<p>Hey guys, I'm seriously considering Portland State University and University of Illinois at Chicago (yes totally different schools I know thanks) and would like to know everything I can about them, including but not limited to</p>
<p>-The quality of the study abroad program</p>
<p>-The school spirit</p>
<p>-The proximity to quality transportation</p>
<p>-Wether there are good off campus housing options</p>
<p>-If there is any physical activities available nearby</p>
<p>-Quality of the gym (workout facilities)</p>
<p>-Diversity</p>
<p>-Wether it is a ommuter campus or otherwise</p>
<p>I can speak to Portland State a little bit. Basically in downtown Portland, public transportation is readily available, and it is a happening town. Many things to do at night and on weekends.</p>
<p>UIC the study abroad program im not so sure about</p>
<p>the school spirit, its ok, i mean people aren’t disgraced that they go to UIC, but they aren’t ecstatic that they go there either</p>
<p>transportation is really good, public transportation brings you anywhere in chicago, also when you pay for tuition, the school puts in money for free public transportation as well. </p>
<p>lots of apartments right outside uic, not hard to find one at all</p>
<p>they have a nice gym from what i heard, idk i don’t attend at uic, just a bunch of friends do</p>
<p>its pretty diverse, however it is nicknamed “university of chinese and indians” for a reason. (no racist, just saying the nickname)</p>
<p>its kind of a commuter campus, most people that go there live in chicago or surrounding suburbs, and also most of your fun will be in the city, not UIC itself.</p>
<p>nightlife is great, pretty much everything in chicago is at your disposal</p>
<p>its a good school dont get me wrong, just i opted not to apply there</p>
<p>ERin’s Dad: Awesome, you’re the first source that knows ANYTHING about Portland State… do you know anything else about it? Nature-wise maybe?</p>
<p>marc: not so happy about the commuters… yuck. well do you know if there’s any Greek life to speak of? if there’s anything to do nature-y at the edges of the city perhaps?</p>
<p>there is a couple frats, but from what i remember is they don’t have any houses. Frats are not a big of a deal. Then again, I was never a frat person type. I always figured why pay to meet friends when I am social enough to make as many as I would like</p>
<p>i mean the nightlife really depends on what you want to do. There are nice parks all around chicago, great restaurants, some hookah bars if your into that. You can take a short train ride to meet people at loyola or depaul. There are bars and night clubs. Sorry, I really don’t know what your asking other than what is there to do</p>
<p>Both are commuter schools right in the city. UIC is a better school but for college environment I think Portland>>>Chicago for the outdoorsy types.</p>
<p>About the nature thing, I get that it’s flat, but is there not anything to do on the lakes? And the big thing I’m worried about Portland State is that not enough people have heard of it… and it’s not on **************!!</p>
<p>Anyway, because I really have to narrow down my list and i need more help I’m posting two more schools but I’d really appreciate it if people still posted here to help me=]</p>
<p>UIC has 3 gyms which regular students can use. Almost no one uses the PEB gym, nowadays. After that, there are the east side and west side gyms. Generally speaking, west siders go to the west side gym and east siders to the east. They were both recently renovated and are nice.
You’ll get a U-Pass. It is a required $95 or so a semester fee. It’ll give you unlimited CTA rides.</p>
<p>CTA=Chicago Transit Authority They run the trains/buses in Chicago and some of the inner suburbs.
The east campus gym does have a rock wall. [UIC</a> Campus Recreation](<a href=“http://imweb.ops.uic.edu/public/rec/]UIC”>http://imweb.ops.uic.edu/public/rec/)
UIC is a commuter campus, and thus, politics is not a major issue. You’ll have the communists staging “rallies” in the plaza. In reality, only a handful of people are there. It is an urban school, so use a little bit of caution. The city of Chicago is liberal and run only by democrats, and that is what killing the city.<br>
Most students have no problems finding part time jobs. You can go to the student employment office for on-campus and some off-campus listings.<br>
UIC has one of the best soccer teams in the country.
You can find veg options, but it may not always be the easiest to find.</p>
<p>Yeeessss! Thanks! And would you happen to know if its a lot harder for oos kids to get in
? Cause while I have good ECs and sats and a semi-hard/unique class load I have a bad gpa- like 3.1 unweighted</p>