University of Washington - Current Midshipman

Pickle

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Messages
33
I am a current 4/C Midshipman college programmer here at the University of Washington. Just offering up myself for those of you considering NROTC, the University of Washington, or are wondering what being a college programmer is like. Please ask questions. I promise to answer most, if not all, questions you guys have.

Also, let me know if you have been accepted into the University of Washington or if it one of your top choices.

Cheers!
 
Sounds like you really enjoyed you time at W. My DS was there for a visit back the summer of 2010. She didn't care for it that much. We then took her to Washington State at Pullman. She was accepted there based on her GPA. They didn't even look at her transcript.

Best of luck in the future.
 
Hi Pickle, thanks for the offer! I am still waiting to here scholarship selection status as well as selection status for University of Washington. My question is, how do you like living in Seattle? Do you find you drown in a sea of people? Is the city a cool place to go to school? Any cool spots for hiking? And how does being a midshipman play into your experience at UW?

Thanks in advance for any advice you give!
 
Hi Pickle, thanks for the offer! I am still waiting to here scholarship selection status as well as selection status for University of Washington. My question is, how do you like living in Seattle? Do you find you drown in a sea of people? Is the city a cool place to go to school? Any cool spots for hiking? And how does being a midshipman play into your experience at UW?

Thanks in advance for any advice you give!

I've lived in Washington my entire life and so I am a little biased. Living at the University of Washington has its ups and downs. Seattle is a unique and friendly city. Since it is so diverse, there will be activities and/or places you have never heard of/seen before. The only downside is that if you don't live in Washington, the unpredictable weather takes some getting used to (you will learn to love it though).

I don't ever find myself drowning in the amount of people. It's weird in the first couple of weeks when you are adjusting to the being in large lectures and having to walk 15 minutes sometimes to class. However, if you get a good rhythm going (i.e. organization, daily routine, study habits), then you will adjust fast.

The city of Seattle is a great place to go to school. The dorms are a great, friendly environment and there are plenty of opportunities to get out and be a part of the community. Also, there is always something to do in Seattle. There is a 25-30 minute bus that goes straight downtown from the U (you will never run out of things to do downtown). There is the Ave on west campus and U-Village on east campus. The gym and other athletic facilities are top-notch and aren't too far of a walk. I don't get off campus much because I am busy studying for Physics and Calculus, but the opportunities are there and if you find you have free time, definitely check out the area.

There are plenty of neat places to go hiking, especially within 30 minutes of the University. There is also the Olympic Mountain Range in Northwest Washington. It is about a 2-3 hour trip but it is well worth it.

Truth be told, being a midshipman in NROTC is tough. It was hard at first trying to balance NROTC with academics since the University of Washington is a very, very TOUGH school. The one key piece of advice I have for you is that you need to be able to prioritize and manage your time. There is no doubt in my mind that if I wasn't in NROTC, I would have a lot more free time. Yet, balancing a huge workload (18 credits) with waking up at 0530 to PT and going to bed at midnight has really helped build me into a better person and better leader. The unit here provides you with A LOT of opportunities so that you do not fall behind or fail.

All in all, I'm glad I made the decision to come to UW. The NROTC unit here is in the top 6 for oldest units in the nation and is undoubtedly the best. Best of luck with your future endeavors!
 
Hi Pickle, thanks for the offer! I am still waiting to here scholarship selection status as well as selection status for University of Washington. My question is, how do you like living in Seattle? Do you find you drown in a sea of people? Is the city a cool place to go to school? Any cool spots for hiking? And how does being a midshipman play into your experience at UW?

Thanks in advance for any advice you give!

I've lived in Washington my entire life and so I am a little biased. Living at the University of Washington has its ups and downs. Seattle is a unique and friendly city. Since it is so diverse, there will be activities and/or places you have never heard of/seen before. The only downside is that if you don't live in Washington, the unpredictable weather takes some getting used to (you will learn to love it though).

I don't ever find myself drowning in the amount of people. It's weird in the first couple of weeks when you are adjusting to the being in large lectures and having to walk 15 minutes sometimes to class. However, if you get a good rhythm going (i.e. organization, daily routine, study habits), then you will adjust fast.

