Washington State University
Pullman, WA, USA

Reviews

Washington State University

John from Clarkston, WA

a current student here
70 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The Professors at WSU are thorough in their teaching but sometimes lack the patience for slower students. The curriculum while tough is also very educational and I have found it to be rather enjoyable.
Am enjoying being here
I grew up going to WSU games so I guess i am a little biased but to be truthfully honest their are a lot of great qualities boasted by this college that I can honestly verify. First, the college hosts an array of fun and/or interesting educational activities and the same can be said for any social activities. The atmosphere is very relaxed but with an underlying sense of extreme urgency to do well. Over all while the students and staff may act rather laid back many of both are actually very dedicated making this college a nice place to be.
Bang for the buck
WSU has an amazing range of educational and/or social opportunities. While the dorms are nothing to special the campus does boast a wonderful Student Recreation Center built within the last couple of years. The Campus also brings a just re-opened and completely revamped student union building which shows free movies Friday-Sunday nights and host up-all-night parties periodically throughout the year. On a more educational note WSU also offers many aids to students in their studies ranging from personal tutors to a student writing center where English majors get to sharpen their skills by helping correct and modify papers brought in by students who are having writing troubles. All expenses for these attractions and more are all automatically included in your tuition.
Tips for prospective students
One thing I can say to any prospective students more than anything is that home work is a major component in being a student at WSU. you must be willing to work for a grade! very few professors will allow you to skate by on good test grades alone.
The other thing is that in order to get the full WSU experience you must be willing to examine all your options, anyone can sit in a dorm room and play video games in their spare time but with all the extracurriculars WSU offers its virtually impossible to not find a group you wont fit in with, but you must be willing to look. Believe me, its worth the effort.
Great for these types of students
This university is best for students who like to get involved and put themselves out there. WSU offers so many opportunities its hard not to WANT to get involved in something. However, if you feel for some reason that you might not fit in anyways, don't sweat it; during those cold (and very long) winters sometimes staying in and doing your own thing is not a bad idea. the one universal thing I can say to any student looking at this university is that you must come willing to be focused and work, its easy with all those extra-curricular opportunities to get side tracked and I know from personal experience that falling behind is the last thing you want to do.

Laurel from Conifer, CO

a current student here
31 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The professors at Washington State University are incredible, and luckily, all the ones I have had are really good at getting to know their students on a personal basis. Even with a 300 person lecture, if you're the type of student who is willing to get to know your professor (ask questions, go into office hours, etc) they're willing to help!
Am enjoying being here
As an out of state student I can say that I am SO happy here. The campus is beautiful, and with the rolling hills walking to certain places on campus can count as your workout for the day! Haha, but really, the campus is beautiful, safe and easy to navigate. The options students have are endless: intramural sports, Greek life, over 300 clubs ranging from accounting to snowboarding, ski team, etc etc. There are plenty of options for student jobs and the University even has a website to help search for them. Washington State is a fun, laid-back, academically strong, beautiful campus that I would recommend anyone to attend.
Bang for the buck
As an out of state student I have a much higher tuition price than most, but Washington State is very good at offering scholarships and loans. I receive a scholarship making my out of state tuition almost the price of instate tuition. It is so worth it though. Like I said the earlier, the campus is awesome, the people are extremely friendly and helpful, and scholarships are plentiful.
Tips for prospective students
Keep those grades up, it's getting competitive! :)
Great for these types of students
Anyone!
Students interested in Hospitality, Agriculture, Veterinary and Architecture: Washington State is excellent in these fields.

