Oregon State University Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

jon

good

rd

1

Alexandra

awesome!

Matt

I have had a great experience with Oregon State so far. Its big enough to not feel dinky but not too large that you feel like a number in a sea of students.

Melissa

dkll

Meaghan

The best thing about this school is that, no matter who you are, you would never run out of opportunities. There are so many different people and departments here, and there are thousands of opportunities in each department. The one thing I'd change about OSU is registration times. Sometimes my registration times have been during a class, so I don't always get to register at my time so I get a lower registration priority than I normally would. I think registration times should be after classes end, instead of throughout the day. I'd say that OSU is just right on the size aspect. I have mostly large classes, which gives you a feeling of anonymity, but the small classes that you run into lets you have personal interaction as well. Most people ask me why I chose to go to OSU, since I'm from California. When I tell them I like rain, they look at me even more strangely than before I told them I go to OSU. Most of the time, I'm on campus. Most of my friends live on campus, as do I, so I really only go off campus to work, volunteer, or go to a club meeting off campus. OSU is definitely situated in a college town. Corvallis wouldn't exist if OSU hadn't been constructed nearly 200 years ago. The administration here are relatively pleasant and willing to work with you on just about anything that I've had to deal with, which isn't much (also a plus!). The biggest recent controversy is whether OSU should go smoke free next year. Due to the influx of foreign students who smoke, a lot of people believe that this will be a good thing for OSU. On the other hand, some also believe that the current 30-feet away from buildings rule is good for a smoking restriction. OSU is definitely a school with a lot of pride. We may not always be the best, but we do love our sports teams. The most unusual thing about OSU is number of weird things you can see on campus in one day. I've seen everything from people in costumes to people riding unicycles, and nothing surprises me at this point. There are so many people here with so many different interests, you'll never be bored on your way to class! The one thing about OSU that I'll never forget is the seemingly random artwork distributed throughout the buildings, and outside as well. The wood structures in People's Park next to Gilkey Hall are my current favorite, but who know's when that will be replaced. The most frequent complaint that I have heard students talk about are the differences between professors. Some professors are easy, some are difficult, and you get the same credits from both. The best thing to do is listen to what your peers are saying about what the good professors are, as well as looking your professors online ratings.

Meaghan

The best thing about this school is that, no matter who you are, you would never run out of opportunities. There are so many different people and departments here, and there are thousands of opportunities in each department. The one thing I'd change about OSU is registration times. Sometimes my registration times have been during a class, so I don't always get to register at my time so I get a lower registration priority than I normally would. I think registration times should be after classes end, instead of throughout the day. I'd say that OSU is just right on the size aspect. I have mostly large classes, which gives you a feeling of anonymity, but the small classes that you run into lets you have personal interaction as well. Most people ask me why I chose to go to OSU, since I'm from California. When I tell them I like rain, they look at me even more strangely than before I told them I go to OSU. Most of the time, I'm on campus. Most of my friends live on campus, as do I, so I really only go off campus to work, volunteer, or go to a club meeting off campus. OSU is definitely situated in a college town. Corvallis wouldn't exist if OSU hadn't been constructed nearly 200 years ago. The administration here are relatively pleasant and willing to work with you on just about anything that I've had to deal with, which isn't much (also a plus!). The biggest recent controversy is whether OSU should go smoke free next year. Due to the influx of foreign students who smoke, a lot of people believe that this will be a good thing for OSU. On the other hand, some also believe that the current 30-feet away from buildings rule is good for a smoking restriction. OSU is definitely a school with a lot of pride. We may not always be the best, but we do love our sports teams. The most unusual thing about OSU is number of weird things you can see on campus in one day. I've seen everything from people in costumes to people riding unicycles, and nothing surprises me at this point. There are so many people here with so many different interests, you'll never be bored on your way to class! The one thing about OSU that I'll never forget is the seemingly random artwork distributed throughout the buildings, and outside as well. The wood structures in People's Park next to Gilkey Hall are my current favorite, but who know's when that will be replaced. The most frequent complaint that I have heard students talk about are the differences between professors. Some professors are easy, some are difficult, and you get the same credits from both. The best thing to do is listen to what your peers are saying about what the good professors are, as well as looking your professors online ratings.

