 characters)

The best responses to this question will demonstrate resilience . Select an event or commitment that you clearly did not perform well on – but did not give up. Choose something you had to repeat or improve on, and then demonstrate how, through hard work, you were ultimately able to succeed. For example, you might write about your first teaching experience. Most people’s first time teaching a class or group does not go very well, but such experiences are ones you learn from. Focus on how you then improved. Be mindful. End your essay on a high note. 

Is there anything else you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions? (optional) This is both an open question and a diversity question . WashU wants to learn about your personal experiences, socioeconomic difficulties, ethnicity issues, sexual orientation challenges, and/or any other identity-related (yours or your family’s) matters. Also, if you or your family had an unusual life experience, this is the place to relate it. Some applicants use this essay to describe obstacles such as complicated access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, and/or identification with a particular culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity – and/or possibly challenges related to COVID or other issues in preparation for medical school. 

Note: Medical students, as rising physicians, must be able to embrace diversity as a core value. To demonstrate this, applicants might draw from their personal experiences or observed experiences, or could tell a story that was integral to their “character” education about the necessary and essential value for diversity, a lesson learned.

Are you still a full time student? If no, describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student. (Optional) (2000 characters)

Update your resume or CV, and be succinct but comprehensive in your response. Capture the diversity of your activities and interests, including all work experiences and volunteer commitments since you graduated. Because this is meant to be a chronological retelling, show how each successive role has helped you grow as a person and future physician.

Watch: Dr. Valerie Ratts, associate dean for admissions at Washington University School of Medicine, talks about how the WashU adcom selects students. 

WashU School of Medicine application deadlines [2023-24]

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with WashU directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

Here is a look at the WashU School of Medicine class that entered in 2023 (data taken from the WashU School of Medicine website ):

Applications: 5,702

Students enrolled: 124

Women: 62 (50%)

Underrepresented in medicine: 31%

From socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds: 25%

Received merit and/or need-based scholarships: 85%

Mean MCAT: 519.5 (96th percentile)

Mean GPA: 3.88

Has this blog post helped you feel more confident about approaching your WashU School of Medicine secondary application? We hope so. It’s our mission to help smart, talented applicants like you gain acceptance to their top-choice medical schools. With so much at stake, why not hire a consultant whose expertise and personalized guidance can help you make your dream come true? We have several flexible consulting options. Click here to get started today !

Dr. Mary Mahoney, PhD, is the medical humanities director at Elmira College and has more than 20 years of experience as an advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. She is a tenured English professor with an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a PhD in literature and writing from the University of Houston. For the past 20 years, Mary has served as a grad school advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. Want Mary to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for Med School Applicants
• Medical School Selectivity Index , a free tool
• Five Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Med School & Secondary Essays

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Students in UW tent encampment demand divestment from Israel

The university posted no-camping signs on campus, which protestors changed to read “University of Palestine” and “Camping allowed.”

Scarlet Hansen

A group of University of Washington students established a tent encampment on campus Monday, April 29, 2024, to demand the university divest from weapons makers and other connections with Israel. (Genna Martin/Cascade PBS)

Around 25 demonstrators gathered Monday morning on the quad of the University of Washington’s Seattle campus to establish an encampment in solidarity with Gaza, joining a wave of similar efforts on campuses across the nation.

Student organizers from UW’s Progressive Student Union say they are demanding the university cut ties with U.S. weapons manufacturer Boeing, materially divest from Israel and end the repression of pro-Palestinian students, staff and faculty.

The university posted no-camping signs on campus, which protestors changed to read “University of Palestine” and “Camping allowed.” (Genna Martin/Cascade PBS)

“Once we saw encampments starting at Minneapolis, at Emory, and across the nation, we really just realized this is something we have to move on now,” said Mathieu Chabaud, UW second-year student and PSU member. "We’re going to be here until we see a written commitment from the president of this university, Ana Mari Cauce.”

The encampment was originally scheduled to begin April 25, but was delayed after backlash over the group’s lack of consultation with Arab, Muslim and Palestinian student groups. Chabaud said after long discussions with other student groups on campus, PSU decided to establish their encampment.

During 10-minute increments as students passed through the quad between classes, demonstrators chanted “Free free Palestine,” answered questions about the encampment and offered free pizza and snacks donated by community members to students. The encampment had grown to about 40 participants by late afternoon.

Students stand near the encampment established Monday, April 29, 2024, on the University of Washington campus to protest the Israel-Hamas war. (Genna Martin/Cascade PBS)

After Columbia University students established their Gaza solidarity encampment earlier this month, students at dozens of universities across the nation have followed suit. The movement has put university administrators under a microscope as they weigh students’ right to protest against campus safety.

