does uw require personal statement

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Writing Your Personal Statement

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Main Content

You are required to complete a Personal Statement as part of your application. This is a critical part of your application, both for admission and scholarship consideration. Content, as well as the form, spelling, grammar, and punctuation will be considered. When you write your personal statement, tell us about the aspects of your life that are not apparent from your academic record.

Personal statement

Freshman applicants will choose one of the following prompts (400-600 words):

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

2.) Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.

3.) An essay topic of your choice. If you have written another admissions essay that captures what you want the UW Tacoma Admissions Committee to know about, feel free to share it with us. Be sure to include the topic or question you answered. 

Transfer applicants are asked to address the following writing prompt:

Describe how personal, professional or educational experiences have shaped your academic, career and/or personal goals. How will UW Tacoma help you attain these goals? (650 words)

Other comments (optional)

If there is anything else you think we should know, you can include that in the "Other Comments" section of the application.

Tips for Success

• Tell us who you are. We encourage you to share those aspects of your life that are not apparent from your transcripts. Be concise, but tell the whole story even if you need a little more space. All of the information you provide in your application and statement will remain confidential.
• Be specific. Personal Statements too often include sentences such as "I've always wanted to be a Husky" or "My whole family attended the UW." Though this may be important to you personally, such statements are not particularly valuable to the Admissions staff. Why? Because they don't tell us anything distinctive about your experiences and ultimate goals.
• You are a college student. Your Personal Statement should reflect the experience and maturity of someone who has already attended college. It should reflect your understanding of the components of an undergraduate education, such as general education and the major. We want to read how your academic and personal experience to date fits into your academic, career and personal goals and how UW Tacoma can help you attain these goals.

Write your statement first in a word processing program (such as Word). Then copy/paste your work into the application text box.

Here are some tips on  how to write a great college essay .

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Writing your personal statement

Current UW students and prospective transfer students apply to majors via the capacity constrained application process. The personal statement that you submit as part of your capacity constrained application is your opportunity to present a richer characterization of yourself than what your transcripts can capture.

If you are an ENGRUD student, check out the placement page for more information.

Department-specific questions

Each department that you apply to has provided a prompt (on the application form) that you should respond to with your personal statement. Be sure to address the topics in the prompt but also consider ways in which you can set yourself apart from other candidates.

Writing a well-crafted statement

As you write your personal statement, Ask yourself this important question: “ What evidence can I provide to the admissions committee that I will be successful as an engineering student in their department? ” To answer that question, you must also answer the more basic question, “What do the faculty believe are the qualities of a successful engineering student?” There is certainly a long list of attributes that would answer this question. Your personal statement should highlight the characteristics on that list that you most closely identify with, and that your experience can support.

We encourage you to take the time to write a well crafted personal statement. Such a statement demonstrates proper grammar, a logical organization, college-level language and vocabulary, and even a touch of creativity.

• Start early.
• Write an outline, then write your first draft.
• Read your drafts out loud to yourself. Or ask your friends to read them.
• Visit a writing center on campus.

All of these activities take time, which is a scarce resource in the middle of the quarter when you are busy with your courses. But the effort you invest could make a crucial difference in the impact of your application.

Avoid “cute” or “cliché” descriptions of your motivation and interests

Every year the faculty on the admissions committee read about Legos in the personal statements of several applicants. Many students who pursue engineering enjoyed playing with Lego bricks as children (and maybe even still do). Perhaps you look back at your enjoyment of Legos as an early indicator that you were “meant to be an engineer” but the faculty likely do not believe that a student's attraction to playing with plastic blocks has any correlation with their potential success as engineers.

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Applying with the Common App

Only apply once! 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. Should you submit both applications, one will be withdrawn and will not be reviewed. You will not receive a refund of the application fee.

General instructions

Grading scale changes/covid-19 impacts.

Running Start / College in the High School / other dual enrollment

Pre-9th grade courses

International curriculum

All applicants

You must complete your Common App Profile and add the UW to your list of colleges before you can start the UW questions.

Use the College Search to find and add the UW.

Then select the UW to begin the UW questions.

As you move through the application, you will be able to complete only one section at a time. Completion of the sections will be indicated with green check marks. Once you have completed all sections within the Common App profile as well as the UW questions, submit your application, pay the application fee and you’re done! We will contact you if we have any questions or are missing any information.

International applicants

Once you have completed the General , Academics and Contacts section, you will answer the Residency questions. This will determine your application type.

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(s) for grade levels 9 and higher in the Educational background section of the UW application.

Your admissibility will not be impacted if your school changes its grading scale to Pass/No Pass, Credit/No Credit, A/Incomplete, A-C/Incomplete. The holistic review will accommodate all of the various grading policies that school districts implement in a way that neither advantages or disadvantages any applicant. Use the following steps to notify the Office of Admission of a grading scale change when you self report your courses.

Step 1: Add high school information

Before you begin entering your coursework, you will need to add your high school information to the Common App Education section by selecting Find School .

If you took any classes that allowed you to earn college credit, you will also need to add your college information by selecting Colleges & Universities and Find college .

Step 2: High school coursework

Once you have completed the Current or Most recent Secondary/High School and or Colleges & Universities section of the Common App Profile, you will be able to start entering high school coursework in the Courses & Grades section.

If a school changes the grading scale to Pass/No Pass, Credit/No Credit, A/Incomplete, A-C/Incomplete, select A-F in the Grading Scale drop-down menu. Select the grade that fits your school’s grading scale changes by scrolling through the drop-down list for each schedule type indicated.

If you have courses you are currently taking and need to report, add them in the Education section under Current or Most Recent Year Courses .

Select the Course subject from the closest matching option or choose ‘Other/Elective’ if your subject is not on the list. Then enter the Course name for any class that was part of College in the High School or other dual enrollment program.

