university of washington seattle vs washingtong state university (Spokane, Vancouver: transfer to, good schools)

[carolqian]

hi, i am looking forward to transfer to 4-year universities in washington. i am in a major of biochemistry. Do you know which colleges are good at that area? also which college has a better medical school program.

right now i am looking at uw seattle and wsu. Which one is better at medical area? Which one has a better campus. in term of applying, which college is less competitive in biochemsitry major?

also, i am right now a california resident. which school of above is cheaper for tuition.

thank you!!!

[beachy keen]

Both schools will have approximately the same tuition since both are public universities.

If you're looking for med schools, UW is it. WSU has a good vet school though. But you could do your biochemistry major anywhere because you still have to apply separately to med school.

In terms of school atmosphere, you are really comparing apples to oranges. UW is of course in the middle of Seattle, so it feels like a "commuter school." WSU, being in the middle of nowhere in eastern WA, feels more like a tight-knit community. Pullman is a college town. And of course the weather is different in each place too.

Historically, WSU has been the easier school to get into, but now admission to WSU is more competitive. But it is still easier to get into WSU than UW, but not as easy as it once was.

[diggitydot]

It really depends on what your eventual goals are. If you're looking to get into UW's medical school, I wouldn't suggest attending UW as an undergrad. They accept relatively few of their own undergrads to their medical school.

WSU has cheaper tuition for out-of-state students. Also, since it's located in Spokane, the cost of living is significantly lower, too. But then you have to live in Spokane.

Here are a couple links that have both schools' tuition info:
USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2008: University of Washington: At a glance
USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2008: Washington State University: At a glance

Both schools have excellent biosciences programs. UW's campus, while in a very cool area, has some REALLY nasty buildings in dire need of repairs and/or upgrades.

[Jewelz0376]

Originally Posted by diggitydot

It really depends on what your eventual goals are. If you're looking to get into UW's medical school, I wouldn't suggest attending UW as an undergrad. They accept relatively few of their own undergrads to their medical school.

WSU has cheaper tuition for out-of-state students. Also, since it's located in Spokane, the cost of living is significantly lower, too. But then you have to live in Spokane.

Here are a couple links that have both schools' tuition info:
USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2008: University of Washington: At a glance
USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2008: Washington State University: At a glance

Both schools have excellent biosciences programs. UW's campus, while in a very cool area, has some REALLY nasty buildings in dire need of repairs and/or upgrades.

I don't mean to correct you but washington state is in pullman, which is 1 1/2 hrs away from spokane...I know this because I live in spokane . Both are good schools, but uw is a better school acdemically as far as business and medcine are concerned (that's all i know about). If your more of a city person and like a school that's more urban, uw is the school for you. If you want a school in a college town then it's pullman, considering the only thing in pullman is wsu pretty much.

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by Jewelz0376

I don't mean to correct you but washington state is in pullman, which is 1 1/2 hrs away from spokane...I know this because I live in spokane . Both are good schools, but uw is a better school acdemically as far as business and medcine are concerned (that's all i know about). If your more of a city person and like a school that's more urban, uw is the school for you. If you want a school in a college town then it's pullman, considering the only thing in pullman is wsu pretty much.

OMG, you're so right. How silly of me! Thanks for the correction!

[AzDreamer]

I have heard from kids living in Pullman that there isn't much going on there, and excessive drinking is a big problem.

[sean98125]

UW is where you want to go for Biochemistry.

[mkeller]

Originally Posted by Jewelz0376

I don't mean to correct you but washington state is in pullman, which is 1 1/2 hrs away from spokane...I know this because I live in spokane :D. Both are good schools, but uw is a better school acdemically as far as business and medcine are concerned (that's all i know about). If your more of a city person and like a school that's more urban, uw is the school for you. If you want a school in a college town then it's pullman, considering the only thing in pullman is wsu pretty much.

Yes, Pullman is 1.5 from Spokane as I also live in Spokane. Yes, both are good schools, but having gone to WSU and taught for 25 years at the University of Idaho....I would say that the major that the student is intending to further his education is the most important factor. ie Pre-med is either school with the WAMI program available. Ag student it would be WSU and so on. One school is hugh in sizeboth with students and the city.. and the other in a small town and is moderately large.

Just my opinion

[jasin]

Don't forget WSU Vancouver. Only 2 minutes from Portland and 10 minutes from Downtown Portland.

[j_k_k]

I'm a UW graduate living in eastern Washington among Cougs. Nearly all the posts above this are right on the money. The schools are very different, but both proficient in their own areas of specialization. UW med school is pretty competitive, as you'd expect of a university where they are actively inventing medicine. However, the UW experience can be a bit distant and chilly for some. It gets less so over a few years.