Last minute college help

[bossass]

Western Washington: MBS is on his like 10th year as an undergrad. Take that as you will.

[iggyskier]

Wow...my school is taking a beating.

Anyway, I'm a freshmen this year at UPS. Others schools i looked at included CU (I'm from Boulder), CC, UW, UU, Lewis and Clark, Seattle U, Western Washington, and UBC.

I choose UPS mostly based upon an acedemic basis. I'm pre-med and the acceptence rates for UPS grads into medical and dental schools is very high. Small classes are a plus. My largest class right now is 30, my smallest 13. I can talk to my teacher whenever i want to. Dorms are nice and campus is beautiful. Crystal is 1 hour 20 min and there is a pretty large skiing base here.

Lan said that this school is a "small, hoity toity private school. Lots of trustafarians," and i would have to disagree with that. While, yes, some of the people here have lots of money the majority of the people i know, including myself, recieve and need the $1000's of dollor we recieve to come here. I know many people that are recieveing $25,000 plus and otherwise wouldn't be able to attend. The school doesn't have the feel of a rich-ass private school at all.

What I don't like about the school is that sometimes it seems like I'm back in high school. It could be because I still hang out with mostly freshmen, so kids just out of high school, but sometimes it gets fucking annoying. Some kids i just fucking cant stand. I don't mind the greek system at all and I'm actually considering joining one of the frats, depending on what my living situation is next year.

Now about Tacoma. Yes....Tacoma kind of sucks. The area around UPS is nice, but small. There is pretty much only 6th, Old Town, and Proctor, non of which are that great. People make is seem a lot worse then it is. It isn't like the school is in a ghetto or any bullshit like that. It is pretty much just the campus with student housing all around. Other than that...there isn't much here. One plus, though, is you can have a car as a freshmen for free. This was huge for me. I love having my car here and would probably not enjoy the school nearly as much if i couldn't have it. I can get rides to skiing whenever i want, leave whenever i want, go get alcohol whenever i want. Skiing, great skiing, is really close. That is also one of the reason i came here. Passes to Crystal are expensive, but worth it. Plus, with a car, seattle is only 30 min away, Portland is only 2 hours.

So, the sum this up if you dont want to read it:

I like UPS a lot. Class are challenging and small and I'm actually learning as opposed to what i did in High School. Campus is awesome. Skiing is awesome and close. Lots of people here love the outdoors. Some people here have money and some suck balls, but not everyone. I've made a lot of friends here. Tacoma kind of sucks, but isn't nearly as bad as everyone says. Just don't end up on hilltop after dark and you're good. Downtown is somewhat boring...but your here to study, right? Parties around campus are good, for the most part, and drugs are easy to find, if that is your thing. I'm glad i came here.

That being said, I'm not saying you should come here. The small school size isn't for everyone. I like it, but some people hate it. I'm just trying to say UPS doesn't suck like everyone else says.

[LAN]

I'm just trying to say UPS doesn't suck like everyone else says.

I don't think UPS sucks - when I was in college, the UPS students that I met between parties and academic conferences, were pretty hoity toity and snobby.

I think the bottom line is that no matter where you go, you'll meet nice people and get a decent education.

[skibum1087]

I love all the students/grads chiming in, very helpful. Med school does intrest me if i go that route, but as i said i am on the waiting list at Udub and will have to wait and see. Pollard, i would be intrested to hear more about your weekend at SU, one of my concerns there was defiently that everyone went home to the city leaving the campus pretty dead for the most part. 10 year undergrad program... Sounds pretty sweet
spencer

[Nate Dogg]

I love all the students/grads chiming in, very helpful. Med school does intrest me if i go that route, but as i said i am on the waiting list at Udub and will have to wait and see. Pollard, i would be intrested to hear more about your weekend at SU, one of my concerns there was defiently that everyone went home to the city leaving the campus pretty dead for the most part. 10 year undergrad program... Sounds pretty sweet
spencer

From my experience this past semester I would advise that you avoid commuter schools -- they leave a lot to be desired. Because the majority of the student body goes home every night and weekend, there is much less going on on campus, and a real lack of any type of campus pride or a campus social scene for that matter. With that said -- it is not the end of the world either. If you end up at a school that has a large commuter population because of its academic opportunities, then so be it. You will certainly become good friends with those on campus and can pursue social opportunities beyond the scope of your campus, which is not necessarily a bad thing. However, if you are anticipating attending a self-contained school, avoid a commuter school because you will find yourself looking beyond campus for a more fulfilling experience (which I'd advise you be doing anyways). Good luck! Don't forget it isn't the end of the world if you make a mistake in choosing, do your best to make an educated decision now, but being a transfer student isn't so bad IMO.

[Tippster]

Evergreen State University is for you!

