The University of Washington - Seattle

Date: Jul 10 2008
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
I grew up in Seattle and went to the University of Washington for a total period of 8 yrs.; first as an undergraduate Biology major and then as a medical student.

Like many other people, I agree that the school is huge and if you are focused/ work hard you will get very good value out of the school.

Undergrad-wise: The introductory courses do have hundreds of people but the professors are accessible if you go to the office hours. This is also a good way to get to know them if you are interested in doing research later or need letters of recommendation.

If you want to have some of the top profs teaching you in small classes of 20-30 people, try to get into the UW Honors program. This program is quite competitive and requires another application process.

The biology department is superb. There is great lab access, the professors are top-notch and enthusiastic, and there are many opportunities to do research if you wish.

Med School wise: A very, very good education at low prices—when I went it was less than $8,000 a year—compared to private school. Competitive to get in. Consistently ranked up there in U.S. News and also well-respected by other docs outside the NW now that I'm working.

Social-wise: This is a commuter school with a fair number of people living off-campus. There are definitie opportunities to join various groups on campus but again, you have to make an effort. I went to school for an education, not a social life (although I had friends), so I'm not going to say much here.