Choosing The Right College School Spotlight: Portland State University Written by Elyse Krantzon January 16th, 2017 I became interested in the college admissions process after serving as a student tour guide in the admissions office of my alma mater. After graduating, I accepted an admissions counseling position at Bennington College in Vermont where I evaluated applications and reviewed art portfolios from students across the country. Three years later, after pursuing my master's degree in New York City, I joined the admissions staff at Barnard College where I served as a senior admissions officer. At Barnard, I directed Long Island and Boston recruitment in addition to managing the College's alumnae interview program, coordinating admissions statistics, and editing various college publications. Having also served as an alumni interviewer for Dartmouth College and visited over 75 colleges, I feel especially well-equipped to help students prepare for admission interviews and campus tours. Learn More About Elyse choosing the right college, college lists, There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school! School Spotlight: Portland State University Portland, OR Committed to community engagement and environmental sustainability, Portland State University is also world known for its programs in urban planning and social work. Students in both the College of Urban and Public Affairs and the School of Social Work are serious about enacting real change in the world, and are led by motivated professors who often considered leaders in their field. Given PSU’s 50-acre downtown Portland campus, it’s no wonder that students are encouraged to get their feet wet by applying classroom knowledge to everyday challenges. Oregon is truly their classroom, and the school’s Institute of Economics and the Environment is a perfect example of how dedicated PSU is to investigating key climate and societal issues. PSU serves 21,500 undergraduates, 35 percent of whom are students of color or international. All first-year students are guaranteed housing in freshmen-only dorms that help students acclimate to the rigors of college academics and make the most of living in a progressive, urban city. Even more exciting, all freshmen students who register for the “Four-Year Degree Guarantee” are guaranteed to graduate in four years; any coursework required beyond the fourth year is free of charge! Image credit: Top, courtesy of Portland State University Related Resources Read | Posted on December 10th, 2024 Navigating Medical School Applications: The Three Types of Letters Applicants Send Read | Posted on November 12th, 2024 Unlocking College Admissions: The Power of the Common Data Set Read | Posted on October 3rd, 2024 Does Where You Go To College Matter?