University of Oregon vs. Oregon State University

College Search & Selection
1

<p>To be more specific, this is a thread/question about the academics of the schools and not sports!</p>

<p>I'm going to be a high school senior this year and I've been doing my research on these two schools. I'm here because I would like some opinions from others, hoping to help me make some decisions.</p>

<p>Before I start my rant, I'd like to say I'm an Oregon resident, but not a native Oregonian, so I don't pledge any personal allegiance to any one school or sports teams. Proud platypus! :)</p>

<p>A little more info about me: I'm a 3.915 (UW GPA) student who has taken/will be taking a total of seven AP classes, scored 1900 on the SAT and 29 on the ACT (hoping to raise both soon), participate in Model United Nations, volunteer weekly at a local health clinic, play piano and cello, current National Honor Society secretary, and veteran Link Leader at my high school. Additionally, I am interesting in majoring in biochemistry and going to medical school.</p>

<p>Anyway, to the actual discussion....
I've done tours of both UO and OSU (and their respective honors colleges) in the past few weeks and I'm kind of torn between the two and would like some input.</p>

<p>After the tours, I was very passionate about UO and what they had to offer to me ($5,000 a year scholarship, nicer campus, newer buildings, etc.), but I'm deterred from UO due to its reputation as a party school and more geared towards the arts and humanities. That being said, I'm more attracted to OSU's reputation for the sciences, but repealed by the school's aesthetics.... That being said, my question, really, is what school would be better for me.</p>

<p>Also, I'm very interesting in the honors colleges at each school and would like opinions on that as well. :)</p>

<p>My opinion:</p>

<p>University of Oregon:
PROS:
-Automatic $5,000 scholarship (annually?)
-Newer buildings, faculties
-Nicer dorms for honors students
-Seemingly more recreation
-Eugene
-More well-known nationally?
CONS:
-Known more-so for humanities, not sciences
-Party-school reputation</p>

<p>Oregon State University:
PROS:
-Reputation for sciences
-More undergraduate research
CONS:
-Rundown buildings
-Spread out campus
-Not as many local resources as Eugene</p>

2

<p>Actually, UO is better known for sciences these days. Check out the USNWR grad school rankings, which tend to correlate to undergrad education quality.</p>

<p>[University</a> of Oregon | Best Science School | US News](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/university-of-oregon-209551?int=c6b9e3]University”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/university-of-oregon-209551?int=c6b9e3)</p>

<p>[Oregon</a> State University | Best Science School | US News](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/oregon-state-university-209542]Oregon”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/oregon-state-university-209542)</p>

<p>Otherwise, your characterizations of both schools are pretty accurate. I think you should go with UO, but I’m a bit biased being a UO student myself!</p>

3

<p>University of Oregon isn’t as well known for the sciences owing to its lack of an engineering school. However, it is part of the [AAU](<a href=“http://www.aau.edu/about/article.aspx?id=5474”>http://www.aau.edu/about/article.aspx?id=5474&lt;/a&gt;) and ranks 25th on the [NRC’s</a> rankings of Biochem](<a href=“http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area12.html]NRC’s”>NRC Rankings in Biochem/Molec Biol) programs (my previous school ranked around 70 and still offered interested students quite a few research opportunities in the biochemical sciences) </p>

<p>Realistically, it sounds like you’d choose UO in a heartbeat were it not for the party school reputation. However, you should remember that there will be thousands of people who don’t party or do so only moderately. I go to a party school, and don’t drink. I’m still having a blast and have met many in my situation. If you’re interested, UO also offers a substance free hall where you’re likely to find students who almost never drink or smoke.</p>