School: University of Oregon
Location: Eugene, OR
Funding: Public
Size: 19534
Tuition:
Resident – $20,796; Non-resident – $38,436
Many merit and need-based scholarships:
Dean’s Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, Diversity Excellence Scholarship, general university scholarships, scholarships for international students, Staton Scholarship for freshmen with financial need
Majors:
263
Schools:
School of Architecture and Allied Arts
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Education
Lundquist College of Business
School of Journalism and Communication
School of Music and Dance
Choice:
“I originally chose U of O for their great business program, but I ended up getting into the very active environmental science major. Academics aside, the atmosphere at UO is friendly, beautiful, and all around welcoming. You can feel the school spirit just from walking around campus.”
“It was far enough away from home in Portland, but still close enough that I could still make weekend trips. Plus, it has a great journalism program.”
“I chose UO because of their journalism school. At first I was planning on moving to the East Coast for college, but people kept telling me the J School had a great reputation, so I checked them out online. I knew I made the right choice when I found out Ann Curry graduated from here.”
Repeat?:
“I would definitely choose U of O again. UO has professors that really know what they are talking about, and I have never been in a situation where I felt too intimidated to ask a professor for one on one help. All faculty at the UO shows that they want you to succeed.”
“I loved my time here in Eugene, but it’d always be cool to see what other campuses are like. But overall, I think I’ve grown so much as person because of my time here at UO.”
“Honestly, yes. Not only is it cheaper to stay in state, but the instructors at the J School, and the rest of UO in general, all have some pretty decent background experience. I haven’t met any horrible teachers yet, knock on wood, but I think it was ultimately the right choice for me.”
Best/Worst:
” The best thing about U of O is the student culture. We have a diverse group of people here, but we also have a strong sense of community. The friendliest people I’ve met in life have been people at the U of O. The worst thing is probably the weather, but even then it’s not too bad (although I did grow up in Oregon, so I’m quite adapted to the frequent rainy days).”
“I really love how green our campus is. Not just sustainability and eco-friendly kind of green (but we’re definitely green in that way too), but green as in no matter if it’s rainy or sunny, it always looks beautiful and inviting. As for the worst thing, I think most people would also consider it the best thing: sports. I’m not a huge sports person, so when money is put into creating new basketball arenas or giving football players free swag, I just see it as an unnecessary luxury that takes away from academics.”
“I would say that the worst thing is that the instructors can sometimes be hard to get a hold of – then again, you’ll get that at any college you go to. Best thing would have to be the school spirit. UO has more school spirit than any other college I’ve toured. It’s refreshing and really motivating to be around other students who are determined and push themselves to do what they need to do in order to succeed.”
Academics:
“U of O has amazing programs in business, environmental science, and journalism. But no matter what you study, you know your professor is highly qualified. I had a French professor last term who could speak more than four different languages. She was so knowledgeable in language in general that she could explain roots of French words in ways that made it insanely easier to comprehend. I appreciate that the people who are teaching me are not just there to teach a lesson plan. They can discuss deeper topics rather than just load us with straightforward facts.”
“I’m a Journalism and Spanish major with a minor in Anthropology, and I work at the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, so I have a pretty good grasp on the different departments in the University. I think academics are really strong at the University, but as always, I wish we had more funding for academics than athletics.”
Activities:
“U of O has a lot of organizations for whatever you’re interested in. As a second-year student, I am still feeling out the scene, so I’m not involved in any school clubs, but I have friends who are in ASUO, pro-choice groups, film clubs, scuba clubs, and sports, and I have heard nothing but good things from them.”
“The great thing about college is that there’s ALWAYS something you can get involved in. If you like playing sports, the Rec Center has fifty bajillion options for club sports. There’s outdoorsy stuff, there’s Women’s Center stuff, there’s Quidditch stuff. Basically, you can get involved with anything you’d like.”
Dining:
“Eugene has a lot of different places to eat within walking distance of campus and on campus. Within one block, I can get Japanese, Mediterranean, Indian, Mexican, or Hawaiian food. Plus, all of these places are delicious and affordable.”
“Everyone says that dorm food loses its novelty after the first two terms, and I have to agree. However, the majority of my favorite restaurants are in the Eugene area, and they’re all a close walk to campus. Places like Roma or Glenwood are always popular hotspots, and Dough Co. is great for a 2 a.m. food craving delivery. Plus, other awesome places like Off the Waffle or Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen are definitely worth the trip. Market of Choice is also really nice if you like to eat healthy, organic Whole Foods-ish food too.”
“The best place to eat near campus is definitely Rennie’s Landing. They have a bar upstairs, but downstairs is just the regular dining area. The food is really good, and the people are pretty laid back there. It’s just all students who want to enjoy some good food and company. Also, Qdoba is pretty popular. I just tried eating there about a week or two ago, and their quesadillas are really good. They give you a lot of sour cream and guacamole with it, so they definitely aren’t cheap on what they give you.”
Fun:
“Everyone I talk to from out of town always says “Wow, I can’t believe how nice people are here!” And it’s true. I have been invited from the sidewalk into parties where I did not know anyone. But each time, I felt welcomed and have actually made a few really good friends that way.”
“The great thing about living in a college town is that there’s always something to do. There’s always parties going on every night, and people are so easy to become friends with. You really can’t go wrong by going out to the bars or a house party near campus.”
Housing:
“I did not live in the dorms. I do love the apartments downtown though. There are a lot of options for affordable housing in the campus area, as long as you are okay with a place that has a little character (a.k.a. not brand new and shiny). The places around campus are always unique and fun.”
“I read somewhere that UO dorms were some of the worst in the nation, and from where I lived (Bean), I’m not going to lie: it was pretty bad. However, it was still an experience I’d encourage anyone to go through because sooner or later, you’re going to have to learn how to live and get along well with others, and there’s really no better way to do that than stick people in 2×4’s together. Plus, the dorms are a great way to meet new people in the same boat as you. As for local housing, most rental companies in the area have a pretty unfair monopoly on student housing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a great house or apartment for a decent price relatively close to campus.”
“I haven’t heard too many great things about living on campus, be that in a dorm or just an apartment close by. I lived in an apartment right across from UO for a couple months and it was really noisy. I’m so happy I don’t live right on campus anymore. There’s still students living in my apartment complex, but it’s definitely a lot quieter. I’ve also heard of cars on campus that are broken into, so it seems safer to be off-campus.”
Special thanks to Serena Piper, Lily Tong, and Emily Wilson.