University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

Be open to new experiences and ideas. This will allow you to learn about the world, and yourself in the process. College will be such an amazing time in your life. It will help you grow to become more and more of a responsible and self-sufficient adult. Look for a college that will be conducive to helping you learn and grow and will take you outside of your comfort zone. Choose a place that will be something new, something different than you're used to. Don?t worry if it?s a little scary at first. You?ll pull through, and come out a better person because of it! Happy travels.

study hard, play hard

Find something you are passionate in weather it be medicine or movies. Once you find your passion look at the jobs that will let you continue in it and find the degree you want. After that find the colleges that have that degree, and find out how they teach it. Remember that every person learns differently. Go to the college and sit in on a few of the classes that would pretain to your major and see which ones were more interesting to you. Talk to both the students and teachers with in the college as well. Once you find out the options look into the rep of the school, see if it is a social school or all study no fun. Pick one that will allow you to focus on your classes with a social life and fun on the side. Once you get there remember a B- won't kill you and a A+ is almost impossible to attain in some classes. Don't get discouraged... always keep a bright outlook and if you need to look at something upside down.

reasurch your schools and don't be afraid to ask/approach prople on campus to see how they feel, but ultimitly its our choice and go with what feels like the best match for you off of what your own feelings.

it is better to spend the extra money for a college that you really like

Tell your student that the most powerful message that they can take in choosing a college is the unlimited value in potential, that only you can hold yourself back when it comes to achieving your goals and aspirations in life. Choose a college that causes you to feel at home, but also challenges at the same time. Consider a place that allows you to grow socially, mentally and physically in good health.

if you are a person who feels better when succeeful in connecting with people, consider going to a smaller school and vise versa.

Make sure to visit the campus before making a commitment to that school. Live on campus to make the most of your college experience. Parents need to give their children the space and freedom to be on their own. This is their time to expand their wings.

Simple. Don't look too hard to find the right college. Often times, the best choice is the most obvious, such as choosing a school that was attended by a family member or close to your home. Remember that whichever college you choose, that it will be YOU who defines the 'college experience' and college community itself. Of course, financial and admittance aspects may alter your perception of the ideal college experience, but make the best of your college days. This could mean sliding through courses or trying your hardest to excel ? you are in charge of your destiny and not a college. Use a education college to your advantage and to help others.

Don't allow any school to limit your possibilities. I was able to try out so many things at my school, I tried different housing arangements from off campus, to greek life, to living abroad. I have taken large lectures, to small classes, to seminars. Not only did i find one major that interested me, but two; my list of great college experiences and options continues. There is so much to experience in college and i am so happy that i have gone though so many great things. The greatest thing is that my school didnt force me into anything. I could plan out my college experience anyway that i wanted, and in the end I am extremely satisfied with my four year experience. I can only suggest that when you search for the perfect school don't choose something that will limit you in any way.

I would advise students to take a tour of as many potential colleges as possible, and to keep in mind what specific things they are looking for in their college while visiting. I would also suggest that students live on campus their freshman year, because I feel that that is how you start meeting other students and developing friendships. These are both things I did not do when I applied for college, and I regret now.

For parents, the best advice I can give for parents is that parents need to support their kids, but let them drive the process since it's students' college search, not their own. However, parents still need to support their students in looking for the best environment where he or she will succeed. Whether students' choices are a community collge, state school, liberal arts school or Ivy league, parents need to dedicate their lives to find ways to support students for their successful journey. For students, I strongly recommend them to visit colleges they want to go. There is a big difference between reading college information through online and visiting it in person. By visiting and experiencing it themselves, they will not only get information regarding what programs are offered by the schools but also they experience the campus atmospheres where they want to be more energetic and socially interactive during the important time of their lives.

Get involved, have fun, go to football games, do an internship, do research, meet all kinds of different people.

apply to as many colleges as you can, even if you think you probably won't attend it. you never know if you'll change your mind!

Don't put pressure on your kids. Let them experience college life and figure out what they want to do with their education as they go. It's ok to take more than four years if you get the most out of your education.

Go visit the schools and go with your gut instinct of how you feel when you get on campus. It's usually right. Also, when you get to school- live on campus! Keep your door open, get involved, get to know your neighbors, and take fun classes. Nearly every class you take your first year will apply in some way towards graduation so go explore- all that math and chemistry will still be there but take that Sociology or Women Studies class that looks interesting. Also, ask for help when you need it!

