<p>I would dispute impersonal and lack of academic focus. While some come to party most these days are far more focused on school leaving the parties for the weekends. Also it is very easy to get to know both profs in your dept and even the admin people with a little effort. Most people at UW are very friendly and far from stuffy. It is big but with every significant dept having its own building and library it gets much smaller as soon as you pick a major and spend more time in your own dept where you will see the same people all the time.</p>