Sylvia from Commerce, CA

a current student here
24 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
There's an interesting concept to WSU, first and foremost, you are asked to learn a little about your self. Develop in a new environment where there's plenty of diversity to present yourself with. I love the wide range of knowledge my professors had, not only in the courses they were teaching, but in others that had little relativity. The writing center is also a wonderful opportunity to go in and edit, or be edited on papers, brainstorms, even lab ideas.
Am enjoying being here
Way different than from my comfortable LA town, but this college town has a lot of spunk and hope for the Cougs. Even though the number one thing you'll hear a lot is that it's a lonely town, the University does a great job in offering activities, keeping you busy with school work and opportunities, and advertising outdoor adventures. It really takes a special breed to hang in here.
Bang for the buck
Definte a home away from home. The only thing I probably hate is the cost for board and room but even so, for out of state students like me, this was a lot cheaper than some of the schools in Cali. Amazing, I know. And I don't get a really good financial package (ouch).
Tips for prospective students
Stay on top of things if you decide to go here. Like any school, you can get caught up in the strangest things. This town is one of the safest places I've ever been to. Girls have their own Women's Transit and the Pullman Transit Bus lines are operational until 3am. Use your resources and find others to make you successful person.
Great for these types of students
Engineering, Veterinary, Music, Architecture, Business, Zoology, you name it, this school has it (even Astrophysics!)Choose a major, but don't be afraid to look around. Just don't look around too long. Counselors and advisers are there, and they are always available to you.

Meigan from Kent, WA

a current student here
17 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am definitely learning a lot at Washington State. All students are required to take a class from several categories, which include intercultural studies, sciences, etc. These requirements give students the opportunity to take a class that they probably would not have taken otherwise, and allow them to learn about a variety of topics. The professors at WSU are also very helpful in allowing students to get the most out of their education. They provide detailed information in their lectures along with ample resources to do well in their class. Although the course load can sometimes be rather challenging, your professors are willing to help as long as you go to their office hours and show an effort to do well.
Am enjoying being here
I chose WSU over other schools that I was considering because their incredible school spirit made me believe that the students enjoyed their school. After my first few weeks, I found this to be true for me as well. It’s a great school with many areas to study and a variety of activities for people of all interests. The football and basketball games are a blast. There is also a number of clubs for people who want to get involved in areas of their interest. Washington State has an amazing Greek program as well. The entire education and extracurricular experience at this university is excellent. The hardest thing for me to get used about college life at WSU was the fact that it is located in a small town. This can cause some students to feel isolated.
Bang for the buck
Washington State University is around the same price as other public undergraduate universities. I definitely feel that I am getting my money’s worth. There are so many programs for students of all interests that cost little to nothing. There are also free movies shown in the auditorium every weekend. The only thing I feel I would change in terms of cost is the price of food in the dining center. Depending on what you buy, meals can sometimes be rather pricy.
Tips for prospective students
An important thing to realize as an incoming college student is how different it is from high school. In many classes, your entire grade is based solely on exams. This means that preparation is up to you since there is no homework. Start good study habits early to help relieve the stress of your first year of college. While maintaining good grades is the most important part of college, it is also key to involve yourself in extracurricular activities. At Washington State there are a number of ways to get involved, and I recommend that everyone at least find one group that shares their interests. It’s a great way to make new friends and get the most out of the college experience.
Great for these types of students
Washington State is such a large school that anyone will be able to fit in. There so many majors offered, every student will find the career path that fits them best. There is also clubs and teams that everyone is welcomed to join. Pullman is a college town, which means there is not much going on other than games and campus events. It’s a great way for all students to get involved, but some may have a hard being so isolated from life outside of the campus. Washington State University is a great college for those who put academics as a top priority as well as those who want to make their college experience a fun and memorable one.

Sarah from Arlington, WA

a current student here
13 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
As a student in the animal sciences program, I am learning so much more about animals than I thought possible just in my first year. Almost all of my professors have been easy to talk to and very interested in the subject.
Am enjoying being here
Washington State University offers a lot of different programs that give you a step up on your career. As a student interested in veterinary medicine, I was extremely pleased to discover all of the different clubs offered for pre-vet students. The Raptor Club is by far one of the funnest and gives you the chance to work one on one with birds of prey.
Bang for the buck
While all colleges are expensive, I am very pleased with the campus and the living situation. You get a great learning experience and the campus is beautiful.
Tips for prospective students
Find something you enjoy and get involved. WSU has so many opportunities for students. Many of the clubs are available to all students and they are a great way to meet new friends.
Great for these types of students
Since the campus is mostly a hill, it is great for those who want to get a workout without going to the gym. We don't call it cougar calfs for nothing. Also great for students wanting to pursue an animal related career or a nursing career.