Student encampments have led to thousands of student arrests. Meanwhile, University presidents like Harvard’s Claudine Gay and the University of Pennsylvania’s Liz Magill have resigned following Congressional probes into antisemitism amid growing tension on college campuses.

“We will monitor the situation throughout the day and respond as appropriate to maintain a safe and secure environment for our campus community,” University of Washington spokesperson Victor Balta said in an email.

Students sit inside and outside of a tent at the encampment on the University of Washington campus established on April 29, 2024, to protest the Hamas-Israel war. (Genna Martin/Cascade PBS)

Demonstrators who arrived on campus around 8 a.m. Monday morning said they were met with signs stating “No camping allowed.” The signs have since been marked up by demonstrators to read “University of Palestine” and “Camping allowed.”

Throughout the afternoon, demonstrators chanted “Resistance is justified when people are occupied,” and “UW you can’t hide, you are funding genocide,” calling out the UW’s ties to U.S. weapons manufacturer Boeing, which has supplied thousands of bombs to Israel for the country’s response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

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Scarlet Hansen is a student journalist at the University of Washington and Crosscut's 2024 legislative intern.

Audit finds inflation, wages drove Seattle’s $1.7B budget increase

The new five-year analysis digs into every department’s spending in an effort to help the city confront a projected $241 million deficit in 2025.

• Husky Football

UW football gets needed experience with seventh-year Oklahoma transfer Justin Harrington

It’s not a secret. Washington needs experience. 

The Huskies lost all 11 of their starters on offense from the 2023 season. Nine defensive starters also departed, along with one special-teamer. 

However, it’s hard to find a player with more college experience than seventh-year safety Justin Harrington. 

Washington added to its secondary on Tuesday, as Harrington announced his commitment to the Huskies and coach Jedd Fisch in a post on his Instagram account. Harrington spent the past four seasons at Oklahoma. 

He’s the third transfer-portal commitment of the spring for Fisch and the Huskies. Interior offensive lineman D’Angalo Titialii announced his decision to join Washington from Portland State on April 18. Fellow offensive lineman Logan Sagapolu joined from Miami on April 22, though he may switch to defensive tackle. 

A 6-foot-3, 219-pound safety from North Carolina, Harrington began his career at Bakersfield College, a junior college. He spent two seasons in California’s Central Valley, racking up 97 tackles, seven interceptions and two tackles for a loss. 

Harrington’s exploits at Bakersfield landed him lots of recruiting attention. He was one of the top junior college prospects in the class of 2020, and chose Oklahoma instead of offers from NC State, Iowa State, Oregon State, Houston and Colorado. 

His Sooner career got off to a difficult start. Harrington tore his right ACL during fall camp before the COVID-impacted 2020 season and redshirted. He returned in 2021, but entered the transfer portal after playing just four games after moving from safety to cornerback. 

Finding his opportunities limited in the transfer portal, Harrington returned to Oklahoma. Lincoln Riley, the coach who’d recruited him from junior college, had departed for USC, but new coach Brent Venables was willing to let Harrington come back to Norman, Okla., on the condition that Harrington rejoin the program as a walk-on. 

Harrington’s 2022 season was his most productive to date. He played in all 13 games, accounting for 23 tackles, an interception and two pass deflections, all while paying his own way and selling meals he cooked in his apartment to make ends meet.

He regained his scholarship for the 2023 season, and emerged from fall camp as the Sooners starter at nickel. Two games into the season, however, Harrington tore his ACL against SMU on Sept. 9. He finished the game, wearing a knee brace on his left leg for the second half, and had an interception in the fourth quarter, but was eventually ruled out for the season. 

Harrington earned a medical redshirt from the NCAA on March 6, making him eligible for the 2024 season. He joins a defensive back group which is light on experience.

Senior Kamren Fabiculanan, entering his sixth season with Washington, and junior Makell Esteen both played significant snaps at safety during the 2023 campaign. Sophomore Tristan Dunn was a special-teams contributor, and UW retained redshirt freshman Vincent Holmes after he briefly entered and then withdrew from the transfer portal for the second time. 

The Huskies also have three incoming true freshman safeties in Peyton Waters, Paul Mencke Jr. and Rahim Wright II. Waters is already on campus as an early enrollee. 

Harrington’s ability to play nickel will also be helpful for the Huskies. Junior Dyson McCutcheon has spent the majority of the spring in that role, though Fabiculanan played the position some during the 2023 season, too.

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• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University
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Personal Writing SIG: Merilee Marsh

This month’s featured writing is from SIG member Merilee Marsh : Coffee.  

