Environmental Science Undergraduate Application

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

Applications Due Dates

Applications must be received by the College of the Environment no later than 5:00 pm on:

April 18 for admission summer and fall quarter at 5:00pm
October 6 for admission winter quarter at 5:00pm
January 15 for admission spring quarter at 5:00pm

Note: If the application date is during a weekend, applications will be due the following Monday by 5:00 pm.

Part 1: Name and Contact Information

Submission Date

Western Student Number

Last Name

First Name

Email Address (Use Western email if you have one)

Phone Number

Part 2: Preparation and Academic History

Part 3: Applicant's Motivation and Goals

Short Answers

The Department of Environmental Sciences values an admissions process that creates a student body with diverse perspectives and experiences. Your responses will give the Admissions Committee a broader view of you as a person and allow you express who you are beyond your GPA. Your ability to express your thoughts with clarity and insight will contribute to the strength of your application.

These essays carry considerable weight in the admissions decision, so please take your time. We suggest drafting your answers in a Word document first, and, if possible, having a friend or family member read them over before submission.

Please answer each of the prompts below, aiming for 200-300 words per prompt and respond using essay-style writing.

Question 1

Please tell us about your level of engagement with science and the environment. For example, you could describe research or field experiences you might have had, class or lab experiences with faculty, club participation, volunteer work, environmental activism or advocacy, service on college committees, or any other life experience. What did you gain from these experiences? How do these experiences connect to pursuing a degree in Environmental Science?

Question 2

List three goals you want to accomplish within the field of environmental science field. Try to be as specific as you can. How would a degree help you achieve these goals? Please share how aspects of your identity influence your academic goals.

Question 3

Collaboration with diverse groups of people is important for advancing science. Describe at least one experience you have had in your life (it can be academic or nonacademic), that helped you better appreciate the value of diverse perspectives and people.

Question 4

(Optional) Is there anything else that you would like our selection committee to know about you?