Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 12:05     Subject: University of Washington?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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).


Was a Seattle person until 2021. Your point, while somewhat true, is relative to being in Seattle. To someone coming from the dc area, it’s likely the homeless in the u district over towards Ballard would be somewhere between uncomfortable and shocking. Downtown, Id, and Sodo would be downright frightening. We really don’t have anything here that comes within 1/10 of Seattle.


Because we do not that lots of homeless in DC? Seattle does not seem any different to me


With all due respect, have you spent significant time in Seattle? If not, you have no idea how bad it is. So no, dc does not have homeless compared to Seattle.


Have spent significant time in both. Yes the Av has some crazy homeless but no worse then some DC ones and the crazies are easier to spot. Just don't go to downtown Seattle after dark without a group and a plan!


Oh for God's sake. I have been in Seattle a ton and it's totally fine. I was there for the Eras tour, at UDub and so many lacrosse tournaments in and out of the city. Pike's place, down town, at night, etc.


DP. I’m from Seattle and my family is all still there but I’ve lived in DC almost 2 decades. I can’t even imagine how you got the idea these places are similar wrt homeless people and property crime. In Seattle I’ve had serious problems with aggressive homeless people, getting mugged, breaking into my car, etc. All in supposedly “nice” areas. Very different than DC.


Thanks for the backup! I'm the poster who was saying you don't need to freak out about them but they are definitely more of an issue there.
Anonymous
Post 11/22/2025 22:06     Subject: University of Washington?

Anonymous wrote:If you visit the school, please visit it outside of the summer window. A majority of the time they will be there it will be rainy, wet, icy.



Yes! My DS toured in March of last year, mid 40s, rainy and windy. He had applied but it wasn’t his first choice. Others may be fine with it.
Anonymous
Post 11/22/2025 22:06     Subject: University of Washington?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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).


Was a Seattle person until 2021. Your point, while somewhat true, is relative to being in Seattle. To someone coming from the dc area, it’s likely the homeless in the u district over towards Ballard would be somewhere between uncomfortable and shocking. Downtown, Id, and Sodo would be downright frightening. We really don’t have anything here that comes within 1/10 of Seattle.


Because we do not that lots of homeless in DC? Seattle does not seem any different to me


With all due respect, have you spent significant time in Seattle? If not, you have no idea how bad it is. So no, dc does not have homeless compared to Seattle.


Have spent significant time in both. Yes the Av has some crazy homeless but no worse then some DC ones and the crazies are easier to spot. Just don't go to downtown Seattle after dark without a group and a plan!


Oh for God's sake. I have been in Seattle a ton and it's totally fine. I was there for the Eras tour, at UDub and so many lacrosse tournaments in and out of the city. Pike's place, down town, at night, etc.


DP. I’m from Seattle and my family is all still there but I’ve lived in DC almost 2 decades. I can’t even imagine how you got the idea these places are similar wrt homeless people and property crime. In Seattle I’ve had serious problems with aggressive homeless people, getting mugged, breaking into my car, etc. All in supposedly “nice” areas. Very different than DC.
Anonymous
Post 11/22/2025 22:00     Subject: University of Washington?

If you visit the school, please visit it outside of the summer window. A majority of the time they will be there it will be rainy, wet, icy.

Anonymous
Post 11/21/2025 11:53     Subject: University of Washington?

UW is equivalent to one of the strong UCs like UCSB or UCSD.

But ouch those classes are so BIG.

They do have an honors college tho.

Anonymous
Post 11/21/2025 11:50     Subject: University of Washington?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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).


Was a Seattle person until 2021. Your point, while somewhat true, is relative to being in Seattle. To someone coming from the dc area, it’s likely the homeless in the u district over towards Ballard would be somewhere between uncomfortable and shocking. Downtown, Id, and Sodo would be downright frightening. We really don’t have anything here that comes within 1/10 of Seattle.


Because we do not that lots of homeless in DC? Seattle does not seem any different to me


With all due respect, have you spent significant time in Seattle? If not, you have no idea how bad it is. So no, dc does not have homeless compared to Seattle.


Have spent significant time in both. Yes the Av has some crazy homeless but no worse then some DC ones and the crazies are easier to spot. Just don't go to downtown Seattle after dark without a group and a plan!


Oh for God's sake. I have been in Seattle a ton and it's totally fine. I was there for the Eras tour, at UDub and so many lacrosse tournaments in and out of the city. Pike's place, down town, at night, etc.


I wasn't saying it wasn't fine. I'm saying you should always pay attention and be alert. The homeless in downtown Seattle around that one intersection of Pike & 3rd are a slightly different level than I have seen. A combination of numbers and a lot of drug use and mental health issues. Which doesn't mean you freak out but does mean you pay attention. And if you are a female maybe don't wander alone late at night down there. Which is common sense for any place!
Anonymous
Post 11/21/2025 11:47     Subject: University of Washington?

Anonymous wrote:
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.


Weed is a big part of the daily experience at UW.


Depends on the crowd. My kids at other schools did a lot more!
Anonymous
Post 11/21/2025 07:42     Subject: University of Washington?

Anonymous wrote:
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.


Weed is a big part of the daily experience at UW.


Isn't it everywhere in the Pacific NW??
Anonymous
Post 11/21/2025 07:19     Subject: University of Washington?

One plus is that it’s relatively easy to get to. Alaska airlines is a great airline and has a couple daily directs to both Dulles and Reagan. Light rail from the airport right to campus without any transfers.
Anonymous
Post 11/21/2025 04:16     Subject: University of Washington?

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.


I personally believe a good, motivated and proactive student will do well anywhere.
Anonymous
Post 11/21/2025 02:59     Subject: University of Washington?

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.


Weed is a big part of the daily experience at UW.
Anonymous
Post 11/21/2025 01:32     Subject: University of Washington?

Anonymous wrote:Udubs excellent for stem. You don’t have to worry about recruitment, research opportunities. Lot of graduates get excellent offers and pursue ms/phd Lot of smart international , ca students . Plus lot of very smart in state students.


A lot of NorCal students go there
Anonymous
Post 11/20/2025 22:22     Subject: University of Washington?

Udubs excellent for stem. You don’t have to worry about recruitment, research opportunities. Lot of graduates get excellent offers and pursue ms/phd Lot of smart international , ca students . Plus lot of very smart in state students.
Anonymous
Post 11/20/2025 20:23     Subject: University of Washington?

How do the physics and math majors look at UW?
Anonymous
Post 11/20/2025 19:45     Subject: University of Washington?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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).


Was a Seattle person until 2021. Your point, while somewhat true, is relative to being in Seattle. To someone coming from the dc area, it’s likely the homeless in the u district over towards Ballard would be somewhere between uncomfortable and shocking. Downtown, Id, and Sodo would be downright frightening. We really don’t have anything here that comes within 1/10 of Seattle.


Because we do not that lots of homeless in DC? Seattle does not seem any different to me


With all due respect, have you spent significant time in Seattle? If not, you have no idea how bad it is. So no, dc does not have homeless compared to Seattle.


Have spent significant time in both. Yes the Av has some crazy homeless but no worse then some DC ones and the crazies are easier to spot. Just don't go to downtown Seattle after dark without a group and a plan!


Oh for God's sake. I have been in Seattle a ton and it's totally fine. I was there for the Eras tour, at UDub and so many lacrosse tournaments in and out of the city. Pike's place, down town, at night, etc.