<p>I'm deciding between 3 in-state schools:</p>
<p>University of Washington: Good school, a little too big for me, but a lot of EC opportunities, many hospitals nearby, but I can't see myself here.</p>
<p>Washington State U: Good school, good size, not as many EC opportunities but the University seems to emphasize research for undergrads and I can totally see myself here.</p>
<p>Western Washington U: Not very research oriented, good school and I can see myself here, but I'm not too sure about EC opportunities.</p>
<p>What to do? Advice anyone?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>University of Washington is a better school that Washington State, but if you can't see yourself there, then I wouldn't recommend going there. I would go with Washington State, do a lot of research and find some interesting ECs, study hard and go to University of Washington for med school. Univ of Washington is a terrific medical school (top 10) and then your going on totally in state tuition for education. </p>
<p>If you feel best about Washington State, go there.</p>
<p>Aren't you supposed to have chosen already?</p>
<p>It's not for this year.</p>
<p>WSU seems nice but if I don't get the research positions, I'm screwed. Also I have a feeling I can do better here.</p>
<p>UW I can always shadow/volunteer at a hospital. I might not do as well though, I'm not sure. How do you know where you will be able to succeed?</p>
<p>This is frustrating!</p>
<p>Well, apply first. Maybe they'll do the choosing for you.</p>
<p>I'm not too worried about getting in, I just want to know which place would be better.</p>
<p>spend some time on each campus. I don't think it's a good sign that you can't see yourself at a particular school as a junior, but the process ahead is a long one and things can change pretty quickly.</p>
<p>My D went to a big top 50 (USNews) type school for UG and also took some classes and did some research at WWU. She found it much easier to connect with profs, found that profs teach their own classes and hooked up with a research person in no time at WWU whereas she did not connect like that in 4 years at UC. They have some incredibly nice people to work with at WWU</p>
<p>Does Western have good opportunities? I talked to a prof at WSU and he said WWU students don't participate in research that much.</p>
<p>How come you have limited yourself to those three schools?</p>
<p>sox, I don't think that's an appropriate question. There are likely a myriad of reasons that Spartan has for only looking at these three schools. If they fit Spartan's criteria for a great college experience, that's all that matters.</p>
<p>The D to which I am referring is not pursuing medicine, but another major and chose grad school at WWU for her masters after doing research with this guy- she was not officially a student there, but taking time off after the BA to work and found this research opportunity. She took a few science classes there and really liked the profs she met. It's just a friendlier place than a UC and therefore I am assuming than UW.</p>
<p>5 years ago my D would not have thought WWU prestigious enough, after 4 years in the more highly ranked school, she is less impressed with prestige and more impressed with personal experiences, friendliness of various profs, and her experiences. </p>
<p>I would suggest some visits to each school. I think the research opps depend on your special area of interest; because she is going for a masters and there is a prof at WWU who does the exact area in which she had a connection from UC, it worked out well.</p>
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There are likely a myriad of reasons that Spartan has for only looking at these three schools.
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<p>Yes, there could be reasons as to why SHS is only looking at these three schools. However, there may not be prohibiting circumstances, in which case it is probably too early in the process to be narrowing the search. </p>
<p>I only ask because during my junior year in HS, I knew considerably less about college admissions than I would eventually come to know later on. Also, there are a lot of opportunities that I wasn't aware of as a junior. Of course, SHS may have definitive reasons as to why he wants/needs to go to one of these three schools, but he might not.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, somemom. It really helped.</p>
<p>red sox 7327, I'm looking at those schools because they are in-state schools, and I've been researching college admissions for a while, so I'm not a complete amateur, but then again I don't know everything.</p>
<p>With 1 kid finished with UG, one kid half way done, and one approaching apps, I would say it is all about fit. That sounds like such a cliche, but my D1 had a lot of Ivy type friends and people with the highest aspirations. She got caught up in the prestige thing in HS. I think it caused her not to look for her best fit. Now, WWU is looking appealing becasue she has connected with some really great profs there.</p>
<p>My other kids have made their decisions more about fit and are going to have a happier UG experience because they are looking for their best fit, so visit, more than once, do an overnight in each spot. What speaks to you...UW in the city, Husky sports, Wazzoo way out east as a Cougar, WWU in a more mellow city, Bellingham, but not that far from Vancouver, less sports intense, and perhaps more Bohemian, though certainly not Evergreen</p>