Finding the right school is tricky, and there are many factors that play a role in finding the right choice. Washington State University in Pullman, Washington was the only school I applied to my senior year of high school.
Do I have any regrets? No way.
Here are the top reasons I'm glad I chose Washington State.
1. The school pride
The school pride at WSU is unbeatable.
Washington State is often seen as an underdog school and most people in western Washington default to our rivals - University of Washington.
A majority of the Husky fans that I know never attended and don't know anyone that attended the school.
The Coug fans that I've met are alumni, work for the university, or have family that attended WSU.
WSU license plates are the most popular out of 45 specialized plates in the state of Washington, with over 22,000 current plates.
When sporting the WSU logo, it's not uncommon to get a "Go Cougs!" no matter where you are. This has not only happened to me in Washington but in Vancouver, Canada and even Los Algodones, Mexico.
This stained glass was a treasure I uncovered while in Mexico.
2. The college town experience
What's nice about Pullman is that nearly everyone and everything is within a two-mile radius of campus.
Public transportation is free for students, and the bus system here is actually very convenient. The bus I take to campus comes to my apartment parking lot - I don't have to walk much further than my car and don't have to worry about parking.
WSU is certainly not a commuter school. Nearly 20,000 students within a couple years of age all live in the small town. This is a very unique experience, and makes it incredibly easy to make friends. Most people stick around on the weekends, so there is a very strong sense of community and more opportunities for bonding.
As a bonus: Parking is free after 5:00 p.m., which has made it possible for me to get involved in evening clubs and go back to campus to study.
3. A sense of security
According to Safewise.com, Pullman, Washington is in the top 10 safest college towns in the country.
The campus is very well lit at night and people are very civil. Pullman is an escape from the city bustle, which unfortunately tends to hold crime and homelessness.
4. The stereotype breaking
One of the most frustrating things for WSU students is the stereotypes attached to our school.
"WSU is easy to get into, so anyone can go there."
In 2014, Western Washington University had an acceptance rate of 84.6% and Central Washington University had an acceptance rate of 86.5%.
Meanwhile, Washington State University had an acceptance rate of 80%.
State universities typically are easier to get into than private colleges because those universities want high enrollment!
"WSU is a party school."
Pullman has virtually no crime, so there isn't much going on besides school, football, and farming. This is why partying seems more prominent. Parties happen at every college, even Harvard. It is up to the individual student to engage or not.
And so what if students do enjoy a safe party once in a while? We are paying a LOT of money to go to school; we have to enjoy ourselves every now and again!
5. My curriculum
My favorite part of Washington State is how much I've learned and am continuing to learn every day.
Classes are challenging, but there are great resources to help students be successful. The classes are small enough that my professors know me on a first-name basis.
In addition to my classes, workshops, clubs, and events have helped me build up a strong resume, elevator pitch, and LinkedIn profile.
Go Cougs!
