Washington: The Big Picture
I had a great time at this school, however, I feel like the classes were too big for me. I was fine with the large community, but didn't like how it translated into the classrooms. The culture is very diverse, which was enjoyable, and it helped me meet a lot of different people. For me, it was a great venue because it was so close to home, yet far enough away from my parents.
I was an athlete, and sometimes athletes are not treated with the utmost respect. The athletes and the regular student body are normally separated from each other, which takes away from the interaction between them.
Washington Academic Life
The academics at Washington are known to be superb, which is correct for the most part. Still, it is very difficult to learn with the large lecture classes for the introductory courses. I feel like it's hard to grasp my preferences when the classes are so impersonal and I do not have close access to the professor. If one takes the time to seek out professors or other help, then I have no doubt that one will be successful at UW. Otherwise, I think it is easy for people to feel lost and have no direction as a result of the large school population.
Washington's Student Body
There are so many different kinds of students at UW, which was great for me. I enjoyed learning new cultures' foods, customs, etc. Overall, I witnessed a variety of people interacting with each other. With a population of roughly 50,000, it's difficult not to find someone who meets certain financial or cultural categories. There are many international students as there are many students who live in the state of Washington and go home on the weekends.
Washington Student Activities + Social Life
I was part of an athletic team, which provided me with a number of fun experiences. They became a second family because we spent so much time with each other. Because of this I wasn't really able to participate in any other clubs or teams. The other people that I met on campus were through the dorm life, in classes, and were mainly friends of people on my team.
For the most part, I attended a number of athletic events, which were really fun. Because we have a number of good teams, it's fun to root for them and see them win. I occasionally went to frat parties. Many people go on a weekly basis. Although they are not my major preference as to having fun, I think they're important because it's a way for some people to interact with others that are similar to them. It gives those people a feeling that they belong somewhere at the school.
