University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Kevin

It is wise to visit the campus while students are in attendance to get the real feel of the campus. Make sure the school offers the course of study you are interested in. Don't be afraid to reach out to others and get involved. Step out of your comfort zone. This is a once in a lifetime experience that can change your life. Check out as many scholarships that are available as possible. If you are at all interested in the school - apply early. This will save you money for the early application fees. College gives you an excellent opportunity to mature spiritually as well as physically. Set specific study times in your schedule so you'll never fall behind in your homework. Work hard and challenge yourself to be the best you can be. Make a difference in someone's life each day. Live on campus for the first year for sure, so you can get involved in student life and get to know other students. Have a great attitude and you'll be fine.

Adrianne

Advice for parents: Although your children know that you are only doing what is best for them, give your opinion only when asked. Forcing your college choices on your children may not only cause unhappiness, but also might cause them to give up on their education simply because they did not have the choice. Be with them through each and every step because it can be a scary or exciting transition, but your children most likely would lke your support. So, parents, support your children and help them in anyway you can, but please do not force them! Advice for students: First of all, do what you want to do. If your passionate about something, then go for it. Of course your parents are going to share their opinions about what you should do for your career, but that is only because they love you. Still, don't be afraid to say no. Do what you want to do, find a college/university that will take you to that path and go for it! And for those who are unsure of what they want to do, go for a large university with many opportunities in an area that you love!

Dianna

First of all, it is very important to know what kind of experience you or your child want from college. Just because some school are more well-known then the other, that does not mean its more suitable for you. Analyze what kind of environment you adapt the best. Do more in depth research of schools you're applying. This will eventually determine your whole 4 years and more of college. Once you're in college, do not be afraid but join any school activities as much as you can. Once you get the idea of which activities you like, you can choose from there. Do not, I mean by all means, DO NOT slack off in your first year. Once you set down a wrong foot, it will be a complete downfall from there. I wish you a good luck.

Emily

Before applying for a college, truely thnk about where you want your life to go, not where you've seen your life heading during high school.

Chris

Consider your local state schools. They are of a much higher quality than you would think and are a great value.

mia

The cost is not what is most important. It is the confidence you feel after graduating from a school that fits you best. With confidence, you can do anything.

Julia

Don't settle, and search far and wide for schoarlships because the federal government probably won't give you anything.

Kevin

The only way to find out what you want out of college is to experience it first hand. Don't worry about making friends, fitting in, or perfect grades. Take things easy with a postive outlook and fortune will come knocking in the form of dreams.

Dahyun

So many students fail to truly know themselves before entering college. Knowing who you are as an individual, what your interests are, what you are good at, what you enjoy doing, is all very important and are significant factors towards your future. Countless students come into college not knowing what they want to do in the future and spend a year or two searching for classes that might interest them. As a result, they end up graduating one to two years behind their graduating class. Although it is good that students take time in learning what they want to do at college, it is even better to start finding your interest and talents prior to entering college. Don't get me wrong - it is good to take fun classes in college and enjoy your four years as a college student. But don't come into college thinking that it will spit out an answer for you and your future. College is a tool to confirm your interest and build your future. Also, find out what kind of environment you work best at, what kind of community you will like to be a part of, and of course, do your research!

Katie

Do not let fear of the unknown hold you back from what you have the potential to become. Choose the best college that you are accepted to. If you attend a college that challenges your mind and your way of thinking, you will find yourself expanding your horizon and growing as an individual. Do not choose a college because your "best friend is going there" or because you heard "the parties are rad"; new friends will be made and parties will be forgotten, but this is the season of your life where your education can really shape who you are going to become, and what you are capable of. Allow yourself to be inspired. Most importantly, do not be afraid to step across the boundries that others have set for you. Set standards for yourself, and then surpass them. Regardless of what you have so far achieved, the best of you is still waiting to happen. Therefore, view your college experience as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; one in which "the sky is the limit" and the world sits at your feet.

Heidi

Go visit the college!! Its all about the feeling and vibe you get from the college and being on the campus. Go when school is in session so that you can see the students. Also, get involved. Dont stay cooped up in your dorm, go out and make friends, be involved, join a sorority or fraternity, go to sporting events.

Christina

Sample a wide variety of schools. This means that when you are visiting colleges look at a wide range of locations, sizes, and vibes. You never know what might strike you as the perfect place. Every college will give you a unique experience, so find a place you love and have the time of your life.

David

College is about finding new friends/people to hang out with. Growing up is another thing that should be learned or getting used to. Also hygiene is a big issue in college especially without moms.

Stephanie

Make sure you visit the college and that you like the atmosphere. For example, sit in on a few classes, walk around the places you might be often, and if you can try and spend a couple nights in the dorms without your parents so you can figure out if you'll feel at home. It is easy to remember to pick a good academic institution for what you will be studying, but its also important to be happy. Consider things like political diversity, atheltic standings, team spirit, and ethnic diversity as well as seasonal changes and location. Depending on who you are a school may not be right for you. Also, just because a school is big doesn't mean the professors aren't personal, make sure to do your research. :-)

Mira

Do what feels right

Emily

There are many things that I think both the student and his/her parents should know while going through the college experience. As for the student, he/she should focus on his/her personal preferences, both academic and social. I have found from my own college experience that in order to learn and grow as a student in college, one must be happy with their social surroundings as well as comfortable with the learning environment. Therefore, I would suggest that the student write down all of his/her needs, both socially and academically, and keep those on hand while searching for colleges. After all, you don't want to settle for a school with a great academic standing, but have a lousy time socially, or vice versa. My advice for parents is to be supportive of the child's desires when it comes to schools. Even though the parent may think they know what is in the student's best interest, the student knows best, and after all, it is his/her education. The more the student feels like he/she had a part in the choice, the more he/she will apprecciate it. Advice for both? Stay in touch!

