I have a high GPA and SAT score, so academically, I feel like UW would be a better fit. However an out of state tuition is very expensive at UW… but at WSU, I’ve already been admitted and I’m qualified for $10,000 of the out of state tuition (WUE). I feel like WSU would be a more practical choice for undergrad because of affordability, and I want to go to grad school after, so I need to save that money. But whenever I google WSU people give it bad reviews for parties and less prestige and I know UW is better known for its academics.
Is WSU really that bad, or has it gotten better over the years? I feel like I could still get a pretty good education out of it, especially if I do the Honors program or something.
Do you have other choices? Are you in-state somewhere else?
Do you have a budget? Would you need to take out loan for UW?
Do you mean the schools in Washington?
They’re my top two choices, I’m planning on moving to Washington and establishing residency after the first year so I’m considering other private schools in the state but I liked UW and WSU better on my visit there. I would need to take a loan out for either school but it would be a lot more for UW.
Yes, that’s what I meant.
Is that possible? Don’t your parents have to move there as well?
I hear it is possible as long as I fulfill the requirements (state id, mostly independent, etc) but even if it doesn’t work out, I still want to move to the state.
I have the same concern as @mom2collegekids. In most cases I don’t think that it is possible to move to a state and establish residency for purpose of getting in-state tuition unless your parents move with you or you are in your mid 20’s, and it might still take at least a year.
You should try to minimize loans as much as you possibly can.
What is your home state? What do you like about Washington?
Yeah, I assume it might take a year or two if it does happen at all, but I do want to move there eventually even if that does not pan out. I live in CA, I like Washington’s atmosphere and weather, and I have friends who live in the state as well. I’m not very interested in staying in CA because of the high cost of living and weather.
I just looked at residency for tuition purposes. You can’t get residency changed to get instate rates while you’re a student.
The research I’ve done says it is possible as long as the reason for moving isn’t solely for college, but it’s definitely difficult to get approved and a lengthy process. That’s why I’m leaning towards WSU because of it’s out of state scholarship that UW does not have. It would be a lot more affordable, its academic reputation is just lower than UW but I don’t know if it’s true or will affect me significantly in the future.
What is your state of residence?
I live in CA, which is why I’m eligible for the $10,000 WUE scholarship at WSU
Why not go to one of the better UCs and then move to WA for work? It would seem like a safer and better bet. WSU is not “bad”, but it is not on par with the better UCs and UDub. If WSU will cost you as much as say Cal, or UCLA or UCSD or UCSB, my advice is to stay in CA.
For that it’s just a matter of preference, the UC’s here are nice and I do consider them but for some reason Washington just seems like a better fit for me.
You can’t get instate tuition like that. Either your entire family moves, or you don’t go to school in Washington for 365 days until you establish residency.
Have you looked at WWU? It is WUE, doesn’t have the party rep that WSU has and is very very well regarded in the state wihtout the party rep (or football, which may be deal killer for some).
Living in Pullman versus living in Seattle are two VERY different things, very much an apples to oranges comparison. Kind of like comparing San Franscicso to…Sacramento maybe? But not really, WSU is very very rural but does have the big sports culture. What is your major? Residency will be hard, you are a dependent so unless you can prove financial independence I wouldn’t count on that at all.
What are your stats for UC/Cal State schools? High stats aside, depending on major, UW may be a reach for admissions and $$.
It is not like Seattle is inexpensive to live in either.
California has many different kinds of weather areas. Are you saying that there are no places in California with a UC or CSU that you like the weather in, but you like the weather in both Seattle and Pullman in Washington?
Also, a very large percentage of majors at UW are at capacity, so changing or declaring a major may require a GPA higher than 2.0 or competitive admission: https://www.washington.edu/uaa/advising/degree-overview/majors/list-of-undergraduate-majors/
Pullman has a population of about 30,000, while Sacramento has a population of about 500,000 as well as large numbers of politicians, lobbyists, and related people (it is the state capital of California). The smaller inland cities in California with UCs or CSUs like Chico, Davis, Merced, and Turlock still have significantly larger populations than Pullman.
I second @eandesmom’s recommendation of WWU. My daughter applied there a couple of years ago and WUE money brought it close to instate cost.
U of Puget Sound offers merit scholarships to high stats students. If you are interested check the deadlines as sometimes the merit scholarship deadline is sooner than the regular deadline.
You might also look to see what UBC in Vancouver would cost with your stats if you are attracted to the Pacific NW.
Seriously, though, California has one of the best public university systems in the country, if not the world. Many would envy your opportunity to attend a UC at in state rates. TBH, I would not be looking to WSU if I had the California system as an affordable option.
I hope you are applying to some in state options as well as looking to costlier out of state alternatives.