UW Seattle Capacity Constrained Majors : UDub SAT Requirement 2026

Founded in 1861, The University of Washington (UDub, UW or Washington) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. UDub is the flagship institution of the six public universities in Washington state. It is known for its medical, engineering, and scientific research. The university has been affiliated with many notable alumni and faculty, including 21 Nobel Prize laureates and numerous Pulitzer Prize winners, Fulbright Scholars, Rhodes Scholars and Marshall Scholars, as well as members of other distinguished institutions.

Some Nobel prize laureates whose work is closely associated with the University are

2016 – David Thouless, Physics (deceased), 2004 – Linda B. Buck Physiology and Medicine (Affiliate Faculty), 2001 – Leland H. Hartwell Physiology and Medicine (former faculty), 1992 – Edmond Henri Fischer Physiology and Medicine (deceased), 1992 – Edwin G. Krebs, Physiology and Medicine (deceased),1990 – E. Donnall Thomas, Physiology and Medicine (deceased),1989 – Hans Georg Dehmelt, Physics (deceased)

How to Improve your Chances of Getting into UW

Udit Mishra, a resilient and intellectually curious student from Jaipur, secured admission to the University of Washington by channeling his academic strength, personal resilience, and love for innovation. A national-level squash player and passionate computer science student, Udit authored two insightful research papers one on emotion detection in chatbots and another on predicting shot accuracy in football using machine learning—publishing them in international journals. Diagnosed with alopecia at ten, he turned adversity into advocacy by founding Alopecia India, raising ₹3.2 lakhs and donating 18 wigs to individuals affected by alopecia and cancer. Through this initiative, he built a platform of hope and awareness, demonstrating emotional courage and social commitment. Udit’s journey reflects a rare blend of technical intellect, athletic discipline, and a deep-rooted drive to make a meaningful change.

Provided below are seven key strategies to boost your chances of admission to UW.

1. Achieve a high GPA while taking the most challenging classes available

It’s extremely important for UW applicants to not only possess outstanding grades but for those grades to come in challenging courses. International students accepted to a top 10 school like UW typically complete between 5 to 8 advanced courses in high school.

The main aim of AP exams is to test your ability and acumen to measure up to the rigors of undergraduate curriculum in US and other global universities. Typically, international students appear for AP exams at the beginning of their grade 12. Students interested in Engineering usually appear for Calculus, Physics, Computer Science or Chemistry. Students interested in Business Studies usually appear for Calculus, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Statistics. Students interested in Medicine usually appear for Biology, Psychology, Chemistry and Environmental Science.

Another reason why UW applicants need great grades is that selective schools use a tool called the ‘Academic Index’ to filter out their enormous number of applicants. At its most basic, the Academic Index is a distillation of a student’s academic performance (grades and test scores) into a single number. This is a single score that represents the strength of your GPA, test scores, and class rank (if your school ranks). Highly selective universities use this (or a similar) metric to filter out students that don’t meet their academic standards.

2. Aim for a 1520+ SAT or a 35+ ACT

For the 2026 intake, the middle 50% of admitted students at UW earned SAT scores between 1330 and 1500. However, international applicants targeting high-demand STEM majors should aim higher to build a "competitive safety" margin. While at EZScholar, we have observed successful admissions for Physics and Math with scores around 1440, the threshold for the Allen School’s Computer Science (CS) program is significantly steeper. For CS, an SAT of 1520+ or an ACT of 35+ is effectively the baseline for international students. Aiming for a 1550 SAT not only places you in the top tier of all applicants but provides the "intellectual spike" necessary to stand out in UW’s rigorous holistic review.

3. Explore your favorite subjects via Research Papers

A hallmark of successful applicants to the Ivy League and other elite institutions is the inclusion of substantive research conducted during high school. This scholarly engagement distinguishes candidates in three critical ways:

First, a rigorous research project signals intellectual vitality. It demonstrates the initiative to transcend a standard curriculum, applying classroom theory to complex, real-world challenges. This shift from passive learning to active inquiry proves that your academic curiosity is not confined to a textbook.

Second, the research process instills analytical discipline. It replaces intuitive shortcuts with a methodical, data-driven framework, teaching you to form conclusions based on evidence rather than assumption.

Finally, collaborating with a mentor or professor cultivates organizational maturity. You learn to structure complex arguments, synthesize diverse information, and ask the incisive questions that drive discovery. Ultimately, a high quality research paper provides a rare window into your cognitive style, revealing a level of academic rigor and persistence that admissions officers highly prize.

