College admissions is competitive,

Oregon State University is a large public university so of course you'll run into the typical stereotypes. The Greek system is very popular, but I do not participate in it. Several of my friends do, and they love it, but the party scene can definitely get out of hand. I think with every school there are the stereotypes, but the most important thing to do is get to know someone before categorizing them.

I have waited my entire life to go to college and experience life on my own. I absolutely love everything about Oregon State University. The campus itself is gorgeous and it is a very creative and innovative learning environment. The school is a perfect size. Each student can get involved in various activities, sports, and clubs, creating a smaller learning environment and a group of friends to instantly connect with. I did the marching band and was amazed to see the amount of school pride the Oregon State students have. Despite our football team having a struggle year, the student section was always filled at the games. By participating in the marching band, I created a strong circle of friends, and I bleed black and orange; meaning I am a true Beaver fan now. I spend most of my time in my dorm, Poling Hall, because it's my place of residence. Oregon State is located in Corvallis, Oregon. It's a perfect college town. The town sleeps at 9pm, except for the few bars, but is quaint. There are places to eat that differ from the dorm food and trails to run or bike on. It's interesting to see the different reactions people give when I tell them I attend OSU. It's a state school and for some reason that instantly categorizes categorizes it as being 'less' than a private school. I would disagree strongly with that viewpoint. Being a student at a large university, you learn how to interact with different people, time management skills, you learn how to focus in large lecture classes, and you get the experience of attending well-known athletic games. The biggest complaint I've heard since attending OSU is that the dorm food gets boring. That complaint is not related to the university at all; it's a matter of personal opinion. The administration is very welcoming to incoming freshmen, they seem to want to help all students achieve graduation, and they dedicate countless hours to keeping the school running smoothly. Oregon State is located in a beautiful state, welcoming town, and it offeres varieties of majors, minors and opportunities for every student.

Oregon State University is a large public school, but for my first term I didn't have one lecture class. The biggest class I had was probably 40 students. That is excellent. Each professor knew my name and I could tell they wanted me to succeed in their classes. Students are constantly studying. The study room on my floor always has students in it. Students leave in groups to go to the library and study, and my roommate and I work on homework together. Class participation is at first a scary thing because it's a college class, but once you commit to it, participation is a sure way to completely understand a subject and show the professor how intelligent you are. I have intellectual conversations with friends outside of class because we all love to stimulate our minds in new ways. I am an English major and a science and technology oriented school. I love it because the liberal arts degrees are few and far between, allowing me to grow closer with the professors and establish connections. The most interesting class I've taken so far is Shakespeare. I loved the class. The professor taught new and innovative things about Shakespeare I would've never known before. The education the professors and administration provide at Oregon State definitely prepares students for a job. It teaches the importance of time management, following directions, reading, writing, and speaking - all skills necessary for attaining and maintaining a career.

Oregon State University has a diverse campus, despite being located in a small Oregon town. The administration successfully integrated the campus, making it feel like a small metropolitan city instead of mainly one race. Most students wear work-out clothes to class, but I believe in dressing nicely. The professors wear nice clothes, so why don't we? The financial backgrounds of students is not apparent, making most people feel equal. The Asian students tend to stick with each other, but that is not a generalization. There is a dorm called the International Dorm, so of course there will be more international students there, but it's not limited to just them. The politics of OSU are leaning more to the right, but it's Oregon. The campus is almost evenly split between the two political parties. Oregon State has a diverse campus, but that's exactly how a college should be.

I participated first hand in the Oregon State Marching Band. We had about 250 students participate in that. The OSU football team has less, but generates a large fan base. The rowing team does a great job in recruiting students so most people have either met with or heard of someone on the team. Athletic events are extremely popular at OSU. It's great because students get tickets for free, as long as you show your OSU ID. Everyone wears their black and orange and cheers to the music as our team scores or completes a play. The dating scene at OSU is hopping. There are always students going out for coffee, food, or to a party. I have gone on several dates since being at school. I met my closest friends by living in the dorm and participating in marching band. If I was awake at 2am in the morning, I would be studying or hanging out with friends if it was the weekend. Every weekend there is a party at OSU, mostly at the fraternities or sororities which are a huge part of campus. I do not participate in Greek Life, and I don't think I've missed out on anything. There isn't a ton of pressure to go out every weekend so the Saturdays that I stay in, I study, read, or hang out with my friends that do not party. There are other activities off campus like places to eat, work out, or socialize.

Oregon State University would look like a beautiful, scholarly place to someone who's never seen it. Just stepping on the university grounds instantly makes a person want to learn. The brick buildings hold character and history, promising a great education. The autumn season at OSU is beautiful. The leaves change to red, orange, and yellow, and mark the end of one season, but the beginning of new knowledge. I absolutely love the campus. I feel incredibly intelligent as I walk to class in my peacoat and boots. Oregon State is a great place to go to college.

The classes I took at Oregon State University my first term were great. I took a U-Engage class which are specifically designed just for freshmen. We had the president of OSU come and speak to us about achieving a successful future so that was great. My Shakespeare class always had new ways of interpreting the famous author's works. My French class integrated us for the fifty minutes I had it. Marching band gave me the opportunity to learn popular songs and meet 250 OSU students. Flute lessons give me one-on-one time with the flute professor so I can get better at the instrument I love. My history class was interesting and important. I can't wait for Winter term 2012 because I'm taking a political science class. Oregon State University offers unlimited amounts of classes for liberal arts majors, science majors, and engineers.