Portland State University Reviews
This university is suitable for students who can find their own way, but also know when to ask for help; assistance is not always given freely. Many of the faculty and staff are helpful when approached. The professors within the music department are easy to talk to and are all great teachers. The professors within the physics department are more traditional. If you find a good advisor, stick with him or her because sometimes, good advisors are difficult to find. I found that some of my physics professors were teaching in order to keep up their research, whereas some are passionate about teaching. The music department is only one of two in Oregon that is a School of Music. The education received through the music department, for me, was invaluable. However, the physics department is not exemplary, but I certainly have learnt a lot from my classes. Opportunities for research are not handed out; you have to explore and approach professors if you are interested in research. The university studies programme receives disparate reviews. I found it a lot of fun. Although I did not learn as much from my university studies classes as I might have by taking honours classes or the traditional baccalaureate-core classes, I was fortunate to have some really great professors with whom I remain in contact. It is a great way to take classes that you may not have even thought about taking, or might not be able to fit in as electives depending on your schedule. The flexibility and online classes and on-campus classes also provides other opportunities to take different courses. Furthermore, because this university is an urban campus with many adult and/or working students, the professors and advisors do not push you in one direction or another, depending on your interests. For example, double majoring as University of Oregon would have been incredibly difficult, and my music advisor there in fact told me I had to choose between physics and music. The faculty in both the music department and physics department at PSU supported my goal of obtaining my double major, and encouraged it. Although the structure of a degree is somewhat flexible, the classes themselves are often structured and provide many learning opportunities. It was also very easy to take courses during the summer. Although PSU is not the highest rated university in Oregon, I am glad I went there. Regardless of the praise I am giving PSU concerning academics, the financial support available to the students is somewhat minimal. If you are depending on many funds (scholarships, grants, etc.) PSU might not be for you. They do not receive the funds U of O, or even OSU, receive and therefore are not able to provide these funds to their students. Also, although I did not experience any violence first hand, because PSU is in the middle of Downtown Portland, there is a risk of assault, etc. on campus. There were a number of reports during my time at school, but often late at night. PSU is serious about keeping their students safe, so if you feel uncomfortable walking around campus alone, especially at night, there are security officials always available. In addition, there are a couple of "sketchy" parts of campus, often on the outskirts of campus away from many other buildings, to be aware of, especially when walking alone.
The psychology classes often overlap, so you learn the same few concepts multiple times. You end up learning the foundations really well because of that but it can be frustrating when you are wanting to learn new things and get the most out of each class. If you are planning on going to graduate school to be a counselor then it can be great for forming relationships with professors but if not, another area of study would be better.
Portland State is a school with reasonable tuition rates and passable academics. The teachers are quite hit or miss. But, the location of the school can't be beat.
Very liberal arts driven, but has very much forgotten about many of its most important departments. Politically active and dominated by political correctness.
Portland State University provides the opportunity to receive an education while being involved in the urban core of the city. Though this campus doesn't offer the typical college experience, it is a great place for those wanting to incorporate being a student with a dynamic, urban lifestyle. Many students work or otherwise involved in the community, making this a unique place to learn and share experiences.
Great intercity school; was able to take in-class sessions since I do not prefer online only; allowed me to juggle a job.
I thought it was a very unique and interesting program, however, I feel as thought they let almost anyone into the program. There were many students there who did not care about the value of their education, they just cared about getting a degree. Also, many of the students English was not strong enough to be in an all English speaking program.
Personally, my college education and the experiences that came along with it were solely for the purpose of earning a degree to better my odds of finding employment and earn a higher income. I switched majors a total of three times and later decided to double-major into HR management. College was invaluable to my career now however can be be troublesome without financial support.
It was a great experience, expensive, and my sought career has nothing to do with my major. The adventure itself was the education.
I think that PSU is a dynamic and diverse (for Portland) urban university. It may not have a great deal of prestige, but I felt very good about the quality of education I received there. The unique general education system (the University Studies program) makes fulfilling general education requirements a much more streamlined process and provides many opportunities for learning outside of one's major.
