Are there any fellow Huskies out there?

[Schemp]

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Ready for the test tomorrow?

Wrong class. I'm in second quarter, quantum mechanics. What you're doing now is the easy one, sadly. 🙁

Are you a transfer student then?

Yep.

 

[searun]

Man, I wish I could go down to the Seattle waterfront and order some steaming hot clam nectar and clam chowder from Ivar's Acres of Clams restaurant. But, unfortunately, I am on the East Coast.

 

[chman]

Man, I wish I could go down to the Seattle waterfront and order some steaming hot clam nectar and clam chowder from Ivar's Acres of Clams restaurant. But, unfortunately, I am on the East Coast.

I actually know one of the owners of Ivers....Maybe I could ship you some tarter.😀

 

[chman]

Yep.

Would you say you are happy with your decision to transfer there then? Maybe I will just PM you.

 

[brygguy1]

Take Raghu (genetics), Mandy Schivell (bio), and Weigle (bio) if you can. Also, look at taking Latin/Greek Roots (Etymology). I think they were Classics 101 and 205. They were fairly easy 4.0s and very helpful.

Yeah, the grading curve is pretty tough at UW, but if you can figure out how to take the tests well it can be helpful. I did biochem at UW. Typically people who memorized information did not do as well as those who learned the trends, ideas, and concepts behind the material.

Also, as a side note, during my USC-Keck interview they asked me what the hardest part of moving to LA would be. I answered, "I have a lot of purple shirts." Go huskies!

 

[Schemp]

Would you say you are happy with your decision to transfer there then? Maybe I will just PM you.

Well that depends. I mean, I can't really compare it to anywhere else because I've never been anywhere else. It is the best school in the state (in many ways) and I wasn't really in a position financially to move out of state. I think it certainly has its drawbacks, especially in terms of being such a large institution, but it's the best education I could have received in state, and two years here has cost me about 8k-10k dollars.

 

[thesauce]

Well that depends. I mean, I can't really compare it to anywhere else because I've never been anywhere else. It is the best school in the state (in many ways) and I wasn't really in a position financially to move out of state. I think it certainly has its drawbacks, especially in terms of being such a large institution, but it's the best education I could have received in state, and two years here has cost me about 8k-10k dollars.

Ouch. Don't think we don't notice these subtle shots at WSU 😉

For your major, I'd wager UW is better. For my major, WSU was def best. For construction management, Central reins supreme. One has to consider what major they're going to pursue first and what atmosphere you like. Being from eastern Washington, I would've hated Seattle.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

So, anyone see the alternative site name for wsu.edu? Very interesting whoever made it...

 

[brygguy1]

Ouch. Don't think we don't notice these subtle shots at WSU 😉

For your major, I'd wager UW is better. For my major, WSU was def best. For construction management, Central reins supreme. One has to consider what major they're going to pursue first and what atmosphere you like. Being from eastern Washington, I would've hated Seattle.

Haha. We'll always make fun of you cougars, but at least you're not a little duck or a smelly beaver, right?

Also, you're right, the city isn't for everyone. We've definitely got some crazies in the city. Walking to work this morning I saw at least two people talking to an imaginary person next to them, and another person practicing tai chi down the sidewalk. Then we also have nutjobs who don't know why they believe in XY politician or YZ bill, but they will definitely give you an earful.

 

[Schemp]

Ouch. Don't think we don't notice these subtle shots at WSU 😉

For your major, I'd wager UW is better. For my major, WSU was def best. For construction management, Central reins supreme. One has to consider what major they're going to pursue first and what atmosphere you like. Being from eastern Washington, I would've hated Seattle.

Well that's why I said in many ways. I am not a fan of WSU (obviously), but it's still a university and it has its strengths. I hear good things about their broadcasting and agriculture-related programs specifically. For most sciences, at least generally, and particularly if you are a freshman who doesn't really know what he or she wants to major in yet, UW is generally the best choice among all Washington schools. And for research specifically, it definitely has the most opportunities.

Edit: I should note that I don't know much about the private schools in Washington (Gonzaga, Whitman, etc.) but based on cost alone I can confidently rule those out as actually being worth going to over Washington, unless perhaps you were from out of state. Even then I'm not convinced. Some people really hate big classes though.