Megan from Sparks, NV

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
wsu is the perfect school for me. the academics are great, but the best part is the atmosphere of the town and the university. it is the perfect college in the perfect little college town!
Tips for prospective students
stock up on cold weather clothing for the winter months- the snow can really build up, and school pretty much never gets cancelled! also, get involved in whatever you can. it's a great way to meet new people and get to know the university.
Academic Rigor
i'm in the honors college, so those classes are obviously challenging. but i have found some of my regular classes to be challenging as well! the good news is that most of the teachers want you to come in and ask for their help.
Dorm Life
since the town is so small, dorm life is dominant here. and absolutely love it! you get to meet all sorts of people, and you are within walking distance of all your classes. it's very convenient.
Food and Dining
the food is pretty good for being dorm food. but when you get sick of the cafeterias, there are little convenience stores on campus so you can stock up on junk/snack food! and you can pay for everything with your meal plan money.
What to do for fun
there is a movie theater right around the corner, but the student union building (called the cub) plays a different every weekend movie for free! greek row is also incorporated into the campus. plus, the student entertainment board always has activities going on, like up all night events with hypnotists and free piercings!
Bang for the buck
tuition is pretty steep here (at least compared to other public universities in the country) but for me, it's completely worth it. i'm getting a great education and a fantastic college experience all in one!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
wsu is such a tight-knit community that there are way too many traditions to name! one of my favorites is saying go cougs to other people sporting wsu cougar gear off campus. the saying once a coug, always a coug is definitely true here!
Great for these types of students
people looking for both an education and the traditional college experience, people who like small towns, people who like to be involved in school activities
Clubs and Activities
as i said before, the clubs and activities are great! it's really easy to get involved in all sorts of different clubs on campus.
Greek Life
greek life is great! i'm not in the greek system myself, but both of my roommates are, and they absolutely love it. and the fraternities on campus always hold events every weekend that both greeks and non-greeks can attend.
Campus Safety
wsu was voted the safest campus in the pac-12 for two major reasons: 1) the small size of the pullman community means that there is a much lower crime rate overall in the town, and 2) wsu offers a myriad of safety services on campus, such as women's transit, which will give a ride to any student (male or female) who would otherwise be traveling by themselves at night.