Meaghan

The best thing about this school is that, no matter who you are, you would never run out of opportunities. There are so many different people and departments here, and there are thousands of opportunities in each department. The one thing I'd change about OSU is registration times. Sometimes my registration times have been during a class, so I don't always get to register at my time so I get a lower registration priority than I normally would. I think registration times should be after classes end, instead of throughout the day. I'd say that OSU is just right on the size aspect. I have mostly large classes, which gives you a feeling of anonymity, but the small classes that you run into lets you have personal interaction as well. Most people ask me why I chose to go to OSU, since I'm from California. When I tell them I like rain, they look at me even more strangely than before I told them I go to OSU. Most of the time, I'm on campus. Most of my friends live on campus, as do I, so I really only go off campus to work, volunteer, or go to a club meeting off campus. OSU is definitely situated in a college town. Corvallis wouldn't exist if OSU hadn't been constructed nearly 200 years ago. The administration here are relatively pleasant and willing to work with you on just about anything that I've had to deal with, which isn't much (also a plus!). The biggest recent controversy is whether OSU should go smoke free next year. Due to the influx of foreign students who smoke, a lot of people believe that this will be a good thing for OSU. On the other hand, some also believe that the current 30-feet away from buildings rule is good for a smoking restriction. OSU is definitely a school with a lot of pride. We may not always be the best, but we do love our sports teams. The most unusual thing about OSU is number of weird things you can see on campus in one day. I've seen everything from people in costumes to people riding unicycles, and nothing surprises me at this point. There are so many people here with so many different interests, you'll never be bored on your way to class! The one thing about OSU that I'll never forget is the seemingly random artwork distributed throughout the buildings, and outside as well. The wood structures in People's Park next to Gilkey Hall are my current favorite, but who know's when that will be replaced. The most frequent complaint that I have heard students talk about are the differences between professors. Some professors are easy, some are difficult, and you get the same credits from both. The best thing to do is listen to what your peers are saying about what the good professors are, as well as looking your professors online ratings.

Jennifer

The best thing about Oregon State University is all the clubs and sports that they have to offer. There are clubs for almost anyone who is interested in whatever they want to do. There's alot of sports clubs, other clubs, and intramural sports that are offered at OSU. There is also so much school pride here, more so than any other campus. Many people know OSU as one of the most spirited campuses. Most students attend all the sporting events, even other than football. There are so many kids around campus that wear Oregon State sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweatpants, backpacks, etc. There is so much school pride and spirit here and that is one of the things I love most about OSU. The only thing I would change is the town. I would love it if Corvallis was a bigger town.

Jennifer

The best thing about Oregon State University is all the clubs and sports that they have to offer. There are clubs for almost anyone who is interested in whatever they want to do. There's alot of sports clubs, other clubs, and intramural sports that are offered at OSU. There is also so much school pride here, more so than any other campus. Many people know OSU as one of the most spirited campuses. Most students attend all the sporting events, even other than football. There are so many kids around campus that wear Oregon State sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweatpants, backpacks, etc. There is so much school pride and spirit here and that is one of the things I love most about OSU. The only thing I would change is the town. I would love it if Corvallis was a bigger town.

Cassady

Derek

I love this school, I have always wanted to go here since I was little. One of my favorites things is the campus, it's so quiet and beautiful. I think that the school is a perfect size with just around 22,000 students. The community of Corvallis is the perfect college town in my opinion, and there are tons of things to do in the area. The library and student union areas are great to study and rest in between classes. The dixon recreation center is a high quality gym that is one of the best places on campus. Sporting events are always fun to attend because win or lose the fans are always there.

Regan

Oregon State has a family-vibe that invites students in; you can go to Fred Meyer, get your hair done across the street, then walk to campus, running into half a dozen or so friends. What was meant to be an hour outing has turned into two because everyone's talking to everyone. OSU has over 20,000 students, but it still manages to feel tight-knit. The administration seems to be down-the-line. One thing I do hear pretty consistently, though, is the pricing of books. As I'm sure is with many other universities, book prices are high, and it's frustrating when professors change books every year. This means there is no way buy the books back, or sell them, or use them again for the next segment of the courses. Many of my science and math friends have a collection of textbooks, some hundreds of dollars worth, that are collecting dust on their shelves.

Brendan

Oregon State was not my first choice. I was looking at possibly attending University of Arizona, University of Portland, or Air Force Academy, but I am glad I went with Oregon State. Over the last four years Oregon State has grown in attendance by about 4,000 students. Which has had an amazing affect on the funding for the university, but has also affected student life outside of the campus. Housing has been harder to find, and rent has been rising. Overall though Oregon State has a hometown feel to it, even if you are a student from another state. Sporting events showcase this feeling very well. When it's game day everyone wears their Beaver Orange. I work down on the football field as a camera operator during football games. Let me tell you that if you want to go to a school that has school spirit, Oregon State is the place to go.

