University of Washington
Reviews

Pink Panty Droppers

I do not comprehend the complete lack of cannabis within these structured walls on campus. However, I will admit that my roommates oft return at wee hours of the night, completely innebriated and swashbuckled from all the "pink panty droppers" they consumed only moments earlier. The alchohol is abundant, but drugs are minimal.

Its Fun If You Only Want to Party

Everyone in greek life tries to convince you that the frats and sororities are really cool and have more to them than just parties, but when it comes down to it, you'd be better off getting a house with some friends than going greek. The only reason that the university doesn't crack down on the crime in the area is because they don't have enough housing to accommodate everyone in the dorms

You're Safe If You're Smart

I've personally never felt threatened on campus. University of Washington can be unsafe, as indicated by the high number of incident reports the local police sends out to notify the public. However, if you take proper precautions, like not wandering by yourself late at night, you can steer clear of any potentially dangerous situations.

Best Decision I've Made

Five years ago, I decided to leave the comfortable familiarity of the East Coast and jet over to the other side of the country to attend college at the University of Washington. It was one of the best decisions I've made. I strongly believe the school's reputation is well-deserved since the quality of education I received here is unrivaled. I've heard the school as being referred to as a 'baby Ivy League.' The classes are challenging, and the workload, at times, can be daunting, but they are definitely stimulating. Many of the faculty members I've had the pleasure of studying under with are among the best in their respective fields and their passion shows from the moment they step into the classroom. I've personally found the faculty to be accessible and ready to provide after-school help, whenever needed. Paying out-of-state tuition was rough, but for the quality education I received, I consider it a sound investment in my future :)

There's a Range

While a lot of people have cars on campus, it's not necessary. Seattle has other ways of getting around that are less costly. There's the public transportation system. Many of the buses around campus run often and the husky pass/card makes it easy to pay for your rides (you just show your card). There's also Zip Car spots on and around campus-- you sign up, pay, and borrow a car for however long you need it, for instance, a few hours for moving purposes. On campus parking is expensive so it's better to get around it if you can.

School Pride

UW has a lot of school pride and spirit. People wear their purple and gold proud especially for football games because the stadium is so huge that so many people can participate. The marching band gets pretty involved by playing around campus and getting people riled up for games. Obviously not everyone is into sports, but I think a lot of people have husky pride in general because of how great the school is and the teams have been pretty successful in the past anyways so even if you're not into sports you can understand why the school pride has been so traditional.

Large Campus, Beautiful Campus

UW is great. It's such a beautiful campus. There are older buildings that remain intact, some of them renovated, and in recent years there has been an increase in modern architecture. I love the mixture of old and new, how UW has managed to keep some of the things that remind us of its history, but also erect newer buildings that give the campus an eclectic feel. There's more to the aesthetics than just the buildings. There's the quad with the cherry blossom trees that bloom in the spring, which is perfect because tons of people hang out their in the spring and summer. There's Drumheller fountain that shoots water up in the air and depending on where you are standing near it and if it's a clear day you have an amazing view of Mt. Rainier. In the five years I was there I saw huge amounts of visitors throughout the school year. There were kids from grade school, high school students, international groups of students and adults, families walking around taking pictures, and I've even witnessed people participating in weddings on campus to get their photo shots taken there. UW is great in many ways and thousands of people are on it almost every day. It's not only a great place to study at, but it's a lovely place to just walk around and take in all the variety of scenery that keeps people coming back and allures many new visitors into the welcoming world that is UW.

Parking

There isn't a lot of on campus parking and its really expesive. The same is true with off campus parking. There is free street parking in the greek system but you'll usually spend for ever trying to find a spot and end up parking 5 blocks away.

Parking Sucks

Campus parking is expensive at $15 a day. Street parking is difficult because it is only 2-hour and that doesn't normally fit with class schedules of the students. I live in the greek system and parking is insane. It sometimes takes 30 minutes to find a place to park and sometimes it isn't anywhere close to my house.

It You Want to Go Greek Go to UW

Greek life is a HUGE part of UW. It controls the social scene and the only big parties are in the greek system. If greek life is something that you want to be a part of in college UW is your school.

