The University of Washington-Seattle, often referred to as “UDub”, has been consistently listed as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. Along with above-average research institutions and top tier sports teams, UW boasts 700 acres of parklike land sprinkled with blossoming cherry trees and awe-inspiring architecture.

But first, as always, attendance requires an application. 43% of UW-Seattle applicants make it into the school, with an average freshman GPA of 3.8. Additionally, the university is almost completely test-blind, meaning that standardized test scores are not required for an application. Any submitted test scores will not be considered unless they would benefit a student who would otherwise have not been admitted.

UW highly values a student’s GPA, as well as the rigor of their high school class schedule. The university also focuses heavily on an applicant’s essays, which are used to infer a student’s personality and interest in the school. Essays are an amazing opportunity for the applicant to share their experience and interest in both the university and the major that they are applying for.

Apart from these essential points, UW-Seattle also values volunteer work, job experience and extracurricular activities. The college aims to admit well-rounded students who also display further skill in specific fields.

However, it’s important to remember that UDub’s incredible campus comes with a price tag. Tuition for out of state students is just over $40,000. If we factor in room and board, textbooks and other expenses, the cost of attendance rises to around $62,000 annually. It’s not cheap, but not insane when compared to other top universities around the country.

UW-Seattle does offer national merit scholarships and financial aid, with 55% of undergraduates at the school receiving the latter. As for the former, applicants shouldn’t count on merit to alleviate much of the attendance costs, with an average awarded package of $8,000.

The hefty price of attending UDub begs the question, why? What makes the school special? For one, the school specializes in certain majors, these being business, english, drama, marine biology, environmental studies, architecture, engineering and computer science. Despite this, UW has decent programs in every field, with high-end research facilities available to students and professors alike.

One essential point to keep in mind is that UW-Seattle follows a quarter system, making academics much more challenging and

fast-paced. Additionally, students have to apply to a major once accepted, meaning there is a marginal chance to miss out on the programs you’re most interested in. Entry into preprofessional and STEM-related programs is particularly difficult, so UDub attendees might want to have a backup plan just in case.

Moving on to a positive mark, UW-Seattle offers a multitude of unique college learning experiences to its students. Undergraduates can study abroad via more than 90 faculty-led programs as well as options at over 70 partner institutions across the globe. A program in experiential learning encourages students to find internships, and a variety of classes give students the opportunity to volunteer as part of their coursework. In addition, 30% of undergrads conduct faculty-mentored research.

Along with its notable academic programs, as of 2024, the UW has moved into the Big Ten Conference for athletics, placing it among the most talented sports universities in the nation. Recent accomplishments by the UDub Huskies include women’s rowing winning a national championship while men’s soccer, men’s rowing and men’s golf claimed many important Pac-12 conference titles.

As a result, athletics are a major part of the UW-Seattle experience. Husky Fever breaks out on every football weekend, and the stands are always packed for UW’s team, especially when Washington State University comes to town for the coveted Apple Cup rivalry game.

Beyond sports, social life at the university consists largely of Greek life. About 5% of students join a combined total of 65 fraternities and sororities, with 15% of UW-Seattle freshmen taking part. Apart from Greek life, students can partake in the 1,000-plus student organizations that sponsor various activities.

However, most importantly, UDub is an incredibly livable campus for its students. With nearby light rail stations for easy transportation, the school has plenty of food options for students at hand along its “University Road.” The campus offers breathtaking views of Lake Washington, the Cascades and the Olympic Mountains, and outdoor pastimes for students include boating, hiking, camping and skiing, all found nearby. Canada is close enough for road trips to Vancouver, while Portland is less than a three hour drive away.

The only real drawback of life at UW-Seattle is its weather, which usually ranges from a chilly 37 degrees Fahrenheit to a moderate 79. However, with cherry trees that blossom in late March, the campus maintains its natural beauty through the cold.

Overall, The University of Washington-Seattle offers significant academic opportunities and stands among the best of the best in its athletics. As a campus, UDub has everything a student needs to truly live and enjoy their time attending the school. While the weather and lifestyle of downtown Seattle may be a drastic change in environment for Oak Park High School students, UW-Seattle has crafted its own little pocket within the city to better the college experience.