University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

At the University of Washingotn, there will be the biggest classes you've ever seen in your life, and there will also be 15-20 person intimate classroom studies. As a freshman, everyone will take classes in the 100-500 person lecture halls and each student will feel like the professor has no idea who they are. To make up for this feeling, most classes have Quiz sections, which are small (20-30 person) classes with a Teacher's Assistant (usually a Grad Student), that teaches the quiz section and reiterates what the professor covered in lecture. My biggest complaint with the academics at the University of Washington is the large majority of TA's that do not speak English very well and seem as if it is their 3rd or 4th language that they learned only a couple of years ago. This can be very frustrating and can make choosing Quiz sections a huge gamble and game of luck. I am in the business school and have loved everything about the facilities and teacher's there. The TA's that I complained about above are mainly in the business school prerequisite classes (Pre-calculus, calculus, micro/macro econ, etc.). Once I started taking mid-level business classes, the teacher's and TA's have improved a TON and have had some of the best teacher's of my life recently. In addition to the great teacher's, the new Foster School of Business facilities (Paccar Hall), are amazing! Paccar Hall is brand new (finished construction in 2010 and they are expanding it even more currently). The classrooms are state of the art with large projectors, huge desks (unlike the liberal arts' classrooms desks) and comfortable chairs. Lastly, the teacher's I have had have been very available to helping students when they are struggling and being there for students who do not understand concepts and need extra help. Currently, I am having a problem in managerial accounting and my professor scheduled an hour-long appointment with me outside of her office hours to discuss future goals for me in the class and study strategies.

The academics at University of Washington are like any other big school. The only difference between us and say ASU is that our reputation as a good school gets us the best teachers and biggest grants. This school is highly competitive! Once you get into the school, you must complete the required credits with a high GPA to get into your major. There are nearly 30 thousand undergrads here, and the minute you step into your first stadium style lecture class you'll know what that feels like. Due to the fact that the class sizes are very large, the UW has secondary classes or "quiz sections" where you meet with your TA in a smaller class setting to review the lecture material. It is in these classes that you will do most of your learning as well as being the place where you will get to know your teachers. The U of W is a place where people are serious about their education. We have so many students trying to get spots in programs with high competition, such as the medical school, engineering school, or (Bill Gates) computer science school, that education becomes much like a job. The people that attend the University of washington have high goals and dreams, and are a very driven bunch of people. It's not uncommon to see people fired up over something they learned in class, and often they are quite eager to share it with you. I'm just an average joe and I find myself staying after class to talk about things with my TA on a weekly basis. Getting to know your professors can be a challenge but the opportunity is there. Professors will host hours each week where you can meet them one on one and discuss whatever you like. They are often very busy people and in the midst of writing some academic journal that they hope to publish, so it's a nice way to talk to the seemingly distant figure you see in class. On a couple of occasions I have gotten to know my professors and they still know me by name, so it's very possible to make valuable connections on campus.

Before applying and getting into my majors, I felt kind of like a number in the crowd. Where some professors try to get to know you by name and really make an effort, others could careless. Depending on the size of the classroom, it sometimes is impossible for professors to reach out to 700+ students. You have to be realistic, and if you really want to get to know a professor, sometimes you need to make the first step by taking advantage of their office hours and making the effort. Class participation is most common in quiz sections (smaller, usually once a week classes to review the material from lecture). It's a much more comfortable, at ease environment most often lead by a TA. Some majors are much more competitive than others. There will always be at least one competitive student but it should only push you to work harder yourself.

The great part about classes at the University of Washington, is that professors and teachers on the whole sincerely care about whether you learn. So if you are looking to get a job/internship related to the class material, you trust that you won't leave classes devoid of preparation. Even if you're just looking to soak up some knowledge, you won't be unsatisfied. If you can't connect to teachers that well, you're sure to find classmates who are willing to discuss and converse about material outside the classroom. It's an environment sure to bring out the best in you and perhaps even induce a little fun-filled competitive spirit!

