University of Washington

Comments about University of Washington:

I am currently in my 3rd year of a chemistry graduate program at UW. UW is a big research university, and I have been very impressed with the caliber of faculty and students in my department. I have seen a bit of the undergraduate experience as a TA. There are a LOT of undergraduates here, which makes some of the class sizes very large. I think it can feel a bit impersonal at times, which is definitely the biggest disadvantage of going here as an undergrad. That being said, Seattle is an awesome city with a lot going on.

Comments about University of Washington:

I attended graduate school at the University of Washington. I chose UW because it had a strong program that fit my interests. The faculty were well-respected in their fields and were eager to help their students succeed. I received good instruction and was very happy with my experience there. I can't speak to what it would be like for undergraduates, although one thing to be aware of is that graduate students are doing more of the instruction at large research institutions like UW than you would get at a smaller liberal arts college.

In contrast to colleges and universities that are in small towns, UW is certainly part of a much larger community--Seattle doesn't revolve around UW like Pullman revolves around WSU, for instance. This might make the University have less of its own community feel, but I think it also has advantages because it's very easy to get away from the University when you need a little break. Plus, Seattle is a wonderful city to live in and you have easy access to some of the most beautiful places on the west coast.

Comments about University of Washington:

Compared to other parts of my academic career, I had my best experiences at the University of Washington. The general attitude is laid-back but passionate, dedicated but not overzealous, most of which I attribute to Seattle, itself.

It is hard to resist the urge to go poking about in the course catalog and go play. There are so many different topics on offer, with so many courses taught by folks who deeply, passionately care about communicating their interests to you, that you can get lost for years in small subject areas. Finding your way out again is not necessarily the easiest, but there is support and guidance for those who want or need it.

UW has some phenomenal resources in the sciences, and a few of its departments are world-class (especially Asian languages and literature, anthropology, and oceanography). On the other hand, the school is huge, physically and mentally, and you can be awash in the sea of students. Carving out your identity and making a name for yourself can take some serious work, but the departments will repay your for the effort with increased personal attention.

It also doesn't hurt that UW is in the middle of a fantastic city, and in a beautiful part of the country. You can be a bookworm and succeed, but you can also bike, hike, kayak, climb and ski, and still make good grades, because all of those options are so close, and so cheap. This is a great college to come explore yourself, and to have fun while doing so.

Comments about University of Washington:

I attended UW for a Master's degree from 05 - 08. Probably the most stressful time of my life thus far, but great at the same time. The campus is beautiful, the professors in my program were fantastic. And not enough good things can be said for Seattle and surrounding areas.