University of Washington - Seattle Reviews of Bachelor's in Biology

"Great city, campus is beautiful. The professors all were very qualified and seemed to truly care. UW is so close to so many activities and events in Seattle and it is a great city to be in as a college student. My program specifically gave us a lot of hands on time in the lab which helped tremendously later on. The ROTC program was well run as well."

"I greatly enjoyed my undergraduate experience at the University of Washington. I graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor's degree in Biology. Though, with anything, there were a number of pros and cons with the UW.Pros:* Name recognition* Excellent student resources* Phenomenal campus * Undergraduate research* Tons of applicable majorsCons:* Some large classes the students don't get the individual learning they require* Difficult to get into some classes* Most majors aren't guaranteed - I.E. you have to compete for a place in a major and may not get in* Some professors are more interested in research than teachingOverall I learned a ton at the UW and it prepared me very well for my graduate program at Loma Linda University."

"The University of Washington is a globally recognized school in academic excellence, research, and diversity. What you find at the UW is a camaraderie you didn't know was possible to obtain by just participating in a class with a hundred other students. Every student shares the same goals: SUCCESS. The resources provided to students who need additional help are an amazing asset to any individual. The faculty care about your learning and want you to succeed. There won't be anyone to hold your hand along the way but you will complete challenges you never knew you were capable of. Being a UW student builds character, tenacity, and courage. I was previously undecided when I went on my first tour of campus and it took all of 30 seconds to know that I was in the right place. There is magic in the air at those hallowed grounds, you can FEEL the histories of past students pushing boundaries and creating new standards. It's hard to put in to words what a wonderful place the University of Washington is, I encourage you to find out for yourself!"

"I studied Neurobiology at the University of Washington Seattle from 2012 to 2016. I was a student-athlete on the track & field team as well as served as secretary for the Minority Association of Pre Health Students club. From my experiences, I would highly recommend the University of Washington to all prospective students. I give the University of the Washington 5/5 stars for quality of instruction. The reason being that most (95%) of my instructors had well organized class agendas and made their expectations very clear. But most importantly, most (95%) of my instructors actually cared about their students. Instructors would make time during their instruction to address questions students had even if it took time away from class. Instructors were extremely available for out-of-class communications; many even provided their cell phone number. Also, most instructors held comprehensive review sessions that accommodated the majority of the classes availability. These types of instructors really make the University of Washington's quality of instruction shine. Lastly, the University of Washington requires that at the end of each quarter students have the opportunity to anonymously review the quality of the class and the instructor. Online you can find a Class Catalog, which displays an average of these reviews. In this way you can see which classes have the highest quality of instruction; I chose all of my classes using this tool so I may have a different perspective on quality of instruction compared to other students. The rigor of curriculum was 5/5 stars for me. I took chemistry, biology, physics, and math classes before getting in the Neurobiology department. The rigor of science classes at the University of Washington runs high as the UW takes pride in being a world leader in STEM research. All of my classes, except for maybe Intro to Chemistry, pushed my thinking. Each year at the UW, I found that this push elicited growth as my GPA improved each year. Unlike high school, studying was no longer just an option, it became a life style. Although the material was hard, it was interesting to me, so the work paid off. I gave the University of Washington 2/5 stars for diversity. As a student of color, I found that I was often one of few or the only student of color in my classes. However, the University of Washington does provide services to minority students through the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity. Through OMA&D I had tutoring opportunities open to first generation students and minority students, which was critical for my success my first few years. I also had scholarships opportunities through OMA&D as well as participated in a summer program for pre health students called SMDEP. The UW also has many clubs on campus for minority students and holds events on campus such as the talk I attended my fourth year where we discussed the movement Black Lives Matter. Although I give the UW low rankings for diversity, recently President Anna President Ana Mari Cauce launched a Race and Equity Initiative in with the challenge that students, faculty, and staff take personal responsibility for addressing biases and improving our university culture. This indicates the Universities awareness and shows promise for some improvements in the future. I ranked Campus safety 4/5 stars. The campus has emergency phones scattered around campus, that will directly link you to police in case of emergency. They also have a program called Night Ride where students can use their Husky Card to take shuttles from various locations on campus to their apartments or dorms. I have used Night Ride a few times and was impressed to learn that you can get dropped off quite a far distance from campus. It runs from 8 pm to 1:30 am, which is great for students studying late on campus but don't feel safe walking home at night. I did not give UW the 5th star because I would have liked to see a larger campus security present, especially at night. I gave Earning Potential, Prepared for Career, Networking Opportunities, Satisfaction with Degree, and Career Advising all 5/5 stars. With my Neurobiology degree from the UW, I had confidence regarding my competitiveness as an applicant when applying to graduate schools. My professors within the department, specifically my professor for Neurobiology Systems, and my advisor all acted as mentors in helping me to decide my career path. They asked me questions that really provoked my thinking, such as simply asking me why I was interested in certain fields which really cleared some things up for me. This same professor helped me to get into contact with a student in the graduate school I was interested in. This student ended up letting me come to a few of her classes. My advisor helped me to get into a few research programs, one at Harborview and the other at a UW neighborhood clinic. Now, I was recently accepted to the Physical Therapy Doctorate program at the University of Washington. The experiences and opportunities the UW provided me as an undergrad were an integral part to my success and I am so happy to continue my education at this institution. If you get the opportunity to join the UW family, be sure to take it! It will be an experience to treasure!"