Raised on Air Force bases, Merilee spent her professional career in marketing. With the family scattered coast to coast, she and her husband moved to Boise from upstate New York in 2009, and Merilee embraced the Osher Institute. Observations kindle her writing.

Download Osher Institute Personal Writing SIG: Merilee Marsh (PDF)

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

The Evergreen Collection: Exceptional Stories from Across Washington State

Edited by Larry Clark ’94 Comm. & Asian Stu. and Adriana Janovich

WSU Press: 2023

This volume brings together some of the best stories published over the last 20 years in  Washington State Magazine . As a regular reader and occasional contributor, I found essays that I had missed when originally published and enjoyed revisiting pieces I had read but forgotten.

The stories are arranged geographically and thematically under the following headings: across the state, around the sound, along the river, in the mountains, and on the plateau. Beautiful photographs highlight the distinct qualities of these regions. One common theme across all the writing is the profound impact that WSU’s faculty and alumni have had across the state. The style of writing is approachable with short, stand-alone pieces that are perfect for reading aloud to a partner or for those with limited blocks of spare time.

The book answers key WSU questions, such as, why does Cougar Gold taste so good? It’s the discovery by Professor Norman Shirley Golding that adding a second starter culture (WSU-19) to the cheese before being canned reduced the carbon dioxide and, as a happy by-product, created a softer and creamier finish to the taste.

What is it about the loess soil in Whitman County that produces such bountiful crops and the diverse soil types along the Columbia River that produce distinctive and delicious wines? Profiles of WSU soil scientists answer these questions as they share their expertise in describing the geological creation of these unique soils, mapping them, and efforts to conserve them.

We learn along the way the stories of key figures in Washington history such as Chief Kamiakin, who observed during treaty negotiations in 1855 that “the White men are not speaking straight,” and the eccentric Virgil McCroskey, who we have to thank for the preservation of Steptoe Butte as a state park and the creation of McCroskey Park in Latah County.

This is a lovely book for WSU alumni or any reader curious about the state of Washington. Even with a generous-sized book (261 pages), the editors had to make difficult decisions about what to include and what was left out, so this single volume will not replace your 20 years of saved issues. Luckily, the magazine maintains a complete archive of its contents online.

Purchase The Evergreen Collection at WSU Press

Empowering Black Learners: Insights from the Inaugural Black Learner Excellence Summit

April 30, 2024

By City Colleges of Chicago

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City Colleges of Chicago, LevelUp, Achieving the Dream (ATD), and the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab (IEL) came together with leaders in higher education to understand barriers to Black learner post-secondary access and success, strengthen understanding of national data, amplify emerging best practices, and build a community to support Black learner excellence.  

“Today is an opportunity to explore how each of us can best support Black students,” said City Colleges Chancellor Juan Salgado. “While there is good work happening, there is much more to do. Black student success is central to our mission at City Colleges. If we truly want to have a city that takes pride in its ability to have racial equity and opportunity in our city, Black learner excellence is central, and City Colleges is central to getting us there.”   

The day-long summit was packed with data-focused disruptors, all focused on Black learner outcomes, including Dr. Karen Stout of Achieving the Dream, Dr. Keith Curry from LevelUp, Dr. Brandon Nichols from Olive-Harvey College, Dr. Kafi Moragne-Patterson, Courtney Washington, and Carmelo Barbaro from UChicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab, Dominique “Dom” McKoy from University of Chicago’s To & Through Project, President Z. Scott from Chicago State University, Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth from Olive-Harvey College, Dr. Shawn Jackson from Harry S Truman College, President David Sanders from Malcolm X College, Dr. Katonja Webb Walker from Kennedy-King College, and Dr. Aarti Dhupelia from City Colleges of Chicago.  

City Colleges of Chicago Executive Vice Chancellor-Chief Student Experience Officer Aarti Dhupelia closed the summit with some actionable takeaways, saying, “There are proof points of what works. We prioritize Black learner excellence in budgets, we honor student voices and experience as we set priorities, we build relationships and a culture of care for our students.”  

This inaugural Black Learner Excellence Summit was presented by Achieving the Dream, The UChicago Inclusive Economy Lab, The Joyce Foundation, The ECMC Foundation, HCM Strategists, Equity Avengers, and Level Up.  

Black Learner Excellence Summit

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

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The Writing Center

Susan Lowther to retire after 25 years at WashU

By Sara Brenes Akerman

Susan Lowther, Undergraduate Support Coordinator, plans to retire in May after 25 years at Washington University.

Ms. Lowther came to WashU in 1999 as a graduate student in English. Since 2017, she has been an essential part of The Writing Center.

