Portland State University Reviews

"I was looking for a college that I could take the majority (if not all) of my courses online because I work full-time, but also wanted a school that was reputable. I completed my Bachelors in Social Sciences online in 6 terms. I had a strong focus on rural social work and children family studies. The instructors were amazing and a took a great deal from my education and applied it to my work. I was fortunate that my ideal job opened just as I finished my degree and because of my course work and degree I got the job!! I plan to return to Portland State University to obtain my Master in Social Work. I highly recommend Portland State University."

"Seems a little too for-profit at times (not to mention an insistence upon academia only), but the coursework is solid and some of the professors are amazing. This is even without mentioning the network of students and faculty, and the ability to experience what it's like to actually work at a publishing house."

"The pro of this program is that it is in an awesome city, that it is a new program that the staff and school are still excited about. There is great networking."

"Pros: So far, I've had great professors as a post-bac student. The courses aren't easy, but the profs really want you to succeed. The campus itself is very accessible by public transportation, a very important fact to me. I can get there by bus, lightrail or streetcar. I also love the surrounding area. Another pro, specific to this program, is the diversity of the student body. We have sizeable populations of Middle Eastern and Far Eastern students, and I've been able to volunteer with teachers in the Intensive English Language Program, which is a great opportunity. Cons: There's been some drama between the teachers and the administration, culminating in a near-miss with a teachers' strike this term. It was quite stressful. Also, they don't get much in terms of work-study dollars, which makes working on campus less of a possibility than at other schools. That's mainly about the school and not about the program itself, which I have no complaints about so far."

"Pros: Includes the only student-run publishing house in the world for practical experience. A well-rounded education in the book publishing industry, from editing and design to marketing and copyright practices. Cons: Very expensive."

"I believe achieving a Master's Degree in Health Studies of Exercise and Nutrition will only further my career and leave me well-equipped for the health field. Whether I choose a career in Wellness, Personal Training, Sports and Peace International Affairs or Health Promotion, Portland State University's Graduate school is building an invaluable skill set for any of those endeavors. As a first year Graduate student, is it difficult to fully grasp the pros and cons of this program. I believe wholeheartedly this was an advantageous decision to enroll, however I also fully understand there are more creditable programs out there."

"Engineering Technology and Management Programs is one of the specialized program to prepare today's engineers to be tomorrow's leaders/managers. Portland state university has a very good program with highly qualified faculty and diverse student's experience after working for different companies for several years makes class participation interesting and competitive."

"PSU is the only campus in Oregon offering an MSW degree. The program has a high interest in student success and works hard to ensure students can do the best they can. There is a lot of support through the school for students in need. I live at home and am an older adult student so I can't address the social life or life on campus aspect"

"Great program with professor willing to impart world-class knoledge"

"Great program with lots of experienced faculty who provide lots of support. Great to have an on-campus clinic and be in the heart of Portland downtown!"

"I feel like many of the classes were worthwhile but unnecessary for the degree. Most of the teachers were great though, and the support was fantastic!"

"A definite pro of Portland State's Developmental Psychology graduate school program was the connectivity to real world problems and research projects. As a student I was encouraged and given opportunities to go out and apply theory in settings that had a real impact. Some of my favorite "Aha!" moments were when I was partnering with a school or a community organization to understand the factors and indicators to student success. A con was how strict the first two years were around working with the class schedule. The demands did not easily allow a student to work other jobs in order to cover living expenses. Though Graduate Assistant ships were provided it sometimes wasn't enough to make ends meet."

"I absolutely love my graduate program. I feel as if I'm learning useful, real life skills. The faculty is understanding and open to diversity and differing points of views. The work load is perfect, no "busy" work and there is no "weeding out" going on. The faculty truly wants the students to succeed and the material to be useful and well learned. I do not like that financial aid does not offer any aid for graduate students for living expenses unless you live on campus. It makes the graduate school experience very stressful when having to work full time and go to school full time because there is not much aid offered for graduate students."

"It is a stepping stone to where I want to be, which means there is more academia in order to have the job that I want, or as I like to call it, the end goal. The city is beautiful but it takes some getting used to. Especially, when you are used to a smaller downtown district. It just means there is more to do here."

"Competitively driven towards producing above-par graduates, priced accordingly."

"Pros are financial support for a period of time, ie graduate assistantships which provide some funds as well as teaching experience. Although, the requirement of teaching can also be viewed as a con if it takes a large amount of time away from your primary research. I think the faculty here in the biology department is good caliber. Some of the cons associated with research here is the lack of equipment at the university itself. That being said there is an opportunity to use facilities at OHSU for sequencing purposes and also graduate students can take advantage of classes at OHSU without paying any extra."

"Tell us about your college experience.Very diverse, a lot of people who been in the job market. professors are not all about research.Would you get the same degree if you could start over?Yes because finance is marketable.What advice can you offer other students?Choose a practical college."

"The primary benefit to this particular program is the hands on practicum experience. Students will work with patients within the first two years. This is an exceptional system that lends itself directly to real world experience and job placement. On the down side, this means the program is a year longer than most. It does ensure, though, that all tracks (rehab, school counseling, family etc) will be eligible for an LPC after completion."

"Tell us about your college experience.College was a good experience for me, it was both challanging and interesting. My school was a good fit for me, and had a lot of good resources for a student.Would you get the same degree if you could start over?No I would not choose the same degree. It didn't help me find a job and I am not very interested in it any longer.What advice can you offer other students?Dont go to school unless you really have a desire to get something out of a particular degree--plan better before accumulating debt."

"MSW program is small and personal... discussion is encouraged. Easy access to instructors"