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.