University of Washington - Seattle Reviews

"Pros: excellent faculty, great campus, fun city Cons: expensive"

"While everyone's experience in graduate school is highly individualized, I know that there is an essential balance of school work load, personal life, and drive for professional advancement. Each of these components therefore must be evaluated when "grading" an academic program. I have found the program to be an academic challenge that has sufficiently placed me into a position of working towards this master's degree. I have also found that that much of the success I have found in the program is due to my own pursuit, whether this be through additional experience, within department work opportunities, and potential for research under the advisement of a faculty member. I also know that there is the internal competition amongst classmates to obtain these opportunities. At the graduate level, this can be divisive as it breeds competition. With that said, I also respect others who have made the commitment to seek these opportunities out and pursue them."

"This program is wonderful! It is collaborative and not competitive, the faculty are approachable and really willing to help out. The other students are great. The university has wonderful resources for work and play, plenty of opportunities to volunteer, lots of student jobs, not to mention a beautiful campus. Seattle is a wonderful place to live also, despite the rain (although is a bit on the expensive side)."

"Excellent program but be ready to go through an emotional ride. The social justice properties are incredible and life altering. Additionally, this is the most challenged ive ever been in school, theres a ton of reading and homework. And FYI, don't expect to maintain a job while in school-it's impossible with 4 classes and practicum, I did it for one and a half quarters, its beyond exhausting (esp if you have children like me). But really overall, I'm pleased."

"Really talented scholars on faculty but much more support is needed both within the program and in terms of postgraduate career guidance."

"I love the fact that there are many graduate programs to choose from that are offered in the evening hours and can accommodate working professionals."

"Good program but student support systems are not consistent or equal depending on which program you are in."

"Pros Great school, competitive program. Social Work program is awesome my favorite part is the strong emphasis on Social Justice and change. Good opportunities for research and continuing education. Beautiful and large campus, nice surroundings. Cons Expensive, low diversity in student population as well as instructors Classrooms are small and needs updating in furniture and decor."

"PROs- highly ranked school in a well populated area with access to good clinical sites CONs- expensive; not much financial aid help; a little unorganized"

"UW is a great value, Seattle is a fun location for grad school, and the overall quality of the teaching is pretty good. There are some stellar young faculty and some older faculty that ought to retire."

"I love UW Law! Great network, especially in the Pacific Northwest."

"Great program and great resources. Seattle is expensive though."

"I love the graduate school program. My cohort is amazing and the faculty is extremely supportive. As an African American woman, there is not much diversity but I have been able to meet some people who have helped to make the transition better. I would recommend the program to anybody!"

"Seattle and the surrounding area is a definite pro of attending graduate school at the UW. Moreover, many programs are highly competitive and, subsequently, offer a very competitive candidate in a tight job market. I am really pleased with the interdisciplinary focus at the UW campus and the ease with which graduate students can cross over and take courses from other departments and have mentoring relationship with faculty outside of their home department. The cost of living in Seattle, though, is pretty difficult on a graduate student budget. Moreover, the UW does not have its Academic Student Employees' (TAs/RAs) best interest at heart, and they often increase tuition and fees that further reduce our disposable income (in opposition to our student contract). Overall, though, the UW Political Science department offers a strong program."

"I went to UW Seattle and am happy with my decision. The school provides a lot of depth in terms of course offerings and degree options. I shifted majors several times before settling on a double in Business and Japanese. Overall, the professors and TAs were great, but instruction does suffer at the more general-level classes. Also, I didn't start hitting small class sizes until my 3rd year. My classes ranged from 200 students to as low as a dozen. My coursework was challenging, but enjoyable. I felt I learned a lot and have been able to put some of it to use in multiple work settings. I even did a study abroad program for a year, which I felt was very life-changing (it also helped me meet my wife!). UW is also a good school for once you're outside of the classroom. I met many friends, joined several student clubs, and even cheered on the Huskies at different sporting events; the school has a beautiful campus and it's located in an interesting part of the city. Overall, I think any college experience depends on how the student uses the resources at their disposal, and UW has plenty of resources. Utilize them, and you'll be rewarded with great college memories."

"The first thing every faculty and staff member in my program has said is, "We are here to help you; this is going to be a lot of hard work, but we are here for you," and that makes all the difference in the world to me. Graduate school is never going to be easy and it shouldn't be, but having that support structure is what makes this a great program. Additionally, hands-on classes have fewer students each and/or have multiple teaching assistants which ensures that you don't have to struggle or wait around to get your questions answered. The only "con" of my program would probably be its heavy course load but it's all relevant material that you'll use for the rest of your career. As a relief-point to the workload, a majority of the classes per quarter are arranged so that you are studying the same topics. For example, upper limb anatomy is taught simultaneously as upper limb physical therapy and prosthesis design which allows you to immediately put your knowledge to use and see how it will benefit you in the future. UW Rehabilitation Medicine is full of great faculty and they are always looking for ways to make the programs better. I highly recommend it!"

"You can really get the traditional college experience here. Tons of people, vibrant area, huge beautiful campus, plenty to do. You have a lot of independence, and can really make this experience what you want. You can do the minimum amount of work and party your brains out if that's what you like, or you can dig your heels in and end up doing a heart transplant or building part of a NASA satellite or something. People work at a high level here and there's a lot of competition, but it's also an opportunity-rich place with a lot to offer people who play their cards right. At the end of the day, the result of your time at UW is really up to you. If you have a solid plan and a good work ethic, you will be successful. If you aren't sure what you're doing and lack a sense of direction, you may end up with a well-respected degree but not much in terms of relevant career prospects. My biggest piece of advice: if you're in a non-research track, you need to get experience outside the classroom while you're in school. Usually that means an internship. You just can't be competitive in the job market anymore if you don't have experience, regardless of the degree."

"Liberal arts degrees are a hard-sell these days, but I value mine. It opened my eyes to things I never would have learned on my own - new ways of thinking and understanding. Learning an entirely different system of meaning and a different culture helped me directly (by preparing me to react in different ways to that culture when immersed in it after graduation) and indirectly, by giving me a toolset I've used in my primary profession (marketing). A liberal arts degree alone, however, has to be complemented with resourcefulness and the ability to learn practical skills in the real world. I had wonderful professors, the most influential of whom is still teaching in the program. I was in the honors program and had great support from the advising team throughout my time in school. I didn't use financial aid or job placement, so can't comment on either."

"While I enjoyed my time at University of Washington, I have struggled to get a job post graduation with a history degree. While I'm not surprised by this, it is depressing after how much money I spent on my degree."

"The Extended Degree Program of the MSW Program is NOT a good financial value whatsoever. However, the program is regularly ranked within the top 3 MSW programs in the country, so if you can attend the regular 2 year day program, and if you can get in-state tuition it may be worth it."