Washington Economics Major

The school is big, so there aren't many stereotypes about Washington students.

University of Washington is a big school. This is a boon and a blessing, depending on the student. For me, it is a blessing. It gives me the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people and try new activities, while also allowing me to find like-minded people who share my interests. It is possible to find your niche at this school. One way is to choose smaller classes or a major in a small department. I am earning a double degree - one in a popular major (Economics) and one in a small major (Scandinavian Studies). The Economics major is great because there are always activities like lectures from visiting professors and pizza lunches. I always see new faces in my classes. The Scandinavian Studies major is great because there are intimate gatherings at professors' houses and the advisor knows my name. For a while, my Norwegian class would meet on Fridays at a student's house to watch Norwegian movies. That was fun! One complaint is that the school is not very collegial- many students are commuters, so it can be hard to meet up for group projects. One great thing about the school is that it is very casual. I have seen students in their pajamas at the library late at night.

University of Washington is a research institution. Many of the professors are researches first, and teachers second. Many classes are taught by graduate students. Graduate student teachers don't have experience, but I have also taken some of my favorite classes with them because they are so excited about sharing their knowledge. If you want to do research, this is a great school, and you can easily find a mentor. The academic requirements are basic, and no science is required. I satisfied all of my "natural world" requirements by taking math. One of my favorite classes at the UW has been Psychobiology of Women. The professor was animated and hilarious- who knew that learning about hormones and the reproductive system could be so much fun? In addition, we had smaller class sections where we discussed controversial topics like genetic engineering and egg donation. We also have some interesting majors, like Comparative History of Ideas, which I hear is very challenging. You can even minor in Disability Studies or another more specific topic. One of the benefits of such a large university is the breadth of course offerings and concentrations. The UW's department quality varies quite a lot. If you want to major in computer science, we have one of the best student bodies and faculties in the country! We also have one of the ONLY Scandinavian Studies departments in the country. In addition, you can take virtually any language you can think of. The school offers Latvian, Norwegian, and Tagalog, just to name a few. There is a language requirement, and you have to take up to level 103 (third quarter, or one year). You can bypass this requirement by taking a test, but why not take the opportunity to learn a new language? I took Norwegian to learn more about my ancestry, and now I've studied in Norway twice and am receiving a degree in Scandinavian Studies. In addition, there are lots of opportunities to study abroad. We have Exploration Seminars, which are 3-4 week long programs abroad that focus on a specific issue. These are great for students who are hesitant to take "time off" from their regular course schedule and want to try something new.

I'll come right out and say it. Most of Washington's students are liberal or left-leaning. Seattle as a whole tends to be fairly liberal. However, the Republican Student club does have a presence on campus (if only for their controversial practice of selling "affirmative action" cookies and other shenanigans). There are also excellent resources for minority students - including a center and library devoted to LGBT students and their allies.

I am a commuter who grew up in Seattle, so most of my friends tend to be students I have known for my whole life. However, there are often events on campus (and I am always trying to get my friends to go!). There are a lot of house parties around the University District, since many students rent rooms in large houses. There is a lot of underage drinking at these parties. I stopped going to them once I turned 21, and now I usually go to concerts and bars in Capitol Hill with my friends.