the campus is small but beautiful, the classes and professors are (mostly) fantastic, and the food is healthful and largely sustainable. it may get old by the end of your first year, but compared to most other schools, the food here is gourmet--especially if you're vegetarian or vegan. there are great study abroad programs, the dorms are pretty nice and spacious, and there are tons of opportunities for fun things like hiking, sailing, and watching some of the interesting and amusing performances the students put on.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
if you really want to go to this school, apply for early decision. do this only if it's your first choice, but if you're at least decent student with some good credentials, you're almost certain to get in.
also be sure to visit campus if you can. this goes for any college, but it's always a good idea to take a tour so you can see more of the details of daily college life and of course ask questions to students.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
coming from the ib program, the workload here is about the same if not a little less than what i had in high school. that is to say, you're definitely not going to get by slacking, and procrastination will often come around to hit you in the face, but as long as you treat your academic career here with respect, you can get by without too much stress. the classes are generally far more interesting as well. you might have a few hours of homework each day, but often you'll still have some time for socializing, clubs, etc., if you want. just be careful with your time later in the semester. of course, this is coming from an introvert. some students seem to socialize or be in activities all day and still get their work done. just take care to balance your time at first and you can adjust it as needed later.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
i can't say much about the dorms because i'm living in the foreign language and culture house, the freshman theme house. it's a great experience, living in relatively private space with only 12 other people as opposed to some hundreds. but from my experiences in the dorms so far, there's definitely a good amount of space and cleanliness, and the floor communities are pretty cool. all dorms have a few lounges with comfy chairs and pianos, some of which are really nice. i've made some good friends by hanging out in other dorms' lounges and drawing on whiteboards, playing piano, or just joining in whatever else is happening.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
as i said above, the food may seem old after a while, as you'll find lots of the same flavors even in varying dishes. but the choices are pretty broad, and it's very high-quality, especially for college food--and largely vegetarian/vegan. we have pasta, burritos, asian food, a table just for vegetarian/vegan options, a hamburger/fried fare grill, sandwiches, soups, and an awesome pizzaria with a very small convenience store downstairs. if you need anything else, there are several grocery stores within easy walking distance.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
campus films plays a new movie every friday; the asian studies department shows a few asian films throughout the year; puget sound outdoors does cool hikes every weekend; there are tons of clubs and fun recreational classes; there are lots of concerts and musical functions in a variety of styles; weekend parties; hanging out with friends--i'm probably missing a lot of things because i don't typically go out to do very much myself. and if you want to get off campus, the mall, downtown tacoma, and beautiful point defiance (park/zoo/aquarium/garden/beach) are just short bus rides away.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
it's definitely expensive, but especially if you can get good scholarships--i'm going here for less than it would cost to go to my state school alternative--it is totally worth it. cool people, great academic programs, great support programs (disabilities services, career and employment services, the center for health and wellness services, etc. are all very helpful). i can't say much for the social scene, but if you're paying for a solid education, that's what you're going to get, on a beautiful campus and great location (if you don't mind the cold and rain--tacoma does have some glorious sunshine!). just make sure you check with other students about the classes you want to take, because some professors are much better than others and will get you a lot farther more easily.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
every year, the graduating class carves its year onto the handle of a hatchet unearthed near campus in the early 1900's. that is, when it hasn't been stolen--it's disappeared for years on end before.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
ups' strongest programs are international political economy, biology, english, business & leadership, and psychology. they have strong international programs as well and some students are now (successfully) working to get an arabic program off the ground. it won't be a major/minor for some years, but it's coming into the limelight. this school is great for students interested in those and similar subjects (theater and art also seem popular), and for those who love the outdoors, want a small campus community, liberal arts classes, and value education. this school is also very amenable towards those who like sports, but while athletics are popular they are not exactly the school's strong spot.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
i haven't personally attended many of them, but from what i've seen and heard, they seem plentiful and growing, and lots of fun. there are quite a few clubs you might not expect.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
apparently milder than most schools' fraternities and sororities. i can't speak for the greek life much because i'm not interested in it myself, but i know several people who didn't expect to get involved in it and did anyway, so it might be worth it for you to check it out.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
as long as you're careful, you should be safe. one of the biggest problems i've noticed is students letting strangers into dorms, and the strangers then go around looking for unlocked dorms with no one in them and steal their laptops and other valuables. therefore it's important to keep your dorm closed even when you go to the restroom--bring your keys. and it is totally acceptable to ask people waiting by doors to be let in to show their ids. if you're off-campus late at night, security services can escort you home. if you have a bike and don't have a u-lock, get one--bikes are stolen about once a week, and they're usually unlocked or sometimes cabled. u-locked bikes are rarely stolen. other situations do arise, as they do basically everywhere, but not very often. the campus seems to handle security problems very well.
