Important Information

The UW School of Social Work seeks to enroll well-qualified students with diverse backgrounds. We especially seek applicants committed to working with diverse populations. BASW admission is selective and is based on academic performance and potential, clarity and appropriateness of career objectives, understanding of social issues, and knowledge of diverse populations. Our commitment to diversity is elaborated in our Essential Skills, Values and Standards of Professional Conduct page. All applicants should carefully review these essential abilities before completing the BASW application.

The BASW application for Fall 2019 is now closed. Applications for Fall 2019 are currently being reviewed and students can expect to hear back about their admissions decision in late May/early June. Please direct questions to the UW School of Social Work Admissions Office: (206) 543-5676 or baswapp@uw.edu.

Completing the BASW Application is a three-step process (here is a checklist to assist you with this process):

  1. The BASW application is an online application accessible here. The online application must be completed in one sitting - it is not possible to save a partially completed application and return to it later, and requires that you upload the required supporting materials described below. We recommend that you prepare these documents before starting the application, and preview the application first so that you know what to expect. Rather than opening them in your browser, please download and save forms to your computer.  The forms can be completed, signed (For more detailed information on adding electronic signatures to PDF forms, please visit this site), and saved using Adobe Reader version 8 or later.  The latest version of Adobe Reader may be downloaded here for free.  If you experience problems, check to make sure you have downloaded the forms and opened the downloaded file in Adobe Reader (not your internet browser).

  2. When you reach the Required Application Materials section that asks you to upload documents, use the downloadable PDF forms available below to complete the section. Please make sure to submit all forms as PDFs and to name forms using the format "Last Name_First Name_document.pdf." Before proceeding to the next step, please make sure to check that all documents uploaded correctly and that forms are not blank, blurry, or incomplete. 

  3. To complete your application file, one Recommendation for Admission form must be received by the deadline.  You must download and fill out the top portion of the Recommendation for Admission form, and email the form to your reference to complete. Instruct them to complete the remainder of the form and email it to baswapp@uw.edu by the deadline.  Within 48 hours of us receiving the recommendation form from your reference, we will e-mail you to confirm it has been received. Please note that you will not receive a confirmation email until after you have submitted your application. You’ll want to give your reference sufficient time to complete the letter of recommendation form.

 

 

Access the BASW Online Application portal here.

The BASW Online Application must be completed in one sitting; it is not possible to save a partially completed application and return to complete it later. Therefore, please have a strong and reliable internet connection and ensure you have sufficient time before starting the application form. 

The BASW application is hosted on a Google platform which means that a Google account is necessary to complete the application. If you do not already have a Google account, please create one for the purpose of submitting the application. We will ask for your preferred email later in the application which will be used for all admissions related communication. 

Respond to the questions, which ask you to provide basic contact information as well as general applicant information. You will also enter prerequisite course information and respond to three short answer questions (responses may be no more than 1,000 characters each).  Those questions are also copied below for your reference, to plan ahead:

Answer the following three short answer questions, to help the admissions committee contextualize your strengths and personal history. Your responses may be no more than 1000 characters each (including spaces):

  1.  Please share a situation where you have faced an obstacle/adversity. How did you handle the situation? What did you learn from the situation that is relevant to social work?
  2. In what ways will you be a strong contributing member of the BASW major/School of Social Work Community? 
  3. Optional: Our goal is to admit students who are prepared to be successful academically, and we understand that people's journeys are complicated. If you have classes on your transcript in which you earned lower than a 2.0 or did not successfully complete (earning grades such as 0.0, NS, NC, W), you are invited to give any information that might help us understand better how your situation or skills have changed since that time.​

*DO NOT edit this PDF form directly in your web browser. This has been known to cause problems. 

Download the BASW Application Signature Form by clicking here. 

Download the form and fill out all fields.  Check the necessary boxes and include a signature and date at the bottom.  Save the form and upload it in the designated space in the application.

*DO NOT edit this PDF form directly in your web browser. This has been known to cause problems.

Washington State law requires that all individuals who have access to children under 16 years of age, persons with developmental disabilities, and vulnerable adults disclose background information concerning crimes and offenses against these populations. For more information, please refer to the Background Check and Personal Disclosure Statement memo.

Download the form here. Fill out all fields. Check the necessary boxes and include BOTH SIGNATURES AND DATES (two are required) at the bottom.  Save the form and upload it in the designated space in the application.