But seriously, the U-Dub is a world-class university. Go where the goods are, just as in skiing. Sure the folks at the local hill smile alot and say hello, but I'd rather get rage-called at Alta.

[TheDingleberry]

Ah Ha Ha! Voss you killed it!

[BakerBoy]

Ah Ha Ha! Voss you killed it!

No, Gunder was definitely killing it in Mexico...

[skibum1087]

some inspiring pictures on behalf of WWU. Two more days to choose
iggyskier- its wierd, everything i have read as well has said UPS gives awesome aid but i didint get hardly any, one of the reasons im not so interested in it at the moment

[road trip]

If you're looking for a career in science, U. Washington would be tremendous as you would have a myriad of class offerings as well as research opportunities in some of the best labs in the world. In the biological sciences, U. Washington is on par with Berkeley, UCSD, CalTech, Harvardet al.

Just want to reiterate Viva's comments here.

If you are looking at biology, don't fear a "large class size" school. The big schools are where it's at. Smaller schools with their "large teacher to student ratios" just don't offer you the same diverse course menu... being able to take generic background biology classes and then fine tune your own curriculum into what you really want to do is an advantage that you can only get at a big school

[char]

UW isn't as big as it seems. I literally can walk from one building to another and run into someone I know.

The campus becomes alot smaller once you get into your major as well.

Stay away from the ESRM program for awhile....

And if you are bored in Seattle you have problems.

[skibum1087]

thanks again for all the replys. It looks like i am going to accept at WWU, and if i get off the wait list at udub, then i guess ill have a new deisison to make, i wont worry about it now.
spencer
and im really really excited

[skibum1087]

last thing, i sent a few of you pm's, but housing info i still need. THe ridge sounds nice, but i was wondering if Mathes is the main freshman dorm. I'm all for living somewhere else, but i would like to be with some freshman not all upperclassman
thanks

[mtbakerskier]

After spending the last 7 years at WWU, I can say it is a good school, in an even better location. Western is defintly a very good and respected school with good programs, however, it can be dificult at times to get into certian classes untill you earn a lot of credits. It is impossible to graduate in under 5 years, but that is probally ok, cause the skiing here is worldclass, The mtn biking is even better and we have the san juan islands and some nice lakes all with in an 1hr. The only problem is that Bellingham is becoming more expansive to live in, and if you live off campus expect to pay $600.00 /mo for a 1 bd place, or if you have roomates $350.00 per room.

If you live on campus your best bet is the ridgeway dorms.

And one last thing, you will not enjoy Baker if you dont have big skis that are at least 95mm in the waist.

Hope this helps.

[LAN]

Who knew mbs was hot? Here this whole time I've envisioned him as a skinny nerd with a camera.

[bossass]

Who knew mbs was hot? Here this whole time I've envisioned him as a skinny nerd with a camera.

??????

Is it the passed-out-drunk-woody that's turning you on?

[Skier10322]

last thing, i sent a few of you pm's, but housing info i still need. THe ridge sounds nice, but i was wondering if Mathes is the main freshman dorm. I'm all for living somewhere else, but i would like to be with some freshman not all upperclassman
thanks

Ridge has the same balance as upper classman to freshmen as Mathes.

Mathes is 9 stories, the bottom 5 are substance free, the top 4 arent, and those top 4 are more than 75% upper classman. From someone who was lucky enough to live in a non substance free dorm in Mathes, trust me when i say to live on the ridge.

[BakerBoy]

Ridge has the same balance as upper classman to freshmen as Mathes.

Mathes is 9 stories, the bottom 5 are substance free, the top 4 arent, and those top 4 are more than 75% upper classman. From someone who was lucky enough to live in a non substance free dorm in Mathes, trust me when i say to live on the ridge.

2 beers and you're tanked, what the fuck do you care?

[Spence]

I went to Western for 2 years and UW for 2 1/4. Both were pretty sweet. At Western I joined the ski team with the like of our very own HOP. I'd never raced before and HOP was on tele skis. The race team mysteriously disapeared the next year. At UW I got involved with Huskie Winter Sports and became a ski instructor (a really good way to get a free pass and meet some great people in return for about 20 hours of teaching a year). All in all I'd say both schools have a lot to offer. The big difference I found was that UW has a big city vibe and Western has a small city, outdoors vibe. If you go to UW you should look up Husky Winter Sports. If you go to Western I'm living in Bellingham and skiing Baker as much as I can.....

[Samwich]

I go to western right now. I lived in Mathes, had a bunch of friends who live in the Ridge right now and I would say thats better.

If skiing is part of your decision at all I would say Western.

As for class size, they don't seem that big to me, I havent had more than a class or two in two years that was more than a 100 people.

who are your friends? I might know 'em.