The city of Seattle is a great place to go to school. The dorms are a great, friendly environment and there are plenty of opportunities to get out and be a part of the community. Also, there is always something to do in Seattle. There is a 25-30 minute bus that goes straight downtown from the U (you will never run out of things to do downtown). There is the Ave on west campus and U-Village on east campus. The gym and other athletic facilities are top-notch and aren't too far of a walk. I don't get off campus much because I am busy studying for Physics and Calculus, but the opportunities are there and if you find you have free time, definitely check out the area.

There are plenty of neat places to go hiking, especially within 30 minutes of the University. There is also the Olympic Mountain Range in Northwest Washington. It is about a 2-3 hour trip but it is well worth it.

Truth be told, being a midshipman in NROTC is tough. It was hard at first trying to balance NROTC with academics since the University of Washington is a very, very TOUGH school. The one key piece of advice I have for you is that you need to be able to prioritize and manage your time. There is no doubt in my mind that if I wasn't in NROTC, I would have a lot more free time. Yet, balancing a huge workload (18 credits) with waking up at 0530 to PT and going to bed at midnight has really helped build me into a better person and better leader. The unit here provides you with A LOT of opportunities so that you do not fall behind or fail.

All in all, I'm glad I made the decision to come to UW. The NROTC unit here is in the top 6 for oldest units in the nation and is undoubtedly the best. Best of luck with your future endeavors!


Thanks so much for the great advice! Physics is my intended major. Just a bit confused, are you double majoring in physics and calculus? Or do those classes make up the bulk of your workload at the moment?
 
Hi Pickle,

I am an NROTC Applicant and have applied to the University of Washington as well. What is life like as an NROTC Midshipman? Is there PT every day? Do you take naval science classes every day? I stopped by the NROTC center on campus and spoke with a couple of lieutenants about the program there but just want to hear it from an actual midshipman.
 
Hi Pickle, thanks for the offer! I am still waiting to here scholarship selection status as well as selection status for University of Washington. My question is, how do you like living in Seattle? Do you find you drown in a sea of people? Is the city a cool place to go to school? Any cool spots for hiking? And how does being a midshipman play into your experience at UW?

Thanks in advance for any advice you give!

I've lived in Washington my entire life and so I am a little biased. Living at the University of Washington has its ups and downs. Seattle is a unique and friendly city. Since it is so diverse, there will be activities and/or places you have never heard of/seen before. The only downside is that if you don't live in Washington, the unpredictable weather takes some getting used to (you will learn to love it though).

I don't ever find myself drowning in the amount of people. It's weird in the first couple of weeks when you are adjusting to the being in large lectures and having to walk 15 minutes sometimes to class. However, if you get a good rhythm going (i.e. organization, daily routine, study habits), then you will adjust fast.

The city of Seattle is a great place to go to school. The dorms are a great, friendly environment and there are plenty of opportunities to get out and be a part of the community. Also, there is always something to do in Seattle. There is a 25-30 minute bus that goes straight downtown from the U (you will never run out of things to do downtown). There is the Ave on west campus and U-Village on east campus. The gym and other athletic facilities are top-notch and aren't too far of a walk. I don't get off campus much because I am busy studying for Physics and Calculus, but the opportunities are there and if you find you have free time, definitely check out the area.

There are plenty of neat places to go hiking, especially within 30 minutes of the University. There is also the Olympic Mountain Range in Northwest Washington. It is about a 2-3 hour trip but it is well worth it.

Truth be told, being a midshipman in NROTC is tough. It was hard at first trying to balance NROTC with academics since the University of Washington is a very, very TOUGH school. The one key piece of advice I have for you is that you need to be able to prioritize and manage your time. There is no doubt in my mind that if I wasn't in NROTC, I would have a lot more free time. Yet, balancing a huge workload (18 credits) with waking up at 0530 to PT and going to bed at midnight has really helped build me into a better person and better leader. The unit here provides you with A LOT of opportunities so that you do not fall behind or fail.

All in all, I'm glad I made the decision to come to UW. The NROTC unit here is in the top 6 for oldest units in the nation and is undoubtedly the best. Best of luck with your future endeavors!


Thanks so much for the great advice! Physics is my intended major. Just a bit confused, are you double majoring in physics and calculus? Or do those classes make up the bulk of your workload at the moment?

Physics and Calculus are the two classes that take up most of my time. I intend to major in Mechanical Engineering and so I'm taking the required Physics and Calculus courses to do so.
 