Regan

Oregon State has a family-vibe that invites students in; you can go to Fred Meyer, get your hair done across the street, then walk to campus, running into half a dozen or so friends. What was meant to be an hour outing has turned into two because everyone's talking to everyone. OSU has over 20,000 students, but it still manages to feel tight-knit. The administration seems to be down-the-line. One thing I do hear pretty consistently, though, is the pricing of books. As I'm sure is with many other universities, book prices are high, and it's frustrating when professors change books every year. This means there is no way buy the books back, or sell them, or use them again for the next segment of the courses. Many of my science and math friends have a collection of textbooks, some hundreds of dollars worth, that are collecting dust on their shelves. OSU has become a home that will be difficult to leave. There was a recent event, a football player had a heart attack in the recreation center, that devastated the community. They've come together to support not only the team pride, but the young man, his family, his friends, and anyone that had the pleasure of meeting him. This is what I will take away from college - going to football games and forming a great group of friends that cheer together, every game, for four years now.

Katherine

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.

Ashtyn

Oregon State University is a great school, and I really enjoy being a part of it. The campus is beautiful and traditional, and there is a huge sense of community in Corvallis. Corvallis is very much so considered a college town, and that's another reason it is so much fun. There really aren't too many places to go that aren't accessible (on campus or off) by foot. Campus is in a compacted area and the streets are lined with beautiful trees which remind me each day how lucky I am to be attending O.S.U. The one thing so great about our school is the innovation surrounding it. Our school has a great environmental science program and is all about researching strategies to become more environmentally sustainable. Also, beginning in 2012, our school will be tobacco smoke free, which I think is great because encouraging something so harmful to our health isn't necessary. If you look back on famous alumni, we have crazy innovators such as the inventor of the computer mouse; Pulitzer Prize winners; NASA Astronauts; a Novel Peace Prize winner; Olympians; Politicians; and even Playboy Playmates (not sure if that gives us more street cred, or makes us look ridiculous, but hey, we'll claim on it).

Josh

My biggest concern while attending OSU was the way the school spent its money. There are several things for which I was charged while attending, things of which I will never see use. Some people feel that the school spends money it could use to fix older buildings to purchase frivolous things,such as the woven-willow-limb sculptures by Patrick Dougherty which, while very interesting to see, is designed to fall apart in the coming years. However, many other things make up for the money situation, such as the idea that OSU does want its students to succeed, showing that by offering "stress-free week" in the recreation center, complete with free massages. The campus is beautiful, and Corvallis is a reasonably nice city: there are many things to do that offer special student discounts, and there are a lot of very nice places to go for drinks and dinner

Regan

Oregon State has a family-vibe that invites students in; you can go to Fred Meyer, get your hair done across the street, then walk to campus, running into half a dozen or so friends. What was meant to be an hour outing has turned into two because everyone's talking to everyone. OSU has over 20,000 students, but it still manages to feel tight-knit. The administration seems to get a fairly positive review from what I hear. One thing I do hear pretty consistently, though, is the pricing of books. As I'm sure is with many other universities, book prices are high, and it's frustrating when professors change books every year. This means there is no way buy the books back, or sell them, or use them again for the next segment of the courses. Many of my science and math friends have a collection of textbooks, some hundreds of dollars worth, that are collecting dust on their shelves. But if that's the worst thing I hear, I'd say this school is a great choice. OSU has become a home that will be difficult to leave. There was a recent event, a football player had a heart attack in the recreation center, that devastated the community. They've come together to support not only the team pride, but the young man, his family, his friends, and anyone that had the pleasure of meeting him. This is what I will take away from college - going to football games and forming a great group of friends that cheer together, every game, for four years now.

Caroline

It's a pretty small school, located in a college town that most people find very boring. The parties are all related to frats and sororities, so if you're not into that, you just do drugs and become a vegetable like everyone else. There's not much school pride, but it's a very laid back atmosphere which can be really nice. There are often a lot of frat boys running around in thongs, so that's nothing unusual on campus. Because of it being located in a college town, it's pretty far away from everything city-wise, so you will have to not mind being basically in the woods. The campus is small and most people walk or bike around.

Erin

The size of OSU is just right. Small enough so you can develop your own group and say hi to people on the way to class, but large enough that you see new people every day. I spend most of my time on campus at this amazing cafe called Bings, they make DELICIOUS calzinis. Corvallis is totally a college town which is amazing. Everywhere you go, you are bound to see beaver gear and get congratulated for wearing beaver gear! On game days, the town basically shuts down and everyone goes to the colosseum.