A few days ago, I got off UW-Seattle’s waitlist. I basically had everything planned out prior to that – I wasn’t expecting anything from UW, and had accepted an offer from the University of Denver. Since college app season really didn’t go well for me and I had landed in a school that was (honestly) less than what I was hoping for, I had vowed to work EXTREMELY hard at DU.
Before getting off the waitlist at UW, I had gotten into DU’s Honors College and their selective International Living & Learning community. I also had a scholarship that took $92,000 off tuition (for all four years). Additionally, I was attracted to the strong support system (which UW may have, although it seems more unlikely since it’s a school of ~50,000 students). If I decide to cancel my acceptance and attend UW, I would be coming into a huge community with no scholarship or honors.
Both schools are in the US News’ top 100 universities (UW is 59, DU is 96). Both schools are in thriving big cities. However, UW is ranked MUCH higher (especially in terms of my major, Anthropology), more recognizable, and has more prestige. Research opportunities are also more abundant (but positions for undergrads are probably extremely competitive). I’ve been told by a few anthro professors and a higher-up member of the American Anthropological Association that University of Washington’s anthro program is incredible.
I’m… really stressed about this decision, to say the least. I know I’ll still work very hard in whichever school I end up attending. I’ve also been actively been pursuing scholarships so I am able to afford both. At this point, I have no idea what to do, and I’m not sure if what I have at DU is worth more than the quality of UW’s programs and prestige.
Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much.
@impendingcrisis I can only speak on DU, but a couple of items to consider. DU is among our S20 top choices, he is interested in their International Affairs program, which is highly rated. On our visit this spring we were surprised on how open the curriculum seems to be. Everyone we had contact with was a double major and really enjoyed breadth of academic options/experiences. Also, he was really fired up with DU’s commitment to study abroad opportunities.
We have a family friend who is currently finishing up her 2nd year at Denver. She was able to bring over a lot of AP/Dual Credits from HS and is going to be finishing up 2 quarters early. Not sure if you fit into that scenario, but it may be something to consider.
While both are in growing major metropolitan areas the weather in Denver is great!! 300 days of sun is something the Pacific NW can’t touch.
It is very exciting that you got off of UW’s wait-list. Good luck!
@roper1313 Thank you so much for your input! I did hear a lot about their international studies program. I’m not sure if that would be a program I would personally be involved in, but I was impressed with the amount of students who were doing a double major. The study abroad stats were also great, too. I think my main problem at the moment is with how DU’s anthro program stands against UW’s (although DU is currently doing research on the Amache Japanese Internment Camp, which I’m very passionate about). They’re both notable, but I’m planning to go to grad school and a bunch of people keep telling me that the quality of UW’s program would allow me to be better prepared/would be more impressive (if we were going off the anthro programs alone). I’m not sure if the International Learning Program and Honors Program would appeal more, though.
Anyways, thank you again! I wish your son the best of luck in his own decision.
@impendingcrisis S recently finished at UW’s Foster School. UW is an incredible school with a broad range of majors, professional schools and non professional schools such as art, social and physical sciences, etc. UW is a flagship state school and has much more resources devoted to social and physical sciences than DU. We are from California and DU is probably similar to some of the smaller CA private schools, like USF, LMU, Pepperdine, etc., which are not known or not having the resources top notch social and physical sciences. The University of California system and large privates like Stanford, USC are large research institutions in CA and are much more renown in those many fields. UW is also similar to the UC’s, Stanford and USC and by attending UW, you would have a chance to study under some of the world’s best in those fields and even possibly under Nobel Prize literates. Especially if you are planning to do graduate work, undergraduate work at UW would be very impressive. Also because of UW’s broad range of majors, you can have many choices of a minor, more so than at DU.
Additionally, if you are a sports fans or have the “rah, rah” spirit, UW being in the PAC 12 sports conference offers that unique experience that a small school like DU would not offer. Good luck.
@impendingcrisis I just want to say it is great that you embraced the option you had in front of you, found the value at a school you may have felt wasn’t “all that” when you got accepted, did some more research on your opportunity and decided to get everything out of your education at DU. It sounds like you were really happy to go there, that is the good thing about us humans, we are adaptable being after initial anguish at times. Point is, you would again adapt if you decide to go to UW. So that is not the problem.
