<p>I'd like to put UW on the visit list for my h.s. jr son, who loves bustling cities and cool, rainy weather. (Too bad he's stuck with us in So Cal another two years.) </p>
<p>Anyway, what's the conventional wisdom for how much harder it is to get admitted to UW from OOS? Does the geographic diversity help? </p>
<p>His GPA will be top 10 percent, but not in the tippy top (like rank 1 through 10 of his class) and practice SATs put him about 2000 range. He's taking a challenging classload (3 APs this year) but I'm not sure if he'll get As in them. ECs are heavily music oriented (lead alto sax in jazz band, school combo, his own combo, youth orchestra, comm service music group) and he does the windsurf club and weightlifting for fun. Doesn't really know what he wants to major in, but his favorite subject is chemistry, also likes hands-on 3-D design elective and wants to take Russian (not offerred in his h.s.) Great kid, smart and talented, but not someone with a laser-like focus on academics (which leaves me searching for alternatives to Berkeley, the only urban UC in No Cal.) Any input welcome.</p>
<p>I didn't see anything on their website breaking down numbers for in-state versus out-of-state applicants. Your son seems to be within their range for the overall pool of applicants. It sounds like it would be worth visiting. Are there any other schools in the area that you would be visiting at the same time?</p>
<p>Jeez, he preffers the weather in Seattle to SoCal? Regardless of weather or location, I can't help but think it is foolish to pass up the opportunities provided by Callifornia's state school system to pay out of state tuition at UW. From the description you provided of your son, it sounds like there may be some great options provided by some of the UC's. If he's hell bent on going to UW, it sounds like he stands a good chance, but I would take advantage of the UC's. Just my opinion.</p>
<p>UCs are certainly on the list, but if he doesn't get into UCBerk or UCLA (and being close to home in the SoCal climate is not a plus to him) should we say that UCSB or UCSC or UCD is going to be a good fit? If I take him on a tour of only UCs and he picks UCSC (breathtakingly gorgeous but not highly respected) as the best fit, I will feel like I should have at least taken him to see a higher ranked univ in a nearby state, which has a big city with a vibrant music scene to boot. I figured UW and Seattle would have jazz clubs and people into forming combos and going to listen to music......So I'm just putting out feelers, looking for alternatives to have on a list for consideration. And I've never been to Seattle so it will be fun to come and visit and bring him along to see if he likes it. And OOS tuition at UW would not break the bank on what we put aside for college, mainly because housing-food expenses at UCs tend to be high and private college would be even higher in or out of state. </p>
<p>Thought about Whitman, but I think it's too small and isolated. Someone suggested looking look at Western Washington (particularly for chemistry). The lake area looks beautiful, but overall it looks a lot more rural.</p>
<p>As a fellow SoCalifornian who will be applying (and, probably accepted) to UW this year, I think I can relate.</p>
<p>First off, your comment that UCSC is "not respected" is completely false and ignorant, in my opinion. Though I am not a fan of its party reputation, I know several recent grads who have landed high jobs in the corporate world as UCSC alums. </p>
<p>Secondly, perhaps you should put aside the "rankings" for a moment, and consider where your son would be the best FIT first (though, I do realize you are attempting to do so by focusing on location and activities as well). From personal experience, I can tell you that I could probably get into a lot more highly "ranked" schools than UW. However, in the end, I'm going to be as successful as I make out my mind to be, and I know I would be happier at a larger research-based university such as UW.</p>
<p>Thirdly, I know you said cost is not a problem, but just wanted to let you know that with transportation and everything included, it will probably be around 40k per year. My brother goes to Berkeley, which has the most expensive room and board in the country, and even then it is $15,000 less. Please don't take that as me trying to guess your economic status, I'm just letting you know bc it was more expensive than I had originally thought, and most OOS students don't get much financial aid.</p>
<p>UCD is a gorgeous campus, but not very urban, so I don't know if your son would like it. Have you thought about the University of Oregon? It has a very solid reputation, is in a beautiful area with a city-atmosphere (Eugene), and was named by Outside Magazine as one of the 30 best places to live in America a few years ago. Plus, there's TONS to do- D-1 sports, a big art and music scene, and great science programs. He should really look into it. Best of luck in your college search!</p>
<p>Well... My take on the admissions process at the UW is kind of mixed. An out-of-state applicant who is ABSOLUTELY top-notch will have no problem being admitted, meaning that out-of-state applicants probably have to try harder to get in than in-state applicants in general. However, since the admissions process changed recently and turned to a more holistic evaluation of applicants, even high-caliber in-state students are being rejected from the university, and some above-average students are being accepted. I live in the Greater Seattle Area and have friends that attend the University of Washington, and apparently, the word is that the University of Washington wants to avoid becoming an elitist university and wants to serve Washington as a loyal flagship school for in-state students. There is really no way to confirm the possible chances of your son being admitted.</p>
<p>As for Western... I would not personally recommend that he go there - the reason being that most people who attend Western Washington University will probably know each other because they are Washington natives that seem to apply to WWU in clusters of 20 who all went to the same high school - junior high even. Unless he is a very social and easy-going guy, he might feel out of place.</p>