Hi Pickle,

I am an NROTC Applicant and have applied to the University of Washington as well. What is life like as an NROTC Midshipman? Is there PT every day? Do you take naval science classes every day? I stopped by the NROTC center on campus and spoke with a couple of lieutenants about the program there but just want to hear it from an actual midshipman.

As a midshipman in NROTC, you get the best of both worlds. You have certain responsibilities as a midshipman but you are also a normal college student. It's nice to have that balance because, just like any other officer program, there are some days where you just need to get out and be yourself outside of NROTC. As a freshman, you will be waking up at 0530 four days a well (five for Marine options). This was one of the hardest things to adjust to at first because I also stayed up until midnight every day studying. However, I always try to make time for short naps throughout the day. The best part about being a midshipman is the feeling that you are doing something 99% of college students do not get to do and are working towards being a Naval officer and protecting the people who are taking the same classes as you. At the end of the day, the end result far outweighs the struggles you will face to get there.

PT is twice a week for Navy options and three times a week for Marine options. Navy options can also choose to PT with the Marine options but there are a limited number of spots. Naval Science is two times a week for 80 minutes. You will start with the essential military knowledge, move onto naval history, and finish with navigation and leadership courses.

I wish you luck in earning the scholarship and being accepted into the University of Washington. Hope to see you in the fall.
 
Hi Pickle, thanks for the offer! I am still waiting to here scholarship selection status as well as selection status for University of Washington. My question is, how do you like living in Seattle? Do you find you drown in a sea of people? Is the city a cool place to go to school? Any cool spots for hiking? And how does being a midshipman play into your experience at UW?

Thanks in advance for any advice you give!

I've lived in Washington my entire life and so I am a little biased. Living at the University of Washington has its ups and downs. Seattle is a unique and friendly city. Since it is so diverse, there will be activities and/or places you have never heard of/seen before. The only downside is that if you don't live in Washington, the unpredictable weather takes some getting used to (you will learn to love it though).

I don't ever find myself drowning in the amount of people. It's weird in the first couple of weeks when you are adjusting to the being in large lectures and having to walk 15 minutes sometimes to class. However, if you get a good rhythm going (i.e. organization, daily routine, study habits), then you will adjust fast.

The city of Seattle is a great place to go to school. The dorms are a great, friendly environment and there are plenty of opportunities to get out and be a part of the community. Also, there is always something to do in Seattle. There is a 25-30 minute bus that goes straight downtown from the U (you will never run out of things to do downtown). There is the Ave on west campus and U-Village on east campus. The gym and other athletic facilities are top-notch and aren't too far of a walk. I don't get off campus much because I am busy studying for Physics and Calculus, but the opportunities are there and if you find you have free time, definitely check out the area.

There are plenty of neat places to go hiking, especially within 30 minutes of the University. There is also the Olympic Mountain Range in Northwest Washington. It is about a 2-3 hour trip but it is well worth it.

Truth be told, being a midshipman in NROTC is tough. It was hard at first trying to balance NROTC with academics since the University of Washington is a very, very TOUGH school. The one key piece of advice I have for you is that you need to be able to prioritize and manage your time. There is no doubt in my mind that if I wasn't in NROTC, I would have a lot more free time. Yet, balancing a huge workload (18 credits) with waking up at 0530 to PT and going to bed at midnight has really helped build me into a better person and better leader. The unit here provides you with A LOT of opportunities so that you do not fall behind or fail.

All in all, I'm glad I made the decision to come to UW. The NROTC unit here is in the top 6 for oldest units in the nation and is undoubtedly the best. Best of luck with your future endeavors!


Thanks so much for the great advice! Physics is my intended major. Just a bit confused, are you double majoring in physics and calculus? Or do those classes make up the bulk of your workload at the moment?

Physics and Calculus are the two classes that take up most of my time. I intend to major in Mechanical Engineering and so I'm taking the required Physics and Calculus courses to do so.


Thanks for that! Are midshipman automatically housed with other midshipman for there freshmen year? Or is there any different housing for midshipman of any kind? Or just normal?
 
I currently have been selected for a four year Army scholarship to UW (it was my top choice) so I am currently interested in learning more about the school and (A)ROTC in general. The admissions director there also told me that I am a competitive candidate and I shouldn't have any problems getting in. If I go to a civilian school instead of an Academy, I think UW is probably it (either that or UCLA.)