4. Cultivate at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “niche”)

Elite institutions like the University of Washington utilize a four-tier system to evaluate extracurricular impact, often weighing these "soft factors" as significantly as 25% of the total admission decision. For international students, high-tier achievements serve as a critical "spike" that distinguishes them from thousands of academically identical peers.

Tier 1 activities are truly exceptional, representing national or international distinction. For instance, Udit Mishra (UW '25), a national-level squash player in India, demonstrated the rare discipline and grit required for top-tier athletic recruitment. Another example is the Regeneron Science Talent Search, where students present original research at a national scale, signaling to admissions officers that the applicant is already operating at a collegiate level.

Tier 2 activities showcase significant leadership or achievement at a state or regional level. Aditya Kumar (UW '24), a club-level cricket player from South Africa, falls into this category by demonstrating consistent leadership and excellence within a competitive regional context. Similarly, being elected as Student Body President or attending a prestigious Governor’s School proves you possess the maturity and social influence to enrich a college campus.

While Tier 3 (school-level leadership like team captaincy) and Tier 4 (general participation in clubs or volunteering) are valuable for showing a "well-rounded" profile, they are much more common. To stand out at a competitive university like UW, students should strive to elevate at least one core passion into the Tier 1 or 2 categories, moving from mere participation to recognized excellence.

5. Write engaging essays

Essays are the best way to distinguish yourself from other applicants. UW requires all applicants to submit one essay and one short question as part of its application.

The UW essay is on ‘Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it’. (650 words)

UW short answer question prompt is of 300 words:

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.

*Subject to change every year.

Research the university and the faculty of the department you are planning to join. Explain in your essay how your values tie with the expectations of the university and how you expect to utilize the knowledge to make the world a better place.

Also research the extra-curricular activities and the clubs at UW and how you will spend your time outside the classroom. Some of the popular clubs at UW are:

• American Marketing Association: The UW American Marketing Association provides a professional and fun environment that promotes proactive and passionate involvement. It is the place where marketers are made. Some of their biggest events include hosting case competitions in association with big-name Seattle companies and networking nights for students to meet business executives and understand the difficult transition from college to adult life.

• Muse Media: Muse Media supports creative and inspiring individuals who share a love for media and fashion.

• Ascend at UW: Ascend UW enables aspiring leaders to connect with professionals in different fields. They host events that promote leadership and professional development to help all students succeed in their professional and personal goals.

• WOOF 3D – WOOF 3D is the Digital Fabrication and 3D Printing Club at University of Washington. Its purpose is to educate interested students and other community members about Additive Manufacturing technology.

There are different extracurricular activities and clubs present in the campus. There is something for everyone. And best of all everyone is invited. Students could take up different activities or join a sorority. Joining a sport or activity helps students meet other like-minded people who share common interests with them. It is a good way to make friends.

6. Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation(LoRs) are not required at UW.

Teachers – Not Applicable

Other Evaluations – Not Applicable

7. Apply Early Action/Early Decision

UW does not participate in either Early action or Early decision. Interested students can apply only through the November 15 (Regular Decision) deadline.

UW values students who are committed, dedicated, passionate, have potential to succeed and those students with a genuine interest in expanding their intellectual horizon. Following the above guidelines will help you present your best self to UW and maximize your admission chances.

Bonus Pro Tip - At the University of Washington (UW) Seattle, the "Capacity-Constrained" designation is an official institutional classification for selective majors where applicant volume exceeds departmental resources. For elite programs like Computer Science and Informatics, UW enforces a strict "Direct-to-Major" policy: if these are not listed as your first-choice on the application, you are mathematically excluded from direct entry.

Because the Allen School and iSchool fill nearly all seats with freshman admits, "second-choice" applicants are rarely reviewed for these programs. A strategic application designates a non-constrained or "Minimum-Requirement" major—such as Applied Mathematics or Statistics—as the second choice. This ensures that if the primary competitive bid fails, you secure an institutional admit with a viable, data-driven academic path rather than landing as a "Pre-Major" with no guaranteed degree destination.

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EZScholar is an expert university admissions consultant and test prep organization which works with bright and ambitious students seeking admissions to Ivy Leagues, Oxbridge, Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, University of Toronto and other top global universities. Our experts have helped thousands of students with their profile building, research papers, extracurriculars, co-curriculars, test prep and admissions essays. We provide students with personalized support for applications, essays, and SOPs to ensure their unique voice shines through. Our comprehensive test prep helps students achieve their best possible SAT scores and impress their dream university. Our Bespoke Research Paper program helps differentiate students' university applications, demonstrating a high level of academic curiosity and rigor.