Demetri from Temecula, CA

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Washington State University is large and inclusive academic institution that offers programs and opportunities for everyone. It has the small college-town vibe while also offering a robust and equipped campus that is constantly being improved. If you're looking for a college with huge spirit, a huge campus, lots of people, and lots to do, this is the place!
Academic Rigor
As far as how hard the classes are, that really depends on your major. Everyone has to do certain UCORE classes that are just general education and are much easier that higher level, major-specific courses. However, an incoming Freshman who was one of those kids in high school that didn't do their homework and passed tests with A's, I found that you can't keep that up in college, as most people will warn you about. Many classes will fail you after a certain amount of unexcused absences, and WSU takes academic integrity very seriously.
Dorm Life
Dorm Life at WSU my Freshman year was awesome! I lived in Stephenson South tower which was at the Southern end of campus by Southside Dining Hall. While people may try to tell you which dorms "feel" different, I found it really just depends on the people living there that semester or year, and for the most part, the people and atmosphere over here are great. Dorms are usually kept relatively clean by janitorial staff, and depending on your dorm you have free access to washers and dryers either on your floor or at the bottom floor. The showers and bathrooms are separated in most dorms by gender. Everyone minds their own business while using the restrooms, and they are cleaned every day. WSU engages students, specifically Freshman, to participate in fun events like concerts, floor games or parties, etc.
Food and Dining
There are three dining halls on campus with similar options, and a variety of other places to eat in the center of campus and around the dining halls. WSU uses a system where you buy "credit" for your Residence Dining Account, which is used to pay for food at the dining halls. Not all places on campus accept RDA, and some require cash or credit/debit. While there is a variety of food, it doesn't change throughout the year and I found myself getting tired of it. Additionally, its very expensive, I would recommend purchasing the lowest RDA and relying on groceries, etc.
What to do for fun
Where do I start? WSU constantly books musicians and events and has hosted the likes of G-Eazy, Vic Mensa, Marshmello, Waka Flocka Flame, Marc E Bassy, and others for cheap to students! There are always sports games to go to, and pool, video games, tv, news, etc is available in the heart of campus at the CUB. WSU has a bear research facility with live Grizzly bears, and there are lots of cool shops and places to eat in Pullman and Moscow.
Bang for the buck
For out of state students in nearby states, look up the Western Undergraduate Exchange program, which cuts out of state tuition almost to the cost of attendance if you lived in the state, which for me, was $11,000/year. WSU offers many different kinds of scholarships and opportunities for all kinds of incoming or returning students.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
SPIRIT IS AMAZING! GO COUGS!
Great for these types of students
WSU is well-known for its agricultural research programs, and offers one of the best ARMY ROTC programs in the US. As I write this WSU is leading the Pac-12 in Football and has been stepping up the competition in sports
Clubs and Activities
If you want to be involved in something, you'll find it at WSU. The Associated Students of Washington State University and the Student Entertainment Board offer a wide variety of event or clubs to join and participate in. There are over 300 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) available that receive university funding - WSU cares about its students and organizations!
Greek Life
The Greek and Multicultural community are huge and lively at WSU. Greek Row always has awesome events going on, and Sororities and Fraternities host fundraisers, date dashes, formals, hikes, campouts, bowling - you name it! If you're looking to get involved and make some lasting friendships and memories, I would strongly suggest formally rushing a fraternity or sorority, there are all kinds and there is a place for everyone!
Campus Safety
WSU has emergency stations all throughout campus where you can dial for help, and also offers a women's transit service that you can request. I have never encountered any kind of violence on-campus.

Austin from Vancouver, WA

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
My variety of professors has really been great. One of the best things about the learning environment at WSU is that whether you are in a 400 person lecture or a 20 person tutorial, you will notice that your professors want to help you. They make a conscious effort to know you, and this is rather easy if you take advantage of office hours or talk to them after class. Classes are challenging and you certainly have to earn your grades. Strong study skills and good time management are academic concepts that you will continue to develop at WSU.
Am enjoying being here
I am proud to be a Cougar and you will find that just about the entire student body is also. The school pride at WSU is outstanding! Sporting events are fun and popular, and if you like other activities its likely that the school offers it. The drama department offers a hilarious regular improv comedy show called Nuthouse in addition to the student union builing offering movies every weekend night. The student government, greek system, and dorms offers countless other activities both on and off campus. Don't forget about the campus; its amazing! The lovely look of the new and well kept old brick buildings continues to astonish me. The rolling hills of the Palouse region is not for everyone, especially since many city kids are not familiar with a smaller town such as Pullman. However, Pullman itself is charming and has a great community feel as does the university campus. Even though the student body is rather large at around 20,000, its great because it allows you to know many people within a great community while also being able to sit back and just be a number if you wish. I love how I can walk on campus and see people from my classes, run into professors, and also see many tables from organizations set up on the central part of campus.
Bang for the buck
WSU is a public institution that is around the price of other instate universities. The rising cost of college is one thing, and it will continue to happen everywhere unfortunately. As a student that doesn't quality for grants or many quality loans, I was pleased to receive a more than decent financial aid offer with scholarships. With the education and experience that I'm receiving while attending WSU, I can say that it is a bang for the buck. Additionally, WSU made a selective list by a magazine/journal in regards to the best value universities.
Tips for prospective students
Its important to keep a solid gpa and sat/act score. While the university isn't know for being extremely selective, they are becoming much more strict as the cost of college continues to rise. A variety of extracurricular activities is import on your application. All these things will help lead to your acceptance into the university and any scholarships that you might receive. Keep in mind that college life is different from high school, and not for everyone. Academics are notably different from high school, and you will learn to discipline yourself to study often and perform better on exams. Many of your grades will be based off of just your exam scores Make sure that you visit the campus if possible, it can give you an accurate feel of the school and what things may be like for you.
Great for these types of students
WSU is great for students wanting to get involved, be fans of college sports, and receive a quality education at a good price.

