UDub wows visitors with its sprawling parklike campus in hugely popular Seattle. Washington is tougher than University of Oregon for out-of-state admission but not as hard as UC heavyweights Berkeley or UCLA. Location near both the coast and mountains makes for strong marine and environmental studies programs.

The University of Washington has cemented its reputation as a solid research institution, and its 29,000 full-time undergraduates benefit from traditional strengths in business, health, and natural sciences. Students here understand that anonymity and size are the prices that must be paid for the wealth of opportunities that await them, although First-Year Interest Groups and a four-year honors program help make the university feel smaller. Those looking for an extra-personal touch might want to investigate UW’s campuses in Tacoma and Bothell, where average class sizes are smaller. But if the Seattle campus is your focus, one senior hints, just “learn to work the system.”

Washington’s Seattle campus blends Gothic architecture and the lush, green landscape of the Pacific Northwest. It features a number of distinctive landmarks. Red Square sits atop the Central Plaza parking garage and features the Broken Obelisk, a 26-foot-high steel sculpture gifted to the university by the Virginia Wright Fund. All of the university’s energy comes from renewable resources (including, of course, hydropower) and, despite campus growth, UW has reduced its overall energy use. The $110 million, state-of-the-art Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering opened in 2019.

Undergraduates in both professional and liberal arts programs must fulfill standard, university-wide distribution requirements in order to graduate. Individual schools and colleges also have their own requirements. Freshmen are given special attention via the First-Year Interest Group (FIG) program, which offers a chance to meet, discuss, and study with other first-years who have similar interests. Each FIG consists of 20 to 25 students who share a cluster of classes (which fulfill graduation requirements), and includes a weekly seminar led by a junior or senior peer advisor.

Many of Washington’s diverse undergraduate strengths correspond with its excellent graduate programs. The competitive business major, for example, benefits from the university’s highly regarded business school and is one of the most popular undergraduate majors, along with communication, psychology, biochemistry, and economics. Students majoring in public health, pharmacy, and nursing profit from access to facilities and faculty at the medical school, an international leader in cancer and heart research, cell biology, and organ transplants. English and drama are traditional strengths in the humanities. Also recommended for undergraduates are biological sciences, marine biology, environmental studies, architecture, and most engineering programs, especially computer science (which is tops in the country in producing female graduates), human centered design and engineering, and bioengineering. Reflecting the focus on natural resources in Washington’s economy, the program in fisheries is excellent, as are earth and atmospheric sciences, including oceanography.

UW follows a quarter system, which means academics are challenging and fast-paced. A common complaint about the university is “having to apply to a major. It is already hard to get into UW, but then once you do, you might not even get into your desired major,” explains a senior-and this tends to create a hypercompetitive atmosphere. Entry into preprofessional and STEM-related programs is particularly difficult, and students say you might want to have a backup plan. A hefty quarter of undergraduate classes have more than 50 students. “Faculty members often compensate for large class sizes by making themselves extremely accessible,” says a public health major, and many professors are tops in their field.

For those interested in skirting the masses, UW’s Honors Program offers small classes on interesting subjects taught by fine professors. “All of my best experiences and opportunities have been through the Honors Program: from scholarships, to the Honors Living Learning Community in the residence halls, to Honors-specific study abroad courses,” cheers a sophomore. Twenty percent of all undergraduates study abroad in 500 programs across the globe. A program in experiential learning encourages students to find internships, and a variety of classes give students the opportunity to volunteer as part of their coursework. In addition, 30 percent of undergrads conduct faculty-mentored research.

Sixty-seven percent of undergraduates are state residents, and although the university has traditionally preferred to keep its focus on the home folks, it now has a notably large proportion of international students, at 16 percent. It also has an unusually large population of students over the age of 25. The student body is 26 percent Asian American, 9 percent Hispanic, 3 percent African American, and 8 percent multiracial. The school encourages diversity by offering Valuing Diversity workshops on awareness of and sensitivity to individual differences, and the campus, like its host city, is politically liberal. Students, says a senior, “are go-getters and active in the world around them.” Merit-based scholarships averaging $4,700 per year are available to high-achieving students, and the university also doles out about 400 athletic scholarships. The new Washington College Grant provides free or reduced tuition for in-state students from low- and middle-income families who meet certain requirements. The grant is funded in part by a new statewide tax on Washington-based businesses like Amazon and Microsoft that depend on highly skilled workers.

Twenty-nine percent of students live in the school’s 12 co-ed dorms. “The residence halls are really new and nice facilities for the most part. The main drawback is that they are pretty expensive,” says a junior. Most students live off campus in Seattle or other parts of King County. Each dorm has its own cafeteria and fast-food line based on a debit card system. The Husky Union Building also offers a dining hall, espresso bar (don’t forget, this is Seattle!), writing center, sun deck, and lounges. Regarding campus safety, a freshman cautions, “Since campus is in an urban area, you really have to be careful at night.”

“The social life at UW is disconnected,” says a senior, due to the large commuter population and the diverse social options that draw students into the city every weekend. On campus, the social scene tends to be defined by the Greeks and the 1,000-plus student organizations that sponsor various activities. Fourteen percent of the men and 15 percent of the women join a combined total of 48 fraternities and sororities. Alcohol is allowed on campus for students 21 and over but marijuana is not (despite being legal in the state of Washington), and students report that policies are strictly enforced. One tradition everyone looks forward to is Dawg Daze in the fall, which “consists of 200-plus events to welcome first-year students and returning students from their summer vacations,” explains a communication major. Sooner or later most students hit “the Ave,” University Way, where shops and restaurants await them. A 10-minute bus ride connects students to a full array of urban offerings in Seattle. The Seattle Center and other venues host outstanding operas, symphonies, touring shows, and major league sports.

But who needs pro sports with Washington’s Division I Huskies around? Husky Fever breaks out on every football weekend, and the stands are always packed for UW’s team, especially when Washington State comes to town to vie for the coveted Apple Cup. Women’s rowing and golf are recent national champions, while men’s rowing, football, and softball have claimed Pac-12 conference titles. UW offers more than 80 recreational and intramural programs, in which 36 percent of students compete. More than anything else, the great outdoors defines the University of Washington. The campus offers breathtaking views of Lake Washington and the Cascade and Olympic mountains. Outdoor pastimes for students include boating, hiking, camping, and skiing, all found nearby, and Canada is close enough for road trips to Vancouver. The weather is consistently temperate, and natives insist that the city’s reputation for rain is undeserved. Then again, the sports stadium has an overhang to protect spectators from showers.

“UW gives you a reality check that you’re not as smart or as special as you think you are, and then shows you all the potential that you still have and gives you the guidance and tools to be successful,” says a junior. While some students will not appreciate the occasionally impersonal academics, many students can overlook these obstacles for the big picture of the up-and-coming University of Washington-one that takes in more than just the beautiful scenery.

-Fiske Guide