 

[searun]

Well that's why I said in many ways. I am not a fan of WSU (obviously), but it's still a university and it has its strengths. I hear good things about their broadcasting and agriculture-related programs specifically. For most sciences, at least generally, and particularly if you are a freshman who doesn't really know what he or she wants to major in yet, UW is generally the best choice among all Washington schools. And for research specifically, it definitely has the most opportunities.

Edit: I should note that I don't know much about the private schools in Washington (Gonzaga, Whitman, etc.) but based on cost alone I can confidently rule those out as actually being worth going to over Washington, unless perhaps you were from out of state. Even then I'm not convinced. Some people really hate big classes though.

Whitman is a sweet school with a great reputation and a nice endowment for a small school. If they want you, it is possible to get a great financial aid package, making the cost less than the public schools in Washington. It happens all the time. Whitman puts alot of students into med school.

 

[chman]

Well that depends. I mean, I can't really compare it to anywhere else because I've never been anywhere else. It is the best school in the state (in many ways) and I wasn't really in a position financially to move out of state. I think it certainly has its drawbacks, especially in terms of being such a large institution, but it's the best education I could have received in state, and two years here has cost me about 8k-10k dollars.

I don't plan on going out of state either. I was just wondering as a transfer student what you thought of your experience sense I am in the same boat.

 

[Schemp]

I don't plan on going out of state either. I was just wondering as a transfer student what you thought of your experience sense I am in the same boat.

I think no matter where you go you're gonna be missing out by having only two years there. I wish I'd had more, because it's taken a long time to realize some opportunities that were out there, and I've had to pass up others because I knew I didn't have much time left before graduation, so I wouldn't be able to really establish myself.

 

[chman]

I think no matter where you go you're gonna be missing out by having only two years there. I wish I'd had more, because it's taken a long time to realize some opportunities that were out there, and I've had to pass up others because I knew I didn't have much time left before graduation, so I wouldn't be able to really establish myself.

Do you think it would be hard to get into any worthwhile psych research as a junior? Sorry for the twenty questions.

 

[Schemp]

Do you think it would be hard to get into any worthwhile psych research as a junior? Sorry for the twenty questions.

Nah, probably not. Although my experience is in science labs I got a chemistry spot last year and got a publication in Science, and when that professor left I got another research spot in a gene expression lab for my last two quarters.

 

[thesauce]

Haha. We'll always make fun of you cougars, but at least you're not a little duck or a smelly beaver, right?

Also, you're right, the city isn't for everyone. We've definitely got some crazies in the city. Walking to work this morning I saw at least two people talking to an imaginary person next to them, and another person practicing tai chi down the sidewalk. Then we also have nutjobs who don't know why they believe in XY politician or YZ bill, but they will definitely give you an earful.

Yeah, I just couldn't do it for 4 years. I did a summer internship in Seattle back when I was an undergrad and every weekend I would drive to Eastern Washington. I had a good friend who was doing an internship in Eastern Washington and would drive to Seattle every weekend

 

[thesauce]

Well that's why I said in many ways.

I gotcha.

I am not a fan of WSU (obviously), but it's still a university and it has its strengths. I hear good things about their broadcasting and agriculture-related programs specifically.

Yes, those are top-notch as are many others. ChE as I mentioned, architecture, nursing, pharm, animal science/veterinary med.

For most sciences, at least generally, and particularly if you are a freshman who doesn't really know what he or she wants to major in yet, UW is generally the best choice among all Washington schools.

For the basic sciences, there's no question that UW has an edge.

On this point, I have a personal issue with people going to college and not knowing what they want to do. They don't have to be 100% decided, but IMO they should have it narrowed down significantly. College has simply become "what you do after high school" and I think that's a mistake. Anyway, that's all I'll say about it since I really don't want to hijack this thread to spinoff another discussion.

And for research specifically, it definitely has the most opportunities.

Probably true, although as an undergrad, I don't know how much the average student will appreciate this. Obviously you've been quite productive and a publication in Science is quite impressive. The research at WSU is there and accessible to students, but not many take advantage of it.

 

[thesauce]

Whitman is a sweet school with a great reputation and a nice endowment for a small school. If they want you, it is possible to get a great financial aid package, making the cost less than the public schools in Washington. It happens all the time. Whitman puts alot of students into med school.

