Major Application Short Answer Essay Questions

The Major Application Short Answer Essay Questions* provide students interested in applying to WWU's psychology or human development major an opportunity to convey who they are and how their individual lived experiences, values, and goals align with their intended major.

Your response to each prompt should be 250 words or less (i.e., up to 500 words total) and should reflect your experiences, values, and perspectives. We encourage you to answer honestly, in your own voice, and provide one specific example per prompt.

Prompt 1: Psychology & Social Issues

Psychology plays a crucial role in addressing real-world challenges. For this prompt, choose one societal issue that motivates you to pursue a psychology major, please describe:

  • one specific societal issue that motivates you to pursue a psychology major;
  • how your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences have shaped your understanding of it; and
  • how becoming a psychology major will help you engage with this issue in meaningful ways.
     

Prompt 2: Personal Background & Engagement with Department Values

The Psychology Department values acknowledging systemic inequities, cultivating inclusivity, challenging marginalization, and disrupting injustice. We also seek students who are committed to learning, growing, and contributing to a diverse and socially responsible academic community. For this prompt, please describe:

  • how your experiences, values, and/or background shape your active engagement with one or more of these commitments;
  • how you see yourself contributing to the Psychology Department’s learning community; and
  • how you hope to grow as a student of psychology.
     

The Admissions Committee will evaluate responses based on:

  1. Connection Between Psychology & a Societal Issue – How well you identify a societal issue and explain how psychology helps address it.
  2. Engagement with Psychology’s Role in Social Issues – How well you engage with the Psychology Department’s values, such as acknowledging inequities, inclusivity, and social justice.
  3. Personal Background & Contribution to the Learning Community – How well you reflect on your background, lived experiences, and identity in relation to psychology and the department’s mission.
  4. Depth of Thought & Reflection - How well you demonstrate critical thinking, originality, and self-awareness in connecting your experiences to psychology.

*These prompts must be submitted before your new major application can be evaluated. The application portal will open at the beginning of fall, winter, and spring quarter.

Need access to the Canvas Major Application Course? Self-enroll HERE

Curious about the Department of Psychology's DEI commitment? Check out our DEI Initiatives Webpage

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Writing Tips to Consider

-Before crafting your response, reflect on your individual lived experience, strengths, academic history, etc.
-Address the prompts directly
-Think and write deeply, with full transparency
-Provide specific examples when possible
-Make sure who you are and how your goals/values align are crystal clear in your responses; consider what makes you a good fit in the Psychology Department

Remember: Quality of writing is not being evaluated; however, please use spell check and write in complete sentences to make sure your ideas come across as clearly as possible. Plagiarism of any kind is not tolerated.

Looking for Essay Response Support?

The WWU Hacherl Research & Writing Studio is ready to support your major application essay response writing process with a variety of connection options:


Daily Studio Hours: https://library.wwu.edu/rws
Request an Appointment: https://wwu.libcal.com/appointments/rws
Online Chat: https://askus.library.wwu.edu/chat/widget/9c7774dae5b758529d82f5bc433029ca
Submit a Draft: https://library.wwu.edu/node/2341

Essay responses are the #1 way you can influence your major application outcome. Connect today!