We’re actually in OR, but yes, cost is another factor to consider. DS received P&G for $5400 off tuition annually and we are still waiting to see if UCI would offer him anything (financial aid packages come out in April). Thus far, we haven’t noticed a correlation between UCs and financial packages they offer (UCD = $0, UCSC = $7500 Dean’s)
Add to the fact that DS says math and/or psychology is what he may consider. Well, that throws a wrench in the works . Would he feel the same when he’s in school? If so, if he couldn’t get into the math program at UofWA, would he be “satisfied” with another major he could get into?
I think, frankly, he has to prioritize and include location/city, campus feel, class size, etc. along with major and cost. I feel like our decision table/chart is going to be a mile long!
UC’s offer no need-based aid to OOS students, so unless UCI comes up with a merit scholarship (Regents/Chancellors’ etc.), you will see an FA package similar to UCD. Also any significant merit aid would be given with earlier admits to CHP.
I think this is why I surprised that DS was offered any $ at UCSC. He didn’t apply to honors at any school…holding out hope that UCI may offer something
To attract top OOS students, UCSC will offer some incentives such as the Dean’s scholarship. If you are ok with the UC costs, then it is a nice bonus. If you are expecting a scholarship to bring costs down to CA in-state levels, I would not hold me breath.
Yes, when DS was creating his college list, we made him aware of the cost of UCs relative to private and our flagships. We said he should really look at the OOS state schools as privates, as far as finances were concerned. That’s why were surprised at both OOS scholarships.
Funny aside: my college roommate in Southern CA is having her child tour U of Oregon. I told DS, if it’s good enough for a CA kid (also a great student) to seriously consider, he should too. Only to find out my SoCA friend is saying the same thing to her kiddo about SDSU
Curious to hear others thoughts on the admitted student day yesterday. My wife thought it was a zoo (to put it friendly) with the number of attendees, tourists, and morning 5k/13k going through campus. Campus had a very international/diverse vibe compared to anywhere else we’ve visited. Of course students are currently on spring break.
Wife and daughter were unable to make any of the optional sessions due to capacity, lunch taking forever, and taking campus & dorm tours.
They did get to the union fair neuroscience table. Out of 700 applicants they had spots for only 6 direct admit incoming freshmen. Yikes!
I’m not there so don’t know if she loved it or not but she does love the Pacific NW and had already narrowed it down to UW and UO. I will say UO did a great marketing job at their Duck Days so we will see!
We live in Seattle (for context). The campus was beautiful yesterday and it was great until the crowd showed up. It opened my eyes to the fact that it really is a large school and that she could get lost in the shuffle like I did yesterday. We discussed that it would take an assertive person to be noticed at UW (our limited perception) and any large public University for that matter.
The weather was actually great, and to add perspective, that was what I would consider a bright “good weather” day for Seattle. It is much, much darker in the winter months, it brightened up a few weeks ago. When I moved here from Montana in March several years ago, I could not believe how great the weather was! It really is about perspective. Summers are much more amazing than I expected, very little rain. Students are on campus during some of the roughest weather. It may not rain everyday but there is significant dark cloud cover most days in the winter. It didn’t really bother me much until I had been here about 5 years, but then I did not come from a particularly sunny place. I love not having the hard, crunchy, dirty snow at the end of winter.
I love the dramatic difference in a clear day when you can see the Olympics, Mount Baker and Mount Rainier, almost makes the darkness worth it.
@ProudD — We did not attend this event, but our first visit to UW was during spring break a few years ago and we were not prepared for the huge crowds of tourists that come to see the cherry blossoms in bloom on campus. It overwhelmed our then high school freshman.
I agree that it could be easy to get lost at UW and that it has a very international/urban vibe.
I also agree that UO’s marketing machine is phenomenal— they really sell the school.
UW’s approach is more: “Why wouldn’t you want to go here? Look around. Of course you do. Speak up if you want more info.”
UO’s approach is more: “Let us show you why you want to go here, with plenty of audiovisuals and swag! Oh, and did we tell you about these other three or four cool things? Come check it out!”