Running Start, College in the High School, or other dual enrollment classes

Even if you earned college credits while in high school, as long as you have not taken any college-level courses after graduating from high school, you should apply to the UW with the freshman application. Running Start, UW in the High School, College in the High School or other dual enrollment classes should be entered in the Education section. Be sure you have completed the Current or Most Recent Year Courses and the Courses & Grade sections, and indicate all dual enrollment courses.

• Changes to your senior year schedule If you anticipate your senior year schedule might change or you haven’t met with an adviser to make your plans, please let us know in the “Additional information about yourself or your circumstances” writing section.
• Transcripts. Transcripts are not required for admission consideration, and we ask that you do not send them unless requested. However, having an unofficial copy in hand may help you complete the application.

Step 1: Add high school & college information

Make sure you have completed the Courses & Grade section and reported all subjects taken at a College or University, as well as grades received as they appear on your academic transcript.

Step 2: Self-reporting high school courses

Once you have completed the Current or Most recent Secondary/High School section of the Common App Profile, you will be able to start entering high school coursework in the Courses & Grades section.

Select the subject from the closest matching option or choose ‘Other/Elective’ if your subject is not on the list, then enter the Course name for any class that was part of College in the High School or other dual enrollment program.

Select “Dual Enrollment” in the Course Level drop-down menu.

Include courses taken in grades 7 and 8 only if they are high school courses that are also included on your high school transcript. Most applicants have not completed high school courses in grades 7 and 8.

Before you begin entering your courses, you will need to add your high school information to the Common App Education section by selecting Find School . You do not need to list the name of the school at which you took pre-9th grade courses. Instead, use the name of the high school where you received the credit.

Start entering high school courses in the Courses & Grades section. Select the Other Courses selection, then indicate you have other courses on your transcript by selecting Yes .

Select the School Name where you received credit then the School Year where you took this course. For example, students applying for autumn 2023 who took coursework in 8th grade would select the School Year of 2018-19. Finally, enter the rest of the course information.

International Curriculum

Applicants studying foreign/national compulsory curriculum will self-report their yearly coursework for grades 9 -12.

Step 1: Reporting current courses

If you have not yet graduated high school, you will need to report your courses for the current academic year. Complete the Current or Most recent Secondary/High School section of the Common App Profile then you will be able to start entering high school coursework in the Courses & Grades section.

Once you have completed the Education section of the Common App Profile, you will be able to start entering high school coursework in the Courses & Grades section.

Report your coursework and grades listed on your high school transcript by selecting the appropriate grade level.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT report courses for grade 12 if you are currently enrolled for grade 12. Instead, report your coursework in the Current or Most recent Secondary/High School section of the Common App Profile under the Education tab.

Select the School Name, School Year, appropriate Grading Scale, appropriate Schedule for each course .

•        Choose Semesters if your school has two terms per academic year.
•        Choose Trimester if your school has three terms per academic year.
•        Choose Quarter if your school has four terms per academic year.
•       If your grading scale is not listed in the drop-down menu, please select Other.

Select the appropriate Subject , Course Name , and Course Level

•       If your Subject is not listed in the drop-down menu select subject title with other as an option, for example Math (Other) .
•       Report the Course Name exactly as it is listed on your transcript.
•       Select the appropriate Course Level.

Report your final Grades exactly how they are listed on your high school transcript. Do not convert your original grades. If you did not receive a final grade, select N/A.

Enter Credits exactly how they are listed on your high school transcript. Do not convert your credits. If you school does not provide credits, please enter 1 for an entire academic year of study or enter .5 for a half-year of study.

Review the self-reported information that you have provided.

(I)GCSE sample below

China sample below

IB samples below

Step 3: Upload

You are required to upload unofficial copies of transcripts or exam certificates for grades 9-12 if you attended a school outside the U.S. that follows a local or national compulsory curriculum, even if the year was repeated in the U.S.

You do not need to upload or submit unofficial transcripts if you attended a U.S. high school or an international school that follows a U.S.-style curriculum unless requested by the Office of Admissions.

Do not mail transcripts or exam certificates to the Office of Admissions.

British-Style Curriculum

• If you studied a British-style curriculum, such as, (I)GCSE, SPM, Singapore-Cambridge (O-level) submit your exam certificate in addition to your high school transcripts.

India Curriculum

• Applicants will need to upload their scanned unofficial copies of their 10 th year exam certificate and grade 11 transcripts.
• If you have graduated, we will require scanned unofficial copies of your 10 th year and 12 th year exam certificates to complete your application.

China Curriculum

• Submit your transcripts for grades 9 and higher.

Other International Curriculums

• If you have completed any leaving exams, upload scanned copies of your exam certificates.

Current UW Students

Current uw student admission.

The current UW Student admission pathways is for students who complete prerequisites before applying to the major. Most often these students would be 'interest changers' - students who came to UW with another interest in mind and later developed a passion for computer science and computer engineering. UW students apply to both Computer Engineering and Computer Science through a joint online application for Autumn or Spring admission. Applicants who satisfy the minimum prerequisites below will be given thorough consideration by the Allen School Admission Committee. However, because demand exceeds capacity, the Allen School cannot offer admission to all applicants who meet these minimum qualifications.

Applicants must be enrolled at the UW Seattle campus.

Personal Statement Review Resources▼

• A Presentation for you to view that provides best practices and suggestions for how to write a strong personal statement for your application

20 min in-person or virtual 1:1 Peer Adviser Appointments

If you would like to schedule a 1:1 review appointment (in-person or virtual) click here . All in-person appointments will be held in the Bill & Melinda Gates Center building (CSE 2), in the undergraduate student services suite on the first floor.

Additional Questions & Support

If you would like to discuss course planning or have other admission questions, please attend Quick Questions to chat with an Allen School Academic Adviser ( held Tu, W, & Th ). Additionally, all prospective students are highly encouraged to attend a current UW student information session , held on the second Tuesday of each month via Zoom.

Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.

How to Apply

Key dates & deadlines.

The Allen School accepts applications for students to start in both Autumn and Spring quarters, we do not have Winter or Summer admission cycles. Please note: the Allen School departmental application is typically open for about 2 weeks prior to the application deadlines.

Information Sessions

We offer different types of information sessions to support prospective students applying through the current UW student admissions pathway. 

Dates for information sessions are posted on our information sessions webpage .

Application Requirements

Students interested in applying to Computer Science or Computer Engineering must complete at least 30 graded credits (not from AP/IB) and complete the prerequisites listed below by the time of application. Applicants must submit an online application through the application portal , write a personal statement , and fill out a work history section outlining their work & extracurricular involvement.

Computer Science Prerequisites

The Computer Science major is offered through the College of Arts & Sciences. Students applying to this major must complete the following requirements prior to the application deadline:

• Math 124, 125 & 126 (or Honors Math 134, 135, & 136)
• Five credits of science coursework .
• Five credits of English composition coursework .
• CSE 121, 122 & 123 * OR CSE 142 & 143 *
• *While CSE 121 & CSE 142 remain admissions prerequisites, we do not consider them when evaluating grades in pre-requisite courses for current UW students. Additionally, if a student completes CSE 123 or 143 without taking the preceding courses in the series, that is also acceptable for the admissions process.

Computer Engineering Prerequisites

Computer Engineering is an ABET-accredited program offered through the College of Engineering. Students applying to the Computer Engineering major must complete the following requirements prior to the application deadline:

• Math 124, 125 & 126;
• Physics 121;

Advice & FAQs

How is the personal statement evaluated, and what should I discuss in my personal statement?

Our evaluations for all parts of the application are holistic, we consider the whole person, which comes out in the essay, versus just considering grades. We do not provide specific feedback on an applicant's personal statement. However, we provide below an overview of what we ask you to discuss in the personal statement:

Please address all the required topics below. Your responses must be formatted in sections with these exact headings. The response under each heading should be no more than 250 words.

• Tell us about your college career to date, describing your performance, educational path, and academic choices.
• Share what led you to choose to study Computer Science or Computer Engineering.
• Explain any situations that may have had a significant positive or negative impact on your academic progress or curricular choices. What happened, and what was the impact for you?
• Tell us about your future academic goals in college and your career and/or post-graduation plans.
• How will the Allen School help you achieve your goals?
• If you plan to pursue more than one major, tell us why both majors are important to you (if applicable).
• If you will take more than 4 years to graduate, please briefly explain why and discuss your plan for graduating efficiently (if applicable).
• Tell us about any significant communities that you are actively involved with or have recently been a part of within the past two years, and your role in them.
• Why are you involved in these communities?
• How did these communities benefit from your involvement? Emphasize in particular any leadership roles or impact you have had in these communities.
• What perspectives, skills, or insights will you bring to the Allen School community or future work as a result of your participation in these communities?
• Tell us about how any of your identities, perspectives, or life experiences would help you contribute to the Allen School community and the computing field. This could include but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, ability/disability, age, socioeconomic background, academic experience, and veteran status.
• Describe any significant responsibilities you may have in addition to being a student (e.g. parenting responsibilities, work, familial responsibilities). What impact has this had on your college experience?

What are some resources I can use to help me write a strong personal statement?

A good essay conveys important information clearly, but is still concise. Expect that writing your personal statement will take time: start thinking about your essay and writing drafts well before the application deadline.  Plan to have your essay reviewed by a mentor/teacher, parent or friend.

Here are some resources to consult to ensure you submit a statement of the highest quality.

• List of Writing Centers at UW
• UW Writing Resources for Undergraduates
• Webster's Dictionary
• The Elements of Style
• Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
• Common Errors in English

What are my chances of admission?

There are always more qualified applicants than space available in our programs. Therefore, our process is competitive, and we must deny admission to some students with good academic records. We typically have space for approximately 25-35% of all students who apply however this number changes depending on increases in funding. It's also important to note that we do not admit differently between Computer Science and Computer Engineering, we consider all applications together and admit without taking specific major into account. The admit rate in 2020 was 28% (113 admitted/402 applied), in 2021 it was 30% (165 admitted/554 applied), in 2022 it was 30% (134 admitted /444 applied) and in 2023 it was 33% (165 admitted /495 applied)

All applications are reviewed by the Allen School Undergraduate Admission Committee, comprised of faculty and advisers.  We use an evaluative , rather than a quantitative , process in our admission review. This means our decisions are based on more than simply which applicants have the highest grades. We do not tally up points; rather, we form an overall evaluation based on academic background and other factors, such as outside interests and activities, evidence of leadership and a sense of direction, and life experience. We do not expect all students to excel across the board, but achievement in relevant academic areas or evidence of overcoming hardships can strengthen an application.

What factors are considered in the review process?

Here are some points to keep in mind about the Allen School admission process:

• Our goal is to have as complete a picture as we can of your activities, experiences, and academic performance .
• In evaluating transcripts, we look not only at your grades , but at how many courses you have taken each quarter; circumstances (such as employment or activities) that may limit the number and types of courses taken, and the difficulty of each quarter as a whole (insofar as we have access to that information). For example, do you take balanced yet challenging course loads? Are you pursuing honors courses? Negative elements might include a pattern of repeating classes, multiple dropped, withdrawn, or S/NS courses, or selecting schedules with overlapping content.
• We look for breadth in prerequisite coursework as well as in general education classes . For instance, courses in English and Speech Communication can be important to our majors. Many of our upper-division courses demand presentation skills and an ability to communicate among team members. Also, your choice of courses gives us a glimpse of what interests you.
• Your  personal statement is an opportunity for the committee to learn more about what is important to you and why computer science/engineering is of interest.

