About

See what students say:

Academics

Students find "a great combination of high-powered academics, an excellent social life, and a wide variety of courses, all in the midst of the exciting Seattle life" at the University of Washington, the state's flagship institution of higher learning. UW offers "a lot of really stellar programs and the best bang for the buck, especially for in-state students or those in the sciences." Indeed, science programs "are incredible. The research going on here is cutting-edge and the leaders of biomedical sciences, stem cell research, etc. are accessible to students." Undergrads warn, however, that science programs are extremely competitive, "high pressure," and "challenging," with "core classes taught in lectures that seat more than 500 people," creating the sense that "professors don't seem to care too much whether you succeed." Pre-professional programs in business, law, nursing, medicine, and engineering all earn high marks, although again with the caveat that the workload is tough and the hand-holding nominal. As one student puts it, "The University of Washington provides every resource and opportunity for its students to succeed. You just have to take advantage of them. No one will do it for you." For those fortunate enough to get in, the Honors Program "creates a smaller community of highly motivated students.... It puts this school on top."

Student Body

"At such a large university, there is no 'typical' student," undergrads tell us, observing "one can find just about any demographic here and there is a huge variety in personalities." There "are quite a lot [of hipsters], but then again, it's Seattle," and by and large "the campus is ultraliberal. Most students care about the environment, are not religious, and are generally accepting of other diverse individuals." Otherwise, "you've got your stereotypes: the Greeks, the street fashion pioneers, the various ethnic communities, the Oxfordlooking grad students, etc." In terms of demographics, "the typical student at UW is white, middle-class, and is from the Seattle area," but "there are a lot of African American students and a very large number of Asian students." All groups "seem to socialize with each other."

Campus Life

UW students typically "have a good balance in their lives of education and fun." They "generally study hard and work in the libraries, but once the nighttime hits, they look forward to enjoying the night with their friends." Between the large university community and the surrounding city of Seattle, undergrads have a near-limitless selection of extracurricular choices. As one student explains, "There are tons of options for fun in Seattle. Going down to Pike's Market on a Saturday and eating your way through is always popular. There are tons of places to eat on 'The Ave,'" the shopping district that abuts campus, "and the UVillage shopping mall is a five-minute walk from campus with chainstore comfort available. Intramural sports are big for activities, and going to undergraduate theater productions is never a disappointing experience. During autumn or spring, renting a canoe and paddling around lake Washington down by the stadium is fun." Husky football games "are amazing," and the Greek community "is very big" without dominating campus social life. In short, "UW has anything you could want to do in your free time."

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
UW Admissions

Address
Office of Admissions
Box 355852
Seattle, WA 98195-5852

Phone
206-543-9686

Email
visituw@uw.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Henry Art Gallery
Burke Museum
Meany Hall for Performing Arts
Football games at Husky Stadium
Waterfront Activities Center (WAC)
Suzzallo Library

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Pike Place Market and Waterfront
Seattle Center (MoPOP, Space Needle, Pac Sci Ctr)
Seattle Art Museum/Asian Art Museum
International District
Olympic Sculpture Park

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
Monday - Friday
9am - 4:30pm
206-543-9686

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
No

Information Sessions
Available

Times
http://admit.washington.edu/Visit

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact Athletic Department

Advance Notice
Other

Contact Email Address for Visit
https://gohuskies.com/sports/2016/6/19/compliance-prospects-and-recruits.aspx

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available

Arrangements
Students can drop in on any course that is listed as available for drop-in.

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
By air. Seattle is served by Sea-Tac International Airport, about 20 minutes away. By transit. More than 60 bus routes serve the U-District, including many that drive onto the campus itself. You may also take the light rail which has stops near UW and the U-District.

Driving Instructions to Campus
From Interstate 5 (I-5), northbound or southbound Do not use the express lanes. Take Exit #169 (UW — NE 45th St. Exit). Go east (right turn from I-5 north, left turn from I-5 south) on NE 45th for about .5 mile. Turn right on 15th Ave. NE and continue for several blocks to NE 41st St. Schmitz Hall is on the right (west) side of 15th Ave. To park in the underground Central Plaza Parking Garage, turn left at NE 41st. Parking is available hourly ($4/hour) or daily ($19.50/day) Cash or Visa/MasterCard/Discover/American Express accepted. From the east side of Lake Washington via SR 520 (the floating bridge) Take SR 520 (the floating bridge) westbound toward Seattle. Take the Montlake Blvd. NE exit. Turn right (north) onto Montlake Blvd. and cross the Montlake Bridge. Just past the bridge, turn left on Pacific Ave. and continue west for several blocks past the UW Medical Center and Health Sciences complex on your left. Turn right at 15th Ave. NE and continue north about three blocks to NE 41st St. Schmitz Hall is on the left (west) side of 15th Ave. To park in the underground Central Plaza Parking Garage, turn right on NE 41st. Parking is available hourly ($4/hour) or daily ($19.50/day) Cash or Visa/MasterCard/Discover/American Express accepted.

Admissions

Applicants: 62,421
Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average HS GPA: 3.80






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