University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

I am in love with UW. I'm from Clemson, South Carolina so I live about two minutes from Clemson University. Clemson is very much a "college town". I do not especially find UW to be this way. I like the fact that downtown is only a 10-15 minute bus ride away. I love the downtown area. However, UW definitely has the college campus/town appeal. The ave and the Greek system definitely define UW as a college town. The school is now too large nor too small. A lot of my SC friends find it unbelievable that I traveled all the way across the country to come to UW. I would have never missed an oppurtunity like this though. I think our school has a lot of pride, however, i'm very much used to Clemson University pride. The pride at Clemson is so great. Football games are a major event! Death Valley stadium is known to attract the largest crowds in the nation for football games. I find that UW does not especially have that appeal which is one downside for me. UW is definitely a party school. There are parties every night it seems and once you're connected or in the Greek system you find the urge to party to be very great. Overall, UW is such a great school and I wouldn't have gone anywhere else.

UW is a big school, there's no way around that. With 40,000 undergrad alone, it's easy to feel like a tiny fish in a massive pond. The campus itself is big enough, though, that it makes the school seem far from overpopulated, in a paradoxical kind of way. The campus is truly beautiful, with an expansive quad and winding boulevards. In the springtime and early fall students cover the lawns, playing hackey sack, frisbee, studying, or just enjoying the sunshine (while they can, as it tends to rain a LOT in Seattle). Immediately parallel to main campus is the heart of what is called the "University District" and "The Ave," which centers around University Way. There are tons of boutiques, ethnic restaurants, and fun shops to get lost in.

The big picture is actually pretty small. While getting a topnotch education you are somehow simultaneously subjecting yourself to immense amount of ignorance and people who are out of touch... or in my experience just not cool people.

Its beautiful and the people are nice. Most cities are largely ghetto, Seattle not so much. School is large i like it. UDUB has good name in the community. Even though its very popular and not terribly hard to get into, it has a stellar reputation, public ivy. Frequent complaints by tourists that there is never good weather. Especially out of towners who come for orientation in June on a sunny day and expect there to be continuity in terms of weather for the rest of the year.

I loved the area around the University, but I wish I had left the U-District more often. The U-District is really a self-sufficient, self-contained bubble. Which is great-- everything is within walking distance! But I think it also kept me from exploring more of Seattle. Tragic since Seattle is such a fantastic city. I was dead-set on going to a small private college because I thought I would be more comfortable at a school where I knew everyone. But my parents said there was no way they could afford it, so to UW I went, and I'm sooo glad! The size forced me to grow up and get out of my comfort zone. Also, because of the size, UW has SO many resources that just aren't available at smaller schools. No matter what you need, there's somewhere you can go to get help or whatever it is that you need.

the best thing is that it's a beautiful campus. many resources and opportunties from study abroad to research. the downside? it's a research school. meaning more focus on funding and less on the individual success of students. it does seem distant and big. the "diversity" in regards to racial/ethnic diversity is not what the school claims it to be. although recruitment for "underrepresented minorities" does occur, it's often tokenized and shouldn't be this way. students of color are often tokenized just like any other marginlized community on campus be it the Q community or students with disabilities or women. the area surrounding the school is known as the u-district. it's small, cool, littered with cafes and wi-fi spots up and down the ave (university way aka the ave).

The University of Washington-Seattle campus is very large but it is absolutely beautiful. It has an older feel to the buildings but it's worth it. It is a very well known school in Washington and I believe is considered the best one in our state. There is a lot of research that goes on at the UW and much of it is very successful. The area surrounding the UW is definitely college oriented. There are a ton of houses surrounding where students live as well as what we call the Ave, which is a long strip of stores. There is a ton of school pride, especially when competing against our rival Washington State University. There is a lot of support in WA for the huskies. It's a beautiful state with a lot to look at. Definitely worth coming here. There is also the opportunity to go to one of the off campus UW's in Bothell and Tacoma, which are much more personal with the same education.

UW is a large school in an urban environment. Supposedly, there are safety issues, but I think that's mostly around greek row late on Friday or Saturday nights. You can be very anonymous (which could be good or bad). I don't think anyone would call it cozy. I think there are many opportunities here, more than at a small or non-research school, but you have seek them out. It's a fairly diverse campus. It's hard to make any kind of blanket statement about the quality of instruction or how the classes are taught. The econ department has way too many majors (admission is not competitive), so the upper level classes are kinda big (~40) and you won't feel part of a community, while on the other end of the spectrum the computer science department seems like a tight-knit group (I should mention that there seem to be a lot of female CS majors). A friend of mine is in paper science, which is definitely tight-knit since there are only a few dozen people in the program. I don't regret going to such a big school. I enjoy having such a wide range of classes available.

The best thing about UW is the campus, it's absolutely gorgeous. If I could change one thing it would be the dorms because they suck. Going Greek is the best housing decision you could possibly make at the U. I almost never hear complaints about the UW, except maybe that classes are too hard... but that's a good thing, right?