How are applications to the Allen School evaluated?

Allen School applications are reviewed by a committee of Allen School faculty and staff. We have a rubric that our faculty and staff are trained to follow to ensure that we are reviewing all applications consistently. Generally speaking, we evaluate two pieces of an application: the academic record (grades in prerequisite subject areas and overall grade trends) and the answers to the essay questions. While the rubric provides general guidelines for reviewers, we do have a method for flagging applications that don’t fit the rubric or have other information that needs to be captured during our discussion.

We know that students are curious about how we evaluate applications. Therefore we provide the rubric here for past cycles. You should, however, take note that using this to prepare for an upcoming cycle may not be in your best interest as this rubric is changed and updated every year. The new essay questions or evaluation materials are posted by Nov 15th each year.

Although we post the rubric publicly, please note that we do not conduct any pre-evaluations of a student's application. The best way to prepare an upcoming application is to (1) address all the essay questions thoughtfully, carefully, and substantively and (2) do your best academically in all your coursework. We also highly recommend that all prospective students attend an information session to learn more about the Allen School and our evaluation process. These information sessions are free and open to the public. You can find more about our information sessions online.

What should I do if I am not admitted?

Students applying to the Allen School should consider alternative degree options as well. UW offers many other excellent computing-related majors that are far more than "back-up" plans. Choose a major you enjoy and that will help further your personal, academic, and professional goals. Students in any major may take non-major Allen School courses to build technical skills.

For some students who are denied admission to the Allen School on their first application, applying a second time may make sense. Reapplying does not automatically improve your chance of admission. You must identify what specifically kept you from being competitive the first time, and resolve these issues. Note, however, that the primary reason most students are denied is that space is limited; the Allen School denies many very strong applicants and sometimes there is no specific issue.

For students who decide to reapply, here are some things to consider:

• If your grades in a key area (math, science, English, or CSE) are below the range that is typically competitive for the Allen School, you might improve your application by taking more-advanced classes in the same area. If you have not maintained consistently strong grades across multiple quarters, evaluate the options you have to create stability and work hard at maintaining strong grades. If you tend to pay attention only to the courses that interest you at the expense of everything else, focus on taking a more balanced approach to your coursework.
• Most students planning for a second application will take additional challenging courses in math, science, English, or computer science. Keep in mind that although it may seem appealing to take a  non-major Allen School course , these classes do not count toward Allen School major requirements. Applicants should speak with an Allen School adviser before taking a non-major Allen School class.
• Consider general requirements needed to graduate instead of just courses needed to apply. For example, finish your math and science courses, work towards a minor or another major, and complete your general education requirements.
• Ask for feedback on your personal statement. You might ask friends or family if it captures the most interesting and important details of who you are. Be open to making changes. Also, address what has changed since your first application. Spend time proofreading. Remember that it is more important for us to hear what you are doing presently and hope to accomplish in the future, rather than details about the first time you sat in front of a computer or played your first video game.
• If you have trouble taking tests or organizing your time, consider talking to a counselor at the  Counseling Center  about test-anxiety, test-taking tips, or time management.

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Crafting a Personal Statement

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A Personal Statement is a written component of a student’s application to a graduate or professional degree program that allows a student to explain their reasons for applying, and usually serves as the answer to a specific prompt that is given, such as “How will completing the _____ program at _____ college help you achieve your professional goals?” When no prompt is provided, the goal is to tell your story which creates a more holistic view of who you are and your candidacy.

Connect with us:

Contact us: 9a-5p, M-F | 134 Mary Gates Hall | Seattle, WA 98195 | (206) 543-0535 tel | [email protected]

The Division of Student Life acknowledges the Coast Salish people of this land, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot Nations. Student Life is committed to developing and maintaining an inclusive climate that honors the diverse array of students, faculty, and staff. We strive to provide pathways for success and to purposefully confront and dismantle existing physical, social, and psychological barriers for minoritized students and communities. We engage in this work while learning and demonstrating cultural humility.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

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

Online Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Social Sciences

Personal statement.

All applicants to the UW Online Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Social Sciences program need to submit a personal statement, which should address the four topics listed below.

Your ISS personal statement performs a number of important functions. It gives us an opportunity to become acquainted with your goals, influential learning experiences in your life and your reasons for choosing the ISS program. The personal statement also helps us assess your preparation in the social sciences and your readiness for bachelor’s degree completion. 

Your personal statement is a sample of your college-level writing, and we'll assess it on the following criteria:

• Clarity: The essay is clear at the level of the individual sentence or statement so that the reader understands what you are saying
• Depth: The level of development of your ideas and use of concrete details
• Originality: The grounding of your essay in your individual knowledge and experience, rather than reliance on generalizations

Please do not use AI writing tools such as ChatGPT to generate your statement since it invariably produces writing that is notably unoriginal.

If you're admitted to ISS, your personal statement will be the first step on your path to reflective, integrated learning. It will become the first artifact in your e-portfolio. You’ll be asked to return to this statement in your senior capstone course, ISS 401 , to assess your learning and to better understand your development in the program.

Preparing Your Personal Statement

Your statement should address the following topics and questions in an essay of 750 to 1,000 words:

• Write a brief introduction to your individual story.  That is, create a brief sketch or snapshot of who you are and how you came to be. What facts or events do you believe were most formative? What do you consider essential to a good understanding of your identity? What has your life journey looked like, and how did it bring you to this moment of application to ISS?
• What are your expectations of the ISS program?  What has your educational journey looked like? What do you hope to learn? What life goals — intellectual, personal and professional — will this degree help you accomplish?
• Discuss one significant question, issue or problem in human society that you find meaningful or compelling. Think of the types of stories that grab your attention when you follow the news or interact with social media. Why do you think this social phenomenon or problem is important both to you and others? What aspects of it do you find intriguing, promising or alarming? Use concrete detail in your discussion.
• Describe a memorable or impactful learning experience, something that has stayed with you and remained meaningful.  This could be a particular college-level course, assignment or project you completed. However, you may also describe learning that has happened in other contexts, such as work, a volunteer experience, sport or hobby, etc. The point is to describe what you learned and how you learned it. Again, be as concrete and detailed as possible.

