Prepare to Apply Online

The online application opens annually on September 1. Before you apply online, we recommend gathering the necessary information, preparing your personal statement and supplemental responses, and saving them as separate electronic documents. These steps will allow you to copy and paste your prepared statements into the online application. If you try to compose your answers online, the session may time out.

You will be asked to enter the following information on the online application:

1. GRE and GMAT Scores

Enter your GRE scores OR enter your GMAT scores on the Graduate School Application.

The Information School accepts the GMAT as well as the GRE for application to the Day MSIM program; either test meets the admissions requirements. Please select only ONE of these two tests to submit for your application (You do not need to take both tests.)

2. Three Recommendations

On both the UW Graduate School application you will be asked to provide names and contact information for three persons from whom you have requested recommendations. Your recommenders will be sent an e-mail prompt with instructions for submitting their letter of recommendation online once you activate their names as ready for the e-mail instructions. Requesting your letters of recommendation online will allow you to see when the letters have been submitted. Additional instructions are available within the online UW Graduate School application.  We strongly encourage your recommenders to submit their letters via the online option.

Though we prefer that your recommenders submit their letters through the online option, they can also opt to send a letter via regular mail. If they choose this option, the recommendation should be written on company or organizational letterhead and sent with a completed MSIM Recommendation Cover Sheet:

Day MSIM cover sheet 
Exec MSIM cover sheet

Request recommendations from people who know you well and who are able to comment on your academic competence, ability to engage in graduate study, and potential for future success in information science professions, or your employment experience. These recommendations may be from either academic or professional references. Unless academic- or work-related, do not submit recommendations from family members, clergy, or friends.

3. Personal Statement of Educational and Professional Goals

The Personal Statement offers you the opportunity to communicate to the Admissions Committee your personal aspirations regarding your future in the information science professions. We will use your personal statement to assess your writing ability. Your personal statement should be between 750-1000 words.

We recommend that you consider addressing the following areas in your statement:

  • Your reasons for choosing the Information School and the MSIM program,
  • Your special interests and abilities,
  • Your expectations of accomplishments, and
  • Your tentative career goals.

The Information School believes that diversity contributes to the intellectual and social enrichment of the School. We welcome applicants who have varied cultural experiences and educationally or economically diverse backgrounds. If you wish to have these factors included in the review of your application, please include in your statement a section concerning relevant factors such as personal history, family background, and influences on your intellectual development. This statement could include cultural and educational opportunities (or lack thereof), or social and economic disadvantages that you may have had to overcome, and the ways in which these experiences affected you.

Please remember that your personal statement is limited to 1,000 words.

4. Curriculum Vitae or Résumé

Upload an electronic copy of your curriculum vitae or résumé, in Microsoft Word, RTF, or PDF format. Your curriculum vitae or résumé should include the following information:

  • Relevant academic or professional experience (including employer, position title, dates of employment).

    Note: Executive MSIM applicants must demonstrate at least three years of full-time, professional work experience in technology, information, or management positions.

  • Involvement with volunteer, community, and/or diversity-related activities including the organization, position title, and dates of service.

If you have questions about the application process, please contact the Information School's Office of Student and Academic Services (OSAS) by e-mail at msim@washington.edu or by phone at 206-543-1794. Thank you for your interest!