The University of Washington - Seattle

Date: Sep 12 2007
Major: Engineering Department (This Major's Salary over time)
There are a few common misconceptions (misinterpretations perhaps) about UW that I'd like to clear up.

The most popular criticism of the school is the combination of class size and T.A. instruction. The important thing to understand is, the school doesn't rely on staff to cradle each student in INTRODUCTORY CLASSES and hold their hand through "My First Essay" or the first year of arts, math, language, or the sciences. There are a multitude of resources available—office hours with professors, study groups, free tutoring—to help with introductory courses as people feel the need.

After one understands that the university has no intention to coddle its students in the first year or two, one can truly begin to realize how first-class the education is.

The structure of most of the degree programs is as follows:

Years one and two you will complete the prerequisites that most of the other kids in your degree type will be taking (hence the class sizes). Since there ARE quite a few students, obviously some will fail—it is all part of the process. The students that "make it" apply to their appropriate degree programs before entering junior year. It's as simple as that. The truth is that UW does turn down students intending on getting into competitive majors that didn't earn the right through a low GPA.

Once in the degree program, the school is then ready to fully embrace you as a student by providing the industry leaders in knowledge and research for most of the majors at the school (I can't think of one that isn't rated highly). At this point class size is in the 5-25 student range, and real education is not only possible, but is fully administered.

It just takes some understanding that one must work to overcome the hardships of the first two years to be fully awarded.

BOTTOM LINE:

If your idea of a perfect school is synonymous with mommy holding your hand for 4 years, UW probably isn't for you. But by NO MEANS is it impersonal or hard to achieve a quality education; they just expect you to put in some effort to get it.

P.S. The social scene is NEVER boring, regardless of where one chooses to live. It's impossible NOT to find a group of people with like interests. The campus is my favorite place on earth, and it's a special feeling attending a school with such rich traditions in sports and academics. Go Dawgs : )