Whitman is really, really, great. They're generous with their financial aid and they have great opportunities in many different fields. They also have affiliations with other top universities to pursue undergrad majors that they don't have. For instance, you do engineering prereqs at Whitman and then transfer to WashU for the rest. They have similar setups with professional schools. For instance, they have a deal with Columbia Law that if you get a certain GPA and LSAT from Whitman, they'll take you automatically. I'm not sure if they have any of these affiliations for medical schools, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Also, Whitman is always ranked in the top 5 for happiest students and at one point was #1. It probably would have been my second choice for undergrad.

 

[chman]

On this point, I have a personal issue with people going to college and not knowing what they want to do. They don't have to be 100% decided, but IMO they should have it narrowed down significantly. College has simply become "what you do after high school" and I think that's a mistake. Anyway, that's all I'll say about it since I really don't want to hijack this thread to spinoff another discussion.

I must disagree with this. There are so many different things one can do in college, and it is hard to expect people to know what they want to do before they get there. Most people take some classes and then figure it out. I had no idea I wanted to go pre-med, and if someone told me that is what I would end up doing I would have laughed at them.

I think the bigger issue is that society expects us to know what we want to do at 18, which is just not realistic. Also, our society makes it seem like universities are the only worthwhile option and ignore trade schools and other worthy options.

 

[thesauce]

Alright, well here's to thread hijacking!

I must disagree with this. There are so many different things one can do in college, and it is hard to expect people to know what they want to do before they get there.

College is a major investment in terms of both time and money. One should approach it as an informed consumer. It's not that hard. You can easily read up on majors and career options before college and come in with a plan. It's okay to change you mind, but you should have an idea (i.e. something in science, something in liberal arts). Otherwise why are you there? Because someone told you to go to college?

I know someone who spend 7.5yrs in undergrad and left without a degree because she came in without a plan and never could figure out what she wanted to do. I know someone else who, in their 3rd year of undergrad, didn't know that you had to take specific classes in order to get a degree. I have another friend who is at ITT Tech paying $22k/yr because hey, it's college and that's where he was supposed to go after high school! He is pursuing a degree that our local state school offers for 1/4 the price. Too many people are just going to college now without a plan and not considering the cost. I think that's a mistake.

Most people take some classes and then figure it out. I had no idea I wanted to go pre-med, and if someone told me that is what I would end up doing I would have laughed at them

.

When I said "knowing what they want to do," I was speaking of intended major. Unless premed is your actual major, it's not really relevant to this conversation. You can go to med school with any degree.

I think the bigger issue is that society expects us to know what we want to do at 18, which is just not realistic. Also, society makes it seem like universities are the only worthwhile option and ignore trade schools and other worthy options.

This we perfectly agree on. You don't have to go to college at 18. It'll be there when you figure out what you want to do. Agree with the trade school comment and I would add military as being great options for some.

 

[chman]

When I said "knowing what they want to do," I was speaking of intended major. Unless premed is your actual major, it's not really relevant to this conversation. You can go to med school with any degree.

I didn't mention any correlation between my major and being pre-med. I was pointing out that I had know idea that I may have had interests in medicine prior to my entering college. I think that is relevant to the conversation.

 

[GH253]

starting @ UW next quarter

 

[thesauce]

I didn't mention any correlation between my major and being pre-med. I was pointing out that I had know idea that I may have had interests in medicine prior to my entering college. I think that is relevant to the conversation.

I was unclear. Again, when I said "knowing what they want to do," I was referring to undergraduate major. That's the big decision that an undergrad/pre-undergrad needs to make.

I didn't mean to imply that you need to know you want to do medicine before undergrad because that is a professional school that you can go to from any major. You can make that decision at any point along the way.

 

[chman]

I was unclear. Again, when I said "knowing what they want to do," I was referring to undergraduate major. That's the big decision that an undergrad/pre-undergrad needs to make.

I didn't mean to imply that you need to know you want to do medicine before undergrad because that is a professional school that you can go to from any major. You can make that decision at any point along the way.