You have to go out of your way to make friends if you are an out of state student. It's not hard but a lot of people here are in-state and still hang out with your high school friends.

If you are anything like me then choosing a college was a confusing ordeal. Do I choose a big name school -- knowing that a big name also comes with a big price tag; or, do I choose something a little more close to home or off the beaten path? My head was awhirl with all the comparisons I had to make: class sizes, degree options, social activities, cost. But once I found myself planted in my new home of higher learning and speaking with people who had their own experiences I found that those comparisons were easier than I thought. Finances aside, take the time to visit a campus and talk with the student body and see the local community. This is where you'll find the real information about a school. In this way you'll not only be able to satisfy your educational needs with your eventual choice, but also your social, cultural, and personal needs because you'll know how the "real" school will fit you. This will also allow you to talk with counselors and the financial aide office to help iron out the issue of finances, which will probably help in tie breaking decisions.

Have an idea of what you want to study before looking at schools to find out which is best in your fields of interest. Visit the campus, preferably in winter time and during nice weather. Talk to people who went to your school of interest especially if they have a similar personality or interests. Don't be affraid to apply to a school you think might not accept you.

Finding a college is difficult, and you need to find something that fits your personality. If you have some idea of what you want to major in, find a college that specializes in that field. Otherwise, I would highly suggest large colleges: they have more resources to devote to more fields. It's true, large universities mean large classes, but professors and TAs are reasonably easy to meet with. Also, even at large universities, the upper level classes are small. Besides, large classes are a good experience: they teach you how to learn and work by yourself. No more teachers babying you. Also, don't underestimate yourself. Try for the reach colleges!

To all parents out there, I would advise on sitting back and trusting your student to make the right choice. College decisions are hard to make, and each kid is going to base his/her decision off of varying criteria. Perhaps throughout high-school it was easy to follow what a parent says, but college really is a chance to start your own path, and your student knows best what he/she wants. To prospective students I would say, do not get wrapped up in the politics of the process. Do not rely on the ratings of colleges, actually visit the campus and see for yourself. Attend a big lecture and a small discussion group, stay a night in the dorm, go to a professors office hours. Choose the college you want to attend, not based on your friends decisions or on the name on the bumper sticker, but based on what you truley want in your undergraduate experience. Because you only get that experience once, and you want it to be the best that is possibly out there for you. Finally, let your personality shine in your application, no college will turn you down.

You should always pick a university that has majors that interest you and a school that fits your personality so that you will suceed and be happy while you are attending your school. You will always do well in school if you are intereseted in what you are stuying and have a true passion for what you do in your future.

Visit the campus before attending the school.

work hard to get into the school that you want regardless of where or how much it is. And dont focus only on studies because you need to have a little fun in college too.

Pay attention to your personality type. If you're shy, do not go to a big school.

Don't think short term, but don't think too far into the future. Don't try to meet your needs for that year, because preferences change. However, you don't want to just plan for your future, because it's important to enjoy the journey to get there. Choose a college that meets your deepest personality traits, and you'll have the best chance of success.

My advice to future students in finding the right college would be to actually go visit the schools that you plan on applying to so you can get a glimpse of what the school is about and the environment that you will be surrounding yourself in. Another thing is to really understand the population size because when it comes to classes, the population of students in one class can affect your ability to learn the material that is being taught. In orders to make the most of the college experience I highly recommend that you become a social person, and if you already are, then that is fabulous. Meeting new people and networking is what college is about, aside from pursing your future career. But don't get to carried away because you do not want you social life to interfer with your academic studies, but meeting new people and become social will be good for you when you get into college as well as joining clubs, sports, and living in on campus housing.

Before you even start looking at academic ratings, ask yourself exactly what you want out of life. It sounds cliche, but different schools offer different experiences. I attend one of the largest universities in the country-- and though it is a bastion of research and development, and though the teachers and students are all knowledgable and diverse-- at times I wish I had selected a smaller, more community-oriented school. Opportunities may come more quickly here than they would at a smaller school, but I feel that connections are an integral part of life and any post-college career, and those are likely easier to forge when you have more constant contact with those around you. The big city can be a lonely place. Remember that when you start your selection process.

