Love UW! Love it! And I don’t party.
Hubby’s undergrad graduation (he skipped the one for his Ph.D. there) was the most amazing celebration - the fieldhouse was rockin’, the band was ripping, the banners were flying! Fifth quarter, interesting guest speakers (we saw both Stephen Jay Gould and Louis Farrakahn), State Street, those lakes!
The only serious beef I have with them is their in-state tuition policy; when we were there (1988-96) the rule was that if you had moved to the state in order to go to school there, then you’d always be paying out-of-state tuition. No matter what. So that’s why we had to take out $10k for his undergrad degree (which would have been free otherwise, due to various scholarships). OTOH, he’s always felt that it was nonetheless a bargain compared with private schools. But if you live in Illinois & you’re serious about saving money, move there a year before you apply.
And eat at the east side Bahn Thai!