It Is Not Bad

A few streets over is University way with a wide variety of eating places. There are some that you can find for a great discount, while others can be expensive. You can get coupons in the student guide from the bookstore though to help with a lot of the price

It Seems Appropriate

It rains much in Seattle, a constant dreary gray that most days do not allow much outdoor activities. That said, aside from the pain of commuting to classes, I find the weather to be quite conducive for study efforts. It does make it difficult to enjoy weekends, but strictly academically speaking, its fine.

UW Style

The weather in Seattle doesn't change much and neither do people's clothes during class. The most common outfit I see on girls (if they aren't in ROTC or dressed up for an interview or speech, etc.) are black leggings with a North Face jacket and tall rainboots. As the weather gets warmer, you start to see more skin and more people laying out to try and catch some rays before the clouds start to take cover again. The kinds of guys here range from super jocks to frat boys to computer nerds (awesome people, btw) to your troublemakers. The campus is huge and extremely diverse, so there isn't an exact typical personality to find. You've got people who are smiling as they walk through the quad and others jammin' out to their Dr. Dre BOSE headphones. As for those elite D-1 athletes...you always know who they are--they don't have time to wear anything else except their sports gear. That's intense.

Rain

Seattle weather is tons of rain and more rain. This weather could possibly bring you down or lift you up in however you take it. It can be extremely sunny one day and raining hard the next.

A Lot to Do!

It's Seattle!

There's a huge music scene, theaters, the waterfront, etc.

Endless opportunities for anyone and everyone!

Reminders About Deadlines

UW was good about communicating with students via email to remind them about important deadlines. I was well informed (but not overwhelmed) with messages in my inbox letting me know when to have Financial Aid applications completed so I wouldn't run into any unnecessary inconveniences.

Hipster Town

Seattle youth are noticeably in style at UW. People are interesting, concerned about social causes, and engaged in the unique culture that is Seattle.

Typical

The UW is fairly average when it comes to strictness. Underage drinking, cheating, and plagiarism seem to be dealt in appropriate ways.

Great City Activities

The University of Washington is located in the heart of Seattle. "The Ave", as we call it, is a street right next to campus that has lots of restaurants to choose from. If you love Pho, vegetarian options, or Tai food, the Ave is great for you! There's also a shopping center called "University Village" nearby, which features lots of great restaurants, luxury shopping stores, and even frozen yogurt!

Furthermore, downtown is only a few minutes away. My friends and I love going to the Seattle Center or eating at the Spaghetti Factory near the waterfront.

And, of course, this is Seattle. If you love coffee, you'll have a lots and lots of coffee shops to choose from!

But Beware! Housing around the university is expensive! It can be more than $2000 a month for a two bedroom apartment. Studios tend to be pretty expensive too ($650-1500). My two roommates and I cut costs by sharing a one bedroom apartment. I pay about $400 a month.

Generally Pretty Good

I especially love the IMA at UW. It's a great gym, and the fee for it, which is included in tuition, is very reasonable. There is a pool, plenty of machines, and all kinds of fun classes to take.

I also love the libraries, because there is a library for any possible thing you might need one for. Suzzalo is quiet and studious, Odegaard is busy and good for group projects, etc.

So Many of Them

There are so many students at UW that there's bound to be someone your type. People in the Greek system tend to be the most attractive.

Seattle

UW is surrounded by some good shopping and restaurants. Most people don't go too far off campus because you really don't need to - everything you might need is on the Ave or at the Village, both right next to campus. If you want to venture downtown, the bus system is pretty easy to manage and is generally pretty quick.

Keeps You Informed

Whenever my financial aid needed to be altered, I received an email telling me to check my account. Everything was able to be completed online on myUW.com. The whole process was very smooth and easy to understand.

Campus Resources

Teacher's and TAs are available during convenient office hours and are always willing to help. Academic advisers are also very friendly and helpful and most classes offer tutors or review/CLUE sessions in Mary Gates Hall.

Sleepover Every Night

I live with 5 other females in a townhouse off of campus. I love it. It is like having a sleepover every night. These ladies are some of my best friends here at the University of Washington. The price is comparable to what it would be living in dorms, except i have my own room, only share a bathroom with 2 other girls, have a kitchen and huge fridge. i just love it!