<p>Mcminnville is a smaller city, around 30K people. It’s fairly supportive of the college, and there are specials for Linfield students in the bars/restaurants/stores around the town, because they realize the contribution of the college to the local economy. I would say that a lot of the social life for students is based on campus, until you’re old enough for the bar scene, unless you have the money to eat out often. </p>
<p>That said, there’s a large amount of school-sponsored activities for cheap or free: Trailblazers games for 10$, concerts on campus or in Portland, trips to the zoo, camping, ice skating, all kinds of stuff. One portion of the student government is the Linfield Activities Board, which is a group of students whose whole job is to think up fun stuff for the students to do which the school will subsidize.</p>
<p>So, as far as it being a vibrant “city”, I would say it’s not a college town on the order of Pullman or some other town that only exists for the sake of holding a college. But, on the other hand, Mcminnville is centrally located about an hour from anything that you could want to do in Oregon (not isolated in the same way Walla Walla is, although if you have a thing for rodeos, that city might be the place for you). If you have a car (or make friends, which is pretty easy at that school), you can be at the Oregon beaches, skiing in the mountains, hitting up a concert in Portland, or camping at Detroit lake in less than an hour of drive time. Or, many times, you can do all that and the school will pay for it.</p>
<p>As you can tell I have a special interest in your Alma Mater. Couple of more questions about it. What is the food like there (always of interest to students). And do you have any information on the History Dept? Rugg’s lists history as one of their Recommended Majors for that school, and that is my D’s interest</p>
<p>The meal hall food was not too shabby, as far as college meals go. Saturday and Sunday evening meals were the worst days/times of the week to eat dining hall food. Anything prepared to order (Breakfast/lunch weekdays, some of the items weekend mornings) is pretty good. I particularly enjoyed weekday lunches in Dillin Hall. The all-you-can-eat meals usually have some options that are agreeable to everyone, depending on particular tastes and what the specials are that evening. It’s a little spendy- most people get off the meal plans as soon as they have the credits to do so, as cooking for yourself is much more economical- but most college meal plans are designed to profit the school.</p>
<p>I was a Bio/Chem major, and only took two history courses while I was at Linfield. Didn’t do real well in them (sports and my major were my priorities, so I had a hard time keeping up with the reading), but the faculty were engaging and the coursework interesting. I don’t have too much to say about the overall program.</p>
<p>But, it’s a small school, and I am a social butterfly, so I have friends that were in the program. I just sent a couple of them messages on Facebook, and when they get back to me, I’ll forward what they had to say on to you guys.</p>
<p>Son of Opie, has a leaden foot. Plan 1.5-2.0 hours to places he listed, either from Portland, McMinnville, or Salem. Detriot Lake has Brietenbush Retreat & Hot Springs (clothing optional in pools and steam cabin, vegetarian meals, meditations, etc.) which is kinda fun to visit during the snow/rain (open air and no fences anywhere, in the forest and by a roaring river. Fee is nominal, donations is appreciated for hot spring visit. </p>
<p>Willamette is across from the street from the Oregon Capitol complex (Northside) and from Salem Hospital (southside). I often wonder if the students take advantage of state’s political workings during the legislative sessions and the dining facilities at both institutions. The hospital has 24 hour dining facilities. Big park on the south side and Willamette River Greenway Park on the west side (about 4 blocks). Amtrak is on the east side of campus, and a train ride to Eugene, SF or Portland, Seattle, or Vancouver BC.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that Whitman is an excellent college. I did a lot of research into the school and it would’ve been my 1st choice had I wanted a liberal arts school (I decided to do engineering so it obviously wasn’t the right fit for me)</p>
<p>^Fair enough. The time it takes to get most places is more dependent on traffic than distance. I say “about an hour” because if I were to say fifty-two minutes to lincoln city, seventy-one-and-half minutes to Portland, it would be easy for people to get different results, and I would seem pedantic. Besides, in college, time is not a huge issue for most students getting away for a weekend. I’m a biologist by training, not an accountant.</p>
<p>It IS less than an hour to the beach from Linfield’s campus if you leave around midnight ;)</p>
<p>kumitedad, I remember you from other posts but can’t remember if there is a reason you aren’t considering Whitman.<br>
Was there a reason it wasn’t on the list?</p>
<p>We had already visit Whitman when my S was starting his college search as a sophmore. My D went along, and actually went to lunch on the tour with the rest of the students. He did not like the isolated location and the fact that Walla Walla is such a small town. He ended up at Berkeley. My D has similar feelings, but this may change as an LAC is what she is looking for. The lack of diversity was another issue, but not as big as the location.</p>
<p>Longprime
Based on two visits, I saw enough political staffers eating at Willamette to suspect that the food is better at the school!!! At least a dozen on most recent visit. And the food was pretty good (and I am a confessed food snob)</p>
<p>Got to mark this post. Son wants to settle in PNW, so want to check out schools there as well.</p>
<p>Starting doing a lot of research on UW, and really like the BME program, so will have him apply and maybe visit if he gets accepted. No time this summer.</p>
<p>Son did meet a college rep for Puget Sound and really like it, but only has a 3/2 engineering program.</p>
<p>I’m looking a lot at Seattle because it’s Jesuit, but GC thought it was a little hippy. There was peace signs on the walls! Horrors!</p>
<p>The list just came out as to where our seniors are going.</p>
<p>One is going to Evergreen State College! All the way from New Orleans! Can you believe it!</p>
<p>I just checked out their home page, and the picture was breathtaking. Take me there!</p>
<p>Please post us back after your visit, as those of us too far to visit will love to hear your impressions.</p>
<p>To anyone who is considering going to visit schools in the northwest, you should definately consider UO. I am going to be a freshman in college for the upcoming school year (I’m from nor cal and will be attending San Diego State), but before I settled on SDSU, I was very serious about UO. When I visited it last October, I fell in love – it truly captures the charm of the northwest. And, I haven’t found one person to say something bad about it, if anything, everyone raves about it. </p>
<p>Secondly, I have two very good friends who will be attending University of Portland and it sounds like a great school from what I’ve heard.</p>
<p>I know not on your list, but perhaps for others interested in the PNW area who read this thread, why not drive a little bit more and view some Canadian options for likely a fraction of the price (with no cuts thus far in funding or budgets)?</p>
<p>Montegut, Evergreen can be a wonderful place for the right student. My SIL went there and took every advantage of the nature of the school. They are perfect for really motivated, self assured, self aware, kids who want to mold their own way. If your kid needs some structure, it’s not the best. If your kid isn’t positive what they want to do… not the best.</p>
<p>Monday-Whitworth
Tuesday-U Puget Sound
Wed-Lewis and Clark
Thur-Linfield
Friday-Willamette</p>
<p>If I can convince my D, then we may also swing by U of Portland, and if we get in early enough on Sun will swing by Gonzaga just to wander around. Will keep everyone posted. We should be going in early July</p>
that is</p>