The University of Oregon

Date: Dec 22 2009
Major: History/Histories (art history/etc.) (This Major's Salary over time)
I made the mistake of choosing to attend the University of Arizona my freshman year and knew immediately that I had to get the hell out of there. Arizona is a campus driven by a greek life, fake girls from Orange County who received plastic surgery as graduation gifts, and binge drinking. I am from Portland, OR and decided to transfer back to UofO, where I had considered going in the first place. Transferring to Oregon was the best decision I could have made for myself at the time. I moved into the dorms winter term and was welcomed by some of the most down-to-earth and friendly people I had ever met. I had a blast during those two terms and made some amazing friendships. Granted, I am from Portland and I had a support system of friends from home but I ended up spending very little time with them and meeting lots of kids from Seattle and California. I was also impressed with my classes, which were far more advanced and interesting than the "elementary" classes I took at Arizona. Oregon has a great dorm life and though some complain that the dorms are dungeon-like, if you can get into the LLC - where I was, those dorms are nicer than dorms at any other school I've visited and they are huge.

Though I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else, sophomore year was different. You only live in the dorms your freshman year at UO and once you move off campus, it's easy to feel disconnected and almost impossible to make friends. I decided to join a sorority at the beginning of my sophomore year and I moved in there and that changed everything. The sorority saved my social life and I have an amazing network of close friends. I've also really enjoyed my major, I am double majoring in History and English and I haven't found it too difficult to get into classes. Oregon also doesn't feel that big with 16,000 students. It's the perfect size. Having just turned 21, the bar scene is pretty fun too. Eugene is a cute town, the perfect college town with enough shopping and restaurants to keep one happy and a spirited town that supports the school whole-heartedly. What has made UO such a memorable experience, though, has always been the people. You can't find such open-minded, friendly and welcoming people anywhere else.

That said, now in my junior year, I do spend a lot of time wondering what could have been at another university. I notice that many of my friends do too. We feel as though we "settled" for Oregon when we really had good grades and could have gone to a more prestigious school. Being only 2 hours away from home has been nice but I didn't give myself the opportunity to experience four years in another place (the east coast being my first choice). Sometimes I've felt that UO is too easy for me and that the students are intellectually stimulating in class. But I have to remember that it's a state school and I probably made a mistake when I didn't apply to the honors college. Nevertheless, I've made life-long friendships and have made really good grades, had a job at the architecture school for the last two years and have a good internship. It's not hard to find opportunities here if you're a go-getter. I now plan on applying to law school - hopefully on the east coast.