UP is a thriving community in which the academic and extra-curricular opportunities available foster your intellectual, mental, and spiritual growth. Its core values are Teaching and Learning, Faith and Formation, and Service and Leadership and the faculty, staff, and students truly embody these values. The Business, Nursing, and Engineering schools are heralded as the best in the region.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Don't let yourself get trapped in the UP bubble. (This is something my friends and I have to remind ourselves every year) So, don't be lazy about taking advantage of the public transportation system and make plans to go out and explore Portland. The school is located on a bluff in NW Portland, but that shouldn't stop you from going out to places like Alberta Street, Mississippi Avenue, NW 23rd Street, or even downtown Portland. The public transportation system is super easy to navigate and if you have any questions or concerns, your Freshman Workshop Leader can be your guide to the city (you'll find out who/what that is later in the summer... expect a call from them!)
Definitely push yourself to get involved. There are a lot of awesome clubs and organizations with caring and talented individuals ready to meet you. Just remember that what you get from these clubs, organizations, and people, depends on the amount of effort you put in to contribute.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
As bad as it sounds, coming into Freshman year I was terrified that UP would be too easy for me academically since I ranked much above the average SAT and GPA that the school listed. However, I have found that the classes offered at UP are of top quality and are just as academically rigorous as any other school. I have a friend who started off at UP, transferred to Georgetown, and then came back to UP and says the academic expectations are similar. I am enjoying my classes, learning a lot, and the professors really care about you. At UP you're not just a number and people really do care about your education.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Although this review will be based on stereotypes, this is the culture around the dorms our school has created (and sometimes it can be pretty accurate). We have two all male dorms: Villa Maria and Christie. Although we have no Greek system, Villa is essentially UP's only real fraternity. The guys are all bros and they are most known for their appearances at sports events as the Villa Drum Squad. Christie is typically known as the dorm for shy engineers. Kenna is an all girls dorm that for the past two years has been known as the dorm full of party girls. Mehling is the only other all girls dorm... if you have the choice, try to move into the first floor because move in and move out days are awful if you're anywhere else (there are only 2 elevators and 8 floors... you do the math). Corrado, Shipstad, Fields, and Schoenfeldt are the co-ed dorms. Corrado rooms are the smallest on campus. Shipstad has one of the more lively in-dorm communities and has the coolest common area. Fields and Schoenfeldt are the newest dorms but they're also the furthest away from campus. I hear that Schoenfeldt boys usually have a close-knit community but Fields girls hardly ever talk to each other.
On a more personal note: I've lived in Kenna and Mehling. I hated Kenna because there was barely any sense of community and I had a friend in every wing who can attest to the fact that most girls in Kenna are obnoxious party girls. The Kenna hall staff is also really strict on rules and noise. Mehling is way more lax and I felt a way stronger sense of community with my wing and my floor in Mehling. Most Kennadians I've spoken to also dislike it.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Bon Appetite is the catering company for our school. They contracted with the city not to allow any other food establishments within a one mile radius of our school. Don't let that stop you from exploring off campus options though. Mio Sushi, Thai Ginger, Cha! Cha! Cha!, and East Side Deli are some of the more popular places close to campus.
The on campus food in the cove and the commons can get kind of boring since it's the same stuff every week, but the commons has done a really good job of trying to mix things up once in a while this year. Pizza, salad, soups, and burgers are the staples that never change in the commons. We have stations called carve, global, and bowls that serve different things every week. The carve usually serves things like rotisserie chicken or meatloaf and mashed potatoes (not to mention the mac&cheese which is the best!). Global serves anything from thai to indian to french. Bowls involves the ever popular taqueria, Mediterranean, and even Hawaiian food options!
Serving sizes are huge and I did actually gain the freshman 15...
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
CPB, the Campus Program Board, as well as the many different clubs and organizations on campus have programs going on almost every week. All you have to do is pay attention to the pilots-weekly emails the school sends out for more information. CPB plays free movies every weekend in our auditorium and Pilots After Dark provides awesome late-night activities on the weekends. PAD activities range from karaoke, to live dj sets and performances, to trivia night, and more. CPB also hosts dances in conjunction with ASUP.
Take advantage of the fact that you're in the city of Portland. Portland culture is amazing once you get yourself immersed. Go on a hike, explore downtown, the food carts, and more! The possibilities are truly endless once you get yourself to actually do them.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
UP is a pricey school and tuition does raise every year. That being said, it also offers financial aid to 95% of the students. I am luckily one of those students and if it wasn't for the financial aid I know I, along with many of my friends, would not be able to attend this school. Nonetheless, I do think it is worth it. I love the faculty here and they really care about you. I also do think I am learning a lot both academically and personally.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
I feel extremely safe on the UP campus. It isn't too big and it isn't too small. Although P-SAFE (public safety) can get annoying as they drive around campus, you know that they're watching out for you. Plus the RAs make sure you have P-SAFE's numbers programmed into your phone in case of emergency.
