University of Portland Top Questions

Visit ev ery campus befiore you make your final choice and make sure it is not on a visitation day because they tend to dress up schools.

Do your research, go on a campus tour, stay overnight if possible

When you look at a college dont look at the all the parties going on there but rther focus on the academics and what is offered. You do not want to go into a university that does not offer anything that you actually want to do after graduation just because it has a popular football team or the best parties around. College is an experience that is meant to be both fun and enlightening. There is a right college for each person and you have to delve into what you are really looking for before choosing one. Go to the campus visit days, talk to current students and professors and if possible, try to sit in on one of the classes that might be interesting. We all have different tastes when it comes to schools. For some of us, a large state school is best while others prefer the more one-on-one type smaller classes. Go with what best suits your tastes and you will be well on your way to having a very enjoyable college experience.

In order to make the best choice, I'd advice students to visit the campus while classes are in session and to stay overnight with hosts from the university in the dorms. Visiting campus and attending classes with host or hostess will allow the prospective student to see first hand what life is like. It also allows them to experience the food, life and culture of the university. Once students get to the college of their choice, in order to make the most out of it, they should seek out clubs and activities that interest them and try to talk to and interact with as many people who share the same interests as them. For success in the classroom, forming study groups and getting contact information from people in class will aid in forming bonds with people that will last a lifetime, as well as help in getting the grades the graduate.

Make sure you visit the college/university, talk not only to the tour guides but students you see walking around on campus. If possible stay the night so you can get a better idea of the dorms. Sit in on a class to find out the class size, teaching style, student attitude, etc. Get your applications in early! Don't wait, just get them done, it's a pain no matter when you do them. Make sure they have extra curriculars you want to participate in, don't just depend on academics to keep you occupied. Go somewhere where you will enjoy the weather and surrounding city. You need to be able to go off campus sometimes and enjoy the city and area you live in. If you are looking into a science make sure they allow undergraduates to participate in research. Make sure the college/university is interested in making sure you succeed not only there but also once you get out into the real world, or that they will prepare you for graduate school. I would make sure they have a study abroad program too, but that's just me. Good luck.

I would suggest looking at the programs offered at the school, flexibility, the recreational facilities and student union, I would definitely sit in on a couple classes that interest you, travel to and from your home to the school (for breaks etc), and the weather should play a factor in your choice.

I would tell prospective students to make sure they visit schools they're interested in before attending, because each campus has such a different feel to it. I would tell incoming freshman to live on campus and get involved in the university community and campus events. Good connections are made, and an appreciation for the organization and work effort of the campjs community is gained. A lot of people love to complain, when they have no experience in what they're complaining about. It is so valuable to actually get involved in the universty community through whatever sounds interesting - explore all the options! Intramural sports, volunteer work, campus bands, events, on-campus jobs. There are lots of avenues and it is so much more fun and welcoming when you are involved.

I would tell parents to really let their children explore new things and places. It's such an incredible experience, and it will only make your relatonship stronger the more supportive you are. For students, apply early, try new things, and don't be afraid to meet new people. The dorms are nice for the first year, but after that, there are often better options. Find that nice balance between studying and having fun. You will stay up all night at least once, but that might be some of your best memories.

It's difficult to answer this question, because the phrase "making the most of the college experience" can mean any sort of different things to different people. Some may equate this with learning valuable skills in a specific area of study, while others prefer to interpret this phrase as partying three nights a week. For me, this phrase means that I need to use college as a test ground to develope the skills that I will need in my approaching life as a responsible and happy adult, be they skills in writing, speaking, confidence, my selected major, or relationships. I believe that this cannot be achieved without an immersion of oneself into the college community, into the groups, classes, and relationships that define college life. Being nervous and introverted will prevent college from developing into the experience of discovery and refinement that it is intended to be. Carbon cannot become a diamond without intense pressure, and a teenager cannot become an adult unless he or she is exposed to the realities of life, and there is no better place to prepare oneself than the college community. If you are fearless, college WILL be a rewarding, wherever you choose to go.

Bottom line, understand who you are now, and understand where you want to be four years from now. If you're an introvert who specializes in computers or literature, attend a smaller school with intense programs that will focus on those areas. Competition for getting accepted into specific programs like engineering, nursing, business, education, etc is much less at smaller schools. If you're a socialite but couldn't handle the close atmosphere of highschool and recognizing people everywhere you go, go to a bigger school. Also if you don't know what you want to study, although competition is greater at large schools, they also offer a much wider variety of classes and disciplines within which to study. Visit every school you possibly can of the ones you have applied for. What looks good on paper or a website may not enchant you once you've had a chance to move through it and experience it three dimensionally.