u/Prudent-Card-3384

I’m an incoming MS HCDE student this fall, and I’m trying to decide whether I should bring or buy a desktop.

My background is in design, so during undergrad I built a fairly high-end desktop because I was doing everything from UI design to 3D modeling and rendering (Blender, KeyShot, etc.).
However, from what I know, UX/UI work tends to rely much more on tools like Figma, and I rarely needed that level of computing power outside of 3D work.
I’m planning to pursue a career as a UX designer or UX researcher, so I don’t expect to focus much on 3D work anymore.

For those who have been through the MS HCDE program:
Was a MacBook Air enough for most coursework?
Were there any classes that required intensive software, such as 3D rendering, video editing, or programming that benefited from having a desktop?
If you owned a desktop, did you actually use it regularly?

I already have a MacBook Air, so I’m trying to decide whether it’s worth buying a desktop, or if the MacBook Air is sufficient for the program and preparing for UX careers.

Hi everyone,
I’m an international student, so I may not fully understand how program reputation works in the US.
What confuses me is that when people talk about the strongest universities overall, I don’t often see UW grouped with schools like CMU, Berkeley, or Michigan. However, when I look at UX/HCI-specific rankings, UW HCDE is often ranked at or near the top.
I’m considering UW MS HCDE, UT Austin MSIS, and Berkeley MDes, and I’m interested in both industry careers (UX design/research) and possibly pursuing a PhD later.
Is UW HCDE actually considered one of the very best UX/HCI programs by people in the field, or do rankings give a different impression than reality?
I’d love to hear perspectives from people in industry, academia, or alumni of these programs.
Thanks!

Hi everyone,
I’m an incoming MS HCDE student and just registered for the first time. Unfortunately, I struck out on several classes I really wanted because they were already full.
I was wondering how common this is at UW. Do seats tend to open up over the summer, or do people usually wait until September and try to add classes during the first week?
I was hoping to take a heavier course load during my first quarter since I’ll probably have more free time, but now a lot of the classes I wanted are off the table.
For those who’ve been through this before, did you just move on and take other classes, or is it worth continuing to check for openings over the next few months? Have you had luck getting into full classes later on?
Thanks in advance!

I'm currently looking for a studio apartment, as many Roosevelt apartments seem to release their fall availability later. If anyone has recommendations for other apartments, I'd love to hear them! My budget is under $1,600/month, and I'm totally fine with micro-apartments (around 280 sq ft).

So far, I've been looking at places like Theo and Maude, but I'm open to other options as well.

Since my classes may end around 10 PM, my biggest priority is being able to get home safely at night. I'm not set on Roosevelt specifically, so if there are other neighborhoods that are safe and have an easy commute to UW, I'd really appreciate any recommendations

Hi everyone! I'm an incoming international student looking for a studio apartment (~$1600/month) near campus. My biggest concern is safety — some of my classes end around 10 PM and I'll be commuting alone. With that in mind, I'm trying to decide between Roosevelt and U-District.

I've heard Roosevelt listings for September don't show up until later in the summer, but U-District spots seem to be filling up fast. I'd prefer Roosevelt if possible, but I'm worried about waiting too long and missing out.
Would it be smarter to wait for Roosevelt listings, lock in a U-District place now, or just go with dorm housing? Any advice is appreciated!

Hi! I’m an incoming international student starting this September, and I’m currently looking into housing options.

I’ve come across some mixed opinions about Mercer Court, while it seems like many students in shared apartments are generally having a good experience.

I was wondering if anyone could share a bit more about this—are the concerns mostly related to Mercer Court itself (like management or facilities), or does it depend more on individual roommate situations?

Also, I’ve mainly been looking into studio options, but they all seem quite expensive, so I’m trying to figure out what might be the most reasonable choice.

I’d really appreciate any thoughts or experiences you’re comfortable sharing. Thank you so much!