I think it comes down to how much better the program really is at UW. I know zero about anthro at UW, but these are things we would ponder in your shoes. Is UW that much better to make up for the $92,000 and opportunities that come along from being in honors? How big is anthro at UW - does that major make a big school feel smaller? Does the department feel like a tight knit community (may only get that visiting and talking with them, not sure you have more time to do anything like that if haven’t already). Do you like the idea of a big school or a smaller more intimate overall environment? Would you have same access to same level of involvement at either school? Did you think about all four years, not just what is right in front of you - will you outgrow opportunities at DU, or are there enough to keep it interesting througout? Would you be a bigger part of things at DU because it is a smaller school? It sounds like DU has a project you are really interested in, that is cool. If doing grad school, is the “big undergrad school” really critical or is it actually better to be coming from a school like DU? Sometimes it can be the right choice to go to a program not perceived as strong because you can be a bigger part of the program and community. Other times, if the program is sooo much better at one than the other, it is better to attend the school with the better program. Not knowing anything about anthro, I can’t add any value there, maybe someone else can. With the maturity you are displaying in this process, there is no doubt you will do well wherever you go. Let us know what you choose to do, good luck.
I really appreciate @blueskies2day’s comments about embracing the option you had and finding value in a school that wasn’t what you’d originally wanted. Too many students struggle with this, and you jumped right in (and with great results.) I fully agree that you’d adapt again and be “all in” for UW if that’s the route you choose to go.
Personally, I know the choice I would make (UW,) but that’s not what really matters here. College selection is deeply personal, and all that we well-intentioned folks can do is offer our own perspective and add any observations we make about your particular post.
Based on what you’ve written, I’d actually recommend going for a long, long walk, NOT thinking about any of this for the first half, and then spending the second half – without judgment – picturing yourself 1) in Seattle and in Denver for the coming years, 2) studying in the respective programs, 4) living the social scene at both schools, and 4) being an alum of either UW and UD for the rest of your life. Once you’ve had a while to ponder these complete pictures while enjoying your pleasant walk, which one would you be more willing to give up? Sometimes people forget the “alum for the rest of your life” factor, which I think is actually quite important. Incidentally, after you’ve done this exercise, if you realize you’d rather give up UD, would you change your mind if someone handed you/your family the cash that represents the difference in COA?
That’s just one way to go about making the decision. Good luck! I hope you’ll ultimately tell us what you decide.
Agree with many of the points in the last two posts. Just would add that if preparation for grad school in anthropology, including the application process, is truly a high priority for you then UW is clearly at a different level than UD. Keep in mind, though, that your interests might change.
For anthropology, you’ll need grad school. So, you’ll need to be among the very best students at either school.
I dont think the high level researchers will be teaching undergrads, especially non Honors.
Other elements to take into account:
if you want interactive seminars, advantage DU
if you want big spectator sports, advantage UW
weather (mild/rain v. sunny with more variation in temperatures)
advantages of being in honors (perks, opportunities) v. being one of many on a very large campus
@blueskies2day@CardinalBobcat@politeperson I’m really sorry it took so long to reply, but I can’t express how grateful I am for your replies. They all gave me a LOT to think about and, overall, helped me greatly in my decision. You’re all so insightful, and I don’t know how you do it :’)))
A few days ago, I committed to the University of Washington, and I’ll be studying Anthro there in the fall. I also managed to get in contact with a professor there, so I can get a grip on things there before I actually start. Depending on how things go during the first year, I’ll either try for the honors college or honors within the Anthropology major, just so it’s easier to get research opportunities (the large school competitiveness when it comes to doing undergrad research was one of my main concerns, but I’ll try my best to keep pursuing it). All in all, DU had a lot going for it, but I think UW gives me more room to grow, and more opportunities, if I’m willing to seek them out.
Once again, I really, really couldn’t have done it without your advice, and I can’t thank you enough.
@impendingcrisis – Congratulations. I think you made the right decision. For the right student (outgoing, proactive, one who knows what she/he wants to study) those big, superb public universities like UW offer amazing opportunities for personal and intellectual growth. Good for you to have already reached out to a professor. Continue to reach out to faculty when you get to UW. (You’d be surprised how few undergrads do so.) As someone who’s been around academic settings my entire adult life, I can tell you that professors treasure the engaged (but polite & respectful!) student who cares about their field.