If you’ve spent any time in The Writing Center over the past seven years, you might have caught a glimpse of one of Susan Lowther’s writing appointments. A student will come in, perhaps a little anxious, often concerned about whether their personal statement has that ineffable quality that will make it that much more likely they will enter medical school or law school—often a dream held since childhood. Susan will greet them and within minutes, you will see the student’s apprehension lessen. It is an almost physical transformation prompted by Susan’s reassuring tone and clear guidance. Helping students find and tell their stories is one of her favorite parts of the job. “I love the moment when I get the email saying ‘Hey, guess what? I got in!” she explains.

As Steve Pijut, Associate Director, remarks, “How many students have been relieved and inspired by hearing Susan say, enthusiastically, ‘I love that!’ in response to some part of their writing? Too many to count.”

A key part of her success when it comes to encouraging writers has been what she denominates The Theory of Cheese. “It first came up when I was talking with an applicant for med school a long time ago. She was afraid of sounding cheesy. I had heard this a lot and I just suddenly got tired of people saying that. I had an epiphany: You should embrace the cheese.”

What Susan realized in that moment is that embracing the cheese is a way for writers to allow themselves to be open. “When we say we’re afraid of sounding cheesy what we’re really saying, I think, is that we’re afraid of being vulnerable on the page. But that vulnerability is what pushes us forward,” she says.

The Theory of Cheese is just like Susan: at once lighthearted and genuinely wise, a wisdom made more affecting by the fact that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Kate Harnish, current Graduate Support Coordinator, recalls an incident that speaks to Susan’s unique way of ushering in joy. “The first glimpse I got of Susan’s personality was while I was a grad fellow, during the episode with the chia pet. Was it a white elephant gift from the staff and grad gift exchange? The details are hazy, but I remember Susan’s insistence on its pride of place on her desk in the old library location. As it grew and wilted and lingered, it was always fun to check in with Susan about it. Her unabashed enjoyment of it was contagious—both the hilarity of its cheesiness and also some level of real affection for it. Susan always has a little funny talking point or fun seasonal decorations. These things add up.”

Another key principle she imparts on students is to share their writing. Particularly when it feels difficult to do so. “I try to help students become comfortable with the messy part of it. You don’t want to be that writer in the garret all dressed in black with your candle. That’s a miserable process. You want to show your writing to people.” It’s a lesson that didn’t come easily to her and which, as a result, is imbued with the kind of urgency we reserve for the advice we wish we could give our past selves. 

“In graduate school, I never showed my writing to anybody because I really identified with the words on the page. I had the sense that if anyone thought the words were wrong, they would think I was wrong. Or if they thought the words were stupid, then that meant I was stupid. It took me a really long time to get to the point of realizing that they’re just words on a page. I want other people to get there faster,” she emphasizes.

Susan understands The Writing Center as a place premised on being welcoming, a friendliness that she has played a key role in cultivating, both through her uniquely generous pedagogy and, often, with a batch of baked goods. “That’s one part of our job here that is so fulfilling, letting people know that this is a space for you. And we do that by helping them talk through their scholarly ideas, whether that be academic essays or personal statements or application essays,” she explains.

As Rob Patterson, The Writing Center Director, highlights, “she leaves behind a place deeply and positively affected by her in every way. Susan joined The Writing Center just as we began a period of change and growth – and along the way, hers has always been the voice keeping the needs of the individual student at the heart of our work.” 

Her path to The Writing Center began working with ESL students just outside of Tokyo, where she first discovered her affinity for teaching. “I taught ESL students as young as eight and as old as 80. I loved that sort of English language world which then translated into working on English language writing.”

She first came to WashU to pursue graduate work in English after completing an MA in studies in Fiction at the University of East Anglia, England. Throughout, she focused on medieval studies and realized, serendipitously, that her advisors at both institutions were, in fact, close friends.

Before joining The Writing Center, she served as writing programs coordinator at Cornerstone (a learning center that has since atomized into three separate offices). Alongside her role at The Writing Center, she has also served as an advisor and as a writing instructor for College Writing and for the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS), receiving the Chair’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

When asked what she will miss the most upon her departure, she points out that, “One thing that I appreciate with The Writing Center is that you get to build relationships, not just with students, but with the tutors. I am really going to miss the people, particularly my colleagues.”

Senior Tutor Roy Kasten echoes the sentiment. “We will all go on without her daily doses of humor, insight, contagious laughter, and pictures of Wellington [Susan’s beautiful dog], but we won’t be the same without her presence.”

“I’ve had a very adventurous life,” she recalls, having lived in France, England, and Japan, and traveled far and wide, “and I found myself, my place, at The Writing Center.”