You may apply to the BS/MS program at different points in your undergraduate studies. Most students apply at the end of their junior years after completing all required 300-level CSE courses, or when they have roughly one year left in their undergraduate studies. A small number apply later, while finishing senior-level requirements. However, all students must begin graduate coursework within one year of receiving their bachelor's degrees. If you are unsure when to apply, please contact a CSE adviser.
Eligibility
The following are the minimum requirements for applying to the Allen School's Combined Bachelor's/Master's program:
- You are a current Allen School CS or CE undergraduate major. Students who have already graduated are ineligible to apply.
- You have junior standing or beyond (90 or more credits).
- Your GPA is 3.0 or higher.
- You have completed CSE 311, 312, 332, and 351. Spring in-progress classes are fine (for example, if you are applying in 2024, it is fine to take one or more of those classes in spring 2024)
Application Information
The 2023 BS/MS application is closed. The 2024 application will open May 7.
A couple of notes about the application:
- We will contact your faculty recommenders after the application closes. You should talk to them in advance, but do not need to coordinate the actual recommendation process.
- You may not find a person you want to use as a reference in the drop down menu. If that is the case, let us know and we can solicit the recommendation from them directly.
2024 Application Timeline
- May: Application opens May 7th
- June: Application closes June 7th at 11:59pm
- Mid-late June through Mid July: Faculty recommenders submit feedback; BS/MS Admissions Committee reviews applications
- Mid-late July: Decisions sent
Requirements
Your application requires the following components:
- Statement of Purpose. Recommended length: 750-1000 words. Topics to address include: (1) Why are you interested in pursuing a combined BS/MS? (2) What specific aspects of the program interest you, such as areas of study? (3) What makes you a good candidate for this program?
- References. List 2 faculty members as references. You must have 2 references who can speak to your classwork and/or research abilities (or, if specifically applying with the intent to teach professionally after graduation, teaching abilities). It is courteous to ask faculty members before listing them as references. One recommender must be from the Allen School.
- Transcripts: Upload a copy of your UW unofficial transcript (use the "printer-friendly" version from MyUW).
- Resume: You have the option to upload a current resume.
- MyCSE: Confirm that your MyCSE profile is up-to-date, including scholarships, co-ops/internships, and research.
There is no fee for students completing the initial CSE BS/MS application. Students admitted to the BS/MS program must complete the UW Grad School application and pay an application fee as well as an enrollment fee once they become a graduate student (due before tuition).
How Competitive Is Admissions?
BS/MS admissions is highly competiive, as the applicant pool is exceptionally strong and there is limited space available. Therefore, all prospective students should have a back up plan. Highly competitive applicants have excellent grades, strong faculty recommendations, and a clear and compelling statement of purpose.
Some statistics we are often asked for (2023 cycle):
- Admitted 72/244 applicants
- Average applicant: UW gpa 3.82, CSE gpa 3.78
- Average admit: UW gpa 3.89, CSE gpa 3.87