Submitting Your Personal Statement

Instructions for submitting your statement vary depending on your applicant type. Please click the relevant link below for additional application instructions, including how to submit your ISS personal statement.

• New Students : Students from UW Evening Degree, UW Bothell and UW Tacoma, along with transfer students from other institutions
• Returning UW Seattle Students : Former UW Seattle students who have not been enrolled for at least two consecutive quarters
• Continuing UW Seattle Students : Currently enrolled UW Seattle students who want to change their major to ISS

In This Section

• Info Sessions & Events
• New Students
• Returning UW Seattle Students
• Continuing UW Seattle Students
• Postbaccalaureate UW Students

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Apply to the Economics Major

On this page:.

Updates & Announcements Application Requirements When to Apply Admissions: By the Numbers The Personal Statement The Holistic Review Tutoring Resources Frequently Asked Questions Information Sessions

Updates & Announcements

Spring 2024 Admission Cycle (for 2024 Autumn Quarter Admission to ECON) Updates: The Undergraduate Programs Application for the Spring 2024 cycle is now closed. Application results were sent to each applicant, via email, on May 6th, 2024.

Autumn 2024 Admission Cycle (for 2025 Winter Quarter Admission to ECON) Updates:

The Undergraduate Application and the RTW Registration for the Autumn 2024 Admission Cycle are not yet open. As soon as updates are available, we can notify you via email --   Sign up to be notified!   (@uw.edu login required)

Application Requirements

The following materials and criteria are required for a complete application to the Department of Economics:

• Eligible applicants must be accepted and be currently-enrolled UW students with 45 credits completed. For more information about admission to the UW as a first-year student or transfer student, see here .
• Prospective Transfer Students : Please see our website detailing the Direct-to-Major Transfer Admission Pathway . Keep in mind that a numerical grade in each prerequisite course is required before applying to the Economics major. In addition, general resources regarding transferring to the UW can be found at the university's Transfer Planning Resources page. 
• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science
• These courses must be completed with a standard/numerical grade. Credits earned through  Advanced Placement (AP) , International Baccalaureate (IB) , or Advanced Level (A-Level) exam scores are acceptable.
• Prerequisite courses may not be in-progress. Courses must be completed before applying.
• Each course may only be repeated one time each. Applicants may enter the higher of the two grades earned in a repeated course for consideration.

"Extraordinary Circumstances Quarters" Note: As UW students have been uniquely impacted by the current global pandemic, certain academic quarters have been deemed “Extraordinary Circumstances Quarters” by the Office of the University Registrar. As a result, UW students have the option to change their original/numerical grade to the “S/NS Grading Option” for these quarters, and “S” grade designations can be counted toward degree requirements. Applicants to the Department of Economics may enter-in “S” as their grade for the “prerequisite” courses, when prompted on the application form. For details on this updated policy, see here .

• Incomplete forms will not be considered.
• Link to Application
• Unofficial Transcripts may be saved as a PDF from the Academics tab of your MyUW. ( See an example! )
• Official Transcripts are not required.
• Cumulative UW GPA must be above 2.5 to be eligible for application
• If you need additional help accessing your UW Unofficial Transcript, click here for detailed instructions.
• Please include a transcript from your other institution(s) in PDF format. Unofficial Transcripts are acceptable. Official transcripts are not required.
• See the personal statement prompt below.  
• Please see  RTW Exam website  for details.
• We advise students to take the RTW in the same admission cycle that they are applying.
• Students applying to switch from the Bachelor of Arts to the Bachelor of Science do not need to retake the RTW, and may have their previous RTW score considered, if preferred.
• RTW scores will be reported directly to the Department of Economics. Students do not need to supply their RTW score on their applications.
• Students  receiving  scores below 3 will not be admitted except in very rare/unique situations.  
• For those planning to pursue a double major or double degree, please submit a PDF of your MyPlan, showing your quarterly plans from the quarter you are applying through graduation as accurately as possible. We understand that plans are not permanent and can change, but we want all applicants to be well-aware of their academic plans, especially in regard to the UW's  Satisfactory Progress Policies .

See here for instructions on how to create a PDF of your MyPlan.

When to Apply?

Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on the second Friday of the quarter.

Applicants will be notified of their results by the end of the 6th week of that quarter/cycle, in time to register for the subsequent quarter.

You may refer to the UW Academic Calendar to identify when each quarter begins and when each "Second Friday" application deadline will be.

Admissions: By the Numbers

The Department of Economics is a  capacity-constrained  major. Meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee admission to the major.

(These GPAs are averages, not cutoffs; roughly half of the students accepted to the major in Spring 2024, for example, had prerequisite and overall GPAs lower than 3.58 and 3.67, respectively. The admissions considerations are holistic. Please be aware that the admissions committee considers many factors when making its decisions, including cumulative GPA, prerequisite GPA, RTW score, the overall strength of the applicant’s academic background/transcript, and the quality of the applicant’s personal statement.)

*Prerequisite coursework included in this average are ECON 200, ECON 201, Statistics, and MATH 124 coursework. English Composition is omitted from this average.

**Average Overall GPA included in this average is a combined calculation of student applicants' UW GPA and any GPAs from transferred coursework.

The Personal Statement

Please submit a personal statement with your completed application. You may discuss some or all of the following that pertains to you:

• Describe an experience where your background, identity, or interests have helped to shape your educational goals.
• If you have faced a hardship, setback, or challenge, how did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? If the causes for the recent “extraordinary circumstances” quarters (Winter 2020, Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Autumn 2020, & Winter 2021) impacted your ability to succeed, please briefly describe.
• If you are pursuing a double major or double degree, why are both academic programs important to you?
• If you have previously applied to this program, what has improved since your previous application?

