Information School

About the school

The Information School (iSchool) was established as the Department of Library Economy in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Washington in 1911. In 2001, it became the newest independent school under the university, being known as Information School or the iSchool. It is located on the state-of-the-art Mary Gates Hall campus in Seattle.

The school offers Master of Library and Information Science, MS in Information Management, MA in Museology, and Ph.D. in Information Science. In the latest list of rankings by the US News & World Report, the school’s Master of Library and Information Science programme holds the number two spot in the US.

The iSchool has an impressive list of alumni and a diverse alumni network. Some of its more prominent alumni are Michael Fosmire (professor and head of Information Studies at Purdue University), Sunny Consolvo (user experience researcher at Google), Patricia Cutright (dean of libraries at Central Washington University), and many more.

Seattle, also called the Emerald City, is surrounded by greenery all year long. The beautiful city has a bustling food scene, with seafood taking the top place. It is known for its warm, sunny summers and a charming neighbourhood.

Location of the school

Life at Information School

The University of Washington has over 8,000 international students from more than 100 countries. The International Students Services (ISS) helps students with any official or general support they might need in their new home. There are virtual and in-person advising events held throughout the year.

The university offers both traditional and apartment-style living on campus. The apartments are the designated residence for graduates and professionals. There are five available apartments; Commodore Duchess, Mercer Court De, Stevens Court, Nordhein Court ,and Radford Court. They offer private rooms in shared, one-bedroom, and studio apartments. The university district has rental options for those wishing to live off campus. Sites like Padmapper, Hot Pads, and the student newspaper, The Daily, list all such available properties.

Students of Information School can eat at any of the university's dining locations or their residence halls. Similar plans are available for those living in apartments as well. There are dining commons in the Lander and Willow halls, the Pagliaci Pizza shop on the west and north campuses, grocery stores in Alder and Oak Hall, the restaurants Cultivate and the Denny cafe that resident students can avail.

The university encourages biking on campus, with bike racks and secure rooms spread around for convenience. There is a bike-share programme called JUMP. There are buses that can take you off campus and a Night Owl Metro service between midnight and dawn. There is a night-ride shuttle service with eight designated stops across campus.

Additional benefits of studying at Information School

Students in iSchool take a leading role in its research work. Funding and scholarships are available for research work such as the $20,000 fund by the American Educational Research Association and the $25,000 fund by the Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant.

The state-of-the-art research facilities have numerous labs and research centres to drive innovation:

Center for an Informed Public Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) Responsibility in AI Systems & Experiences (RAISE) Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) ACE (Accessible Computing Experiences) Lab

The University of Washington cares deeply about the health of its students. To help them stay fit, it has a premier fitness centre, called the Intramural Activities Building, with access to gyms, courts, indoor tracks, etc. It is located on the lakeside and the waterfront view adds to the experience.

Admissions criteria

A general set of admission requirements for students planning to join the Information School for any Master’s programme, is as follows:

Apply online on the UW Graduate School website Must have GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale Upload transcripts Upload a statement of purpose Upload a resume/CV Upload three letters of recommendation GRE/GMAT score, depending on the programme For non-native English speakers, proof of English language proficiency is required: Proof of English as the medium of instruction Degree from an English-speaking country TOEFL scores: at least 106 total and 25 in each section DuoLingo scores: at least 125 total IELTS scores: at least 7.5 Visa status that allows for academic study in the country Proof of financial ability Pay application fee

Note: Admission requirements and fees may vary for different courses.

Job placements

The iSchool Career Services provide guidance and opportunities for students to reach their full potential and gain employment:

Appointment with the Career Services team for counselling Review for resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and branding statement/elevator pitch Organises the iSchool Career Fair and other career preparedness workshops Lists internship and job opportunities on the Handshake portal

The school has an impressive 74% placement record for its MSIM graduates with an average starting salary of $108,000. For MLIS, the placement rate is 49% and the average starting salary is $50,000.