The academics at the University of Washington are of the highest standard. You don't have to go to a private ivy league school to get the level of depth, knowledge, and intellectual challenge offered at the UW. It's diverse range of courses paired with the professionalism of professors offers it's students not only excellent in-class academic experiences but carries the conversations outside of class. Professors are often seen walking with students after class continuing the discussion that was occurring only moments before in class. From large scale lecture halls where TAs become your best friends to intimate 400 level courses where you are constantly in close communication with your professor, the level of education offered is always detailed and stimulating. Challenging every aspect of your education, from practical courses to creative classes. The diverse curriculum, vast departmental and major choices, alongside the competitive nature of the school will take your learning to new heights.

Some of the courses are down right difficult, but if you study and learn how to manage your time (this is key!) you will do fine! We have some amazing professors! I really enjoyed Psych 101 and Bio 180, they were very interesting courses and the professors were funny and made the class that much more enjoyable.

The school can be pretty challenging at times, but I think you get your money's worth because of the academics. The classes are a lot more interesting and in-depth than high school classes. I've taken classes on the Holocaust, Art History, and even 21st Century Poetry which were pretty unique classes in my opinion. Art History has to be my absolute favorite class I've taken at my school. The class was learning about all the different types of art throughout history. We started thousands of years ago and only made it up to 1,000 AD. We learned all about art in different countries like Greece, Egypt, Italy, and England. Buildings, statues, sculptures, vases, and even pillars were discussed in this class and it was a completely new topic to me. My favorite thing I learned about was about Italian homes in 79 AD because I learned the significance of each room and why the rooms were placed where they were in the house. It was a very interesting class and since taking it, I've searched for information to learn more about "art history." Some classes are lecture classes where there can be hundreds of students in the class which makes participation almost impossible. However, these lecture class usually have "quiz" or "lab" section that goes with the class which has around 20 or so students where the class is taught by TA's who are usually grad students at my school. In all of the quiz sections I have had, the TA's heavily encourage class discussion and participation so while you miss out in the lecture classes because of the amount of students, you make up for it in the quiz sections. In the classes I've had that aren't lecture classes, there are around 30-40 students and again, all of the professors I have encourage participation and some even include it as part of our grade. Lecture classes were difficult to deal with at first because you never really seem to get to know your professor. If you have any questions or concerns about your class, you have to go through your TA which is something hard to adjust to. Also, TA's grade your assignments when you have a lecture class. This is understandable since your professor can't grade hundreds of things, but that takes some getting used to because every TA has a different grading method and you don't know how your actual professor who taught the information to you would have graded your assignments. I'm an English major and I have really enjoyed the variety of English classes that are available for me to take. I've taken an English class solely about plays before the 1700's which has probably been my favorite class I've taken. I thought I was a good reader and writer before I was in college, but my knowledge of English has increased exponentially and I haven't even graduated yet. The most challenging thing about the academics is that they are hard. I got excellent grades in high school and was basically shocked to see how different college was in that regard. It is very important to study for tests! I can't think of a single class where I haven't had to study for a test. And you have to spend a lot of time studying because professors will quiz you on anything in the class. Also, notes are necessary for every class which means you should have good attendance if you plan on going to my school. When I've discusses the academics with other people at my school, they've all agreed that they find the classes challenging and much different than high school. Every freshman I've known has said that they have found the school to be harder than they anticipated. However, I don't see this as a negative. I didn't feel like I was challenged in high school, but now, I feel like I really have to make an effort to learn which is something I appreciate and enjoy because I'm learning and I'm learning things that weren't available in high school. Another benefit of my school is that fact that it also has a graduate school. A lot of people I've talked to plan on going to graduate school and it is easy to make that transition into it when my school already has a program. The students are very focused on their grades here and my college is considered a great school for education so this is the one to go to if you want to learn and want to use these skills to get a job.

