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Application Process & Deadline
Have you received my transcript?
Do I need to send official transcripts as part of the application?
My official transcripts will not arrive by the deadline. Will I still be considered?
My professor is not able to submit the recommendation until after the deadline. Is this OK?
Can I make changes to my application after the deadline has passed?
The Jackson School Supplemental Application
Standardized Examinations (GRE, TOEFL)
Bachelor's or Equivalent Degree Required
Early Submission of Application
International Applicant Information
Q: How can I apply to a Jackson School master’s program? What is the deadline?
A: For information about application requirements and procedures, please see http://jsis.washington.edu/advise/graduate/app_procedures.shtml. This site provides a summary of requirements and deadline information. Full instructions can be accessed by clicking the “Application Guidelines” link. This will produce a PDF file with full instructions.
Q: How long should the Writing Sample be?
There is no minimum or maximum length. Some people use a strong paper of only 10 pages or less, some use an entire undergraduate thesis. In the latter case, it should not be shortened or abstracted. The admissions committee probably will not read the entire thesis, but it is best to allow them to choose which parts they will read.
Q: My writing sample is in a language other than English. Can I submit that for the Writing Sample?
A: The writing sample must be in English. Your work in the Master’s program will be in English, and the admissions committee must be able to evaluate your potential for writing graduate level papers by using an example of your work in English.
Q: I don't have access to any of my college essays to submit for a writing sample. Are there other alternatives? Can I write something new to submit? And if so, do you have preferred topics or questions for essays?
A: Some applicants write an ad hoc paper. It would be strongest if it treats a social science subject, utilizes sources and includes a bibliography. Other applicants have used reports they have created as part of their job.
Q: Do I also need to mail a paper copy of the application?
A: The application is completed online. However, the Jackson School also requires that you mail, or have mailed, the official transcripts from each college or university you have attended. For more details about sending official transcripts, please see below.
Q: How long should the Statement of Purpose be?
A: 1-3 pages (double-spaced), briefly describing your background, experience, academic interests and goals. It should demonstrate your ability to make your point concisely.
A: If you have ordered your transcripts, trust that they will be received. When your preliminary application assessment is conducted, we will let you know if we have NOT received your transcript, and if anything is lacking. After preliminary reviews have been conducted, you will be able to see if we received your transcripts by returning to your application page. This should be available by February 6, 2013.
You must mail your official transcripts to the Jackson School as part of the application. If you are offered admission and choose to accept the offer, you will also need to send official transcripts reflecting your awarded degree to the Graduate School Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) when requested by that office.
It is acceptable if the official transcripts arrive with a week or so after the deadline. As long as the transcripts arrive by about Jan. 10, your application should not be compromised.
Please send official transcripts directly to the Jackson School. The mailing address is:
Jackson School of International Studies
Graduate Admission-Master's
Box 353650
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
Note that this is not a P.O. Box, but rather a location used by UW Mailing Services. This usually suffices for courier services.
If necessary, the physical address is:
Jackson School of International Studies
111 Thomson Hall
2023 Skagit Lane
University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
Q: My professor is not able to submit the recommendation until after the deadline. Is this OK?
A: It is acceptable if your letters of recommendation arrive with a week or so after the deadline. Some faculty are on leave or away from the office, and we accept that. As long as the recommendations arrive by about Jan. 10, your application should not be compromised.
Q: Is my application complete?
A: After preliminary reviews have been conducted, you will be able to see whether your application is complete by returning to your application page. This should be available by February 6, 2013.
Q: Can I make changes to my application after the deadline has passed?
A: Once the deadline has passed, no further changes to applications are allowed or accepted. This is in fairness to all applicants who applied their best efforts to submit applications by the deadline.
A: No, the form will be blank to all. One cause is frequently by using using "Preview," an Apple application, though sometimes this happens when the user is employing other tools. Tips for completing and submitting the Jackson School Supplemental Application:
To save your responses in the link below, first File>Save the form in PDF on your computer. Fill in the blanks and save it once more.
To make sure that your form will be visible to the admissions committee, save the file, email it to yourself as an attachment, and if the answers are visible to you, upload that to your application.
If this doesn't work, you can also use the "Word" version of the form.
Acquire the document here, then upload as part of your application. If you have completed your application and are unable to upload the document, send it as an email attachment to Paula Milligan, Graduate Program Adviser.
A: Applicants to Jackson School Master’s programs who are also applying to the Business School to pursue the MBA degree as a concurrent program with a Jackson School Master’s degree may substitute the GMAT for the GRE. If you are not applying to a Jackson School program to be pursued as a concurrent degree, your application will be considered incomplete, and it will be up to the admissions committee as to whether they will review your application.
Q. How much emphasis is given to the GRE?
A: Each part of the application is important. Admissions committee members usually rank each part of the application from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest) and use the total score to rank applicants. For example, if an applicant has a strong Statement of Purpose, she/he might get a 5, acceptable GRE scores might receive 3, good recommendations a 4, a very good transcript a 5, and so on. Not doing well on any one part does not eliminate you from those likely to be offered admission, but it is suggested that you do as well as you can.