Okay so this is what the college review books won't tell you. If you want to goto a big university with really good party scene don't come to UW. If you are interested in meeting tons of attractive girls or planning on constant hookups don't come here. UW is organized differently in a social sense than many other schools. Greek system has a monopoly over the best parties and the hottest girls and really its a completely different lifestyle if you live in the system. Also if you don't girls still have it not too bad. However the guys get shafted because if you don't know people you can't get into frat parties and you'll have to try your luck at some house parties which are usually sausage fests anyway, all the while paying 5 for a cover when girls drink free even if they are fugly. Size: Good for meeting people terrible for learning. There will be people trying to tell you "Ohhh its not that bad and you have ta's for the big classes". Denial. TA's for the intro classes are either a) foreign or b) the worst/dumbest in their class which is why they are ta'ing for 142. Same goes for professors for the most part. the worst ones are the intro teachers for classes like chem 142 phys. 121. You pay for what you get and no matter how much someone argues that it will ring true if you are honest about your education, bigger classes= less personal, more stressful, and poorly run. Campus: The buildings are pretty nice and the campus has a great view. but winter is pretty dismal for most people college town: The U district is a shit hole lets just say that. Theres bums shitty apartments and crack. Most people are all stoked on the ave but you'll get over it if you come here. Overall tho it is so much better than any other dumb college campus that is comprised of only the school. Reasons to go here: WA is the only state in the country not in recession and it's economic backbone is a valuable investment for a future job. Example: you graduate and have a much better chance of being hired in the state's solid economic climate than going to another school, only downside is major competition for grades, majors, etc.

Being near the water creates a beautiful learning atmosphere. The faculty is impressive and the satellite campuses are very nice options for some people. Most of my time spent on campus are in common areas where there are comfortable chairs to lounge in with a coffee shop and good food at hand. It's peaceful and a great study environment that I enjoy being around.

It's a major University, beatiful campus, students are very proud to be part of the community. I am Exec. student (not day time), not sure about controverses. Complains - not aware.

The Big Picture at Washington...don't come here unless you are ready to push yourself. You will not be coddled, and if you aren't self-motivated, you may very well end up dropping out. This is an invigorating environment if you respond well to challenge. As far as administration goes: one thing I remember very distinctly from Winter Quarter is meeting a school official and realizing that she assumed I wasn't fluent in English. This was pretty shocking, and it took me a couple of days to calm down after that epiphany: here, in a metropolitan setting (not the small suburb I grew up in), people make snap judgments and if your appearance isn't typical, you will be treated like a "minority". Despite some occasional frustrations like that, though, this is a great school.

When I walk through the beautiful campus to class, my decision to go to UW is reaffirmed on a daily basis. I never feel like it's too big of a campus and I always see plenty of people I know on campus every day. There are so many different kinds of people that go here that you can be totally yourself and be accepted at UW. There are so many great places to study on campus-- from the quad to in one of the many libraries. The Dawg Daze that the UW holds for students (especially freshmen) during the first week of school is great. The UW has a ton of great programs and fun, free events to go to all the time.

This is a LARGE School. It is possible to fall through the cracks if you are not disciplined or have some one to hold you accountable. Make friends, create a study group or find a study buddy.

UW is HUGE!! But it's nice because you get away from all the high school drama. It seems as though the smaller the school, the more like high school it is. UW has about 40,000 students, but you end up finding a little community that you fit into. The one thing I would change is the diversity. There are only about 4{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} Latinos...and even less Blacks, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans. We could use a little more color on campus :)

The school is beautiful. There is many opportunities to learn a lot and make the absolute most of your education. The people are a lot of fun, and there are lots of parties if you're looking for them. I work a lot, as well as go to school full time, and there are lots of job opportunities in and around campus. I believe there is a lot of school pride. People wear school colors al the time, and there are lots of activities that build pride and are fun. It's an overall great school.

I had a great time at this school, however, I feel like the classes were too big for me. I was fine with the large community, but didn't like how it translated into the classrooms. The culture is very diverse, which was enjoyable, and it helped me meet a lot of different people. For me, it was a great venue because it was so close to home, yet far enough away from my parents. I was an athlete, and sometimes athletes are not treated with the utmost respect. The athletes and the regular student body are normally separated from each other, which takes away from the interaction between them.

The University of Washington is not too big or to small, I think it is just right for me. I come from a small town and was loking for a college that was close to the city, but still had a feeling of community and comfort. I lived in the dorms freshman year and was a member of the UW track & field team for two years. That was one of the best experiences in my life and I was in the best shape of my life. I met so many people so quickly, it was perfect. I love competition and being part of a team and was so glad I had that opportunity. I new what i wanted to study coming into college, Architecture. After my first year in the dorms i decided to rush and join a sorority, something i as totally against coming into college. It turned out to be one of the best decisions i could have made. having so many friends and people surrounding me that cared and were in the same position as me was very helpful. The greek system was like a community within a huge college, something i could go home to and feel welcomed and at home, unlike the dorms. I can not walk any where in the U-district without seeing someone i know, which is great....most of the time, haha. I have life-long friends now. People who I can always have something in common with. Now that I am an Alumni, I can go back and help out the chapter. I am also a double major in construction management and architecture...a five year program. I have worked in an architecture firm for a year and i am currently working for a construction management firm as an intern. I have loved both my internships, but they have proven to be challenges working throught the school year. I need to work to have money and help pay for school. I know these two majors will prove to be successful and i am excited! UW has a ton of school pride and that is one of the things i love most about football season and basketball season. no matter how terrible our team may be playing, the stands are packed and the crowd loud and rowdy! One concern i have is the current violence around the uw campus and if it is turning people away. I know the media has portraid the greek community as violent, but it is actually people coming into the area that are causing the problems. I am not into campus politics or administration enough.

The beauty of the campus grounds and the old buildings really does it for me. When I was a freshmen I would walk around the campus and discover something I hadn't seen before, it was like an adventure. If I could change one thing, it would be the crime that seems to go on in the Greek area and also the vagrants and junkies that hang around the north Ave.