What UW Seattle looks for
- A true, specific story rather than a summary of your good qualities.
- Character shown through choices and moments, not asserted in adjectives.
- Honest reflection on what the experience did to you or revealed about you.
- A narrative arc that uses the full length without padding.
UW Seattle supplemental prompts (2026-27)
Character Story
650 wordsRequired“Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.”
How to approach it. Center one real experience and let the scene carry the meaning before you reflect on it. UW is reading for who you actually are, so a small, vivid, honest story beats a grand or generic one — and don't reuse your Common App essay's territory.
Score your UW Seattle draft, free
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UW Seattle essay FAQ
- How many supplemental essays does UW Seattle require?
- One required essay of up to 650 words.
- How long are the UW Seattle supplemental essays?
- The single essay is capped at 650 words.
- How can I tell if my UW Seattle essay is strong?
- A strong UW essay tells one specific story that reveals character through action and reflection, not a list of traits. Halo scores your draft against a UW Seattle-specific rubric so you can see whether your story actually demonstrates character and where the reflection could go deeper.
Sources & official links
- UW Seattle official website
- UW Seattle on College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education)
- Prompts and requirements are published by UW Seattle on its official application and admissions pages.
Prompts shown are from the 2026-27 cycle and reflect each school’s officially published questions. Schools release new supplements each year; we update these guides each cycle.