I'm also looking at civil engineering as my major, but I don't want to try and mess around with any five-year possibilities (even if there is a hypothetical provision or something, I don't really want to bother with that.) I've heard that CE can go five yeas.
 
Hi Pickle, thanks for the offer! I am still waiting to here scholarship selection status as well as selection status for University of Washington. My question is, how do you like living in Seattle? Do you find you drown in a sea of people? Is the city a cool place to go to school? Any cool spots for hiking? And how does being a midshipman play into your experience at UW?

Thanks in advance for any advice you give!

I've lived in Washington my entire life and so I am a little biased. Living at the University of Washington has its ups and downs. Seattle is a unique and friendly city. Since it is so diverse, there will be activities and/or places you have never heard of/seen before. The only downside is that if you don't live in Washington, the unpredictable weather takes some getting used to (you will learn to love it though).

I don't ever find myself drowning in the amount of people. It's weird in the first couple of weeks when you are adjusting to the being in large lectures and having to walk 15 minutes sometimes to class. However, if you get a good rhythm going (i.e. organization, daily routine, study habits), then you will adjust fast.

The city of Seattle is a great place to go to school. The dorms are a great, friendly environment and there are plenty of opportunities to get out and be a part of the community. Also, there is always something to do in Seattle. There is a 25-30 minute bus that goes straight downtown from the U (you will never run out of things to do downtown). There is the Ave on west campus and U-Village on east campus. The gym and other athletic facilities are top-notch and aren't too far of a walk. I don't get off campus much because I am busy studying for Physics and Calculus, but the opportunities are there and if you find you have free time, definitely check out the area.

There are plenty of neat places to go hiking, especially within 30 minutes of the University. There is also the Olympic Mountain Range in Northwest Washington. It is about a 2-3 hour trip but it is well worth it.

Truth be told, being a midshipman in NROTC is tough. It was hard at first trying to balance NROTC with academics since the University of Washington is a very, very TOUGH school. The one key piece of advice I have for you is that you need to be able to prioritize and manage your time. There is no doubt in my mind that if I wasn't in NROTC, I would have a lot more free time. Yet, balancing a huge workload (18 credits) with waking up at 0530 to PT and going to bed at midnight has really helped build me into a better person and better leader. The unit here provides you with A LOT of opportunities so that you do not fall behind or fail.

All in all, I'm glad I made the decision to come to UW. The NROTC unit here is in the top 6 for oldest units in the nation and is undoubtedly the best. Best of luck with your future endeavors!


Thanks so much for the great advice! Physics is my intended major. Just a bit confused, are you double majoring in physics and calculus? Or do those classes make up the bulk of your workload at the moment?

Physics and Calculus are the two classes that take up most of my time. I intend to major in Mechanical Engineering and so I'm taking the required Physics and Calculus courses to do so.


Thanks for that! Are midshipman automatically housed with other midshipman for there freshmen year? Or is there any different housing for midshipman of any kind? Or just normal?

All midshipmen are responsible for their own housing and therefore the cost will be determined based upon whether you are in-state or out-of-state. You can also choose to stay in a fraternity/sorority. I recommend North Campus dorms simply because they are the cheapest and are the closest to Clark Hall. I live on North Campus so I can only give you recommendations for that area. Knowing what I know now, I would rank them as McMahon>McCarty>Hagget>Hansee. If you have questions about a specific dorm, look on the website or ask me.
 
I currently have been selected for a four year Army scholarship to UW (it was my top choice) so I am currently interested in learning more about the school and (A)ROTC in general. The admissions director there also told me that I am a competitive candidate and I shouldn't have any problems getting in. If I go to a civilian school instead of an Academy, I think UW is probably it (either that or UCLA.)

I'm also looking at civil engineering as my major, but I don't want to try and mess around with any five-year possibilities (even if there is a hypothetical provision or something, I don't really want to bother with that.) I've heard that CE can go five yeas.

Congrats on earning the scholarship! I don't know much about Army ROTC but I can tell you about what I do know. Each branch in Clark Hall has the same organization. You have the CO (usually an O-6), his XO, and then your assistant professors of naval/military/aerospace science (usually O-3s). Army actually has quite a few enlisted personnel compared to the one (gunnery sergeant) for Navy. Each branch also has their own wardroom on the top floor. That's really all I know. If you want to know more, I would suggest contacting the unit either by phone, email, or in person (recommended).

