Hello,
I will be graduating at the end of this year and plan on attending a college around Washington State as a computer science major. Unfortunately, the University of Washington is - as of now - off the table (reasons I will disclose at the end).
I have applied to…
Western Washington University
Washington State University
University of Washington: Seattle (on hold)
University of Washington: Bothell (as a software engineering major)
University of Portland (for research opportunities)
University of British Columbia
However, of this bunch, I feel like I am not making the best choices for college. I can go to surrounding states, however, I saw nothing special in Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. Please help me decide which of these options should be my priority goal! Thank you very much.
I live in Washington, and work in the tech industry. Most of these schools are great choices - if you’re in WA, the WA schools are your best bets. WWU is a great school - lots of alumni work at my company, and they have been ramping up their CS offerings and partnerships with technology companies because the Seattle tech industry needs more workers. Obviously UW is great, but so is WSU - plenty of people come back west and work at one of the Seattle-area tech companies. I’m not as sure about UW-Bothell, but UBC is also well-respected and great in CS, although that may be expensive.
UW-Bothell, WWU and WSU are likely to be your least expensive and best options.
University of Oregon is a great school, but I don’t see an advantage of going there over WWU or WSU, both of which are likely to be less expensive. No harm in exploring a little though and seeing what the costs are like.
I am also in WA, and a UW alumn with a senior looking hard at WWU as is chosen instate option. My question has to do with the overall feel of the school as there are huge differences in your list.
UW Bothell is very much a commuter school. I suspect it would be fine in CS but a completely different type of environment. It is also likely the least expensive option.
It sounds like you have eliminated UW main campus as an option so I won’t speak to the pro/con there but as you know CS is uber competitive there and if not directly admitted as a freshman, can be difficult to get into.
WSU is obviously far more rural with a completely different environment than the others on your list (excluding UW in some areas) from greek system, big sports and more of a party rep. However because it is a captive audience, compared to UW or UW Bothell you would make more connections with other students despite the large class sizes initially. Also, depending on where you live, travel over the pass in the winter can be a concern.
WWU is significantly smaller in size, no big sports and smaller class sizes even as a freshman. As 95+% freshman live in the dorms, it’s a good dorm experience for meeting people that first year and due to the size, arguably easier than WSU in that area.
U of P is Catholic. Not overtly so but it’s there so one needs to be ok with that. You certainly do not need to be Catholic to attend. Completely different environment, smaller university with everyone living on campus, the kids I know there are really really happy but are not in your field. Excellent school and I am sure by far, the most expensive.
UBC is a solid school and I understand fairly reasonable but I’ve not looked into it directly.
I agree with the comments about U of O (or OSU for that matter). Idaho could be inexpensive depending on your stats but it’s Idaho. LOL! Montana State is quite popular (due to Bozeman) but the WA options are as good or better and definitely less expensive.
I’m not sure what @eandesmom means by “but it’s Idaho.”
University of Idaho is not very far at all from Pullman and could be a second campus tour while checking out WSU. It is a WUE school so tuition discounts are available and is smaller than WSU if you prefer a smaller school.
LOL. All I meant is that it will be a very different environment from the west of the mountain schools in terms of the towns, conservative versus liberal and for some kids that is a big deal. It will also be more difficult to get to than the options listed, potentially at any rate, depending on where the OP lives now. Boise is a neat town and agreed that U of Idaho is not far from Pullman. Given that OP had already discarded Idaho, Montana and Oregon it didn’t seem worth going into detail as they have solid in state options and I wouldn’t see any of the other WUE schools exceeding what is already on the list in quality, variety or cost.
OP: Could you explain what you don’t like about your choices? Have you visited any of them?
Did you want to add a private college like Seattle U, or is that out of your budget range?
I have visited all of them! Let’s just say that my budget is not a primary worry because my family and I believe that quality education is worth it. Currently, it has been boiled down to UW: Seattle, University of Portland, and UBC. However, UW - though a dream school - is ridiculously hard to get into, accepting only 200 students into Computer Science. I could add a private school if you guys think that it is a good shot.
I was trying to figure out what you want. Since UW Seattle and Bothell were on your list, I suggested another local school with CS. However, I’m still not clear what sort of advice you are looking for?
If you’ve got a bunch of applications in, and you have apparently infinite funds and perfect GPA and scores, you will get in to all or nearly all the places on your list. Even UW-Seattle should at least give you pre-engineering if you don’t get CS. Just prioritize your wants and needs and pick.
So basically, if you get into UW direct admit, CS, take it If not then you have other nice options. You already have one private on there with U of P so unless you want to add others and the deadline hasn’t passed it would seem you are in good shape. U of P seems to be an outlier, as it is such a different environment than the others. If you liked U of P then I would think considering Gonzaga might make sense, as would Seattle U (though far more commuter) but it may be past their deadlines I am not sure. I will say both Seattle U and Gonzaga will likely offer more merit monies than U of P. While money may not be an issue there is a huge cost difference if you a full pay student and paying less is always a good thing in my book.
Perhaps you can expand on your reasons while you ‘feel you are not making the best choice for college’ Are you willing to attend school outside of the northwest and BC? What is inadequate about the current list? If WWU costs, say $30K/yr, how much more are you willing to spend and for what incremental improvement?
My parents concluded that I shall not go to UW Seattle for computer science. As it is one of the best computer science schools in the world, I feel slighted as it is the cheapest option with the best education in a massive TECH center city. In this, I am currently in the search for a replacement (quality education with fantastic benefits). I have to stay “local” as well.
If not then you have other nice options. You already have one private on there with U of P so unless you want to add others and the deadline hasn’t passed it would seem you are in good shape. U of P seems to be an outlier, as it is such a different environment than the others. If you liked U of P then I would think considering Gonzaga might make sense, as would Seattle U (though far more commuter) but it may be past their deadlines I am not sure. I will say both Seattle U and Gonzaga will likely offer more merit monies than U of P. While money may not be an issue there is a huge cost difference if you a full pay student and paying less is always a good thing in my book.