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Moments like that one听helped define the biology major from Seattle鈥檚 time at the UW, from a busy start as a transfer student to听another first, an听educational excursion around Padilla Bay 鈥� one of the largest eelgrass meadows in the U.S.听听

鈥淢y first year was kind of overwhelming,鈥� admits Landau,听who came to the UW听with an eye听toward听medical school.听He听especially听struggled听with听鈥渁djusting to so many opportunities,听people and听stuff going on.鈥�听

But听Landau听found听programs听at the UW听to听help. One听that听assisted听him听even before听his听admission听was听.听Path to UW鈥檚 goal is to help future Huskies听like听Landau听access听a听world-class education by navigating the transfer process to the UW. The program currently partners with the Seattle Colleges through , as well as with Bellevue College and Highline College.听听

Students in the program benefit from outreach services that include admission advising, tailored events and seminars. For Landau, Path to UW set him up for success by helping him better understand the application process and how to best highlight his strengths. 听

And the support continued听once听he successfully transferred to the UW.听A听summer transition program听connected听him directly with UW faculty and resources听and prepared him for writing at the University.听Once he听got to听campus,听Path to UW听also introduced Landau to a community of other transfer students听through mixers and workshops听鈥� all of which听helped him feel听more at home.

Landau also found a dedicated space at the听, a room in the HUB that Path to UW highlights for all incoming transfer students. Landau utilized the CTC, especially during his first quarter, to print materials, meet friends and eat lunch.

While Path to UW helped Landau orient himself听as a Husky,听connecting with听other students听shaped his听path听in an unexpected way.听听听听听听听

For Landau, who thought he was going to medical school, talking to a student听at an undergraduate research symposium who was听researching algal communities听changed his life.听听

He began researching fruit flies at the听, which studies cells and the complex molecular rules they use to build and shape organs.

In the spring of 2025, Landau got the opportunity to take classes at听听thanks to a Mary Gates Research Scholarship.听

That was his first experience living in a dorm and eating in a dining hall, and Landau says he’s still really close with his cohort from the island. He took three courses at Friday Harbor:听Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea, Professional Portfolio in Marine Science and Marine Restoration Ecology.

Friday Harbor challenged Landau with its project-based instruction. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e听working closely with your professor. It was听a very different听environment from the Seattle campus,鈥澨�Landau听says. 鈥淏ut it really was such a positive experience.鈥�听

Another positive experience took place in the evenings, after classes, when Landau would take rowboats out from the boathouse and explore the island. An avid birder, Landau would also search for birds, often while biking.

Through his research experiences, Landau realized that research would be more personally fulfilling than medical school.听And he stuck with that research until graduating听last听June.听

At the moment,听Landau is听taking some time off before听applying听to听graduate school听鈥� advice he听got听from graduate students.听听

To new Huskies, Landau has this to say: 鈥淧ush yourself. Not just academically but socially too. Building lasting relationships and trying new (and scary) things can feel just as rewarding as passing a hard class.鈥澨�听

The new听听officially opened in Mary Gates Hall听in the听fall听of 2025

Located in Suite 141, the transfer center offers community, connection and resources for UW transfer students. Resources include student ambassador mentorships with fellow transfer students, events for academic support and campus services, as well as the benefit of being steps away from academic advisers.

Story by Lincoln McElwee // Photos by Dennis Wise and courtesy of Gabriel Landau
Originally published February 2026