I'm heading in to my last year of the MSW Extended Degree Program at UW. Oh, hindsight... If I had it to do all over again - I would've gone with the Day Program. In the end it would've saved me... More

I'm heading in to my last year of the MSW Extended Degree Program at UW. Oh, hindsight... If I had it to do all over again - I would've gone with the Day Program. In the end it would've saved me money and time. Evening/weekend students end up paying twice as much ($395 per credit). I cry each time my Direct Loan statement comes. The program also claims to be geared toward people who must work full time while going to school. This is utterly impossible. The 2nd year - you have a 16 hour/week practicum. The 3rd year - it's 24 hours/week. I don't know who can work 40 hours/week, do 24 hours/week of practicum AND take 1-2 classes per quarter. Evening/weekend students have little choice regarding electives, and can't choose a specialty (clinical, administrative). We're all "Advanced Generalists." Choices for instructors are also pretty much nonexistent. You're stuck with the schedule and professors they give you, and don't bother complaining about it. If you like low-expectations - this may be a good program for you. The TA for my first class announced that spelling/grammar would not be factored into the grading of the papers. Huh? This is a graduate program?? I'm just getting the "paper," then I'm free.
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Well, for what it's worth, I think the UW is a great school, if you have the discipline to handle it. It's way too large for some. When I was a freshman, I was much more interested in drinking and... More

Well, for what it's worth, I think the UW is a great school, if you have the discipline to handle it. It's way too large for some. When I was a freshman, I was much more interested in drinking and having fun and being in my sorority. I had to drop out in my junior year. Lack of funds (I had a dirt poor mother, so I had to pay for my own education, working 2 jobs too). I went back when I was 33, divorced and had 2 young kids to put in daycare. I highly value this last year of my education much more than my first three when I was 18-21, because I had to work even harder for it. The UW student's average age is 26, which means that there were plenty of us older Gen Xers going back to finish their degrees. I had a lot of company, lots of single moms like me. My professors appreciated me more, I think. I had very fruitful conversations with them that didn't end in "cool dude." I got 2 4.0s and a 3.9 this time around, and my family and I are very proud that I got my degree (finally). Makes me proud to say I have a $40,000 (I was out of state the first two years) piece of pretty paper on my bookshelf, because I know that my kids' chances of getting good degrees are even higher now. Plus I got a good job at the UWMC out of it! "Real" college degrees are SOOOO worth it!
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Prided for its pre-med, bio-tech, international studies, and business departments, the University of Washington is one of the strongest state universities in the nation. The campus is centrally... More

Prided for its pre-med, bio-tech, international studies, and business departments, the University of Washington is one of the strongest state universities in the nation. The campus is centrally located inside Seattle proper, and most students live either in student housing on campus or in the nearby neighborhoods. Roughly 30,000 undergraduates attend the university along with 10,000 graduate students. The campus is lovely, especially the Japanese-Cherry-Tree-lined quad. For anyone considering a state education, the UW is an excellent choice - a strong school in a beautiful, vibrant city. More information is available at their website.
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As an '03 grad, I had an overall good experience at the University. The time I spent getting my degree at the Business school was frustrating and the level of teaching was definitely lacking. That... More

As an '03 grad, I had an overall good experience at the University. The time I spent getting my degree at the Business school was frustrating and the level of teaching was definitely lacking. That said, my classes outside of the school were great, and the entire experience was a wonderful educational experience.
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I went to the University of Washington for two years and recommend anyone who is deciding where to go for their secondary education to check it out. The academic curriculum is consistently ranked... More

I went to the University of Washington for two years and recommend anyone who is deciding where to go for their secondary education to check it out. The academic curriculum is consistently ranked among the top in the country, and our med school is world reknowned. The campus is beautiful and amid an upscale urban setting. The diversity of the students is amazing and is a great chance to meet people from all walks of life. I could go on for pages, I think it best you check it out for yourself.
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