Applied in priority cycle; notified in late December. I believe this is the first year that they are releasing a very small number of early decisions. My other (more qualified) friends haven't heard yet. Sounds like more decisions will be made in February.

I don't know who you contacted, but if you are willing to give me your email, I can show you my offer letter. I am not applying for master and submitted the application before priority deadline. There is really no reason to send fake info anonymously here

I don't know who you contacted, but if you are willing to give me your email, I can show you my offer letter. I am not applying for master and submitted the application before priority deadline. There is really no reason to send fake info anonymously here

Received confirmation that I'm invited to the official interview day on February 18th. Email was from POI (JS) directly and said that four applicants had been invited to interview for a spot in her lab on the 18th. No indication when other PIs would extend their interview invites.

Contact prof beforehand and get positive feedback.

The website says to expect decisions by mid-February. So we all have a bit of time (except for those that submitted priority AND are super high end applicants). I wouldn't hold our breath for this week, but who knows.

TTPB: Just for another perspective, I applied by the priority deadline (albeit one of my LORs was ~5 days late because of a logistical error) Dec 1st, but I haven't received a decision. I did contact a professor there via email about a week ago, and heard they would be sending out decisions soon. My interpretation is that there will be results this week, at least for some applicants.

Sent an email indicating I'm in the "top 15%," but not yet a finalist, and have to submit a form to HR.

I submitted for priority review. However, based on past year data, I don't think UW ever gave any priority result. Or maybe they didn't share online. Chances are they delayed the admission process this year.

Regarding below, no I have not heard anything yet either. Did everyone submit for the Dec 1st priority or by the Jan 18th deadline?

TTPB: Piling on, when you feel ready, remember to email the POI back and thank them for their time. Even if you're not working directly in their lab, chances are, you'll cross paths again in the field. You could still collaborate in the future. TLDR: try not to burn bridges.

TTPBs: I'm a student applying so I maybe wrong but what I heard is that the Committee cuts down most of the applications before they send them to faculties(specially for big programs like UW CS). If that is correct then at least your application went through that threshold, which means you have a decent chance for other schools. But sorry if this is fake news :/

TTPB: I'm sorry to hear about rejections :( (I really hope this doesn't come across as condescending - for the record, I am a hopeful applicant to other programs) I think the important thing to remember is, these things essentially boil down to a coinflip. You clearly have a competitive profile, if you managed to get to the interview round. No matter where you end up, things will work out. As some of the leading researchers say in the field (and I know it sounds trite), a good academic career starts with rejections. And yes, I've heard that faculty can play important roles as to whether an applicant is accepted or not. Thus the coinflip.

TTPB: every school, including UW, is faculty based. "Committee based" just means that the committee will ratify the recommendations by individual faculty. No school - at least no "good" school - will admit anyone to a PHd program with at least one faculty member's explicit willingness to be that person's supervisor.