The University of Washington is a highly ranked public research university. It rests in the north of inner-city Seattle, Washington. Its creation took place in 1861 around ten years after Seattle began its economic reform. Due to its large size, it has an admission of 32,046 undergraduate students. As a result, admission at the University of Washington is fairly competitive with an acceptance rate of 52%.
As well, the most popular majors at the university include Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Engineering; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; and Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services.
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In addition, the university has made a name as one of the best schools on the West Coast. As an international student seeking admission, this school is good for you to apply to. This is because it offers a good learning setting, with modern facilities. Most importantly, in this article, we are going to give you a simple description of all you need to know about the University of Washington. It also includes the tuition, cost of living, admission and available scholarships.
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All You Need to Know about the University of Washington
With its lively pink flowers and a blend of on-campus plans, the University of Washington is the pride of everyone that visits it. Also, it is one of the major public universities in the world.
Another remarkable thing about the school is its ranking in the US and beyond. Gladly, it ranks among the top as seen below:
- #58 in the 2021 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities;
- #30 in Best Colleges for Veterans and;
- #145 in Best Value Schools.
It, as well, trains over 54,000 students every year. That is to say, the university centres on changing lives. It helps to groom leaders too. It has around 1,800 undergraduate courses every quarter.
For the record, the University of Washington has brand-new research facilities. It receives huge yearly federal funding. Furthermore, it hosts a yearly undergraduate research seminar for students to display their works to the university community. It also has, among others, a high-ranking School of Medicine, College of Engineering and Michael G Foster School of Business.
Fresh students do not have to live on campus. Consequently, those who do ensure they save energy and properly reuse the waste. The school has over 950 student organisations that you can join. In addition, more than half of the graduates of the school remain in the state after graduation.
You have the chance to attend smaller classes as an undergraduate student of international background at the University of Washington. Not just that, you can also run special projects and interact with the faculty members of the university without any strife.
Still, more options for you include choosing between a largely focused interdisciplinary course and a departmental course. If you have much strength, you can pursue both courses and excel in your academic pursuit. It all depends on your ability.
Admission at the University of Washington
As a student-centred school, the university is more careful in its admission. It has an acceptance rate of 52%. Thus, half of the applicants hold an SAT score between the range of 1220 and 1470 or an ACT score between the range of 27 and 33. The school must receive the SAT/ACT score on/before December 31. Each year, the application portal for admission opens on September 1. The deadline, on the other hand, is November 15. Meanwhile, you are to pay an application fee of $80.
Pointedly, the University of Washington considers academic groundwork and previous activities before offering admission to fresh students. It is because the board wants to know more about the basic qualities you have that did not show in your grades and coursework. That aside, you must have excellent leadership and academic skills that will stand you out among your equals.
Academic Life at the University of Washington
The school has more than 29.3% of the classes with less than 20 students. On average, the student-faculty ratio is 21:1. The standard retention rate of freshmen is 94%, a pointer to high student satisfaction. Also, the four-year graduation rate of the school is 66%.
Further to that, you will learn and participate in the classroom, outside the university and all over the world. Your academic activities will point you towards the path to discover your purpose.
In turn, you will connect this to the college goals and your career to achieve positive results. This will also point you towards having an understanding of your interests, values and personality. Also, there are internship programmes that will help you to develop your skills.
To this effect, there are over 180 majors at the University of Washington you can choose your career path from. Significantly, many of these academic programmes are among the best in the US in ranking.
Student and Campus Life at the University of Washington
The university has a total undergraduate enrolment of 32,046. The total percentage of the male students is 46%, while that of the females is 54%. Also, 29% of the students live in housing that the college provided, while 71% live off-campus.
The University of Washington, in addition, offers several student services. Some of them include non-remedial programmes, women’s centres, health services, health insurance and placement services.
Similarly, it offers late-night transport services, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways, controlled dormitory access and campus safety and security services. Above all, students who have attained the legal age have permission to take alcohol at the campus.
Campuses of University of Washington
Beyond the university’s main campus in Seattle, the university has other campuses in Bothell and Tacoma. Fantastically, they are all in Washington. Although the formation of the Seattle campus was in 1861, that of Bothell and Tacoma took place in 1990. Specifically, all three campuses offer undergraduate and graduate degree programmes.
Undergraduate Programmes at the University of Washington
There are many undergraduate majors and minors in the school. Some majors admit students with just good academic performances. They are available any time for the students. Yet, others have minimum requirements for admission or limited capacity for applicants.
Due to space limits, we are going to only list out the faculties of the school where these majors and minors are.