College is a whole new world. Think about how hard high school was and double that. If you were the brainiac, expect to be average. If you were the high school prom queen or king, expect a whole new outlook on your social and physical status. When and if you make it home, hug your parents with the new respect they have earned and what you've taken for granted your whole life. Enjoy every second that's possible while at home, because of that moment ,your feelings and their expressions! Family is what you make of it, and college is your family the time your there. Don't leave school with the feeling you did'nt give it your best. Higher education is a priveledge my parents never had, and your opportunity to take advantage of.

Go with your heart, have fun, study hard.

Be sure to meet as many people as possible and take a vast selection of classes.

Find somewhere close so mom can still do your laundry! You'll have a great time discovering yourself where ever you are. Being on your own and in an academic environment will truly open you up to who you are and who you ultimately want to be.

I believe that the best thing a student can do is to enroll in a community college for two years. I did this as a running start student and I truly believe it helped my transition to a larger university. The community college that I attended, Pierce College in Tacoma, was more difficult than high school, but easier than University classes. This allowed me to take classes and find out more about myself before deciding on a major. Many of my friends have changed their majors multiple times because they didn't know what they were interested in. Th age of 18 and 19 is a very young age to decide what they want their careers to be. At this age, our interests change quickly and frequently and I believe that taking college coures at a community college price allowed me to make decisions that I would not later regret. I took classes that I normally wouldn't have, such as psychology and drama because they were not too expensive and I was able to work toward my Associates Degree at the same time.

A University if often embodied by its students, and more, these are the people you will come to know as peers and friends. When you?re trying to decide where you want to spend some of the most cathartic four years of your life, look to them to help define your decision. Look at those who chose to attend this college, and discover why they did. Find out what it offers them that they couldn?t easily pass up. What makes this college unique? What are its most important features, is it the level of academia, a thriving campus life, full Greek community? Through years of educational satisfaction, my most cherished feature of a school is its diversity. Where there is major diversity, there is major acceptance. There is the knowledge that there are always more new and interesting things to discover and be a part of. When you?ve made your choice, make the most of your experience. Immerse yourself in it. Become a part of the college, be active on many levels. Decide what?s important to you, whether it?s academic perfection or a thriving social network. No matter what, be true to yourself and have fun.

It'd be nice if you could 'try' a college out for a few months before actually attending it for real, but reality says that that's not possible. There's not much that really, really lets you know if a college is truly suitable. Truth is, even if a college seems suited for you, there are probably others out there that are more suitable. The point and goal in choosing a college, I think, is in yourself: whether or not you can make the college good for you. From my experience, the whole 'college' idea is remarkably similar nationwide, even worldwide. Chances are, even if you end up somewhere you can't get used to, you probably can. That may sound silly, but I think a very important thing is to keep your options open and stay flexible. Choose someplace that you like, first off, but also be flexible in what you look for. Search for the opportunities, but also let the un-searched-for chances come to you.

Follow the school where you get the most funding and if you're uncertain about your major, take the iniatiative to go out of your way and be creative to assess your career skills even if your advisors are not helpful.

If you know what you want to study, find a school that has a strong program in that area as well as good programs in other areas so you can explore other fields of study and perhaps add a minor or another major (or just change your major - you never know what will happen). If you don't know what you want to study, look for a school with several options that sound interesting to you. Try to find a school that suits you in terms of size, student to teacher ratio, values, climate, etc. It can be hard, but being somewhere you feel comfortable can be just as key to your success as being somewhere with a good program. Basically, the best school is the one that offers more of the things you're looking for than any other.

Visit some schools before you start your applications so you can better define what you do and do not like when searching for schools farther away. Visit all schools your are seriously considering, and if possible, sit in on a class in your area of interest. Research schools you are considering online before visiting them. Once at a school, make the most of your college experience by trying new activities, and making an effort to meet new people in and out of your classes.

Tour the campus and talk to students on the campus. The more information you can find out before you get there the better off you will be. My sister went to the same school I did and I think she was much happier her first year there because she had someone helping her prepare for the change. Making the most of your college experience is about the relationships you build but it always important to remember why you are there. School should come before your social life because getting your degree is the ultimate goal. No matter how bad you do on a test, stick it out. The best thing you can do for yourself is to talk to the teacher. They are people too and they want to see you succeed so don't be afraid to ask for help!