*DO NOT edit this PDF form directly in your web browser. This has been known to cause problems.

Download the Social Service Experience Form by clicking here.
Fill out the Social Service Experience Form with your paid and unpaid social service or human service experience.  Save the form and upload it in the designated space in the dropbox.  Consider “social service experience” to mean experiences where you helped other humans in ways that align with the School of Social Work mission statement. Feel free to use this guide to assist you in identifying relevant experience.

  • Include the number of hours you worked each week and the total number of hours worked in each position.
  • Identify if it was a paid or volunteer position.
  • Calculate and report your total reported hours at the bottom of this form.

Make extra copies of the sheet if you need to list additional experiences

Submit an up-to-date résumé no longer than two (2) pages in length, by uploading it to the designated space in the application in PDF format. As the résumé is a critical element in the review of your qualifications, it is very important that you carefully follow these instructions – in your résumé, include:

  • Educational background
  • Paid work experience: dates, number of hours per month, employer name and address, job title, brief overview of job responsibilities
  • Volunteer and community service experience (dates, number of hours per month, organization name, duties/roles)
  • Student leadership experience (dates, number of hours per month, organization name, your title, duties/roles)
  • Awards, honors, and special achievements you have earned (academic, work, volunteer)
  • Special skills (e.g. bilingual skills, artistic talent, research skills)
  • International experience (length of time, brief description of your activities)

Submit an essay, following the guidelines below, by uploading it to the designated space in the application in PDF format. The admissions essay is a critical element in the review of your qualifications. Carefully follow the instructions we provide as thoroughly as possible and stay within the essay length limits set.

The essay should be two (2) pages maximum, machine-generated, double-spaced with a font size of 12pt and one-inch margins. Save the document as one single PDF file.

Prompt: The UW School of Social Work seeks to promote social and economic justice in underrepresented and underserved communities. Write a statement discussing how your personal, academic, volunteer and/or work experiences have led you to the Social Welfare major. How do your experiences and goals fit with our mission, inspire you to serve others, and inform your career aspirations?

 

You must submit a transcript(s) from EVERY college you’ve attended, by uploading the transcript(s) to the designated space(s) in the application in PDF format. Students who are currently attending the University of Washington are not exempt from this requirement, and must upload a UW transcript.

  • Unofficial transcripts (e.g. a scanned copy of an official transcript) are acceptable, but must be legible and complete.  Blurry or incomplete documents will not be accepted. Transcripts must clearly show the name of your university/college, all course and grade information, cumulative GPA, etc.

Official transcripts are not required at time of application. If you are offered admission, you will be required to submit official/final transcripts at that time. Your final official transcript should show all prerequisite courses, credits and/or degrees earned.
 

Download the Recommendation for Admission form by clicking here.

One written Recommendation for Admission form must be submitted to baswapp@uw.edu – by the applicant’s reference (not the applicant) – by the application deadline of April 15th at 11:59pm. This reference must be the person that you identified as your reference on the online BASW application.

The written Recommendation for Admission (from a Faculty member, Advisor, Work Supervisor, etc.) should be used to support your social service background or academic preparedness. Family members, intimate partners and personal friends are not appropriate references. Process:

  1. Download and fill out the top portion of the Recommendation for Admission form. In particular, read and respond to the statement regarding Public Law 93-380. It is important for the person writing the Recommendation for Admission and the Admissions Committee to know what decision you have made regarding this right of review.
  2. Once you have filled out that information in the top portion of the form, save the PDF (with the top portion completed) and email it to your reference. Instruct them to complete the remainder of the form and email it to baswapp@uw.edu by the deadline. Your reference must use that PDF form (we do not accept emails or mailed letters) and may also submit an additional, separate letter if desired.
  3. Within 48 hours of us receiving the recommendation form from your reference, we will e-mail you to confirm it has been received. Please note that you will not receive a confirmation email until after you have submitted your application. 

Here is a sample email template you could use if you wish:
Thank you for agreeing to provide a recommendation for my application to the UW Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare Program. Please find attached the required form to be used in submitting my reference.  When complete, please send the finished copy to baswapp@uw.edu by 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2019.
Remember to attach the form!

 

Complete the remaining required fields, then submit the application as instructed. A message will display, confirming that the application (and uploaded documents) has been successfully submitted.  To complete your application file, one Recommendation for Admission form must be received by the deadline.