5 Things to Ask About on Your Campus Visit at Portland State University

Some colleges are great for certain people and their goals, but not for others. Here is a rundown of what you want to look for when you do a college campus visit at Portland State University.

1.) Decide Why You Want to Attend Portland State University

No college will be perfect, but some will have a lot of great things that make it worthwhile to attend. Many people attend Portland State University because they want the experience of living in Portland.

PSU is great if you want to go to a school that has a focus on sustainability. Don’t go if you want to be in a fraternity, or if you want a strong sports team experience. Who has ever heard of the Vikings anyway? That is the PSU team mascot. If you are from out-of-state, one thing that you can’t check out on an initial campus visit is what it is like to live in Portland during the winter.

Many people who have never lived in Portland say that they love the rain and the clouds, but they’ve never experienced it for 9 months straight. It can take its toll on your mental health, especially if you are from one of the Sunbelt states.

2.) Check Out the Dorm Situation. Can You Live There? Would You Want to? 

You are required to live in the dorms for your first year of school. Known as the First Year Experience, this is meant to help you transition to university life. You have the option of having all of your meals provided through the cafeteria, as well as other perks. It also doesn’t hurt that you can roll out of bed and into your classroom in the morning.

Some dorm buildings can smell a little funny and the walls are a little thin. The classic, college dorm experience can make up for it, though. Since you are living with hundreds of people your own age, there are all sorts of shenanigans going on and it can be fun.

You will most likely have a roommate. One of my friends had a roommate who would have a guest over for some romantic times, so my friend slept on the bench in the hallway. So, there is that risk when sharing a room with another 18-year-old.

3.) Talk to the Professors and Advisors in the Department of the Major you are Interested in Pursuing. 

Is this a good school for the field of study you want to pursue? Ask about what types of careers this program can prepare you for, and what the main goal of the program is.

For example, I studied Communications. This major is so broad that it includes classes on how people and organizations communicate with each other, all the way to TV and Film studies and even media production.

It is a great idea to have a clear goal for what you want to be doing after school. Although many people go to school and figure it out along the way, asking the academic advisors about the resources that are available is important.

4.) Check out the Library, Fitness Center and Other Perks to see if this will be a Worthwhile Experience.  

One of the great things about college is that you can experience a lot of self-discovery during the process. When a school offers a lot of opportunities and choices, it can open you up to a world of so many possibilities that you didn’t even know existed.

Portland State University is an urban campus. It has a lot of great facilities like a new gym, a space for students to work on their bicycles, and services for promoting a general sense of well being. The campus is also close to a lot of fantastic things to do.

Check out what kinds of groups exist on campus and see if you can find your niche. If there isn’t something on campus, Portland has a lot of groups and organizations throughout the city.

5.) Ask Students, Especially Those Who are Studying What You Want to Study.

Ask how they feel about the school and how it fits with their goals. You can ask student alumni how their education worked out for them by contacting the Alumni Association.

Many alums are happy to offer a piece of advice to prospective students who are interested in pursuing what they have studied. A caveat to this piece of advice: you can’t always take any one person’s opinion at total face value, so ask a variety of people.

J. Emanuel Stuart, originally from Las Vegas, NV, attended Portland State University from 2006 to 2010. He graduated with a B.A. in Communication Studies, and was a member of an Honor Society. He enjoyed the urban campus at Portland State University and currently lives in Los Angeles.