<p>Hey well I found this school and I am wondering if it is worth applying to. </p>
<p>It seems to have a nice campus, great soccer teams and spirit, in a fun city, strong business program, and connections to Nike and Adidas. </p>
<p>What is your opinion on UPortland?</p>
<p>University of Portland has a good reputation here in Portland. The only thing I personally know about it is its nursing program. Our neighbors are alumni of U of P, graduated in the late 1980's, and they still have a lot of pride in their school - University of Portland license plates, etc. They go to all the Pilots sporting events, too.</p>
<p>U of P also has a very good engineering program. I know they have good overseas studies programs, as a friend of my son's returned from study in France not long ago and had a wonderful time. As oregonianmom said, it has a good reputation among people in this area.</p>
<p>I, too, would say that the University of Portland has a good reputation in all of Oregon. The Campus is very close to downtown Portland - you can actually walk to Pioneer Square and Powell's Bookstore (one of the best bookstores in the country). And, yes, Portland is a vibrant, clean, and friendly city.</p>
<p>As an aside, you do know that the University of Portland is affiliated with the Catholic Church?</p>
<p>Yah I know that UPortland has a Catholic affiliation and I'm fine with that. </p>
<p>I just really want to know about the atmosphere of the school. What are the students like? Laid-back? What do they do for fun? Just what is like to be a student at UP.</p>
<p>My daughther and her friend (and I) visited the University of Portland and, even though they are both very different people, they both liked it. I did too.</p>
<p>The campus is quite nice - on a bluff overlooking the river in a residential section of Portland. There are a mix of old, historic buildings and new ones. It seemed well-maintained, and the dorm rooms we were shown were on the larger side of those I've seen. There is bus service right outside the main gate into Portland.</p>
<p>If I had to pick a word to describe all three of our reactions to U of Portland it would be: Friendly. The students we met were very happy to stop and talk to two nervous prospies, and I would say there is definitely a relaxed, easy-going feel to the campus. At least on the day we visited, there were lots of people just hanging out, and several pick up games of touch football and frisbee going on. We were told by our tour guides that the dorms are the center of campus life - lots of inter-dorm rivalries and competitions, plus dorm events going on. Community service is also big on campus. They're also one of the smallest Division I schools, and we were told that lots of people get into attending the soccer games, so there is some school spirit, even though it's a smaller school. Portland is a cool city with tons of music, theater, and other things to offer college-age students, and it's easy to get around without a car. Like U of P, Portland has a relaxed, easy going feel with lots of great neighborhoods to explore. So, plenty to do on and off campus. </p>
<p>The students were saw were kind of a mix of athletic, preppy, and laid-back (but mostly clean cut) Pacific Northwest types. We saw everything from girls in high heels and skirts to kids in jeans and flannel shirts, to guys in baseball caps. So, it is a good mix, but nothing too out there (few or no piercings or tatoos, for instance). </p>
<p>Compared to USD, which if I recall you are also looking at, I'd say U of Portland has a much more more relaxed and friendly vibe. As I said, my daughter and her friend are very different types - my daughter is a more quirky-artsy type, her friend is a more middle-of-the-road type, and they both felt they could be comfortable at U of Portland. It is the only catholic school my daughter seriously considered applying to, but alas, they didn't have her intended major. </p>
<p>Overall, U of Portland is a very nice school in a great city. Only about half of students are Catholic, but the school administration does toe the Catholic-party line. They can be very generous with merit scholarships. The admissions office is also very good about answering questions from prospective students, and treating them well, so don't hesitate to email them. If it's of interest, do visit.</p>
<p>University of Portland was my one of my son's finalist schools. I'll agree with the above -- extraordinarily friendly people during campus visits, helpful faculty and staff, and a really nice vibe. John is going to engineering school, and the U Portland is one of the few answers to the question, "smallish schools on the west coast with an engineering program." Their engineering school is currently on the small side, and the facilities didn't look that modern, but the engineering school also just received a $12 million donation. John might be going to UP next year if their planned engineering school improvements had started a couple of years ago.</p>
<p>I can't figure out why UP doesn't get mentioned more often on CC, but I think it's a great example of a solid small(ish) regional university. </p>
