<p>I live about 2,500 miles away from UW-Seattle. I'm fairly positive that if I apply, I'll get in. It has a seemingly good premed and study abroad program, and offers a linguistics major -- things that I want but have not been able to find together in many of the colleges I've looked at. Everything I've been using to determine potential colleges, I've also found in UW, and then some. In addition, all the other colleges I've looked at were North-eastern colleges that are much more recognizable.</p>
<p>Should I go out of my way to go to a more obscure college much farther away from home if academically, etc it is my dream school? With so many in-state students, will I suffer socially? If I do, is it something that will likely disappear after a year or so of school if I am outgoing?
Anyways, if you go here, and even if you don't: Do you think I should bother going to UW, if there are other colleges I'm sure I'll also like closer to home?
If you go as an out-of-state student, what was your experience like?</p>
<p>Advice/comments, etc. are always appreciated.</p>
<p>First off, Seattle is a GREAT city. I live only a 30 min ferry ride away and I go the the city regularly for all types of things, like shopping, eating, sports games, music shows, etc. Also, remember you won't be the only out-of-state student, although you will be outnumbered, also, as with any college, as long as you get involved and you are at least semi-outgoing you'll make plenty of friends. UW is also my 'dream' school, mainly because it has the best education to price ratio.</p>
<p>I think if UW offers the best education for you than any other school, you should definitely go out of your way to try and come here. Don't worry about suffering socially, as long as you're not a complete loner you are bound to make tons of new friends, that's basically a guarantee. Also, if you're looking to maybe live here years from now, you should know that UW is the most recognized university here in the Pacific Northwest.</p>
<p>Yeah, agree with others. I know a lot of people at the U. Advice: To make friends: get involved in something. It is a big university but most of my friends that live and grew up close by live on campus. All of them like it. Not as much a commuter school as it used to be (except maybe for upper classmen and older students).</p>
<p>you should do fine. Even as a oos kid, other people will welcome someone that is "different" for once. That's how it went for me. And honestly, even if you had a down year(socially), you'll get many opportunities to pick yourself back up because it is a relatively big school. </p>
<p>As a side note, the closer or farther away from home issue depends completely upon your own preference. If you feel like you have to go out and get a change of scenery, then by all means go for it. If you feel cuddly back at home, then it's something to ponder on.</p>
<p>Furthermore, I must ask what those "more recognizable" schools are. You may potentially only THINK they are more recognizable because you live in that region or closer to it. If it's like Columbia or even University of Michigan, then yeah, those are more recognizable. But if it's something like Wake Forest, Brandeis, Yehigh (or however you spell it), Boston College, Case Western Reserve (I'm not sure if I even spelled it correctly), Mary and Williams, University of Rochester, then UW isn't necessary by any means inferior reputation wise (but rather superior).
Moreover, you might want to consider working on the west coast in the future if you do plan on going to the UW because that's where its reputation belongs (or more specifically and stronger reputationally, the Northwest).</p>