Maximum parameters: 

• 1 single-sided page
• typed & double-spaced
• 12pt. Times New Roman font
• 0.5” margins

See an example!

There is no word limit, but the above parameters are required. Applicants will be prompted to upload a PDF file of their Personal Statement in the Undergraduate Application Form.

The Personal Statement is an important piece of your application. Please be sure to address the prompt(s), and adhere to the parameters.

UW has plenty of resources that can help you write a great personal statement:

• Odegaard Writing & Research Center
• The Writing Center at The Center for Learning & Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE)
• The Writing Center at the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity Instructional Center (OMA/D IC)
• Applications & Personal Statements resource page by UW Academic Support Programs

The Holistic Review (i.e. How will my application be considered?)

In reviewing each application, a broad range of factors are taken into consideration. All aspects of the application are highly-considered -- Prerequisite course grades, overall academic performance, RTW exam results, and the personal statement. Each component of the application should complement each other, and showcase a student's interests and abilities toward studying economics as they earn their UW degree. For example, if a student mentions high enthusiasm in learning economics, then that enthusiasm should also be reflected in the student's grades in economics-related coursework, as well as their result on their RTW exam, etc.

For students with credits and transcripts from other institutions, it's important for us to see a student's progress through each academic term. This is why we request for each applicant to submit a transcript for each college-level institution attended. We are aware that a "transfer credits summary" typically appears on your UW transcript. However, this does not provide us with complete information about the transfer courses taken.

This holistic approach in reviewing applications to the Department of Economics allows our program to focus beyond just a few factors, and consider the applicant as a whole.

Tutoring Resources

There are a number a tutoring resources available at the UW for courses such as ECON 200, ECON 201, introductory statistics and calculus.

• Economics Tutoring Resources
• Math Study Center
• Statistics Tutor & Study Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have some questions? Please be sure to check out Frequently Asked Questions page.

Information Sessions

Interested students are also highly-encouraged to attend a Prospective Student Information Session  for an in-depth look at the application & admissions process.

The University of Washington, as a standing policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran. Any discriminatory action can be a cause for disciplinary action. This policy applies to all University programs and facilities including, but not limited to, admissions, educational programs, and employment. Such discrimination is prohibited by Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age discrimination in Employment Act Amendments of 1978, Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, other federal and state statutes and regulations, and university policy. Inquiries regarding the application of these laws and regulations to the University may be directed to the University’s Equal Employment Officer; to the director; Seattle Regional Office, Office for Civil Rights, US. Department of Education; or to the director, Seattle Area Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Department of Labor.

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Application review process

There are always more qualified applicants than space available in our nursing programs. Therefore, our process is competitive, and we have to deny admission to some students with good academic records.

All applications are holistically reviewed by program-specific admissions committees, comprised of faculty and staff. Committee members read applications prior to a committee meeting where all applicants are discussed.

Even when taking many factors into consideration, it is sometimes difficult to provide specific feedback on why a student has been denied admission. This section provides information that may help you better understand our decision-making factors and how you can strengthen your application in the future.

What is a “holistic review”?

We use an  evaluative  rather than a  quantitative  process in our admissions review. This means our decisions are based on more than simply which applicants have the highest grades.

We form an overall evaluation based on academic background and other factors, such as outside interests and activities, evidence of leadership and a sense of direction, and life experience.

We do not expect all students to excel across the board, but achievement in relevant academic areas or evidence of overcoming hardships can strengthen an application.

What it means to be on the waitlist

The UW School of Nursing has extremely limited space in all degree programs. Competitive applicants who we do not have enough space to admit to a particular program or track will be offered a place on our waitlist.

Frequently, offers of admission are made to competitive applicants whose plans may change or they decide to accept an offer from another school. If an admitted applicant forfeits their offer of admission, we contact the next person on the waitlist.

Because we have no control over any individual’s plan to accept an offer of admission, there is no way to know if or when a space will open up for anyone who is on the waitlist. There are many considerations in addition to the instructions stated in your letter:

• The SoN makes offers from the waitlist until the last possible date where a prospective student can realistically meet compliance requirements necessary to begin the program. Sometimes, students are admitted off the waitlist up until one week prior to the beginning of the quarter the program begins.
• Waitlist lengths are limited to a number that is realistic in terms of how many spaces we think may open up any given year. In other words, we do not want to “tow anyone along.” If you were offered a waitlist slot, the faculty believe there is a possibility that space may open up and you could be offered a spot in the program.
• If a space opens up for you, we contact you immediately by email. If you do not hear from us, you can assume that there is no space at this time. If your contact information has or will be changing from what you submitted in your application,  log into the application portal to update your contact information.
• Historically, there is no consistent pattern and thus, there is no way to predict exactly how a waitlist will run for a program or track. Some years, we go through the entire waitlist. Some years, only a few spots open up. It is rare that everyone who is made an offer of admission accepts it.

If not admitted

Bachelor of science in nursing (bsn) and accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (absn) programs.

Many factors contribute to why the admissions committee may have denied an applicant. Each applicant is scored and considered in relation to their competitiveness within the entire pool of applicants.

