Portland State University — Local services in Portland

PSU is a mixed bag. Really good teachers, but also really bad teachers. The university studies program is a joke. If you get a bachelors degree in anything besides art history or liberal studies, you will have to take these inquiry classes and a senior capstone. These classes are forced upon you and resemble more of a book club gathering rather than an actual class. You have to talk about your feelings, and half the time you are just listening to what other students have to say. Little knowledge is gained, except for understanding other people's viewpoints. The senior capstone requires you to waste your time getting involved with the community. You have a mentor who pretty much babysits you and checks your progress. These classes are essentially an extension of high school. I would reccomend that you transfer in your second year to avoid these joke classes. I was forced to get a liberal studies degree because I didnt want to spend an extra year and a half in school hearing about other student's feeling and views...and some ultra liberal teacher trying to brainwash everyone.

Now that I am done bitching about my one major gripe I will tell you why PSU is good....and there are many reasons.

The diversity of people at the school is great. You are not just stuck with a bunch of standard white oregonians, jocks, etc.... There is a huge asian student body, as well as many other people from all over the world. The student body here on average is very smart and knowledgeable about the world, even more so than at OSU or UofO(which is just filled with a bunch of the same people). There are a few hippies and hipsters....but the other awesome studens help balance them out.

The campus is very nice looking I think. The location is ideal, and this is the reason I spent 7 years of my life attending the school. Right in the center of one of the best big cities in America, PSU offers a unique urban experience that other major Oregon universities cant offer. The wide variety of food and events near campus is awesome.

The rapid growth of this school is also a good reason to attend this school. Every year a brand new semi-skyscraper goes up for student housing or classes. Businesses around campus are booming especially food carts and restaurants. Right now PSU is considered about an average university, but within a decade I can see it start to be considered more presitgious and well known than Oregon State and maybe even University of Oregon.

Well I gotta jet. I would recommend Portland State if you wanna go to school in an amazing city. This is really the only worthy selling point to go here besides the other big universities in Oregon. There are parties and such at PSU, but if you wanna kinda avoid the party/drug/drinking scene PSU would kinda be a good choice since a lot of the students commute or are more mature. There is a lot of hard drug use though....probably more than other colleges, but this is a small percentage of people. I mean Courtney Love went here!!! Ok I am done rambling.....Go to PSU if you want a more urban and international experience rather than a fratty sporty drunken jock...

I have been a student here for a very long time (too long). Almost every professor I had was excellent and passionate about their job. And the one that wasn't was still a very kind person. I really cannot complain about the people here at all.

What I will complain about is the way the school allocates its funding. It seems like they do not provide enough basic equipment for the physics labs (at least they didn't when I took them). They have a lot of weird requirements that are designed to get you to spend more money. They seem to be spending a lot of money on advertising and other projects while not funding their professors or graduate students very well. The stipends they offer are quite low for a city like Portland.

I also was unable to get a teaching assistantship there even though I felt I was adequately qualified. When I was a biology student, I also had a hard time finding volunteer research experiences with the professors. It seems like student outreach and career counseling is lacking as well. I wish they had more career guidance and job training integrated into curriculum.

Academically, I would say the school is easier than it should be. But you get what you put in. I've had courses where I didn't put in an honest amount of effort and still was given an A (where I didn't really deserve it), but I have also had courses where I felt I really worked hard and learned the topic well. It's a mixed bag. If all you care about is the grade, you will find it easier to maintain a high GPA here than at a more prestigious school. But if you want to learn and challenge yourself, the opportunity is still present.

My advice to any prospective student is to avoid pure sciences or arts programs (not due to any failure of the school, but rather due to the economy). If you're going to spend money on a degree, it's best to go into a field with some sort of return on that investment, such as engineering or computer science.

The culture of PSU is one mostly of commuters and adults looking to further their education. The frat/party life seemed nonexistent to me. (But I honestly wouldn't know about such things...) It's likely different from the traditional college experience you watch on TV.

I feel like the demographics of the university definitely have a strong liberal/socialist bias. If you are a conservative, you will feel marginalized here, and you will be discouraged from expressing your views.

Overall, I am satisfied with the education I received here (my personal experience was as a pure science/math undergrad and as a grad student in math), but it honestly wasn't anything I couldn't have simply learned by downloading a book off the internet or watching some youtube lectures. That holds for most colleges though. School (especially if you aren't doing some sort of research) is for people who are unwilling to learn on their own. That's really the most valuable thing my experience at this school...

Unfortunately, my experience at Portland State University (PSU) left much to be desired, prompting me to provide a one-star rating. Several factors contributed to my dissatisfaction with the institution. Here are the key reasons behind my disappointment:

Lack of Administrative Efficiency: PSU's administrative processes were frequently marred by inefficiency and disorganization. From registration and course selection to financial aid and academic advising, I encountered numerous instances of delays, miscommunication, and unresponsiveness. These issues created unnecessary obstacles and added stress to an already demanding academic journey.

Limited Course Availability and Scheduling Challenges: The limited availability of courses and scheduling conflicts were major concerns during my time at PSU. Essential courses required for graduation were often overbooked or offered at inconvenient times, making it difficult to create a well-rounded academic schedule. This lack of flexibility significantly hindered my ability to complete my degree within a reasonable timeframe.

Inadequate Faculty Support and Engagement: I found the level of faculty support and engagement at PSU to be below expectations. While there were undoubtedly dedicated and passionate professors, there were also instances of disinterested and unresponsive faculty members. This lack of engagement affected the overall quality of instruction and hindered opportunities for meaningful academic growth and mentorship.

Limited Resources and Facilities: PSU's resources and facilities fell short of what I anticipated from a university of its stature. Insufficient library resources, outdated technology, and overcrowded study spaces were recurrent issues. These limitations undermined the learning environment and hindered access to necessary tools and materials for academic success.

Campus Safety Concerns: Safety concerns were prevalent on and around the PSU campus. Reports of crime, including theft and assaults, raised significant alarm among students. Despite efforts to address these issues, the overall security measures and their effectiveness were questionable. This compromised the overall sense of safety and well-being on campus.

In conclusion, my experience at Portland State University was deeply unsatisfactory. The lack of administrative efficiency, limited course availability, inadequate faculty support, limited resources and facilities, and campus safety concerns all contributed to my disappointment. Higher education institutions should prioritize providing a conducive learning environment and supporting student success, but PSU fell short in these areas. As a result, I cannot recommend PSU as an institution that adequately meets the needs and expectations of...