middle of the road

Introduction
To be honest, I was very lazy when it came time to apply for schools and I am paying for it now. PSU was the only school that I applied to, so when I was accepted, it was my only choice. My advice...apply to as many schools as you can (I know it gets expensive), and I would apply to colleges all over the US. I have seen such a variety of people on this campus, so it is hard to say who should stay away. I would definitely not choose PSU if you are looking for the traditional campus experience..for example Greek systems, popular athletic events, and on-campus life.

Campus Life and Social Life
I truly don't have many good things to say about PSU social life. The urban-campus setting makes it very hard to meet people because only a small percentage live on campus. The average class age is in the 30's, so its geared toward those who are returning students versus fresh out of high school. We have a 'greek system' but it is very weak. I think there are 2 frats and 2 sororities...yee-haw! NOT. There are quite a few clubs, but everything becomes very political and it takes away from the true essence and intentions of the clubs. Most sports at PSU are a joke. The games are somewhat fun to attend, but not many people do. For a school of upwards of 25,000 people, you maybe see about 100 at the games. I lived on campus my freshman year...I had very mixed feelings. It was nice to meet some people, but, the living conditions were less than appealing. The dorm rooms (in the Ondine) were very spacious compared to other places, but the hellish condition of the building didn't really make it worthwhile. In spring 2003, the ondine flooded from the 8th floor down and a couple rooms on the third floor continuely overflowed with raw sewege...disgusting I know. But I am being brutally honest because I wish someone had been with me. Weekends are okay, but the downtown isn't much fun if you are under 21. It rains A LOT. If you don't like the rain, don't move here. It isn't worth it. I come from a state where rainy days are few and far between, so seeing rain everyday for a month straight will drive a person crazy. Seasonal Affective Depression is real, trust me. I know I sound like a bitter person, but really, I am not. PSU is just not that great of a school for someone fresh out of high school. Advertisement
Academics
Ahh...the academics. If you don't already know, PSU has replaced general core classes with a system called University Studies. It sucks. They say it is meant to encircle all core classes into one and help you meet people, but its worthless. I have never talked to one person who believes in this system. Even the professors who teach it find it to be worthless. The university studies classes are not fun and have an intense workload. I think that many professors believe that university studies is the only class you are taking. No joke, in my freshman inquiry I had more homework than any of my other three classes combined. Oh, and another thing about university studies... none of the classes fit with majors...they are very strange. Other than university studies, the classes are ok. I came from a private school, so I find the classes very easy. I had to try harder in high school to pass. Professors at PSU are okay...its the luck of the draw, as it is with any college.

Student Body
Wow, I dont think that there are any typical students at this school. Students range in age from 17-80(no joke). PSU has all races,religions, and sexual orientations. The majority of students are from the Portland-Metro area, but there are others too. I have observed that most people are into their own thing...they have a unique style of dress, speech, and other habits. PSU has a very weird student population, but it makes for good people-watching.

In Closing...
I just want to reiterate that I am not bitter about this school. I was not well informed when going through the college application process. I wish someone had told me the dirty truth about things. Everyone is trying to convince you that their school is the best, but you need to see for yourself. I truly believe that you should go visit the schools you are most interested in (that have accepted you) before committing anywhere. Once again, I didn't visit PSU until I had commited and signed up for the dorms and everything else, so I was stuck. VISIT SCHOOLS!!!