University of Washington

Located in Seattle with easy access to the mountains and the coast, the University of Washington is truly picturesque with gothic buildings in the heart of the city. UW is a large research institution with 28,000 undergrads, and has become a popular school amongst California students. It’s not as tough to get into as UCLA and Berkeley and many of the other UCs, and but offers many of the same academic programs and opportunities. It’s also a large research institution and requires a self-directed and motivated student to excel here. (Not a lot of personal hand-holding).

The location of UW has allowed strong marine and environmental studies departments. Other popular majors include business, psychology, english engineering, communications, biochemistry, life sciences, computer science and biology. In addition, UW boasts a strong drama department with ties to the Seattle theater scene. Majors in the medical field (nursing, public health, pharmacy) have access to one of the country’s top medical schools.

The school has a great honors program, and all freshmen enroll in first year interest groups. 20 or so freshmen meet, discuss and study with other freshmen with similar interests and are guided by a junior or senior peer advisor. I hear from many current students that this makes the large school feel smaller and helps new students meet each other. In addition, all undergraduates in liberal arts and professional fields have writing, reasoning and arts requirements which balance out studies well.

⅓ of students at UW live on campus, there’s an active Greek System and given the school’s location and easy access to downtown Seattle, there’s plenty to do. The DI sports are also a huge source of Husky pride. Outside of football, rowing is at the heart of the school’s history and UW regularly ranks in the top both on the women’s and men’s side.