Featured Supplemental Essay Prompt For University of Washington Seattle Applicants:

Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are. 150 Word Maximum.

Successful Supplemental Essay Example From Our Accepted Alumni Student:

Brought up by parents of distinct faiths, I’ve always had respect for both religions—Hinduism and Ismaili Muslim—and have accepted myself as an unconventional hybrid. Over the years, I have intermixed my religious experiences to create stronger connections with my extended community.

Presenting an art from one culture to another—as I did through [Arts Competition]—reminded me of the responsibility I have as a hybrid: to create bridges between groups that may otherwise have boundaries.

My blended perspective has led me to foster connections between diverse groups in other contexts. With my mentees in Peer Leadership, we openly discuss experiences with racial biases and microaggressions. Through my nonprofit [NPO Name], I have worked to increase educational equity through providing classes that will always be free of charge. While developing [app name], an NLP web-based audio/video transcriber, I began thinking about how I could ultimately create CS-based innovation that works to close educational gaps.

At the University of Washington, I hope to continue bridging boundaries in every diverse space I enter. I can contribute to thoughtful conversation in Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity. Through the UW’s DO-IT Center, part of the Computer Science Collaborative Project (CSCP), I hope to help increase CS education and confidence throughout diverse communities. With an Alternative Spring Break program, I would also specifically love to help promote STEM learning throughout tribal communities, a historically marginalized group in Washington State.

Through Cross-Departmental Research, I hope to connect with UW students and faculty across disciplines—bringing my unique perspective as a CS major focused on equity. Through this research and more, I hope to ultimately determine ways that NLP and Big Data can positively influence public education and close achievement gaps. In our world, computing and education are inextricably intertwined—and diversity must always be a priority.