University of Portland Top Questions

Make sure to visit college campuses and talk to current students!!!!!

If you are a high school student trying to find which colleges to apply to, I would recommend using one of the college match search websites, such as the Princeton Review. You can fiddle around with your answers, such as how diverse you want the school to be, if they have a strong greek life, etc. The website then gives you a list of colleges or universities which you can learn more about. It can be easy to simply follow the footsteps of older siblings, or go to the type of college all of your friends are going to. I would encourage everyone to look at schools outside of their home state, in cities you may have heard of or don't know anything about. College can be an opportunity to do something you always dreamed of or live in a city you've always been intrigued with. The most important thing I can say is to try to break out of your comfort zone and look up all types of schools, you might find a passion or an interest you never thought you had. This is your life, your experiences, and you get to make the choice.

When finding the right college I definately suggest going for a campus visit! I visited the University of Portland and immediately felt it was the right school for me. The financial aid process is very tricky and there is space for error so I suggest that if you are concerned with the financial situation, talk with the financial aid office; make sure you know the exact cost and how much you may have to take out in loans. Honestly, college is a very confusing time in a young adult's life. With figuring out who you are and what you want to do for the rest of your life, this time can get stressful. I suggest talking with friends, RAs, HDs, and other soures available to work through it. Also, whether or not you were active in high school, this is a time to start fresh. Look in to activities that the campus is offering and what is outside the campus. And remember, you get out what you put in! Go for it!

Ultimately, your college experience is going to be as good as you decided to make it. I truly believe that you can find the party atmosphere at almost any college if that's what you're looking for. Likewise, you can submerge yourself in academia and get a fantastic education, if you really dig deep. I believe that no matter the diversity of a school, you can still be yourself. It comes down to having confidence in who you are, knowing what you believe in, and working hard to get it. College will give you a degree, yes. However, I think the point is personal and cognitive development as well. It is a place where you decide who you are, what you stand for, and how you are going to live. It is a transition from high school to the real world that teaches you to keep your mind active, and hopefully, dynamically adaptive. No matter where you go, there will be fantastic opportunities, so it's your job to pick the school that seems to fit you best. Remember you will change in college, so it may not be the best fit after four years! But OH WELL!!

Choosing the right school requires understanding one?s own character. Will you feel lost in a freshman class size of 5000? Or perhaps a large crowd is where you will thrive. Though you want to study mathematics, perhaps you have a strong passion for skiing or mountain climbing. Or maybe you need a change of setting from cows and horses to streetlights and skyscrapers.. While a lot of these things may seem insignificant, remember: you will potentially be living in this setting for four years. You want to be in an environment that suits you as a whole. So think about your needs, your wants, your passions; prioritize them and investigate which school fits you best. If you can, visit the campus, take a tour, sit in on some classes, and ask current students whatever is on your mind. If all goes well, after a good visit your decision will already be made. To make the most of your college experience once you?ve made it in, just stay true to your ambitions. If you love your studies, explore them to their fullest. Meet people. Have fun, but study hard. Get involved, stay busy. You make it worthwhile!

It can be hard to find the right college, my best advice would be to visit the school and talk to students who currently go there, asking them to be as honest as possible. It would be best to visit durring a time when students are on campus so that you can really get a feel for things there. Consider all the options. Weigh the pros and cons such as the beneifits and drawbacks to having a small school, a large school, etc.. Think about your personality and where you might fit in. Who do you want to be? Who are you already? Find a place that is in conjunction with the ways that you view yourself, or the way you want to surround yourself and be shaped. And remember, no decision is absolutely final; if you aren't ultimately happy at the school you pick- transfer. The most important thing is hat you find somewhere where you can fit in and have fun, learn, grow, and challenge yourself. No one wants to be miserable for four years. Trust your instincts, if something about the school doesn't feel quite right, it might not be the best place for you.

Have a strong idea of what you would like to get out of college and find one that fits into those aspirations and goals. If you want to grow in character and as a person, it is wise to choose a college that is a little bit outside your comfort zone (i.e. if you've grown up in a certain denomination of Christianity, don't go to that denomination's college). Beyond that, your college experience is what you make it, so there really is not one right answer. If you want community, you'll find commiunity. If you desire a quality education, that is really up to you to make sure that it happens. If you want life long friends, you've got to take the initiative and put yourself out there, knowing that anything worth having does not come without some work.

When looking for a college, think about what is important to you. What kind of academic experience do you want? How available do you want professors to be? How big do you want your classes to be? How challenging should your classes be? Would you get involved in extracurriculars? Study Abroad? The party scene? Think about location. How far do you want to be from home? Do you want to be in a big city or a small town? One of the last things you should think about is sticker price. If the school gives out a substantial amount of financial aid, you could still attend an expensive school without racking up $100,000 in debt. Do your best to earn scholarship money and grants and the overall price for the school will go down. I think that my scholarship cut my overall tuition in half. Before choosing your school, do your research and see how well several colleges fit what's best for you. Visit some campuses. Look around the cities they're in. Choosing the right college can mean a lot for the next few years of your life.

Get into a college that will push you, and if it doesn't, make sure you push you. Take more classes than 15 credits, and try to study abroad either Freshman or Sophomore summer/year (and if you're a foreign language major do it in that country). Try ROTC freshman year, in the very least it'll pay for a year of school Free without payback terms. Go to parties and stuff, even just for the experience. Freshman year is the time where everyone is looking for friends, so get as many of them as you can (people form their groups and it's harder to get in later). Do things. Hike/Camp/Snowboard/Go to the coast... whatever. Get in internship Junior year summer. Applications should be in by December/January. Talk with professors to get contacts, and be specific in your cover letters about what you want to do/apply for. Apply for jobs no later than January of your senior year. Nurture your contacts so they don't mind speaking on your behalf later on. Get internships during the school year too. Exercise and learn a musical instrument (try guitar). Don't study in your room.

Do not underestimate schools that are not well known. Don't be set on a school just because it's well known make sure it has a good program for the degree you seek. Consider the convenience of attending the school not just the cost.