Erin

To students: to find the right college you should try to have a good idea about the type of person you are and the type of person you want to become. Where you choose to go to college can either nurture and accelerate the process of becoming that person or can hinder you or worse make you feel alone in the world. As important as it seems to be to make your parents happy, you should take time to realize their advice is wise, but usually much too cautious and it is up to you to combine your desires with their advice. To get the most of the college experience you have to put yourself out of your comfort level, this means even if you feel silly and akward if you brave up and do that sport you've never done before, or talk to that person your scared to talk to, or do that crazy thing that makes no sense in doing(but safe and legal) you'll make memories in the most unexpected and wonderful way. Everyday can be a crazy adventure in college, you just have to be up for anything and keeping your mind open.

Stephen

When choosing a college, major considerations are the size of the college, its location, and its academic focus. Assuming colleges of equal academic rigor, these should be primary deciding factors. Larger colleges will have more programs, more activities, greater funding, and more opportunities. Colleges located in or near large cities will have more activities and an involvement in the metropolitan area. Most schools that are located a large distance from cities will have a much higher drinking and drug use rate and far more parties, as there are fewer extracurricular opportunities. Students who live in small towns or rural areas may enjoy the change of pace that a large city gives, while being able to go home to get away from it all. Likewise, city-based students might enjoy the quiet change of pace provided by an isolated school. Lastly, the focus of the school -- on academics or on research -- is a major question for students who require extra attention from their professors. Research brings additional funding and attracts those professors interested in advancing their field, but many professors are too pressured by their research to make teaching the priority it should be.

Cyrus

Apply to as many schools as you feel like, as long as you give a full effort. Acceptance and rejection can help in the selection process. Be honest with yourself; is this the college you want to attend? or the one your parents want? The college experience is what you make it, so choose the one that will simply best provide whatever that might be. Besides the obvious concern of academic quality, make sure to account for realistic aspects of college life: surrounding town/city; off-campus housing; noise; climate; people/population; do you like/dislike drinking? etc. Neglecting to research and think a lot before making choices is the worst thing parents and high school seniors could do. And freshmen, don't be nervous, be excited.

Jason

I feel that the college search experience starts earlier on in high school. I would start as earlier as sophomore year to research difference campus?s. If money is available visit the campuses in person and take a tour. Students who don?t know their major, since area of interest plays a role in the selection, should take advantage of non profit programs for high school students. Often you will find a program that allow students to sample the college experience. For example i am a counselor for Accounting Career Awareness Program. Participants experience the dormitories by living on campus for the week. They attend informational courses in an college classroom setting where corporate executives and school officials educates the students about different business fields, college admission process, financial aid and scholarship information, time management, etc. Students should not left money effect which institution they wish to attend. Financial aid is there to help you. You never know till you apply. In addition there are thousand of scholarships available. Search for scholarship in your community not just online because the audience is small and your chances are greater.

Lynda

To find the right college the future student and their parents should visit that campus before applying. The information that someone can get from their friends, the internet, or other media can make that place sound nice and perfect for you but the only way to find out for sure is to explore the campus and maybe sit in on a lecture or two. After finally deciding where to go, to make the most of the college experience be sure to stay open to new activities. There are plenty of clubs and extra-curricular activities on campus and off campus that may seem intimidating at first but after attending a few times it makes the school year a bit easier. College shouldn't be only about studying all the time. There should always be a little down time during your week where you can practice a hobby or just go out with friends without the worries of school.

Alberto

Find a school that has just what you're looking for in ALL aspects. I worked for the University of Washington as an Orientation Leader and I have run into countless students that have said that their friends do not like the school they're in because it doesn't have the same aspect as they'd like in whatever aspect. Students, make sure you do your research before applying/deciding on a school, and parents, look into the programs that a school has! There are a lot of opportunities that a school might have that might seem out of your grasp because of finances, but not always. Students, trust me as a current Junior at the UW, it goes by SO much faster than you think. Do not let it just slip you by.

Crystal

Visit the campuses before you make the choice, but don't be afraid to transfer is once you get there the school is not for you. Go to all the orientations your school offers get involved in clubs, but not too many. Clubs will love to have you but if you sign up for 20 different clubs you wont have time for them. Sign up to get involved in one to four clubs but make sure your able to hnadle both your social life and academic life with relative ease. Don't be shy, in college you have a chance to build who you are to your maximum potential, don't be afraid to go out and make new friends and experience the life lines running all around you on your campus. Last of all don't forget your old friends at home and keep in contact with them and your family, you may need to fall back on them for advice or help and if you haven't contacted them for 9 months they may not be as willing to help as they would be if you had called once every few weeks or visited.