If you were not invited to the proctored essay

• Overall academic record
• Personal statement
• Letter of recommendation
• Background and healthcare experience

If you were not admitted to the BSN/ABSN program

• Minimum requirements were not met. For example, an application was submitted despite not meeting stated prerequisite, grade, GPA, or application completion criteria. Or, if minimum requirements were met, it is possible that an applicant was denied based on a low ranking within the entire applicant pool.
• An applicant is considered an academic risk if they have repeated and/or withdrawn from several Natural Sciences courses in order to meet the minimum GPA requirement for the program. Or, there may not have been enough evidence that an applicant could adequately handle the rigorous workload. Though the applicant may have met the minimum requirement, a pattern of repeats, withdrawals, or inconsistent performance makes them less competitive within the context of the entire pool that applied at the same time.
• The applicant may have expressed minimal or less relevant healthcare experience in relation to their stated goals or in relation to the pool of overall applicants. Specifically, an applicant must clearly articulate a match between their experiences and goals as related to nursing. Please learn more about the  hands-on healthcare experience requirement .
• The applicant did not clearly articulate how their background, experience, and goals have prepared them to succeed in the program and in the profession. For example, if an applicant did not follow directions for how to format their resumes, the admissions committee was unable to ascertain information about an applicant’s health experience, community service and involvement, leadership, and training and certifications. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide evidence in the application that they are a solid fit with the program and profession.
• The applicant submitted inconsistent or inappropriate essay responses for the personal statements by not indicating a clear line of thinking with supported rationale, evidence of critical thinking and self-reflection, or problem solving. Some applicants fail to respond to the actual essay prompts. The components of the application are designed to glean whether an applicant possesses the “ Essential Qualifications for BSN and ABSN Students .”
• The overall presentation of the application did not indicate to reviewers a level of maturity, self-awareness, and/or self-reflection necessary to succeed in the program, which is academically and personally demanding.

This is not an exhaustive list, but does summarize and highlight the most common reasons for denial of admission. If you are considering applying to the program at a later date or if you seek more information about how your file was reviewed, we highly recommend that you attend and/or  listen to an ABSN/BSN Information Session .

Additionally, we go over each application requirement with the aim of transparently informing applicants exactly how and why the admissions committee weighs an application fairly within an extremely competitive pool.  Visit our information session web page  to find ways to improve upon your application should you decide to reapply.

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UW Seattle Personal Statement

Now that UW is on common app, can we use our common app essay 4 the personal statement?

I worked really hard on my common app essay so I would like to submit it. Technically the common app essay isn't required for UW

TLDR: is the personal statement and common app essay interchangeable?

When is tax time? Here's what you need to know before filing your 2023-24 tax return

The end of the financial year is almost here, which means a lot of Australians are turning their attention to their tax returns.

There are a few key dates to be aware of before you start preparing your return.

Here's what you need to know — including the ATO impersonation scams to watch out for.

When is the end of the financial year?

The last day of the current financial year — which is 2023-24 — is June 30.

The first day of the 2024-25 financial year is July 1.

This year, June 30 falls on a Sunday and July 1 falls on a Monday.

When is tax time?

Not until next week. 

You can lodge your tax return as early as July 1 , but you do have more than 17 weeks to do it.

The ATO actually recommends submitting your tax return in late July.

This is because the ATO will pre-fill a range of information into your return for you, and this takes them a few weeks to collect.

When are tax returns due?

October 31.

But that's only if you're doing it yourself.

If you're going through a tax agent, you'll be eligible for an extended tax return deadline.

This deadline can vary depending on circumstances, but can be as late as May 15.

But it's important to note that if you go through a tax agent you have to book your appointment before October 31 — but that doesn't mean your appointment has to be before October 31.

What happens if I miss the tax deadline?

You'll still be able to lodge your tax return after the deadline, but you may cop a fine from the ATO.

The fine for failing to pay on time is $330.

You'll also be charged a further $330 for every 28 days the return is overdue.

While this amount is capped, it could end up costing you up to $1,650.

When do tax returns get paid?

Within 12 business days .

That's for most electronically lodged current year tax returns.

If you can't lodge electronically, the ATO says a paper tax return can take up to 50 days to process.

When is my tax bill due?

If you owe the ATO a bill, you're going to have to send them the outstanding tax.

This has to be paid in full by November 21 .

Interest will apply to any outstanding amount that isn't paid by then.

What are the tax brackets?

Australian residents are taxed on the amount of taxable income they receive during the financial year.

For the 23/24 financial year, the tax rates are as follows:

The above rates do not include the Medicare levy of 2 per cent.

Now, you might remember there was a lot of debate about Australia's tax brackets a few months ago.

The federal government announced changes to the tax brackets under a policy known as the Stage 3 Tax Cuts , which passed parliament back in February.

But these changes won't take effect until July 1. 

This means the old tax rates will apply to the tax return you file for the financial year that's about to end.

But you should notice the changes in your pack packet from July 1 because slightly less tax will be deducted from your take-home pay.

Do I need to do a tax return if I don't earn enough to pay tax?

If you earned $18,200 or less over the whole financial year, you won't pay any tax on that income.

However, you still may need to file a return .

Here's just a few of the reasons the ATO gives for requiring a tax return:

• Had pay as you go (PAYG) withheld from payments received during the year
• Had a reportable fringe benefits amount on their income statement or PAYG payment summary
• Had reportable employer superannuation contributions on their income statement or PAYG payment summary

To find out more, it's best to check the ATO website or use its online Do I need to lodge a tax return? tool .

Where can I find my tax file number?

Your tax file number (TFN) is a personal reference number you use for tax and superannuation.

You can find your TFN:

• Online through myGov
• On your income tax notice of assessment
• On a payment summary or income statement from your employer
• On your superannuation account statement

If you use a registered tax agent, you can also ask them for your TFN.

Watch out for tax time scammers

Tax time has also increased the amount of scammers impersonating ATO employees.

More than 1,668 ATO impersonation scams were flagged in May .

"Scammers use fake myGov websites to steal your sign-in credentials and gain access to your myGov account," the ATO says.

"Once the scammer has access, they can make fraudulent lodgements in your name and also change bank details so that any payments are redirected to a scammers' account."

Here's how to keep yourself safe from scams this tax time.

Don't click on the link

The first sign of a scam text or email is a hyperlink.

