I recently returned from a trip to the Pacific Northwest where I toured seven Oregon schools and attended a symposium with several more. I was delighted to be on this group tour as Oregon schools draw heavily from California, and I was eager to learn more about them.
One major take-away from my trip is that it rains in Oregon. A lot. I will not be able to pretend otherwise with my prospective Oregon-bound students. Willamette pointed out that it rains more in Philadelphia than it does in Salem. I could not independently verify that nor could I believe Oregon State when they said that that day was the only day it had rained all year. Hmmm… However, several of our student tour guides hailed from California, and they each said that they easily adjusted to the rainy weather. One said he just decided that he couldn’t stay inside all of the time, and he needed to just “get over it.” Student tour guides are a valuable information source because although they work for admissions, their marketing skills are not quite as polished, and they typically answer questions honestly. I could not help but notice that in all cases, we had our hoods up and were huddled under umbrellas while our guides seemed to be oblivious to the massive amounts of water falling from the sky. It made the mother in me a little uneasy when one wouldn’t even zip his jacket (Yes, I’m talking to you, Lewis and Clark). Conclusion: It rains in Oregon, but it doesn’t dampen (sorry for the pun) the experience for students, even those who have had little exposure to inclement weather.
Another thing I learned which seemed to be true of all Oregon schools is that the students take advantage of the outdoor opportunities that Oregon has to offer. Some made their first close friends on freshmen excursions, and many participate in school sponsored trips to mountains, rivers, etc. Most boasted about how inexpensive the trips are and that the clubs provide the necessary equipment. This was true across the broad spectrum of schools we visited; the students love being in Oregon which has a beautiful coastline, Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor, the Columbia and Willamette Rivers and so much more. Forest Park in Portland is one of the country’s largest urban forest preserves and has over 70 miles of hiking trails. Outdoor enthusiasts need to seriously consider Oregon schools.
The students we met were all bright and engaging but were all so different from one another. I think it is safe to say that between all of the schools, there is something and someplace for everyone. We met athletes, a cappella vocalists, political activists, sorority girls, foodies, and self-described nerds. Many said that their Oregon school had not really been on their radar until they visited, and that visit changed everything. What they all saw was community and friendship and opportunity and engaged faculty. They learned of unparalleled research and (paid!) internship possibilities. They committed to go to school in Oregon with no regrets.
Oregon offers quintessential urban schools (think Portland State) and more rural schools with a classic college town adjacent to it and suburban schools that offer the best of both worlds. Many are heavily influenced by the natural wonders abundant in Oregon and have developed renowned specialties in subjects like Marine Biology and Forestry (Oregon State University, Corvalis), Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership (Oregon State University, Cascades) and Earth Sciences (University of Oregon). In addition to the natural beauty and resources of Oregon, the state is experiencing economic growth and with that comes opportunity. University of Oregon has a Sports Product Management degree that would not be possible without their close ties with Nike. Many schools (Linfield, University of Portland and more) sited the fact that for pre-Health and nursing students, there are numerous clinics and hospitals-48 in Portland alone.
Oregon is home to many great academic opportunities, but students are hesitant about living there. So many of my students come to me saying they want a specific academic program, and they want to stay in California. I understand, but that is so limiting. Every single nursing program in California is impacted, but not in Oregon. The University of California is extremely selective and many of our capable students can’t get in, and this is increasingly true of California State Universities as well, but the public schools in Oregon want to say “yes” to Californians. In fact they want to admit everyone! University of Oregon wants to expand in order to accommodate the increasing demand; they are not chasing the selectivity statistic. We have an excellent higher education system in California, but it simply cannot accommodate many of our students. They need to consider our picturesque neighbor to the north.
I got wet in Oregon which was a change of pace for this San Diego girl, but I didn’t melt. In fact I had a great time and learned so much about educational opportunities in Oregon. My students who consider and eventually matriculate to schools in Oregon won’t melt either. I promise, and in my job, I’m not allowed to promise very much!
For questions regarding specific public universities and liberal arts colleges in Oregon or about the college admissions process in general, please contact me. I am an Independent Educational Consultant specializing in helping students and their families navigate the college application process.