Q. How can I check the status of my test scores?
A: To check on whether your GRE scores and/or electronic letters of recommendation have been received, return to your application website. Once the scores have been received by the University of Washington the receipt of the item will appear on your screen. Receipt of other items will be recorded once the staff has had an opportunity to review your application packet. Note that it takes up to one week from the time you finalize your application for your scores to be matched to your application. You will also be able to see on this page whether your application is complete. We expect to complete preliminary assessment of applications for completeness by February 5, 2013.
Time permitting, you will receive an email informing you of your application status.
Q: What is the department code for the GRE or TOEFL?
A: No department code for the Jackson School is needed. The University of Washington code for these exams is 4854. All scores are reported electronically by the Educational Testing Service to the UW, and the score report or reports will be visible to any UW department to which you apply.
Any report of GRE or TOEFL scores to the UW will be visible to any department to which you apply. In other words, if you also apply to, say, Public Affairs and International Studies, both departments will see the scores. The same applies with unrelated departments. For example, you might have applied to Philosophy as well as the JSIS program. Both departments will have access to your scores.
Q: My Bachelor's degree will not be awarded until Spring or Summer. May I still apply?
A: Yes, many applicants' degrees are awarded in Spring or Summer. If your degree will be awarded after September 15, though, you will have to wait until next year to apply. All students beginning the graduate program must have Bachelor's or higher degrees prior to starting.
Q: Can I defer enrollment if I’m accepted to a Jackson School program?
A: We are unable to defer your admission. We can, however, defer your application. Note that this is only a deferral of your application, not of your admission offer. The admissions committee will consider your application again the following year.
Q: Do any of your programs offer Winter or Spring admission?
A: Application to all of our programs is for fall quarter only. We do not offer rolling admissions.
Q: If I submit my application early, will I receive an early decision?
A: All applications are considered by the admissions committee at the same time. We do not provide early decisions.
A: Please see http://jsis.washington.edu/phd/ for information about the Jackson School PhD program. For further information about the PhD program in International Studies please send a message to jsisphd@uw.edu. (The adviser for Jackson School PhD programs is Professor Saadia Pekkanen; Paula Milligan is the adviser for the Jackson School Master’s programs.)
A: For information on funding opportunities please see http://jsis.washington.edu/advise/graduate/fin_aid.shtml. Occasionally, Jackson School students have been able to obtain Teaching Assistantships (TA) with other departments, such as Political Science, Spanish, and other departments where the students have experience, and if the department has a shortage of qualified graduate students in the department. This is usually possible once the student is accepted and approaches the other department about TA possibilities.
A: See http://www.washington.edu/students/osfa/graduate/grad.costs.html for an overview of tuition and fees. For students in most Jackson School programs, tuition rates are for Seattle Graduate Tier I. For students concurrently in professional degree programs, such as the MBA or MPA, tuition rates are assessed at higher tuition tiers. Check with the concurrent program’s office for the tuition tier. See http://opb.washington.edu/content/tuition-and-required-fees for further information about tuition rates for higher tiers. Note that the information on these pages relates to current year tuition rates. Tuition is expected to rise by 8% each year. Tuition is set for the upcoming academic year by the UW Board of Regents in July of each year.
A: If you are offered admission in the program you will receive, on request, the names and email addresses of current students who have volunteered to exchange messages with prospective new students who are considering whether to accept the offer to the Jackson School master's program.
Q: What are the requirements for international applicants?
A: See http://www.grad.washington.edu/admissions/faq/international.shtml for Graduate School requirements. See http://www.grad.washington.edu/policies/memoranda/memo08.shtml for information about English Language proficiency requirements.
| Jackson School Advising | |
| University of Washington | |
| 111 Thomson Hall | |
| Box 353650 | |
| Seattle, WA 98195 | |
| (206) 543-6001 phone | |
| (206) 616-3170 fax | |
| ► | jsisadv@u.washington.edu |
| James Donnen | |
| Director, Student Services; Undergraduate Adviser for Asian Studies (East Asia), European Studies, and Departmental Honors | |
| ► | jdonnen@uw.edu |
| Joni Marts | |
| Undergraduate Adviser for European Studies, JSIS minors, and general advising | |
| ► | jmarts@uw.edu |
| Dr. Linda Iltis | |
| Undergraduate Adviser - Lead for International Studies: General, Comparative Religion, Jewish Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Canadian Studies, & Asian Studies: South Asia & Southeast Asia options | |
| ► | iltis@uw.edu |
| Paula Milligan | |
| Graduate Program Adviser for all JSIS Master's Programs | |
| ► | milligan@uw.edu |
| Kelly Voss | |
| Career and internship adviser for JSIS undergraduates, graduates and alumni | |
| ► | kvoss@uw.edu |
| Robyn Davis | |
| Fellowships Coordinator | |
| ► | rldavis@uw.edu |