Application: SOPHAS and UW Graduate School

Unofficial transcripts are needed for the UW Graduate School, and official transcripts are needed for SOPHAS. You may omit transcripts that are redundant or irrelevant to this degree, such as minor transcripts for coursework that is irrelevant to the program.

Obtain unofficial transcripts from each college or university where you earned a degree or completed relevant coursework. Download unofficial transcripts or scan printed copies. UW will request official transcripts when an offer of admission is made (international applicants) or accepted (domestic applicants).

For SOPHAS applications, you will need to order official transcripts from each collegiate level institution attended. Details can be found on the SOPHAS website.

Application: SOPHAS

The SOPHAS application requires applicants both to order official transcripts AND manually enter all coursework exactly as it is listed on official college level transcripts. This process takes a significant amount of time, and we recommend entering this information as early as possible.

Application: SOPHAS

The GRE is no longer required! However, if applicants think their GRE scores are a better representation of academic preparedness for the program than their transcripts, they may include their GRE scores.

If applicants choose to submit GRE scores, they must self-report them in the online application with SOPHAS AND have scores sent directly to SOPHAS from the Educational Testing Service using the institutional code below. Scores from the testing services must arrive by the application deadline to be considered.

UW Institution Code with SOPHAS: 4943

Application: SOPHAS and UW Graduate School

Applicants whose first language is not English might need to share proof of English language proficiency. Only scores less than two years old at the time of the application deadline will be accepted.

Test scores must be sent directly to the UW by the Educational Testing Service using the UW institution code.

UW Institution Code: 4854

Application: SOPHAS

Number Needed: 3

Identify three people who will write letters of recommendation, such as academic advisors, professors, supervisors, or mentors. Recommenders should be familiar with your academic goals and potential for achieving those goals. These letters should address the general topic of your suitability for the program and should mention how recommenders know you and for how long.

Requests for the letters will be sent out via SOPHAS. You will need to provide names, emails, due date, and personal message to the recommenders (up to 500 words). The recommenders will receive an email that directs them to a secure website where they will submit their letters.

You will be able to return to the online application to check whether letters have been submitted. You are expected to be in contact with each recommender to make sure that the letters are submitted by the application deadline (noted at the top of this page).

Please note: These letters are used for all programs you apply to through the online SOPHAS application. If the programs you are applying to include the UW Community-Oriented Public Health Practice Master of Public Health (COPHP MPH) program, one recommender must be an academic reference who can specifically speak to your readiness for graduate school.

Application: SOPHAS

Make sure your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) are up to date and inclusive of any public health experience you might have, such as conference presentations, publications, mentoring, volunteering, and other unpaid experience.

SOPHAS Fee: $150 for the first program, $60 for each additional program

• You may request a fee waiver as soon as you create an application, but keep in mind that fee waiver funds can be quickly depleted. Contact SOPHAS customer service at 617-612-2090 before you submit a fee waiver request to determine if waivers are still available.
• Visit the SOPHAS website for their full fee waiver policy and instructions
• SOPHAS has previously run out of waivers on our application deadline and several otherwise qualified applicants couldn’t access them. So, request these early!

UW Graduate School Application Fee: $90

• Request a waiver prior to submitting your application, and at least seven days before the application deadline. The fee cannot be reimbursed! 
• If you requested an application fee waiver, DO NOT pay for or submit your application until you receive approval or denial for the fee waiver.

1. UW Grad School | Fee Waivers – Determine your eligibility for the UW Grad School application fee waiver first.
2. Dept. of HSPop | Fee Waivers – Only request a waiver from HSPop if you do not qualify for the Grad School fee waiver.

If you requested an application fee waiver, DO NOT submit your application until you receive approval or denial for the fee waiver.

Application: SOPHAS and UW Graduate School

To be considered for admission, you must complete both the UW Graduate School application and the SOPHAS application.

Both application portals provide the following:

• Unique application ID numbers for every program you apply to
• Prompts to link the two applications:
  • Add SOPHAS application ID to UW Graduate School application
  • Add UW Graduate School application ID to SOPHAS application

You may do this in either order, although you will not be able to complete either application until the two are linked.

Application: SOPHAS

Limit: 500 words max

The Personal History Statement is meant to give you the opportunity to offer a narrative of your lived experiences, and obstacles you may have overcome and how these have guided you towards an interest in public health. This statement should not be the same as your Statement of Purpose.

Your Personal History Statement can include information about who you are as a person; your family or cultural background; your socioeconomic conditions; and your experiences growing up, including successes, challenges, and moments of learning and growth.

This question is not intended to ask you to share personal information you are not comfortable providing.

Application: SOPHAS

Limit: 350 words max

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are core values of the School of Public Health. We seek to create a community of students inclusive of and in service to underrepresented populations.

The School is committed to anti-racism and strives to adopt anti-racist principles both in the classroom and in our work. How would you contribute to these efforts while in the program and in the future as a working professional?

Please review the UW School of Public Health EDI Statement for more information.