I guess that part of my problem is that undergrad seems to be treated like professional school now adays. When the reality is that few majors are directly correlated with specific careers. So yes, I would agree that one should think about what they might want to study (although I think that one should not limit themselves before they even get there) but I also think that we need to stop pretending that universities = trade school. Most majors will give one a set of skills, not a trade.

 

[mahnster13]

I definitely don't think you should need to know exactly what you want to do as soon as you get in to college, and I do not necessarily feel like you need to have that much of an idea either. I have friends who have already gone through college, and they change majors sometimes three, four, or five times. They didn't regret spending the extra money if they had to add another year or so, it seems from most people I hear that college is where you learn how to learn. You get to take the classes you want, from some of the best minds in the business (at least at UW 😉). From what a lot of people say, it seems that college is the last place where you can learn whatever you want to learn, and think whatever you want to think.

I think chman makes a very good point. Most majors will provide you with a set of skills that you can APPLY to a future career, but just because you major in something does not necessarily mean that you will end up working in that field. Those of you who go on to medical school should know that if you got in without majoring in a science. I've narrowed my choices of major down to history, psychology, or philosophy, MAYBE double with biology, and whatever I do I am going to minor in chemistry. I have no idea what I will do if I do not get into medical school, but I am fairly certain I will get in. Even if I do b**** about UW a lot, I still love it here. I don't like the idea of college being "the place where you go to learn how to work." That's what trade schools are for.

 

[thesauce]

I definitely don't think you should need to know exactly what you want to do as soon as you get in to college, and I do not necessarily feel like you need to have that much of an idea either.

Agree with the first part, not with the second for reasons that I've already discussed.

I have friends who have already gone through college, and they change majors sometimes three, four, or five times. They didn't regret spending the extra money if they had to add another year or so

And many others change majors and regret the extra time and money. Certainly the girl who spent 7.5yrs in undergrad did. But again, changing majors is fine IMO. What's important is that you don't approach college as another step in the road of life and actually go into it with an intended purpose.

it seems from most people I hear that college is where you learn how to learn.

Well, I am most certainly not "most people" then. I learned a lot in college. Did I learn how to learn when I was there? Lord no.

You get to take the classes you want, from some of the best minds in the business (at least at UW 😉). From what a lot of people say, it seems that college is the last place where you can learn whatever you want to learn, and think whatever you want to think.

Agree with the second part, not with the first 😉 (backatcha)

I think chman makes a very good point. Most majors will provide you with a set of skills that you can APPLY to a future career, but just because you major in something does not necessarily mean that you will end up working in that field. Those of you who go on to medical school should know that if you got in without majoring in a science.

He has a point, but I think it's been taken too far. Are you going to major in English to work in the Sciences? Are you going to major in Botany so that you can be an Accountant? I'm not saying that these things don't happen, just that there are better options that others for what you want to eventually do for a career. You can't completely negate compatibility of major to career. And even if you go into trade school, you'll still have to learn the ins and outs of any job that you take.

I've narrowed my choices of major down to history, psychology, or philosophy, MAYBE double with biology, and whatever I do I am going to minor in chemistry. I have no idea what I will do if I do not get into medical school, but I am fairly certain I will get in.

You'll get there.

I don't like the idea of college being "the place where you go to learn how to work." That's what trade schools are for.

I agree that college isn't strictly for future career opportunities. Wanting to learn things you're interested in (assuming you've thought about what those are) is a completely legitimate reason for going. Now days we're seeing a lot more of "college is the place you go after high school," which is what bothers me. Too often, when you ask an 18-year old why, they simply say that they want to go to college. The question of what major they'll pursue has never crossed their mind.

FYI: this is a view that I've started to hold in the last few years after seeing friends and family ruin themselves financially (and emotionally) because they felt that they needed to pursue higher education immediately after high school. On a large scale, this is causing a student loan bubble that will not have a happy ending.

 

[teenmachinery1]

Do you think it would be hard to get into any worthwhile psych research as a junior? Sorry for the twenty questions.

No trouble at all. Theres literally a wall full of research oppurtunitiesl in psychology from cog psych, neuroscience, etc.

 

[brygguy1]

Alright huskies, let's see a sweep of WSU and those crappy oregon schools this week and next.

