Chances? (Unoffficial transcript trick?)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Washington
1

Hi, everyone!
I would really appreciate if you guys could give me an input on my chances of getting into UW. My GPA is lower than most but I was wondering if I still had a possibility of getting in. UW (Seattle) is my top choice and I’m starting to get nervous about my chances. I was wondering if someone could also explain to me the unofficial transcript check in detail for me? Thanks for all your help!

O.O.S student:
Nevada

INTENDED MAJOR:
communications

Information about my School:
Bishop Gorman High School, number 1 in Nevada

GPA Unweighted: 3.27

ACT:
Composite 28
English 30
Math 24
Reading 31
Science 26
Writing 08

SAT:
Composite 1930 or 1940
Verbal/Reading 640, 660
Math 640, 650
Writing 650, 630

Rigor:
I took all honors classes. No APs. But no regular classes either.

EC:
-School Television Show (Executive Producer; 4 years)
-100+ community service hours at Food Pantry (2 years)

  • Charity Donation Board (Treasurer; 4 years)
  • Paid Work at Online News Station (permanent anchor; 2 years)
    -BGHS Football Videographer (Executive Film Director; 1 year) I worked with ESPN and the number one high school football team in the nation
    (I did others that I wasn’t able to list on my app)

Essays:

Personal Statement (What obstacle did I overcome and what did l learn)

  • Summary: I wrote about my sophomore year experience and how I was placed on medical leave for the whole year due to sporadic and uncontrollable fainting spells. I basically wrote about how it changed my grades and affected my GPA is a dramatically bad way, it changed me as a whole person in a great way that attending school that year wouldn’t have done. I also explained how it through being in the hospital all year I managed to keep up my course work at the same time AND return to school.

Short Response (What could I contribute to the University of Washington?)

  • Summary: I explained how I rely on facts and figures to form my opinions. I explore both sides in an opposition and will defend the side with facts on their case. I explained how I tend to be as unbiased and honest as possible and how to bring this honesty to my intended career path (broadcast media). I want to solely rely on authentic information even if the truth is harsh so that others can form their own independent opinions.

Additional Information About yourself:

  • Summary: I was required to explain my medical leave in this section. I basically made this the analytical version of my seizure/fainting spells. I explained what happened medically and why it adversely affected my grades. I also explained how I recovered from it and should be all healthy now.

I was wondering if my medical reasons, test scores, and EC activities (they highly relate to my major) would make up for my average GPA? Ask any questions you may have! Thanks again!

2

Your test scores are decent, and you have good ECs that focuses on your major and on helping others in the community. Workload seems OK (should have taken some APs but what’s done is done). Now, your GPA is the red flag here, but you had a unique condition. Assuming your essays are well written about your condition and yourself, then I think you have a decent shot of receiving acceptance. If you need some sort of comfort, look at my post and compare your stats to mine. Your stats are much better… Best of luck!

3

I’ll explain the unofficial transcript trick. It doesn’t work for everyone but if it works, then you’re pretty much in. It tends to load up to a week prior to receiving the acceptance letter.

To check if yours loaded, you’ll need to log into MyUW using your NetID. To create your NetID, you basically use the same username and password you used to apply to the university. Once you’re logged in, you either use the “Quick Links” to the right side of the screen, or the left side panel.

To check via the right panel, you click on “Financial Aid” or “Registration” or any link that takes you to a page with multiple columns of links on the top of the page. Among those links, you should be able to see “Unofficial Transcript”. To check via the left panel, you go to “Admissions” then click on “After Being Admitted”. You’ll see the “Unofficial UW Transcript” link.

If it loads with a Student ID number, you’re 99.9% in. It won’t start loading until a week before the notification period. The decision letters are sent in batches, so not every transcript will load on the same day. It also doesn’t work for everyone, meaning that you are not declined just because it didn’t load. Hope this explained everything!