"I attended the University of Washington, Seattle Honors program where I double majored in Microbiology and Biochemistry. I enjoyed the rigor and challenges my programs offered me, which helped prepared me for medical school. Being a huge public research school, UW offers a lot of research opportunities to anyone who is interested in. I also loved the diversity of student populations, where I met some of my best friends. The school location is very well situated, with easy bus access to downtown Seattle and other neighborhoods. The school is essentially its own city with lots of dining and fitness options around the area. UW also has a huge and excellent gym that all students can utilize. The gym also offer fitness classes to students. There are lots of student organizations for everyone to be involved in as well. Overall, UW is a superb school that offers challenging and rewarding education in a convenient location with lots of things to do around the school."

"The University of Washington is a beautiful school in a beautiful city. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the proximity to multiple national parks as well as urban parks. My favorites are North Cascades National Park and Golden Gardens Park. I did not have a car during undergrad which meant I biked to school and around campus everyday. The entire city is very bike friendly. As far as academics go the UW was very challenging as classes, especially intro series and basic requirements, are giant. It is hard to stay focused and engaged during a 700 person lecture. This is why I liked the UW much more after deciding my major. I was able to take smaller classes with teachers and classmates that I got to know personally."

"The university of Washington is a giant behemoth of a school that can tend to swallow undecided freshman up. Because of this I am very happy that I found a small program (Oceanography) early on. Being a part of a small academic community at the University of Washington allowed me to take advantage of the best parts of a large research institution. Undergrads were able to contribute to cutting edge and well funded research projects. This is typical of large state schools but what was unique was my class size. Upon entering the oceanography track I had an average class size of around 25 with many of the same students. This enabled me to build lasting relationships and enjoy working together on projects. The Oceanography thesis project was an amazing experience as well. We were flown to Japan and boarded the Research Vessel the Thomas G. Thompson in order to complete a real world research project. This time at sea gave me a great hands on experience testing research questions in the field. After spending a lot of time on ships you really get to know your professors as well. They also really made this program stand out. I am still in touch with my advisers 3 years after graduating and they are still willing to write me great letters of recommendation."

"University of Washington is a huge diverse school with a niche for everyone. With research in nearly every field it gives students the unique opportunity to contribute to the learning of the world as they make the most of their own learning. University of Washington gave me many opportunities as an undergrad and set me up perfectly for my future graduate studies."

"Superbly awesome. Education was highest quality and changed my life."

"Attending UW was a great experience- I was challenged, and I felt like the professors were top-notch. I enjoyed going to school there even if I ultimately didn't end up using my degree."

"UW is a great school, lots of opportunities to meet new people and make connections, but I feel like the work load for students in Biology is so high that you don't really get a chance to take advantage of those opportunities. You learn a lot, but if you don't make the right connections, then your degree won't really get you a job on it's own. It really is all about who you know when looking for employment."

"Attending the University of Washington was an excellent experience. The campus is beautiful, the biology program was rigorous, and taught by excellent professors. I'd highly recommend anyone interested in the UW to apply."

"Introductory classes were very large, and it often felt like swimming upstream. However, there was an excellent support community once you knew how to find it, and the professors were always excellent."

"The instruction at the University of Washington went way beyond the classroom. During my junior and senior years, I helped professors with their research studies in the biochemistry and psychology departments. The opportunity to get real world experience not only helped me learn, but it prepared me for life after college. I currently work as a molecular biologist as a direct result of the experience I received as an undergraduate."