<p>My D and I are heading to the Pacific Northwest for a college tour and are trying to see if we could sqeeze in one more college to look at. She is a Junior and will (for now) be looking at a History major. She is on the Tennis team at school, but does not know if she wants, or will be able, to continue in college</p>
<p>They seem on paper to be equivalent academically, but I am trying to find the intangibles about both</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>I think Gonzaga has a better rep.</p>
<p>Gonzaga is better IMO</p>
<p>Both are probably fine for liberal arts. Gonzaga is just better known lately because of athletics. Portland had a good mens basketball team years ago. The women’s soccer team at Portland has been nationally ranked in recent years and lost the championship game to U of North Carolina a while back.</p>
<p>I say Gonzaga.</p>
<p>I’d rather live in Portland than Spokane for sure, but there is no doubt that Gonzaga is the better school for everything.</p>
<p>If you’re going to be looking at these schools check out Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA as well. It’s an outstanding LAC.</p>
<p>What the above poster said. Whitman is a great liberal arts college is a much nicer area than Gonzaga. Although both of them are a bit far away from Seattle.</p>
<p>Whitman probably wouldn’t interest the OP as much considering the two initial schools mentioned are both Catholic. A good point of distinction between the two is the weather; Portland has milder winters than Spokane, and much more rain.</p>
<p>And actually we have visited Whitman before, when my S was looking. Still seems to be a tie between the two, with an edge to Gonzaga.</p>
<p>Gonzaga is one of the better known Jesuit colleges in the nation. The Jesuits are highly regarded for their academics and run the best regarded Catholic colleges. Here is a list of all 28 Jesuit colleges including the top ones (Georgetown, BC, Holy Cross, etc):</p>
<p>[Jesuit</a> Colleges and Universities Quiz Results - sporcle](<a href=“http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php]Jesuit”>http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php)</p>
<p>UPortland is run by the Holy Cross Fathers (like Notre Dame), and not to be confused with Jesuit run Holy Cross College in Massachusetts.</p>
<p>Gonzaga is Jesuit. </p>
<p>Between Seattle University, Gonzaga University and University of Portland, in academic terms, its really a coin toss and ultimately comes down to your own perceptions and experiences (that “gut feel”) when you visit each campus and talk to people. Seattle, Portland and Spokane are each very different cities. But all three universities offer a first class academic experience with outstanding ties to business and industry. Bill Gates’ wife went to Seattle University and they were married on campus in the award winning chapel. Seattle University, interestingly enough, is returning to Division 1-A basketball, after a 30 year hiatus. They will be in the West Coast League. They made the Final Four, believe it or not, in 1958 losing to ultimate winner Kentucky. So I am glad to see them return to the big dance.</p>
<p>Definitely Gonzaga.</p>
<p>Seattle University is better than Gonzaga in my opinion</p>
<p>OK…the name of the thread isn’t, suggest any school in the Pacific NW.</p>
<p>Strangely enough we have hit Seattle U already (same trip that we hit Whitman).</p>
<p>Consensus seems to be Gonzaga, so that will be the one we try to squeeze in.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information/advice</p>
<p>My pleasure. Both Gonzaga and Seattle University are wonderful schools. The hidden gem in both of them is “faculty”. But if Gonzaga turns your kid on more, because of architecture, or the city of Spokane, or some other personal observation, great. The most important thing is to select the college that is best for YOU, not what everyone else is trying to sell you, often based on rankings or personal bias.</p>
<p>Here is what I would do: apply to all of them. See what happens with respect to money, scholarships. Also, kids change their minds really often, particularly on momentous decisions like this (been there, done that). So dont cross anyone off the list just yet. </p>
<p>Seattle University is an urban campus. They have a lot of newer buildings, which is “great from a facilities” point of view, but lack that musty warmth and character of older buildings. But don’t let that make you turn away. The faculty is fabulous, warm and friendly. </p>
<p>My bias? I prefer a more cosmopolitan city like Seattle. Its second to none on many fronts. Spokane and Gonzaga will be more conservative, however. Seattle is also a heck of a lot easier to get into and out of for traveling on holidays or emergencies. </p>
<p>But that is just me. </p>
<p>Finally, another school to consider is University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. A really fine school on a gorgeous campus. And good scholarships. Just a thought.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Endlessrecession: Ahead of the curve actually on this one. U Puget Sound is already scheduled for Day 2 of the trip. But thanks for the reaffirmation of our decision. Maybe will spend and extra day for Gonzaga.</p>
<p>Thanks for the good wishes.</p>
<p>We prefer Gonzaga. U Portland is closer and on the west-side, which can often be the deciding factor in the NW.</p>
<p>We have family in Spokane and our kids have spent a lot of time at Gonzaga for camps, etc. It doesn’t feel like it is in the city, yet you can easily walk down the river to the city, the park, shops and restaurants. We enjoy spending a few days there in the summer when our boys are playing ball. My best friend and my sister-in law are Gonzaga grads and they both loved their time on campus and in Spokane. Is cold weather ok? It was a rough winter this year, but usually it is not so extreme. (The enclosed overhead walkways downtown are nice during the worst weather!)</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Gonzaga has gotten so popular here that our jr (almost sr) D will probably not apply. Too many from this area (many top students) there already, to suit her adventurous spirit. D has a friend (a coca-cola scholar) that turned down Stanford, Duke, USC etc.to go to Gonzaga and she is having a great experience. Great school spirit and athletic facilities. Ok dorms. Many live right around campus in apts as upperclassmen. Faculty/community feel is a big plus. Our son thinks he would like to apply in a few years (and he has visited a ton of campuses with his sisters so he is picky).</p>
<p>Oldest D had a friend on that fantastic U Portland soccer team. She had a great time, but would thrive anywhere. Nice enough campus/location. Mixed reviews from others that have attended that we know.</p>
<p>UPS is a very pretty, fairly small place. Our kids don’t like Tacoma or the residential area around UPS…kind of blah. (They say ‘icky’.) We have a friend that did pre-med there and went on to medical school at Wash U. His son is there now, but only as his backup. We know others that used it as an academic backup for top schools or went to play ball and get a good education, but not usually first choice. Kids have gone to camps and other things there…it is very nice if the area is ok for you. Better located than PLU.</p>
<p>Have you thought about Whitworth? It’s just a few miles up the road from Gonzaga and very ‘woodsy’, with good reviews from those we know attending.</p>
<p>What other places will you be visiting? Will you be coming a long distance?</p>
<p>The difference between eastern Washington and western Washington (btw, Western Wash. University in Bellingham is also a really fine school. I know someone who is a physician-we are southerners, he went to WWU, then UW med school, then did his residency at Duke Medical) is very stark. Both geographically-topography as well as culturally and politically. Seattle has morphed in the last 30 years into a very avante-garde and liberal city. There are pockets of conservatism still, but the overwhelming genre is very pc. Whether that suits you or not, I have no idea. </p>
<p>Some people like to be contrarians and “the odd duck” on the pond. So depending on who your son is, one or the other environment may appeal to him more. </p>
<p>The bottom line? Academically they all are on par. Though Whitman likes to think its superior to all of them. LOL. Their SAT scores may be a touch higher, but the programs and profs are all on par. To me, it comes down to what tickles your fancy, “the epiphany” experience etc.</p>
<p>And to critter: I am a bit surprised someone turned down Stanford or even USC for Gonzaga. No slight at Gonzaga, but those schools are such classic first tier schools its rare to hear of someone saying “no” to them, except for an Ivy League school. However, if Gonzaga offered your “friend” a full ride scholarship, that may well have been the deciding factor. Just the same, a Jesuit education is really special.</p>