University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

Since beginning my college experience, I have met some amazing new friends from across the country, learned about fascinating fields of study I previously knew nothing about, and investigated some opportunities for future study. So far, I have taken classes in communications, English, and psychology, and I'm looking forward to studying drama, environmental studies, and global conflict in the coming quarter. I started the search for a study abroad program in Central or South America that will fit with my academic interests, and if all goes well, I will be able to spend autumn quarter of my sophomore year taking ecology classes in the Amazon rainforest. It has been extremely valuable to attend the University of Washington because the classes are infinitely more interesting than any classes I have ever taken before. In addition, I have been able to see a different side of the city in which I grew up. I'm looking forward to spending the next three years at UW.

Although I was aware of the size of UW I was not completely prepared to be immersed into the diverse culture the school provides. Being in college has allowed me to experience many new things and opened me up to new ideas. UW offers so many great oppurtunities to explore different careers or just other things of interest, and I am proud to have been a part of that.

My experience in college is valuable not because of grades and required classes, but because of other opportunities that it places close to me. Taking classes and doing well is only part of the college experience; more than that, college has taught me to actively learn about what's going on around me, and go out of my way to pursue my interests. For instance, though I am not in Honors, I found an Honors course about video games; when I asked, the professor allowed me to sit in, and through that class I met other people in the video game industry, one of whom later employed me for a summer internship. Rather than merely force-feeding me knowledge, college has given me the chance to work towards discovering what type of person I am, and also enabled me to learn how to achieve my goals, whether it be getting a good grade or getting a dream job at a video game company. At the end, what I will feel most proud of taking away from college is not my GPA or diploma, but knowing that I learned more about myself, and went beyond what was expected of me.

College allowed me to explore new ideas across a broad range of subjects. It honed my critical thinking skills and helped me to appreciate different viewpoints. There were many times that I was challenged to rise to the occassion, both in and out of the classroom. Sometimes I was successful in meeting a challenge, and sometimes I wasn't. But, even in my failures, I learned a lot about myself and how I might do things differently in the future. My college eyars were a unique time to explore many different topics and to step outside of my comfort zone. It was an intense experience and one that really stretched me to the limits of my social and academic skills. But, for the 4 years that I spent on the campus of the University of Washington, I was fully-immersed in the college experience., and that was a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to forge new skills and fully step into adulthood. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to do my undergraduate schooling as I did, and know that I would not be the person that I am today without that experience.

I have met so many different people, it has shaped me into a more well-rounded person, who is able to udnerstand different cultures and ideas.

Perhaps one of my favorite things about attending the University of Washington was the variety of options presented to me. There were so many different areas of study, courses, and extracurricular activities, and I enjoyed exploring them and finding the best fit for me. I originally began my undergraduate studies with an interest in engineering and architecture, but in my explorations, found that I was much more passionate about education and thus changed my area of study. I was also able to get involved in the surrounding community through such things as an Alternative Spring Break program, tutoring, seminars and practica, an internship with a campus non-profit, and a Research Assistantship with the Center for Engineering Learning and Teaching. After attending high school and having my schedule largely predetermined for me, the freedom to choose and explore was invigorating. I was able to find my own path, my own passions, and pursue them both in and outside of class. My college experience helped me become excited about my studies and plan a future that I would truly enjoy.

I have gained a ton from my college experience. I have been able to broaden my horizons in ways I never thought possible. Not only have I gained copious amounts of knowledge, I have gained valuable tools to have in life. College has given me the opportunity to really determine who I am and who I want to become. When I look at my friends who have made the decision to not go to college, I see where I could be, struggling to make ends meet, with no real hope of a change. I may be struggling to pay the bills now, but I know that in the future, I will have better hope at turning that around than if I was not going to college. Going to collegeis the best decisions I have ever made, and possibly the best decision I ever will make.

Of everything I've learned college, I most value the leadership skills I've gained through student-run organizations. At this point, in my senior year, my classes feel largely irrelevant to my education. My involvement with a mentorship program that supports local high schools students from disadvantaged backgrounds through the college application process has given me great opportunities for student leadership. I also started my own advocacy project, and am an officer in three student organizations. These social learning opportunities are primary to my education compared to the classwork and studying I do. By attending a large school, I have learned how to interact with a bureaucracy successfully. I've also learned how to not take no for an answer, but persist and find other people to talk to about what I need. When I wanted to fundraise and coordinate a Homeschoolers at UW Scholarship, it took 4 1/2 months of working with staff members to set up the account. I had to learn how to persist and follow up with people to accomplish what I wanted. This school has given me great opportunities to gain skills that will be useful in my future.

I have gotten much out of my college experience so far. Being at the University of Washington has helped me too learn much more about myself. I have learned how to be independent because I have had to do many new things on my own, such as forcing myself to study, managing my time efficiently, and learning how to balance school with other activities. College has also taught me to be a hard worker. In high school I tried my best and in college I feel like I am having to push myself even further to achieve the grades that I want. College has been very valuable because it is teaching me many life lessons, and helping me to grow as a person. I hope that me later ventures in college will help me to grow and learn even more.

I have learned far beyond the topics covered in my lecture classes--I have learned to appreciate what I am given, the places I come from and travel to, and most importantly I have learned that dreams really can be achieved if you have motivation. I have learned to love learning, and to revel in the feeling of accomplishment after finishing the most difficult assignments. I have learned to balance my time, and to use old skills in new ways to be successful in all areas.