Isabella from Hoquiam, WA

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
WSU has become my home away from home. The people are great and you truly feel like you're part of a family (I recommend going to the football games if you don't feel this way). The only bad part is the cold weather, so be prepared!
Tips for prospective students
It takes a lot of courage to make new friends and become part of new hobbies, but it's worth it. You will find amazing people who will be there for you no matter what.
Academic Rigor
The classes require a lot of concentration for a lot of students. For me, classes required a lot of time and participation but if you actually care and are interested, it easy to get an A.
Dorm Life
You'll always find someone you don't like, but you'll find so many more that you'll love. This is my second family! I got lucky and my randomly-assigned roommate became one of my new best friends.
HOWEVER, unless you are looking for a workout to get to class everyday, I suggest getting a dorm in Northside! (The people on Southside are cooler though)
Food and Dining
You get sick of the food after a few weeks. It's get when you need a quick fix or are truly craving some bacon and waffles, but the fresh fruit and vegetables, and grocery options leave more to be desired. Once again, it seems North side has the upper-hand on this.
What to do for fun
Hang out with friends, hike, explore the areas (like cliff diving), parties, football games. Anything you want you can find you just have to look for it.
Bang for the buck
It's expensive getting home because I live on the opposite end of the state. The classes are fine, the dorms provide a lot of what you need, and they give away a lot of scholarships.
Great for these types of students
Outgoing, sports-oriented, outdoorsy types.
Campus Safety
Our safety is some of the best in the state, I believe. If you need the police there are emergency stations a minute away from you at all times. There's even a police force on campus.

Alexandria from Gig Harbor, WA

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Read, read, read! WSU is about knowing the material, the tests and even the homework rely on the reading. In high school I could always get past without reading, at WSU you won't be able to do that. So make note cards, bring millions of highlighters and get ready to read.
Am enjoying being here
For me it was tough moving to Pullman and knowing that the closest mildly decent shopping mall was over three hours away. The barren land and desolate scenery is almost a blur when you enter the campus at WSU. There is so much to do that single student won't feel left out. Even as the homework plies on you have the ability to join clubs, sports, greek life, and Cable 8 WSU's own cable station.
Bang for the buck
I have to say the reason I came to WSU was because of the awesome scholarships and incredible price. Even though it is high above community college tuition, WSU provides college life and an amazing education.
Tips for prospective students
DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Unless you are costing by in the Honors College at WSU, homework and attendance has never been more important. Remember that single kid your senior year? The one with the perfect attendance record? You want to be that kid in college. Sure, that kid in high school might have been crazy to attend everyday regardless you weren't paying as much as you do now. High School, even if you went to private costs incredibly more than any high school and for that reason you should GO to class. Every time you skip you cost your parents $500. Oh, and Sally Sidewalk rules for girls and boys. MIP's are easy to get in a small town. At WSU you feel as if it's another world, one without consequences and even as a freshman I have seen other kids get MIPs in the first week. Don't be stupid, just be smart.
Great for these types of students
Great for students who like seclusion and studying into the night for just a quiz. WSU offers a massive greek life, so it's not hard to feel alone even in Pullman. It provides a brilliant communications program that is nation recognized.