Portland, OR
Portland State University

At first I wasn't fond of the idea of the college being located in downtown Portland. The idea of all the busyness, the cars, the noise, the smells really turned me off at first, I only went because I lived close, which made housing expenses cheaper. Once I started going, I began to actually enjoy the atmosphere of it all. It wasn't as busy as I had originally thought, actually quite quiet at times. The proximity to many businesses and restaurants is also a big plus. There are many food carts on campus, that all serve great food. There are many activities to be found, like the Portland Art Museum being only a few blocks away. Easy transportation by light rail to other parts of Portland, and many things to do right on campus, billiards, bowling, a prayer and meditation room, gardens, galleries, and much more. Overall, its quite a nice school, with an intelligent and friendly student body that cares. My only complaint is the fact that I got my degree in physics, and the physics department is not the most well-funded program at the school, which made the education in this particular field less than ideal, but still good.

I like how Portland state University has been placed in downtown and can easily get to places for opportunities to network in the city. And it is a large enough campus where you can make an effort to do what you want while still having that feeling to keep going for opportunities. It is also really affordable for a university. And there are a lot of really good certificate programs.

For my particular major it was an amazing school with a lot of opportunities for growth in academia, such as conferences, guest lecturers, fellowship and scholarship offerings, etc. There were many ways to be active in student activity groups, study groups, student-organized events, and a lot more. I was a member of several student-run organizations and was employed part-time for the university to help with tuition payment. I had the opportunity to do a study abroad program overseas for multiple summers and one full academic year. There are many foreign languages you can study, with a lot of exposure to tutors and fellow students who are willing to help. The professors are usually available and happy to help. The one downside I encountered was that the politics of the school can get in the way of the student's studies. I found myself very discouraged at times after getting stuck in political games between professors and different departments. This was unfortunate, as it stressed me out so much that it took a lot of courage to finally continue to get my graduate degree. Overall great school for people who just want to get a degree and move on. It's not an amazing school if you see yourself staying in academia, and need to build long term relationships with professors.

Very good school, I just wish they were more flexible and less expensive with the parking for students.

I think it's a very good fit for students who want an urban campus in Portland, Oregon. There are quite a lot of groups, clubs, and artistic opportunities, and I would encourage students to get involved with activities on campus because you really get out what you put into your experience there.

Hugely diverse student population, not enough teachers or assistance when needed. Additional help can be found in the library, second floor but the tutors are usually hit or miss, most of them don't seem to care about your understanding, they give you the answer and move on or critique your lack of understanding. There are probably more professors I have been told to avoid than to definitely take. Advising is also very backward in thinking, I left offices crying more often than not due to how discouraging and unhelpful they were, but I managed to figure things out on my own and I am happily graduated. Loved the food pantry service for students, and there is always dining available even during construction, which is always. PSU is always under construction and its always noisy, hard to focus even. PSU can be great for some but just was not helpful for me.

It’s a good school, I enjoy going there, my professors and peers are respectful and intelligent and there are a variety of classes offered. The downtown environment offers a good picture of the culture of the Pacific Northwest. There are many options for involvement in and off campus.

For my degree (Anthropology), I think the professors were amazing and the department provided a lot of opportunities for students to get involved in the community and meet professionals. Most of the professors really cared about their students learning the material and being prepared for life after college.

There were only two professors that I felt really made the experience, and the money, worth it. Most of the content was far from thrilling and, once out in the field, I was able to recognize that hardly anything I had learned could be applied in real time. The facilities that we have access to are great as well as the opportunities for students no mater their focus. With it being an urban university, there are an overwhelming about of organizations that utilize the student body for internships and fellowships, which makes it a lot easier for students seeking such opportunities to get ahead. Outside of that, cost continues to rise with very little to show for outside of administrator's annual salary. Additionally, the school participates in hypocrisy with voicing they are with the progressive ideals of the student body while not listening or acting upon the communities concerns.

Portland State is an overall great school if you like the vibes of downtown and less of a campus feel. There's plenty of places to go out and eat if you're into trying new food. Also, the class sizes are nice because they're a small ratio to professor and makes learning easier.