<p>Hi, was just polishing off my personal statement and figured I'd ask what my chances were at UW:S before throwing down 60 bucks on it.</p>
<p>Highlights:
-Non-trad. I'm older than most at 32.
-Currently enrolled at a Washington Community College. Maintaining a 4.0 while taking between 20 and 25 credits of science and math (75 credits so far).
-Tutor at the Math Center.</p>
<p>Lowlights:
-Poor performance at school my first time around (around a 2.5), it's been 10 years though.</p>
<p>Interesting things about me:
-I can attribute at least some of my poor previous performance at school on a metastatic thyroid tumor that I had diagnosed and removed shortly after dropping out.
- I've spent the last 10 years working with developmentally disabled adults</p>
<p>Actual Questions:
-So I've excelled at school my second time around. How much will current performance matter compared to the older stuff?
-Cancer. yeah. Sad panda blah blah blah. It's an interesting thing and it factors into my personal statement rather heavily. Will this be viewed as trying to garner sympathy or is it an actual meaningful thing to mention?
-Is it worth mentioning my work with developmentally disabled adults, or that I've volunteered at a local free clinic for the past year? 1000 words is a pretty limited space and I want to make sure they're used well.
-Anyone want to read my PS and tell me if it sucks? (had to try)</p>
<p>Thanks in Advance. Hoping to join you guys next Autumn!</p>
<p>You have very strong stats and you can significantly contribute to UW’s community. You should get in. If you aren’t rich, you might get a waiver for the application fee right after your online application.</p>
<p>1) A lot. I don’t think they will even look much at your old grades.
2) No, unless you shape the whole statement around it.
3) Definitely. At least briefly.</p>
<p>You’re a shoe-in. As far as the personal statement goes, as long as you are matter of fact about everything, and don’t sound self-pitying, you’ll be fine. Good luck!</p>
<p>Not only should you get into UW, but I think you’ll offer a very useful perspective in a lot of courses that you’ll be taking with young, naive students. Good luck!</p>
<p>So something I noticed after I submitted my application (whoops) On the Areas of Knowledge section of the application it says it was expected that you’d not have the entire thing filled out, and perhaps preferred, but then in the CADR section (which seemed mostly geared towards incoming Freshmen from High School?) they mentioned having .5 credits in Visual, Literary, and Preforming Arts for applying. That was the section I was unable to fill out (bazillion NW and I/S credits though!). </p>
<p>How screwed am I, and is it worth it to take 25 credits in a quarter to get some credits before I hopefully matriculate? Thanks again.</p>
<p>I think you should be able to get in pretty easily. Otherwise, they must have made a mistake somewhere. And you will be fine that you don’t have the recommended VLPA. You’ll just have to take some more VLPA credits at the UW before you graduate.</p>