The is currently one midshipman in Navy who is majoring in Civil Engineering and will commission in the regular four years. If it takes you five years to major in something, it most likely means that you got into the department late and therefore will need an extra year to complete the required courses. However, a four-year scholarship means that it will only cover four years. Also, I would highly recommend having a few backup majors. Engineering is EXTREMELY difficult to get into here at the University of Washington, and by EXTREMELY difficult, I mean above average difficult. Although the minimums are 2.0 cumulative and 2.5 in each pre-requisite course, the departments are really looking for the 3.5+ students who EXCELLED in math, physics, and chemistry. Don't let this deter you because it is still possible. If you do manage to get in, you should have no problem completing Civil withing four-years.

If you have anymore questions about UW or ROTC, please ask. I wish you the best of luck in getting accepted into the UW!
 
Hey I have a question. I was awarded a 4 year scholarship to UW NROTC via ISR a few months ago and have a lot of questions about UW and its NROTC program. One of my biggest ones is if it is possible to get free or reduced price on room and board at UW. The commander I interviewed with for the scholarship said this might be a possibility, is it?
 
Congrats on earning the scholarship!

The only way to get reduced room and board here is if you qualify for university-supplied scholarships/grants. This will be determined from your FAFSA if your family has a low enough income. Unfortunately, the university does not provide reduced room and board specifically for NROTC midshipmen. I know that some universities do provide reduced R&B, but UW is not one of them.
 
OK, thanks for the info. I am majoring in mechanical engineering, what thoughts/advice do you have for me with regards to the major at UW?
 
If, say, I get some sort of scholarship with my application (URI gave me $20k with my acceptance letter), would I be able to use that for room and board? I'm not sure if you'd have experience with that. FAFSA didn't get us anything because we don't have the need.

I'm trying to ease my parents' payment, heh.
 
OK, thanks for the info. I am majoring in mechanical engineering, what thoughts/advice do you have for me with regards to the major at UW?

If you look at the post before you posted, I explained how difficult it is to get into the engineering program. I came in wanting to do Mech. E. as well but I will probably have to switch. My advice to you is to continue to pursue engineering with your whole heart but have a backup major that is not engineering. In your first quarter, you should take calculus and either physics or chemistry. These classes are the weed out classes for engineering so getting above average on tests will increase your chances of getting accepted into the department.

Do not let any of this deter you from UW. It is one of the best schools in the country with by far the best NROTC unit. There are midshipmen who are in engineering but I'm just pointing out the most people come here intending to major in something and end up switching.
 
If, say, I get some sort of scholarship with my application (URI gave me $20k with my acceptance letter), would I be able to use that for room and board? I'm not sure if you'd have experience with that. FAFSA didn't get us anything because we don't have the need.

I'm trying to ease my parents' payment, heh.

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to use your $20,000 scholarship to Rhode Island combined with your NROTC scholarship. I see you got the Air Force scholarship there and the Army scholarship here. I would choose based on the branch that interests you the most and not because of the money.
 
If, say, I get some sort of scholarship with my application (URI gave me $20k with my acceptance letter), would I be able to use that for room and board? I'm not sure if you'd have experience with that. FAFSA didn't get us anything because we don't have the need.

I'm trying to ease my parents' payment, heh.
It depends on the scholarship. The bursar would be able to let you know if you can use them together. Some scholarships can only be used for tuition. I don't recall if NROTC scholarship can be used for room and board. I know AROTC can but I don't recall the rules on NROTC.
 
If, say, I get some sort of scholarship with my application (URI gave me $20k with my acceptance letter), would I be able to use that for room and board? I'm not sure if you'd have experience with that. FAFSA didn't get us anything because we don't have the need.

I'm trying to ease my parents' payment, heh.
It depends on the scholarship. The bursar would be able to let you know if you can use them together. Some scholarships can only be used for tuition. I don't recall if NROTC scholarship can be used for room and board. I know AROTC can but I don't recall the rules on NROTC.

NSTC does NOT pay for room and board. However, there are some schools out there that will provide discounted or free room and board to those with NROTC scholarships. University of Washington is not one of them.
 
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