The UW student community is truly global – we are 12th in the nation for hosting international students and 18th for sending students to study abroad.
The diversity of our students, faculty and staff enriches our campus community. UW graduates leave with and appreciation for diversity and the ability to navigate and thrive within diverse communities and workplaces. They are prepared to lead and succeed in today’s world.
International students enhance our community
Hailing from around the world, UW international students are driven to discover and making the most of their Husky Experience. Read their stories on this page to find out what brought them to the UW and their aspirations for a boundless future.
Want to learn more about our outstanding international student community? Explore our interactive global engagement map.
Khongorzul Baldandorj
Hometown: Ulaan-Baatar, Mongolia
Course of study: Undergraduate – economics major
Why did you choose the UW?
I just simply fell in love with the beautiful campus and the welcoming community. I just felt that I belonged here when I first came to the campus.
What do you like best about studying here?
There are many things that I like about the UW! But the thing that I am most proud of is that we are a community that always stands for social justice and positive changes in people’s lives.
Tell us about your favorite UW experience.
One of my favorite UW memories is my participation in Unite UW where I met a lot of wonderful and amazing people from all around the world, from whom I have learned valuable lessons. They showed me how a student just like me is capable of learning five languages perfectly, or manage and get involved in so many things that every hour of their day is planned. Thanks to them I have realized that we can achieve anything, if we want to and try our best. Since then, I opened my own club, participated in many different campus activities, applied for study abroad program and invested a lot of time in my health, and I am pursuing a Husky Leadership Certificate. I would never imagined myself doing so many activities at once because all I thought I wouldn’t be able to. I just want to say “Thank you” to them.
I just want to say to my fellow students – “Go and experience college life! This time will never come back, and for some of us, we would be probably doing the same thing for the rest of our lives. 
Go and meet new people, do something new or something that you were afraid of doing before. Learning does not always come from the books, and don’t stress out about exams or grades because quantitative measures do not define who we are or what can we do. Go Huskies!
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to work in public sector in Mongolia as a policy analyst in order to contribute to our economic development and apply the knowledge and experience that I gained at the UW.
Wenjie Li
Hometown: Changsha, China
Course of study: MS ’16, oral biology; current Senior Fellow, School of Dentistry
Enrolling in the UW Graduate School, after completing my dental training in China, prompted me to advance my academic knowledge, as well as to develop in full amongst the diverse communities on and off campus. I had grabbed every opportunity that presented itself and initiated many new ventures, which have facilitated my personal development and enabled me to make a difference to those around me. It has been a long journey but a fulfilling one, and I am proud to be a Husky.
Stephanie Han Yu Liou
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Course of study: MD medicine
As a National Health Service Corps Scholar at the School of Medicine, I co-founded the UW Affordable Care Act Access, Education and Advocacy Project, and I serve as one of four student representatives to the Association of American Medical Colleges. I am passionate about medical student wellness and mentoring underrepresented students. I plan to become a pediatrician for underserved children, and combine medicine with policy and education to help reduce health disparities.
S
oh Eun (Elloise) Kim
Hometown: Kunsan, South Korea
Course of study: PhD English
Believing in the strength and potential of the UW community to move forward and be boundless, I have worked to bring a meaningful change to our community, no matter how small it might seem, through various channels. These include the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, the Provost’s Advisory Committee for Students, Faculty Council on Multicultural Affairs/Faculty Council on Women in Academia, and the Department of English diversity committee, as well as working as a graduate student instructor and sharing my understanding and experience as an international student and a woman of color with those who hold similar positions to mine.
Meixi
Hometown: Singapore
Course of study: PhD education (Learning Science & Human Development)
Originally from Singapore, I’ve spent many growing-up years in Thailand with the Lahu Hill tribe, and Zacatecas, México.
Because of my experiences from such distinct communities, I am excited and driven by boundaries of new partnerships. Together with youth, teachers and communities, we build counter-hegemonic educational change. Through alter/native practices focused on human relationships, resurgence and liberation, we reimagine marginalized spaces as sites of possibility and strength.
Melina Schmidt
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany
Course of study: Undergraduate – pre-major
Why did you choose the UW?
Having spent my entire life in my home city in Germany, I was desperate to gain new experiences in other parts of the world. I’ve always had an interest in the USA but once I fell in love with Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, there was no stopping me. The UW just had it all.
What do you like best about studying here?
My favorite thing about UW is the beautiful campus. The bustling energy and knowledge that circulates here is inspiring to say the least, and the location of campus is at a perfect distance to downtown.
Tell us about your favorite UW experience.
I could not be happier to be studying at the UW – I will never forget the wonderful friends I have made here and the breadth of knowledge I have gained in and outside of the classroom. One of my favorite experiences at the UW so far has been being part of Unite UW. This cultural exchange program has introduced me to so many amazing new people and made my time here much more memorable.
What are your plans for the future?
After graduation, I am planning to return to my home country. I hope to find a job in human resources management, preferably in the hospitality industry to get the chance to travel more broadly in the future.
Ahmed Aldawood
Hometown: Safwa, Saudi Arabia
Course of study: Undergraduate – pre-sciences
Why did you choose the UW?
I asked myself one question, what school has the potential to enrich me academically and socially, and I found University of Washington to be the answer. UW is one of the top-ranked schools in the U.S. with very active community. Also, it’s located in Seattle, a beautiful city with a good football team and it’s a world center for coffee roasting. All these different factors and even more I haven’t mentioned give the UW its uniqueness.
What do you like best about studying here?
The vivid and supportive community. Students always willing to help each other out. Even from those who you don’t know very well, they’ll give you positive vibes by telling you that you got it, and they’ll offer their help.
Tell us about your favorite UW experience.
As a student who’s planning to major in chemistry, my favorite class is Organic Chemistry with Professor Jasmine Bryant. One of the cool things you get to learn in this class is to imagine chemical molecules in a three-
dimensional space and build your own mechanism of how to synthesize anything you want. Then for example, if you get to apply this knowledge, you can a build a mechanism to come up with flavors if you’re working in food industry, or even make your own perfume.
What are your plans for the future?
I graduated from a public high school in a small town. Because my family can’t afford paying for school, I signed a contract with a company where they pay for my tuition fees, and in return I will work for that company after I graduate.