I agree that the campus felt very busy and crowded with the various events and tourists. My daughter and I had to go back and forth between Paccar Hall/North campus and the HUB multiple times throughout the day…and the most direct route was through the craziness in the quad. But by the end of the day, my daughter had a really good feel for the area of campus where she would most likely spend a majority of her time.
We attended a couple of student panel sessions which were helpful. Obviously the students that volunteer to speak at this type of event have a positive overall opinion/perspective, but even knowing that, I was still impressed by the genuine enthusiasm and welcoming energy.
Our visit has definitely solidified UW as a top choice. My daughter felt a positive vibe yesterday (even with the crazy crowds), and she can picture herself embracing life on campus and in Seattle.
UW checks all of the boxes that my daughter has identified as important. Now we need to attend our in-state school’s Admitted Student day and gauge how it stacks up. And finally she needs to determine how all of those boxes are prioritized in order to make the final decision.
It has been decades but the beauty of the UW campus, no matter the season, really fades to the background when you are a student. You are just too busy to notice.
I recall, after graduating, walking down from the 45th street entrance past Denny Hall to Red Square, thinking that this campus sure is lovely, I wish I could have spent more time here with my head up noticing it all.
One thing you might want to check on (I can’t paste in the link) is some of the local apps and feeds on crime in the U District. I have been kind of shocked how bad it has gotten since my day.
Even some of the senior guys on the Purple Guac YouTube videos were claiming that they do not go out at night, feeling the crime is too bad. That really surprised me.
I am sure that is true, I had to point out the cherry blossoms as she did not notice them the first couple times we walked by. At U Village someone asked us if they were blooming and I thought……you are so close to campus!
Things in Seattle seemed to change a lot during the pandemic. I am not familiar with the statistics in the areas that are considered high crime now. I have heard that safety on the Ave has been discussed on Facebook parent groups. It would not deter me from UW. My daughter feels safe going to performance venues on Capitol Hill and Greenlake. Some of her friends don’t as those are two areas that the homeless population has increased. International District and Pioneer Square are still the areas I see the most crime, anecdotally, on the local news.
@CMA22 I agree completely with your post. At Duck Days we attended a neuroscience presentation with 2 other interested students and the professor was addressing our daughter on a first name basis throughout. At the high achieving student luncheon they put our D’s name and hometown on the big screen and the VP of admissions came by to do his best 1 on 1 recruiting pitch; new dorm, chef, science research bldg and how she could help propel their newer neuro program. I was impressed.
UW only has 1 day for admitted students and our take is that they assume the school will sell itself. And frankly, it does. I have a sense it is at the top for our D. She did ask I put together the cost comparison and as @stk92 mentioned the list of pros/cons. Cost, campus, etc, etc.
I should add, I visited the campus with our D last year during our spring break and the entire weekend in Seattle was sunny and warm. The campus then was vacant (Covid) with no tours but I think she loved it. We also had sunset dinners down by Pikes, did the space needle and gum wall, experienced the breakfast ■■■■■, and I think Seattle left a strong impression.
I completely agree about UO — we love that school.
Did anyone see UW Honors dorms or get any intel about honors? That’s a key piece to our daughter’s decision making. We are making the trip to Seattle in early April and she’s meeting with professors and will sit in on a class, etc. I fear we will miss peak cherry blossoms.
I also answered in the UC Davis thread since UW and UC Davis are my daughter’s top choices, but she is definitely concerned about crime in the UW area. As a local (we live on the Eastside), I can say it’s definitely gotten worse in the past few years. https://police.uw.edu/crimedata/crimealerts/
Seattle has a very long stretch of wet, dark months (like it’s dark at 4pm), and my daughter is definitely concerned about getting safely to the west side of campus where many of the dorms are in the dark.
im OOS, international, admitted to pre science (informatics)
i just curious what is the difference for me to get into my major at Udub , from pre science and community college ?
will i have bigger chance if i start from pre science or community college?
i just see most of international asian student get in the major from community college …
i also admitted to UW Madison (data science), UIUC (statistic) and Purdue (data science), UC Davis (data science)
as an international student i dont have enough knowledge to choose which college should i attend…
. Would he feel the same when he’s in school? If so, if he couldn’t get into the math program at UofWA, would he be “satisfied” with another major he could get into?