University of Washington?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with University of Washington (Seattle)? It’s on my kid’s list and seems to check a lot of boxes of what they are looking for. The requirement that students apply to majors in their sophomore year gives me pause (what happens if they can’t major in what they want?!), but it otherwise looks like a good option on paper.

Any pros/cons of University of Washington?

[Anonymous]

excellent school however the CS major for out of state is insanely hard to get in.

[Anonymous]

My brother got degrees there in engineering, and in relevant specialties it really is up there.

I was of two minds about it growing up in WA. There were some strong programs there, but it was also a university that let in so many much worse students than me, so I wanted to look down on it. I didn't go there. Sometimes I say that if I had done the right specialties I would have had a very elite experience there. Anyway, my life would have turned out quite differently.

The prior poster brings up something I've thought about as well. My son is interested. He is a great student. But if he isn't able to get into the harder programs due to numbers of seats, isn't he just going to Big Box University?

I don't want a kid who is working really hard to gain human capital for a future career to end up with nothing more to show for it than kids who got Cs in high school and a 1200 on the SAT. That's my worry. Or at least one of them.

[Anonymous]

UW is a very good school and always ranks very high in the global rankings. It tends not to be on the radar of people in the DC area, but it's a great school in a nice area in Seattle.

A student will need to deal with those winter months though. Everyone loves Seattle in July. It's a little different in December. It's not the cold, which isn't a problem. It's not even the rain. It's the lack of sunlight. So be prepared for that.

[Anonymous]

great school, great hybrid of beautiful campus minutes from an urban center. Great recruiting and good college sports/spirit.

[Anonymous]

Much like Univ of Oregon, it is a very easy school to get into so weed out classes exist with the funnel into the in-demand majors requiring you to jump through academic hoops.

[Anonymous]

Go visit it. Seattle has a massive homeless problem and just elected an idealist to replace a pragmatic person from the old guard. The city could see another surge in the coming years. Make sure it’s the environment your kid wants to go to college in. Otherwise a great school.

[Anonymous]

Great school, expensive OOS.

[Anonymous]

Out of state is almost $70,000 a year.

With an acceptance rate of 50% be prepared to take large classes with weed out pre-requisites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brother got degrees there in engineering, and in relevant specialties it really is up there.

I was of two minds about it growing up in WA. There were some strong programs there, but it was also a university that let in so many much worse students than me, so I wanted to look down on it. I didn't go there. Sometimes I say that if I had done the right specialties I would have had a very elite experience there. Anyway, my life would have turned out quite differently.

The prior poster brings up something I've thought about as well. My son is interested. He is a great student. But if he isn't able to get into the harder programs due to numbers of seats, isn't he just going to Big Box University?

I don't want a kid who is working really hard to gain human capital for a future career to end up with nothing more to show for it than kids who got Cs in high school and a 1200 on the SAT. That's my worry. Or at least one of them.

Seattle person here. Times have changed. No one who "got Cs in high school" is getting into UW nowadays. Their GPA 25/75 is 3.74-3.98. https://admit.washington.edu/apply/first-year/by-the-numbers/.

I would caution folks about apply OOS to CS, which has an extremely competitive 2% acceptance rate(!). You cannot switch into CS, but my understanding is that students can switch into any other majors. The campus is safe and beautiful and nowhere close to the areas where the homeless/mentally-ill hangout (i.e. south Seattle, international district, even downtown).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out of state is almost $70,000 a year.

With an acceptance rate of 50% be prepared to take large classes with weed out pre-requisites.

Isn't Univ of Michigan close to $90k a year for OOS all in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Much like Univ of Oregon, it is a very easy school to get into so weed out classes exist with the funnel into the in-demand majors requiring you to jump through academic hoops.

That is false. It might have used to been but no more - pretty competitive. I have one child there and one who did not get in but got into Purdue, Wisconsin, Pitt and more. Great engineering and sciences.

My child who is there loves it. It has typical big school problems in that sometimes you can't get the classes you want but they are getting a great education. Was worried about the weather but says the rain is so gentle that it doesn't prevent you from getting out and about. And even in the winter the sun tends to come out most days for a bit. Great outdoors stuff around - especially skiing, hiking, climbing and water activities. Seattle homeless are a little extra but my kid says as long as you avoid Pike & 3rd after dark you are good. Great public transit, good concerts and activities.

[Anonymous]

PP with a kid there responding to your major question. We have answered this question for numerous people in the past and most people get their majors if they are doing decently in school. Even the competitive graphic design. Though some of the engineering ones can be tough. If you want to tell me what major you are thinking of I can check with my kid who is a Junior in engineering.

[Anonymous]

my HSer did an athletic visit there and LOVED it. The campus is great, lots of extras, in a city but still a campus, etc... Definitely on the top of the list.

[Anonymous]

OOS tuition is very expensive, COA is coming up to $75 K/year. Classes are big.

BUT the campus is absolutely beautiful and city of Seattle is great. Lots of fun outdoorsy things to do in area plus Seattle is a great city. View of Mt. Rainier from campus is stunning. Dorms are mid.