How should I compare my admission chances at Arizona State and the University of Washington?

For most applicants, Arizona State is a likely or target, while the University of Washington’s Seattle campus is a target or reach, especially for out-of-state students and applicants to capacity-constrained majors. ASU publishes assured-admission criteria, so students who clearly meet the applicable GPA, class-rank, and coursework standards can treat admission as relatively predictable. UW Seattle uses a more selective holistic review and does not make admission to every major equally available.

At ASU, first check whether you meet the university’s current assured-admission requirements for your residency category and whether your intended program has additional entry standards. Admission to ASU is not always the same as direct admission to a particular major: some programs, including certain engineering, business, health, and arts pathways, may have higher requirements or separate portfolio, prerequisite, or space considerations. If you comfortably clear ASU’s published threshold and are applying to a nonrestricted program, “likely” is reasonable; if you are near the cutoff or applying to a selective program, use “target.”

At UW, identify the campus and major before assigning a category. UW Seattle should be treated more cautiously than UW Bothell or UW Tacoma. Direct admission to majors such as computer science, computer engineering, other engineering fields, business, and some health-related programs is especially competitive, and being admitted to the university does not guarantee later entry into a capacity-constrained major. For an out-of-state applicant whose academic record merely resembles the typical admitted profile, UW Seattle is better labeled a reach; a strong Washington resident applying to a less constrained major may reasonably view it as a target.

Test scores should play a limited role in this comparison because both schools’ current policies emphasize more than testing. Use your transcript strength, course rigor, residency, intended major, and whether you meet ASU’s assured-admission standard as the main factors.