Definitely visit the college first and hang out in the area of your prospective college.

Go with you heart and let your child decide their future.

I would suggest first that you evaluate what you want out of your college (size, activities, location, etc) before anything else. This is important because if you can't handle going to a university that is far from home then don't waste your time applying to those that are far away! Second, you should look at all your options (use the college websites, college review books and magazines) and see what most interests you, and research the colleges that stand out most to you. Third, get in touch with the colleges you are interested in and talk to real people to see what they think and what they suggest. Finally, in making the most of college I would say that the key is to do what you enjoy but don't slack off. College is for fun and getting away from home but it is about study and your future more so than anything else. This is a big step and you need to be ready so make sure you know your strengths and what you want to get out of it before you make a concrete decision.

When deciding which on colleges, it is not always about the name of the college that should be taken into consideration, but the quality of the education. Rather than rely on sources such as princeton review or newsweek that consider themselves to be experts on college, look at what the students have to say about the college because they are the real experts since they are the ones living in and surrounded by the environment. To make the most of the college experience, grab a hold of every opportunity that comes your way. Even by striking up a conversation with the person sitting next to you can help build up your network connection that will come especially handy post-graduation. Seek help when help is needed because colleges have those programs for a reason and it would be a waste if no one made use of them. And finally, make sure you go into a major that interests you, not your parents or others around you. You will do much better academically if you're able to engage and engulf yourself in what you can enjoy.

To visit the schools while its in session during the weekdays in the mornings in the winter. I visited my school in the summer and it was the complete opposite during the regular school year.

Try and remember to include fun on the list of goals for the college! If at first you don't succeed, you can always transfer!!

The most important factor that you should consider when picking a college is that you do not need to know your life goals--and as a parent you should not force your dreams for your child's life on them. Student, make the decision yourself, or otherwise you will hate the school you are at and won't be able to enjoy it. The truth is, there are downsides at all schools, so you must love your choice because it is your choice in order to be able to see past those flaws and still go to the school. Don't stress too much, instead walk and act with a calm confidence, knowing that your decision will be ok.

Take a tour of the campus before deciding if it is the right school for you or not. Check your options to see what school has the most to offer in the areas that you are interested in. Once in school, make sure to allocate you time well -- studying can take up alot of time, so be sure to be well organized. Make sure to take study breaks (don't want to get headaches). Make sure to have at least one day of fun or a little time set aside each day that is just for you (and not school work). Remember to always work hard and you will get good grades (don't slack off, or you may fall behind and/or not understand what is going on).

The right school is one that you feel you might someday be proud of. (For me this was related to sports and the city location.) To get the best experience, don't be afraid to switch majors multiple times. Don't feel like failure for taking five years to complete college. It's never to late to switch to something you enjoy. I regret immensely that I never changed to architecture or history. Travel abroad. Study in a foreign country. Minor in a foreign language and learn it overseas. You will never regret the experience and will make friends you never would have imagined existed. Find a club on campus and be a part of it for a while, involved in what happens. It will make your resume shine. And do a summer internship in a field you're experimenting with. 3 months is a small price to pay to find out you hate/love something.

"Cry now, smile later." That's what I'd tell people. Partying and other distractions that tend to flunk people out of college should be on the low end of the priority list. Make the most out of the carefree days of college. No bills, just books. You'll hate studying now but you'll realize that that studying will be the difference between a good or a minimum wage job later. You'll appreciate the fact that you went through the four years of college to earn that degree. As for partying, you have the rest of your life to do that, and even have more money to party longer once you have a job to pay for it all. As for the right college, make sure it feels like your home away from home. After all, you'll live there. Attend a school with people that you can see yourself eating, sleeping and studying with. Make sure you love it; you wouldn't want to spend the rest of your life with someone you like rather than love, would you? So why stay a college you just sort of like? Love your school and you'll love college.

When I came to visit Seattle for the first time, I fell in love. I suggest to all prospective students that they visit a campus and walk around the town and envision yourself in that place. You never know if somewhere is going to be right for you until you taste it for yourself.