<p>John's evaluation of UP: faith-friendly, good engineering, nice campus, friendly people, and it has girls. (His only real concern about his final choice is the disappointing M:F ratio.)</p>
<p>I can't figure out why UP doesn't get mentioned more often on CC, but I think it's a great example of a solid small(ish) regional university. </p>
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<p>I agree with you WashDad. Especially for kids who don't want to be stuck out in a small town somewhere. There are so few choices for colleges that are actually IN urban areas that aren't impossible to get into.</p>
<p>I agree with most everything above. U of Portland has a good but very quiet reputation in Oregon. Great music program, in addition to those mentioned above. Top-notch soccer and basketball teams. Beautiful but small campus. You cannot walk downtown from here, as one poster indicated. In fact, the campus is fairly isolated from the rest of the city, and there are only one or two bus lines near the school. You would need a car or extra effort to get out and explore the great city of Portland.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help. UP sounds like a pretty nice school, and I think I want to apply there.</p>
<p>Carolyn...you mentioned that there are so few colleges in urban areas that aren't impossible to get into, and that is completely true. </p>
<p>I like UMiami, USD, LMU, and UP....but I really can't find any more privates that aren't incredibly difficult to get into. </p>
<p>Thanks for the help....and if you have any more random info on UP I would love to hear it.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, UP is the smallest NCAA Division 1 school. Their theater, while not large, looked very competent, and well-used. The buildings are clearly a mixture of old and new. It looks to me like they are actively reinvesting in the campus. The campus was pretty and very clean.</p>
<p>UP is a Congretation of the Holy Cross school; the same order that runs Notre Dame. The core requirements are similar. You'll get an excellent education there.</p>
<p>Socal--</p>
<p>if you are looking for a school in a city that is not impossible to get in to, check out the University of Denver.</p>
<p>My middle son will be going there this fall. It started out on his list as an adjunct to a trip to Univ. of Colorado and, even though one of his safeties, it ended up his first choice among 8 acceptances because he loved the size and the location and is very satisfied with their offerings in his most likely majors (either public policy or busienss).</p>
<p>Denver has a schedule that doesn't work for everybody though--one class at a time, right? </p>
<p>SoCal--you might also check out Seattle University if you are looking for a school in a city, not impossible to get into, and a decent business program. Santa Clara University is also good.</p>
<p>Socal, looking at your list, it seems like USF and Santa Clara might fit also. USF is right near Golden Gate park - closer to downtown than U of Denver is to downtown Denver I think. Santa Clara is suburban but there's a train station next to the campus to get you in to the city.</p>
<p>Mombot--</p>
<p>I think you have University of Denver confused with Colorado College--Denver is on the quarter system.</p>
<p>You are right--I had the two confused. Thanks!</p>
<p>SoCal, Since you're not opposed to Catholic Schools, I would recommend you check out these schools that fit in the "not impossible to get into, good academics, and in an urban area""</p>
<p>DePaul in Chicago
Loyola in Chicago
Marquette in Milwaukee
Creighton in Omaha
Loyola in New Orleans
Catholic U in D.C.
Fordham in NY
Seattle U </p>
<p>Also, not Catholic, but a school that I think you would like based on what you've mentioned about your criteria is Trinity University in San Antonio.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the school suggestions...but most of them don't fit most of my college criteria. I probably should have mentioned that I won't apply to a school that isn't Division 1. Also I really want to be near the ocean. I plan on applying to UMiami, LMU, USD, UCSB, SDSU, and UH-Manoa, so you can see I really love the beach. But I'm looking for another private school that is less competitive than LMU and USD, and Portland is the closest thing I could find. But maybe I'm missing a school that is better for me than Portland.</p>
<p>But if you have anymore suggestions that would be great, and thanks for the help.</p>
<p>I had quite a chat with a friend of one of younger Ds rugby team mates about U of Portland.
She is attending in the fall and is excited- ( majoring in business I htink)
I haven't visited- but it sounds like a lovely campus and she said there was good aid- merit mostly.
I would agree though that I don't think you could walk from there to Powells- not that 6 miles is necessarily that far- but I don't think all the roads are pedestrian friendly-
However, Portland does have good public transport, and there must be some way to get there ;)</p>
<p>Along with Seattle U- I would suggest SPU in Seattle- it is a fine school & I think D would seriously consider it if it wasn't 5 minutes away.</p>