GO DAWGS

 

[ieatkimbap]

I also go to UW but come on, calculus and biochem wont "own you". I mean I guess it depends on your background but I took up to pre-calc or something in high school, jumped right into the calculus series and did well. As for biochem, if you take the short series, its a cake walk. The exams are all multiple choice, which may suck, but its fairly straight forward if you are good at memorization.

I do have to agree with the large class sizes and getting to know your professor. Its rough. This is where I will probably struggle the most when it comes time to get my letters in.

Like teenmachinery1, I also have taken graduate courses at UW. It was actually chem 530 (advanced ochem or something) with freakin Daruwala! It was strange to say the least. Anyways, if you can, try to get in those smaller grad classes. It was easy to get to know the professor and the 20 person class size was pretty sweet (except for the fact that it was still a curved class set @around a 2.8-3.0).

Just study study study, keep your priorities straight and dont get too bogged down!

Yes, I went to UW and yes I got into med school (this year).

I wrote about this a few posts back (prob a couple hundred posts back) so you can search my profile and read what I wrote. If you want.

It's not going to be helpful though- basically, everything I wrote has already been said in your post and the above post.

As all three of us know, averages are set at 2.6+-0.2 in the chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics series. Calculus is gonna own you. Biochem is gonna own you. Actually, everything is really hard because there are a lot of smart cookies there and the average is set sooo low. With class sizes of 2-6 hundred, getting to know the prof is f'ing tough too.

Basically, you gonna get owned. have fun.

edit1: I feel bad for leaving it there so I will say this:

UW is fantastic for research. We get more monies than any private or public university besides harvard or something to this effect, so you can really get some awesome research exp. if you try really hard. I got surgery experience (on rats) and a couple of co-authorships ("published abstracts and presentations") and contributing authorships, etc. and a nice LOR from my research prof. UW is definitely great for this.

UW also has a medical school... if you didn't know. That means, they offer a whole s-ton of sweet grad-level classes. I got many graduate level classes under my belt before I graduated (undergrad). Including (these are all 500 level +): biological basis of neoplasia at the fred hutchinson cancer research center, neurodegeneration at harborview medical center, tropical medicine at medical school, molecular medicine at medical school (this was 2nd year pathology for medical students..), etc. Grad level classes are not really recommended for undergrads but where there's a will...

UW also has great connections and affiliations. Including, seattle biomedical research institute, fred hutchinson cancer research center, seattle children's hospital, harborview medical center, etc. So.. you may be able to do research at these places or even shadow at these places if you work hard.

UW has a great reputation. If you're a freaking genius and you're pulling 3.7+ (that's right, 3.7) in all the prereqs, I think other schools know how tough UW is.

what else... I can't really think of anything else.

bottom-line (please take this seriously): 90% probably you just gonna get owned and depressed. 10% chance you'll make it. I think these percentages are pretty close to the real thing... good luck.

 

[mik3503]

I just finished up my BS at the u. Sorry to hear you're not doing as well as you'd like in the gen chem. They can be a bitch but just put your head down and work hard. and avoid norman for his 162 class. I wasn't down with his bible. Classes can definitely be tough like other posters have mentioned, but it gets much better once you hit upper division. I graduated from the biology dept (physiology concentration) and the teachers there completely blasted my expectations. They were by far the most enjoyable teachers I've had, despite the fact I haven't had a lot of good profs in all 4 years. Most of my physiology professors knew my name after the first day! If you're interested, try to take courses from Michael Kennedy, Schivell, and of course the infamous Mary Pat.

But outside of classes, I think there are some pros to UW, it has amazing opportunities. There are so many hospitals littered around Seattle, and research opportunities are plentiful. There's quite a few interesting fields. I did some in human embryonic stem cells. And oh, the night lifes' definitely a blast.

To everyone else, biochem 440 series kind of owned me too. unless you did the 405's...............

 

[armorshell]

The research at WSU is there and accessible to students, but not many take advantage of it.

This man is not kidding. I published early in my junior year at WSU, and could have done a lot more if I didn't pull out to focus on my dental school application. I think all of my close friends in my major ended up with decent publications before sending out their various graduate school applications, but the option to do research is definitely under-utilized by the student body as a whole.

 

[armorshell]

Also, you can't beat the WSU Creamery/food science program with a stick.