UP is a thriving community in which the academic and extra-curricular opportunities available foster your intellectual, mental, and spiritual growth. Its core values are Teaching and Learning, Faith and Formation, and Service and Leadership and the faculty, staff, and students truly embody these values. The Business, Nursing, and Engineering schools are heralded as the best in the region.
Don't let yourself get trapped in the UP bubble. (This is something my friends and I have to remind ourselves every year) So, don't be lazy about taking advantage of the public transportation system and make plans to go out and explore Portland. The school is located on a bluff in NW Portland, but that shouldn't stop you from going out to places like Alberta Street, Mississippi Avenue, NW 23rd Street, or even downtown Portland. The public transportation system is super easy to navigate and if you have any questions or concerns, your Freshman Workshop Leader can be your guide to the city (you'll find out who/what that is later in the summer... expect a call from them!) Definitely push yourself to get involved. There are a lot of awesome clubs and organizations with caring and talented individuals ready to meet you. Just remember that what you get from these clubs, organizations, and people, depends on the amount of effort you put in to contribute.
As bad as it sounds, coming into Freshman year I was terrified that UP would be too easy for me academically since I ranked much above the average SAT and GPA that the school listed. However, I have found that the classes offered at UP are of top quality and are just as academically rigorous as any other school. I have a friend who started off at UP, transferred to Georgetown, and then came back to UP and says the academic expectations are similar. I am enjoying my classes, learning a lot, and the professors really care about you. At UP you're not just a number and people really do care about your education.
Although this review will be based on stereotypes, this is the culture around the dorms our school has created (and sometimes it can be pretty accurate). We have two all male dorms: Villa Maria and Christie. Although we have no Greek system, Villa is essentially UP's only real fraternity. The guys are all bros and they are most known for their appearances at sports events as the Villa Drum Squad. Christie is typically known as the dorm for shy engineers. Kenna is an all girls dorm that for the past two years has been known as the dorm full of party girls. Mehling is the only other all girls dorm... if you have the choice, try to move into the first floor because move in and move out days are awful if you're anywhere else (there are only 2 elevators and 8 floors... you do the math). Corrado, Shipstad, Fields, and Schoenfeldt are the co-ed dorms. Corrado rooms are the smallest on campus. Shipstad has one of the more lively in-dorm communities and has the coolest common area. Fields and Schoenfeldt are the newest dorms but they're also the furthest away from campus. I hear that Schoenfeldt boys usually have a close-knit community but Fields girls hardly ever talk to each other. On a more personal note: I've lived in Kenna and Mehling. I hated Kenna because there was barely any sense of community and I had a friend in every wing who can attest to the fact that most girls in Kenna are obnoxious party girls. The Kenna hall staff is also really strict on rules and noise. Mehling is way more lax and I felt a way stronger sense of community with my wing and my floor in Mehling. Most Kennadians I've spoken to also dislike it.
Bon Appetite is the catering company for our school. They contracted with the city not to allow any other food establishments within a one mile radius of our school. Don't let that stop you from exploring off campus options though. Mio Sushi, Thai Ginger, Cha! Cha! Cha!, and East Side Deli are some of the more popular places close to campus. The on campus food in the cove and the commons can get kind of boring since it's the same stuff every week, but the commons has done a really good job of trying to mix things up once in a while this year. Pizza, salad, soups, and burgers are the staples that never change in the commons. We have stations called carve, global, and bowls that serve different things every week. The carve usually serves things like rotisserie chicken or meatloaf and mashed potatoes (not to mention the mac&cheese which is the best!). Global serves anything from thai to indian to french. Bowls involves the ever popular taqueria, Mediterranean, and even Hawaiian food options! Serving sizes are huge and I did actually gain the freshman 15...
CPB, the Campus Program Board, as well as the many different clubs and organizations on campus have programs going on almost every week. All you have to do is pay attention to the pilots-weekly emails the school sends out for more information. CPB plays free movies every weekend in our auditorium and Pilots After Dark provides awesome late-night activities on the weekends. PAD activities range from karaoke, to live dj sets and performances, to trivia night, and more. CPB also hosts dances in conjunction with ASUP. Take advantage of the fact that you're in the city of Portland. Portland culture is amazing once you get yourself immersed. Go on a hike, explore downtown, the food carts, and more! The possibilities are truly endless once you get yourself to actually do them.
UP is a pricey school and tuition does raise every year. That being said, it also offers financial aid to 95% of the students. I am luckily one of those students and if it wasn't for the financial aid I know I, along with many of my friends, would not be able to attend this school. Nonetheless, I do think it is worth it. I love the faculty here and they really care about you. I also do think I am learning a lot both academically and personally.
I feel extremely safe on the UP campus. It isn't too big and it isn't too small. Although P-SAFE (public safety) can get annoying as they drive around campus, you know that they're watching out for you. Plus the RAs make sure you have P-SAFE's numbers programmed into your phone in case of emergency.