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Do any of you know how student life is like at UW? I heard that Seattle is quite depressing due to the rain...but I would rather live there and study than to stay in the city where I am currently at.

Please give me some insights. Also let me know what kind of activities are available for students regardless of whether you are a grad or undergrad student.

By Mike (Mike) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 11:54 am: Edit

Rain depression is a personal thing. I don't have that problem. Just when the rain seems hopeless the sun comes out. Close to the Mts for skiing and on the east side it is sunny most of the time. There are lots of outdoor stuff within easy driving distance like Puget sound, the Olympic Nat. Park and Canada.

I am not considering going there because of the size of classes and the too huge dorms for freshmen

Mike

By Armsgravy (Armsgravy) on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 07:08 am: Edit

UW-Seattle will be the greatest experience of your life, if:

- You are studying science, specifically medicine.
- you don't mind sharing an intro class with 200 other kids
- you are, or are willing to be a little outdoorsy (Seattle is not very cosmopolitan, you'll find yourself surrounded mostly by hiking and skiing enthusiasts)
- you understand that just when the rain seems hopeless, it gets even worse.

You can still have a great time even if you aren't into these things, but it wouldn't be as great if you were.

By Cyclones86 (Cyclones86) on Thursday, October 09, 2003 - 12:01 am: Edit

Hey there...
So UW-Seattle is good for premed hopefuls then?
Cuz I am looking at that school, but I don't want to be in a place where it rains 24/7. Do you go there, Armsgravy? And if so, tell me about it!

By Armsgravy (Armsgravy) on Thursday, October 09, 2003 - 06:22 am: Edit

Well, it doesn't rain 24/7. People joke about that. Two of the three quarters you are studying in will be full of rain (fall, winter). Spring usually has lots of sun.

You will get used to it, and you will love it. I lived near the campus for years.

By Lu_Lu (Lu_Lu) on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 10:57 pm: Edit

with a 1260 sat and 27 act, will i be able to get in? I know the school can be a little competitive but it seems like such a nice place

By Mimi (Mimi) on Sunday, November 02, 2003 - 10:00 pm: Edit

I don't go to the UW but I live in Seattle. I don't really like it and the rain gets annoying. Once it's rained for like 30+ days straight. It's really nice when it doesn't rain though, especially around Spring.

By Jay12602 (Jay12602) on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 07:59 am: Edit

98% of UW students submit SAT scores between 1060 and 1290 according to the college board.

Do you live in state Lu_Lu? I've heard UW can be very difficult to get in from out of state since it's over 80% in-state students.

By Jay12602 (Jay12602) on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 09:41 pm: Edit

I know it is much harder to get in from out of state, but can somebody give me an idea of just HOW much harder?

I live in Florida, and I think I can use that to my advantage (minorly) since I'm assuming few Floridians attend UW.

What kind of SAT and GPA do you think I'd need to get in?

My school counts AP as 2 extra points (6 = A) and honors as 1 extra point (5=A).

By Puchiin (Puchiin) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 07:14 am: Edit

out of state students need
>3.4 GPA un weighted
>1200 SAT or
>27 ACT

By Bebegirl (Bebegirl) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 08:16 pm: Edit

has anyone heard back from the school?

i think they already sent in my decision letter.. ACKKK

By Ringo27 (Ringo27) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 07:45 pm: Edit

Wow, I never realized how "below average" I was when applying....Everyone's worried with 1200+ SATs and not enough ECs (I go to a large mid-class suburban school outside Seattle and nobody--even college bound kids--have no clue what ECs are)and here I am thinking I'll have no probs getting into the UW! I checked online for the stats of my application and it's waiting for review...so I'll see pretty soon what I got. Here's my stats:

rank: 67 / 511
SAT: 1160 ---avg I think
GPA: 3.67 sen year, but they asked for jr year which was 3.8

I also took 30 credits worth of Running Start college classes.

I read an article in the Seattle Times Education section where it asked college admissions folk to rate prep classes. They said they "applauded" applicants who took Int'l bac courses, then AP classes, then Honors, and finally Running Start because the quality of community colleges differ. So take AP if you want to stand out over Running Start.

Awards & Activities:
German Award
some academic awards I forgot their names
volunteered at World Vision once a month (UW's application doesn't ask for specific hours)
Gay Straight Alliance
French Club & conversation
Choir since middle school

My personal statement was weird. I wish I had the time to make it better. It was about how a book shaped me into my present character. I don't recall what the finer points were...something about being gay and learning languages. I then connected that to the book. HA! That must sound crazy.

SO yea, I bet I got a 50/50 chance of getting in. According to the charts, I'm just a teensy bit above avg for acceptance into the UW. If I'm rejected, I'll go to some community college.

By Hikaru (Hikaru) on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:53 am: Edit

Wow Ringo27 I'm almost in the same position you are, and I hope I can get into UW because I've visited their campus a couple of times and it's definately the place I wanna go!