- Arts and Science
- Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Built Environments
- Education
- Engineering
- The Environment
- Information School
- Michael G Foster School of Business
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Public Health
- Social Work
The University of Washington Tuition Fees and Cost of Living
Below are the 2020-21 undergraduate tuition and fees:
- In-state tuition and fees —- $11,745
- Out-of-state tuition and fees —- $39,114
- Room & board and other living expenses —- $16,674.
- The estimated tuition and fees for the 2021-22 academic session are:
- In-state residents —- $12,047
- Out-of-state residents —- $40,086
- Room & board and other living expenses —- $17,345
Financial Aid at the University of Washington
The university provides 39% of the undergraduates with some kind of need-based financial aid. Positively, the average financial aid is up to the tune of $13,194 per student.
Scholarships at the University of Washington
The university offers a variety of highly competitive scholarships. As such, they cover a broad range of academic pursuits and talents. At the same time, it offers community assistance and research activities.
However, there are more talented students than there are scholarship funds in the school. The University of Washington’s Office of Student Financial Aid provides these scholarships.
The following are available scholarships for the residents of Washington state:
- Academic scholarships: these are awarded to a limited number of graduates who are residents of Washington state. The awards are around 100. Private individuals and organisations are the major sponsors of these scholarships. More so, students on merit and those who have needs are the recipients.
- University of Washington Undergraduate Academic Awards: these scholarships are awarded to around 100 fresh students who are living in Washington. They include a partial tuition waiver, based on academic merit and financial need. Similarly, they can be renewed during the second year.
Additionally, the above scholarships do not require any advance application. Although if you are qualified for an award, the school may request further information from you.
Scholarships for Non-Residents
- The Purple and Gold Scholarship: this is for only US citizens who are not living in Washington state but plan to attend the University of Washington. The selection for the scholarship is on academic merit only. Sadly, it does not include need-based students.
Moreover, it can be renewed over four academic years as long as the recipient shows proof of academic excellence. Besides, there is no separate scholarship application for this award as students are qualified upon admission.
See also: 50 Full Scholarships in USA for African International Students 2021/2022
Other Opportunities at The University of Washington
Why Choose the University of Washington?
Choosing a university is not usually an easy task. You have to put several options into play. To consider the University of Washington, you have to check out the factors that make it thick. Then, you compare them to your needs. This will, precisely, help you to make the right choice. There are several good reasons to consider this unique institution. Here are some of them:
- The university is one of the most impressive public universities in the world. Thus, the teachers blend history with modern technology to impart the students in various fields of study.
- The programmes are rightly schedule. The school builds most of the programmes to suit the needs of each student. Aside from the Seattle Campus, the University of Washington boasts of other campuses in Tacoma and Bothell. This is, in addition to several online programmes it offers. Moreover, some programmes blend with classroom and online education, which offer you adequate flexibility for your studies.
- The university has full accreditation. As a famous university, you do not need to bother about the school’s integrity because it is never going to disappear overnight. That aside, graduating from the University of Washington will add some colourful feathers to your resume. Simply put, you will become a hot cake in the job market.
- The HUB is an alluring place for study. You probably have heard of the HUB. It stands for Husky Union Building. In reality, it is truly a hub for most students of the University of Washington. It is an ideal place to study, meet with friends or do other stuff.
- You are sure to find any type of food you are craving at UW. Whether you are a vegie, non-vegie, or all you just want is some coffee, you will find whatever you are looking for at the University of Washington. If maybe, you are unable to find your choice of food on the campus, you are never going to search far in Seattle. In no distant time, you will get what you are looking for.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about the University of Washington:
- How many times will I spend studying or doing homework for class?
You will require much more study time for college programmes. For instance, courses require two hours of homework for each hour of class.
- What is the grading system at the University of Washington?
The school uses numerical grades, with 4.0 as the highest grade and 0.0 as the lowest. It also has pass-fail options.
- What is GPA?
GPA simply means Grade Point Average. The school weights the grades by the number of credits in the course. By implication, a 2-credit course will affect your GPA less than a 5-credit course.
- Will the school drop me if my grades are too low?
Sure, if your GPA falls below 2.0, you stand the chance of losing your admission. However, you will be given two quarters to improve your academics. If there is no progress, the school considers dropping you.
- If the class I want is full, who could I contact?
You need to contact the department advisers or the instructors. This is because they have more information concerning the course. They will also be of better help to you.
Conclusively, the University of Washington is one of the best university options for international students. It offers unique opportunities to students to make direct findings. The students also think in new ways and create unique knowledge. Quite sure, the university has a highly competitive standard.
Even so, if your test score is below average, you still have some slight chances to be offered admission. Be hopeful about becoming one of the huskies, the nickname of the students of Washington University.