the campus is small but beautiful, the classes and professors are (mostly) fantastic, and the food is healthful and largely sustainable. it may get old by the end of your first year, but compared to most other schools, the food here is gourmet--especially if you're vegetarian or vegan. there are great study abroad programs, the dorms are pretty nice and spacious, and there are tons of opportunities for fun things like hiking, sailing, and watching some of the interesting and amusing performances the students put on.
if you really want to go to this school, apply for early decision. do this only if it's your first choice, but if you're at least decent student with some good credentials, you're almost certain to get in. also be sure to visit campus if you can. this goes for any college, but it's always a good idea to take a tour so you can see more of the details of daily college life and of course ask questions to students.
coming from the ib program, the workload here is about the same if not a little less than what i had in high school. that is to say, you're definitely not going to get by slacking, and procrastination will often come around to hit you in the face, but as long as you treat your academic career here with respect, you can get by without too much stress. the classes are generally far more interesting as well. you might have a few hours of homework each day, but often you'll still have some time for socializing, clubs, etc., if you want. just be careful with your time later in the semester. of course, this is coming from an introvert. some students seem to socialize or be in activities all day and still get their work done. just take care to balance your time at first and you can adjust it as needed later.
i can't say much about the dorms because i'm living in the foreign language and culture house, the freshman theme house. it's a great experience, living in relatively private space with only 12 other people as opposed to some hundreds. but from my experiences in the dorms so far, there's definitely a good amount of space and cleanliness, and the floor communities are pretty cool. all dorms have a few lounges with comfy chairs and pianos, some of which are really nice. i've made some good friends by hanging out in other dorms' lounges and drawing on whiteboards, playing piano, or just joining in whatever else is happening.
as i said above, the food may seem old after a while, as you'll find lots of the same flavors even in varying dishes. but the choices are pretty broad, and it's very high-quality, especially for college food--and largely vegetarian/vegan. we have pasta, burritos, asian food, a table just for vegetarian/vegan options, a hamburger/fried fare grill, sandwiches, soups, and an awesome pizzaria with a very small convenience store downstairs. if you need anything else, there are several grocery stores within easy walking distance.
campus films plays a new movie every friday; the asian studies department shows a few asian films throughout the year; puget sound outdoors does cool hikes every weekend; there are tons of clubs and fun recreational classes; there are lots of concerts and musical functions in a variety of styles; weekend parties; hanging out with friends--i'm probably missing a lot of things because i don't typically go out to do very much myself. and if you want to get off campus, the mall, downtown tacoma, and beautiful point defiance (park/zoo/aquarium/garden/beach) are just short bus rides away.
it's definitely expensive, but especially if you can get good scholarships--i'm going here for less than it would cost to go to my state school alternative--it is totally worth it. cool people, great academic programs, great support programs (disabilities services, career and employment services, the center for health and wellness services, etc. are all very helpful). i can't say much for the social scene, but if you're paying for a solid education, that's what you're going to get, on a beautiful campus and great location (if you don't mind the cold and rain--tacoma does have some glorious sunshine!). just make sure you check with other students about the classes you want to take, because some professors are much better than others and will get you a lot farther more easily.
every year, the graduating class carves its year onto the handle of a hatchet unearthed near campus in the early 1900's. that is, when it hasn't been stolen--it's disappeared for years on end before.
ups' strongest programs are international political economy, biology, english, business & leadership, and psychology. they have strong international programs as well and some students are now (successfully) working to get an arabic program off the ground. it won't be a major/minor for some years, but it's coming into the limelight. this school is great for students interested in those and similar subjects (theater and art also seem popular), and for those who love the outdoors, want a small campus community, liberal arts classes, and value education. this school is also very amenable towards those who like sports, but while athletics are popular they are not exactly the school's strong spot.
i haven't personally attended many of them, but from what i've seen and heard, they seem plentiful and growing, and lots of fun. there are quite a few clubs you might not expect.
apparently milder than most schools' fraternities and sororities. i can't speak for the greek life much because i'm not interested in it myself, but i know several people who didn't expect to get involved in it and did anyway, so it might be worth it for you to check it out.
as long as you're careful, you should be safe. one of the biggest problems i've noticed is students letting strangers into dorms, and the strangers then go around looking for unlocked dorms with no one in them and steal their laptops and other valuables. therefore it's important to keep your dorm closed even when you go to the restroom--bring your keys. and it is totally acceptable to ask people waiting by doors to be let in to show their ids. if you're off-campus late at night, security services can escort you home. if you have a bike and don't have a u-lock, get one--bikes are stolen about once a week, and they're usually unlocked or sometimes cabled. u-locked bikes are rarely stolen. other situations do arise, as they do basically everywhere, but not very often. the campus seems to handle security problems very well.