By Aribus (Aribus) on Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 06:53 am: Edit

what would be needed as a transfer student from California? What kind of GPA is typically expected?

By Trubluluder93 (Trubluluder93) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 02:12 am: Edit

aribus, are you transferring from cal-berkeley? there is basically no room for transfers from comm colleges at uw, they gotta be ace students. they enrolled way too many people over the past few years

By Kousuke (Kousuke) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 07:31 pm: Edit

how good is UWs premed program? because i heard they have the best medical school in the nation, as in best to be a practicing doctor. if this is true, why do people go to places like Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins Medical school? I thought all of those big name schools were good for medical research, not for practice. is it just for the name?

By Spydersport824 (Spydersport824) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 04:00 pm: Edit

Hi, I'm thinking of applying for Fall 2005 admission to UW and live in Michigan.

Asian (Indian) Male born in US
GPA (10-11): 3.48 unweighted
3.84 weighted
SAT: 1340 (690 math, 650 verbal)
ACT: 30 (32 english, 30 math, 29 reading, 27
science)
Honors: Algebra II, Trig/Discrete, Precalculus, English 9-11
AP(excluding senior year): US History, English 11
Senior Year Schedule: AP BC Calculus, AP English 12, AP Biology, AP World History, Spanish 4, Organic Chemistry (1 semester), Fund. of Art (1 semester)
Taken 5 years of science in grades 9-11.

Extracurriculars:
Project LEAD- 3 years
SADD Club- 3 years
Literary Club- 2 years
Medical Club- 2 years (president/founder)
National Honor Society- 2 years
Student Congress- 1 year (Class Representative)
JV Tennis- 1 year
Varsity Tennis- 2 years
Troy Youth Council- 4 years (City board that advises City Council on Youth Issues in City of Troy, MI)

Volunteer Activities:
Boys & Girls Club of Troy- 120 hours (two summers)
Downhill Ski Supervisor- 42 hours (one winter)
Troy Public Library- 50 hours
William Beaumont Hospital- 204 hours (14 months)
Detroit Medical Center- 90 hours (estimate, starting in mid July)

Employment:
Downhill Ski Supervisor- 3 winters
Soccer Referee- 4 years

I also participated in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona in June 2004.

So what are my chances, and is it worth going across the country to attend this school for premed? Thanks a lot.

By Ledyana (Ledyana) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 06:23 am: Edit

how is the economics department here?

By Spydersport824 (Spydersport824) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 09:16 pm: Edit

bump...what are my chances?

By Jpeng (Jpeng) on Sunday, July 25, 2004 - 05:55 pm: Edit

I'm new to this board deal, but I'm starting at UW this fall, so I thought I'd share some insight.

To spydersport: your chances are pretty good, if not guaranteed. UW indexes your GPA and SAT and if you get above a certain score, then you're automatically admitted. Otherwise, they'll review your app. I can't find the chart, but from what I remember, 1340 is pretty good. Plus, you have a ton of extracurriculars.

UW isn't actually as competitive as some people say. Don't know about economics, but I know it has an excellent pre-med program, as well as med school. It's a great research university--lots of grants and opps for undergrads. I'm starting as a lab helper this fall, and am told I can begin my own research in six monthes. It's a huge university, so for those who don't like large lecture style classes, I'd apply to the Honors Program or declare your major as soon as possible. The campus is beautiful, I spent six weeks there during summer (during high school) and I didn't want to leave.

Seattle isn't all that dreary. I've lived here for most of my life, and I'd have to say I've grown to like the rain. There's plenty of sun too (it was 96 yesterday). The only downfall is no snow, but you can always go up to Snoqualmie. You can go to the beach too, but the water's kind of cold.

Hopefully this helps, and feel free to ask any questions.

By Spydersport824 (Spydersport824) on Sunday, July 25, 2004 - 06:50 pm: Edit

Thanks Jpeng. Do you think it is worth applying to UDub for pre-med if I live in Michigan and have UMich-Ann Arbor and Mich State right here?

By Barrons (Barrons) on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 07:58 pm: Edit

It is harder to get into UW Med from UW than from other good schools. They really appear to avoid UW undergrads.

By Jpeng (Jpeng) on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 10:44 pm: Edit

I don't really have a concise or definate answer. For me, I'm going because it's one of the best schools in my area (therefore the cheapest for the caliber of education I'll be receiving). And obviously it's a large college so switching majors will be a cinch.

If I lived in Michigan, I wouldn't be coming to UW; it's not that good. If you're really serious, go with a top-ranked school. If you're ambitious, you'll have an good shot no matter where you go for your undergrad work.

By Spydersport824 (Spydersport824) on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 01:53 pm: Edit

Thanks, looks like I'm staying in Michigan.