"The ATO and myGov won't send you an SMS or email with a link to access online services," the ATO said in a warning on its website .

"These should be accessed directly by typing ato.gov.au or my.gov.au into your browser."

But it's easy to be tricked by them, because the hyperlink text might look like the legitimate URL or be disguised in a shortened URL.

Here's an example of a scam text message:

And, in an email, the scammer might use branding from the ATO of myGov to look more authentic.

But this imagery is easy to fake.

And here's an example of a scam email:

"The link takes you to a fake myGov website designed to steal your information," a Services Australia website warning says.

"This is also called a phishing link.

"Phishing is a way for scammers to steal your personal information."

Don't open the attachments

Some emails may not have a link, but that doesn't mean they're legitimate.

Some scammers will instead try to convince people to open a PDF sent as an attachment with the email.

But don't click that either.

Scammers play on your fears

Fraudsters will be very specific with their phrasing to trick you into opening these links.

They might use formal, professional language to strike a serious, anxiety-inducing tone.

Here's a bunch of different phrases the ATO gave as examples of scam messages that are being sent:

You are due to receive an ATO Direct refund

You have a new message in your myGov inbox – click here to view

You need to update your details to allow your Tax return to be processed

We need to verify your incoming tax deposit

ATO Refund failed due to incorrect BSB/Account number

Your income statement is ready, click on the link to view

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Tax time is fast approaching and the ato has a warning to those with work-from-home claims.

Australian register of stolen data blocks more than 300,000 attempts of identity fraud

You can now dob in text scammers from at least one mobile company. How does it work?

• Consumer Finance

Want to watch presidential debate between Biden and Trump without cable? Here’s how to stream

Mark your calendars for tomorrow night — Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden will go head-to-head against Republican frontrunner and former President  Donald Trump in the first presidential debate of the year.

Hosted by CNN, the debate will last 90 minutes and introduce some new rules to the format. Both candidates have  accepted the network’s invitation and agreed to accept the rules  and format of the debate, according to CNN.

Here is what to know beforehand and how you can watch the upcoming presidential debate:

When is the presidential debate? What time is the presidential debate?

The first presidential debate will take place Thursday, June 27 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT at CNN's Atlanta studios. It will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and CNN Max.

Can I watch the debate if I don’t have cable?

For those without a cable subscription, the debate will be  streaming on CNN.com . ABC will be streaming the debate on Hulu starting at 7 p.m.

A live stream of the ‘CNN Presidential Debate’ will be also available on  USA TODAY via YouTube .

Who will moderate June's presidential debate with Biden and Trump?

The debate will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, according to a statement from CNN’s press room.

Are there any rules to CNN's presidential debate?

According to the network, the new rules for the 90-minute debate will include no studio audience, no interaction from campaign staff, no use of notes and no interrupting.

Microphones will also be muted except for that candidate's allotted time to speak. The moderators “will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion,” according to the network.

Both campaigns have agreed to the new rules.

Who's running for president 2024?

Along with Biden and Trump, most notable candidates that may make ballots are Robert F. Kennedy Jr., running as an Independent, and Chase Oliver, running under the Libertarian Party.

Kennedy and Oliver will not be participating in the debate.

When is the General Election in November?

The General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

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Live: Fact-checking Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s first 2024 presidential debate

If your time is short.

• PolitiFact's live blog is closed. Read our full coverage of the debate in this roundup story.
• Was there something Trump or Biden said at the debate you think we should check? Send it to us at [email protected] so we can investigate.

PolitiFact live fact-checked the first 2024 presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on June 27 with  CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

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Thomas L. Friedman

Joe Biden Is a Good Man and a Good President. He Must Bow Out of the Race.

By Thomas L. Friedman

Opinion Columnist, reporting from Lisbon

I watched the Biden-Trump debate alone in a Lisbon hotel room, and it made me weep. I cannot remember a more heartbreaking moment in American presidential campaign politics in my lifetime, precisely because of what it revealed: Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election. And Donald Trump, a malicious man and a petty president, has learned nothing and forgotten nothing. He is the same fire hose of lies he always was, obsessed with his grievances — nowhere close to what it will take for America to lead in the 21st century.

The Biden family and political team must gather quickly and have the hardest of conversations with the president, a conversation of love and clarity and resolve. To give America the greatest shot possible of deterring the Trump threat in November, the president has to come forward and declare that he will not be running for re-election and is releasing all of his delegates for the Democratic National Convention.

The Republican Party, if its leaders had an ounce of integrity, would demand the same, but it won’t, because they don’t. That makes it all the more important that Democrats put the country’s interests first and announce that a public process will begin for different Democratic candidates to compete for the nomination — town halls, debates, meetings with donors, you name it. Yes, it could be chaotic and messy when the Democratic convention starts on Aug. 19 in Chicago, but I think the Trump threat is sufficiently grave that delegates could quickly rally around a consensus nominee.

If Vice President Kamala Harris wants to compete, she should. But voters deserve an open process in search of a Democratic presidential nominee who can unite not only the party but also the country, by offering something neither man on that Atlanta stage did on Thursday night: a compelling description of where the world is right now and a compelling vision for what America can and must do to keep leading it — morally, economically and diplomatically.

Because this is no ordinary hinge of history we are at. We are at the start of the biggest technological disruptions and the biggest climate disruption in human history. We are at the dawn of an artificial intelligence revolution that is going to change EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE — how we work, how we learn, how we teach, how we trade, how we invent, how we collaborate, how we fight wars, how we commit crimes and how we fight crimes. Maybe I missed it, but I did not hear the phrase “artificial intelligence” mentioned by either man at the debate.

If there was ever a time that the world needed an America at its best, led by its best, it is now — for great dangers and opportunities are now upon us. A younger Biden could have been that leader, but time has finally caught up with him. And that was painfully and inescapably obvious on Thursday.

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