The truth about Portland State University

Introduction
I chose Portland State University because it was close to home and I had hoped to save money by commuting. I had heard pretty decent things about the school, so I decided to give it a shot. I realized very quickly that I had made a very wrong choice. I was always a very social person in high school and loved the experience for that reason. However, I learned that PSU is mostly a school for commuters. Most colleges have an average age of 21 years or so, PSU's average age seems like it's 30. I would not recommend this school to someone who is seeking the "college experience" or someone who hopes to meet a lot of people. Because the school is located in the heart of downtown Portland, it lacks any feelings of community within the campus.

Campus Life and Social Life
There is not much of a social life at PSU. Most parties are off campus and for upper classman only, and there are not an array of club options. It is an extremely liberal school, and unless you feel the same way politically, it is difficult to get involved. Advertisement
Academics
PSU has a good business program with some great professors and a lot of opportunities to use your knowledge to go into the community. The science department is excellent since PSU is a major feeder school into Oregon Health and Science University, which is one of the top 10 medical/nursing schools in teh country. I would say that the liberal arts/sciences would not be PSU's strongest department in my experience.

Student Body
PSU is comprised of the most diverse group of students that I have ever come into contact with. There are the typical straight out of high school students, athletes, thespians, and sorority/fraternity students. But what makes PSU so diverse is that a majority of the students work full time, or have families, or are adults returning to school to finish their degree. It is neat to have such a wide array of race, age, gender, and political views in every one of your classes. However, it is this diversity that causes PSU to be a commute school and lack a sense of community.

In Closing...
I would say that PSU is not a university for everyone. If you want a school that gives you a "city" feel or that allows you to juggle academia with a full time work load, then PSU is right for you. If you are looking for the "college experience" and hold the social aspect of college in high esteem, then I would reconsider PSU as your choice. I hope that this helps someone in deciding about their future college endeavors.