Five Things I Wish I had Known Before Attending Portland State University

1.) Get Ready for a Truly Diverse Learning Environment

Portland State University, or PSU for short, has a campus that is integrated in a city that has a lot of nontraditional students and people coming from many walks of life. Aside from your traditional college students who live in the college dorms, you will be taking classes with grandmothers, former punk rockers who are escaping a life of washing dishes at the vegan greasy spoon, and people who are returning to school to make a career change. This translates into a learning experience where, in any given class, you will encounter many different perspectives, from the radical to the conservative. This is fantastic for getting a more well-rounded worldview. This being Portland, you will more likely encounter the radical perspective in its many forms.

2.) Take Advantage of the Many Resources that PSU Has to Offer

Navigating the college learning experience at PSU can be daunting, but there are people to help you along the way. You just have to ask. Each department has peer mentors who are always there to give you the guidance that you need. Also, there is a professor who can help you figure out your career and academic goals.

PSU has so many resources, but they tend to be hidden and you must seek them out yourself. I met so many people who didn’t know that they could get support for finding a job at the career resource center. The Career Resource Center is where they offer counseling on job-hunting, writing resumes, and career paths. Or, if you need legal counsel, there is the Student Legal Services center.

If you are a first-generation student, there are campus organizations like TRiO, that offer support on things like how to make the most of your financial aid, and to help you be a successful student. The multicultural center is a fantastic community if you are looking for a supportive environment, as well as a resource center for LGBT students. This is only a handful of the many resources that are available to students for free or at an incredibly discounted price.

3.) Check out the Free Movies at the Fifth Avenue Cinema

Oregon’s only student-run cinema, the Fifth Avenue Cinema, has weekly movies that usually run the gamut from camp to cult classics, and classics to contemporary independent films. What is even more exciting is that they are totally free for Portland State Students.

If you want to bring your non-student friend, it is only $3 if they are a student from any school, and $4 for everyone else. It’s great for a cheap date! They typically show films on 35mm, and sometimes digitally. If you think it couldn’t get any better, they also have free popcorn!

4.) Make Friends With Your Professor

I don’t mean make friends so that you can try to slide by without doing any work. What I’m saying is that being friendly with a professor creates a more personable experience, and they will feel as if they are in a room full of students who care about both them and the subject matter.

You don’t have to be all buddy-buddy, but it is nice to go out of your way to say “hi,” or share a thought about the subject material in the class. You never know; you might find out about things that might help you gain experience. For example, if they are looking for a student assistant.

Finally, if you have made friends with them and you ask really nicely, they might just write a letter of recommendation for you. This is great if you decide to apply to grad school. Fortunately, classes at PSU tend not to be too big, so it is not too hard to be noticed in your classes.

5.) The Campus Recreation Center is Basically a Resort Spa, and it is Absolutely Free

Built in 2010, this recreation and wellness center will make you feel like you are living in a resort community. Built to maximize natural sunlight, it includes a climbing wall, an indoor track that overlooks the gym, and health and wellness classes.

The energy produced from the elliptical machines is also harnessed so you can get a workout and generate electricity for the building at the same time. If working out on a machine isn’t your thing, the exercise and yoga classes are in a space that overlooks the whole east side of Portland. On clear days, you have a beautiful view of Mt. Hood.

Speaking of Mt. Hood, if you want to go to the mountains, take advantage of the Outdoor Program. This program gives students the opportunity to go on outdoor adventures such as hiking, climbing, and rafting, to name a few. You can learn new outdoor skills, and get the skills to become a Wilderness First Responder.

If you want to pursue an outdoors career, you can volunteer with the Outdoor Program to gain outdoor and leadership skills.

6.) Get Involved With Student Clubs or Start Your Own

With Portland being the eclectic city that it is, PSU has a club for any interest, from filmmakers to folk dancers. If they don’t have a club for your specific interest, you can get support to start your own club and most likely find people to join it.

This is where the fun begins, because if you start your own club and get involved with Student Activities and Leadership Programs, or SALP for short, you can get funding, resources, and support to host events and other endeavors. What’s not to love?

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.