UW does have a Purple & Gold merit scholarship for OOS but it’s maximum is around 8K per year.
I see the appeal of Seattle but if you cannot afford it I would stay instate as we have some great public colleges that are half the cost of UW.
I know Seattle is expensive, which is why I’m leaning towards WSU for affordability. CA does have many areas and I have visited them, and the schools are pretty good but after visiting them and visiting Washington, moving out of state just seems to be the better fit for me.
UW and Seattle life would be very expensive for me but WSU’s rates would be comparable to me paying instate in California, which is why I view it as the most practical choice. However, my concern is with the rigor at their schools. I did enjoy my visit there and it seems like a good university with all it’s updated resources, but I have heard about its party school reputation. Meanwhile UW is higher ranked in its academics. I’m concerned that though WSU may be the best choice for me financially, it might not be academically, since I am very much interested in that. At the same time I’m wondering if going to UW may not be the best choice either because of how competitive it is, even though I am a fairly good student.
I can’t speak to the academics at WSU, but there are periodic mentions in the news of problems with the Greek system that you should be aware of. Google “WSU Pullman fraternity death” and read the stories. Greek culture, sports, and heavy drinking are alive and well at WSU.
Depending on your major, WWU would be a good school to look at as an option to UW or WSU.
Did you visit Pullman specifically?
In any case, the most important fit factors are cost and academics. You seem to be prioritizing going out of state over these factors.
I visited both Pullman and UW Seattle and did enjoy being at both, but I think I enjoyed the Pullman campus better. The cost for me fits better at WSU but academically UW is probably better. I plan on majoring in psych so UW’s better for that, but it would be a big financial burden. I might do undergrad for psych at WSU and grad at UW since I do plan on going to grad school to become a therapist or psychiatrist.
I’m not much of a party person or greek life person so hopefully I wouldn’t be too involved in that, but thank you for the warning!
I recently visited UW and the campus is incredible! It is in a city instead of a more rural location like WSU. Seattle U is also a great school worth looking at! You mentioned a WSU scholarship and I believe UW also has a scholarship for OOS students.
@catnights Two of my kids graduated from WSU. S1 was a business major and D was in the Honors College and a science major. I also live in a Seattle suburb on a bus line that goes to UW and half of the top kids around here go to UW. My kids could have gone to either but did not want to be 12 miles from their parents. All three of D’s roommates were OOS.
The big differences:
- City vs. remote. Seattle is a nice city and students get a transit pass, though they tend to stay around campus and in the U District. Pullman is a decent small town but not a lot going on.
- Academics. The average student will be better at UW, though the top kids overlap. I know a local HS science teacher and she says the academic sciences are actually more rigorous at WSU based on seeing the tests. WSUs reputation is just fine up here.
- Opportunities. This would probably be a little easier in a big city to get a job or do research. UW has more national and world recognition. They have way more money for things not directly related to teaching.
- Party culture. Yes, WSU has the reputation for a reason but it really only involves about half of the students. S1 participated freshman year but not much after, D not at all.
- School spirit. UW students tend to like their school, WSU students LOVE theirs in a way only a few other colleges do. Coug for life is a real thing. College Gameday went there last weekend, and Kirk Herbstreit's comment before the camera's were rolling was, simply, "Holy S4(&!"
As for establishing residency, it is tricky here. Most effective is to drop out for a year, get a job and pay taxes as a WA resident, then start back up.