The school can be pretty challenging at times, but I think you get your money's worth because of the academics. The classes are interesting and in-depth. Some classes are lecture classes where there can be hundreds of students in the class which makes participation almost impossible. However, these lecture class usually have "quiz" or "lab" section that goes with the class which has around 20 or so students where the class is taught by TA's who are usually grad students at my school. In all of the quiz sections I have had, the TA's heavily encourage class discussion and participation so while you miss out in the lecture classes because of the amount of students, you make up for it in the quiz sections. In the classes I've had that aren't lecture classes, there are around 30-40 students and again, all of the professors I have encourage participation and some even include it as part of our grade. Lecture classes were difficult to deal with at first because you never really seem to get to know your professor. If you have any questions or concerns about your class, you have to go through your TA which is something hard to adjust to. Also, TA's grade your assignments when you have a lecture class. This is understandable since your professor can't grade hundreds of things, but that takes some getting used to because every TA has a different grading method and you don't know how your actual professor who taught the information to you would have graded your assignments.

Science and math classes are competitive and usually larger, often broken up into smaller sections for more student-TA interaction. Many humanities classes are smaller (language courses, for example), are more discussion-based and the students develop a closer relationship with the teacher.

The classes at the University of Washington (Seattle campus) can range from being small to big, depending on what class, the popularity, and also if it's a core class. Depending on the size, the professor may or may not know your name or even recognize you. If it's a big class for instance, Concert Season (It's a musical class, probably one of my favorites) it's most likely the professor will not remember your name or even what you look like if you sit far away, but if you attend class everyday and raise your hand and say something a few times, I'm sure that they will remember you. In small classes, the professor will remember your face and know your name and that's what I love. But let's talk a little bit more of the students and a little bit less on the class size. The students here are either really studious or just... average. Some of those average kids however, I don't know how, do better than those who study most of their time. It just depends on the person. That also determines the participation, competitiveness, and conversations that take place inside/outside class. There are your usual shy kids that probably never raise their hands or speak in class. Then there are the kids that sit in the back and then the kids who sit at the very front. Those who sit in the front usually participate in class, but I think over the years they're starting to mingle and people are just sitting wherever now. Class participation doesn't seem to be much of a problem in any of the classes I've had as some classes, if you didn't do the reading or study, you would get called on and well, some shy people have a lot of meaningful things to say. Honestly I wish they would speak up and answer more questions but most don't. I've learned that they're really fun to hang out with outside of class though and when it comes to talking about the homework and topics for class, they're great. I believe it's just being put on the spotlight that gets to some of them but overtime they adapt and the classroom atmosphere becomes lively as ever. Competitiveness stems from this lively atmosphere. Though they may be competitive, it does not mean in any way that they are heartless. They will help those who need it, even if it means they are helping their rival. These stories, however, are coming from an English major. I love classes that involve reading, writing, and communication with other people. The people in my classes/department are very intelligent and when it comes to topics about history, books, or anything, there's also a very interesting and intellectual conversation. I contribute most of my learning and conversation skills however, to my professors. Speaking with the professor about things you don't understand, is a great way to learn and bond. I love professors who want to regularly gauge how the class is going and then afterwards, slow down or speed up the course. I can't say much about the other majors or departments, but judging from my friends who are in those departments, they're happy to be there and I'm sure they would say the same things I am saying about my own department: once you find a department you like to study, you will find that the people there are people you like to be with. The schools academic requirements are, reasonable and very well built. However, there are some times where you can't get into the classes you want or need, but the professors will almost, always let you know if there's space available if you just go and ask, or even if you email them. The advisers and counselors are always there to help you if you get lost, and the best part is that most of the are on a drop-in basis so between classes if you have a break, just go in and say hi. They're just like the professors and, with regular visits, will remember your name and face. The education at the university, will, depending on your choices, get you a great job at Boeing or Microsoft, or it will land you in an intellectual conversation with Bill Gates or even the president of the United States. Depending on how you choose to study and go about your way in college will determine your pathway. The university offers all the resources and facilities that you need to succeed. If you choose correctly what you want to do, you can even, do both: Work at a prestigious company and also have the opportunity to speak with a famous and prestigious person.