University of Oregon

Responses from the Student Interview

From a student  who identifies as Major: Family Human Services
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: Caucasian Straight Male

Summary

I work as a student sustainability ambassador. I joined the Snow Club where we go ski and snowboard. I was also in an Academic Residential Community (ARC) where we lived on the same hall and took the same classes.

Background

Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexual Orientation: Straight

High School Experience: Public high school in Tualatin, OR with a graduating class of about 530 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: Family Human Services
Minor: None

Extracurricular Activities: I work as a student sustainability ambassador. I joined the Snow Club where we go ski and snowboard. I was also in an Academic Residential Community (ARC) where we lived on the same hall and took the same classes.
Have any of your extracurricular activities had a particularly big impact on your experience?
Definitely the ARC. I met a lot of friend by taking those classes. It made it easier to transition and make friends. I’m now living with some of those friends.

Academic Experience

Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
It’s a lot of studying to keep up with. The classes for my major aren’t too difficult but are very engaging. It’s easy to stay on top of because it’s something I care about. The majority of the work is tests and readings.
Is there anything you feel your major’s department does especially well or poorly?
I think our department has a lot of really good advisors. There are a lot of professors who I look up to.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It’s very collaborative because a lot of our classes are discussion-based. Everybody has a say in what’s going on and people seem engaged in the topic we’re discussing. It’s a lot of open discussion work.
How accessible are your professors?
Most of my professors are accessible.
What has been your favorite part of Oregon academically?
It feels the is geared toward the classes you take. In every class I’ve taken I’ve learned something new about myself.
Why did you pick your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I’m happy with Family Human Services. I’m not sure I want to lock myself down with that yet, but I love the major. I love dealing with people and want to get into working with children and families with trauma. In high school, I got to be a student counselor for a bunch of children, so that was life-changing and I learned a lot about what I want to do as a professor, either as an educator or someone who works with children.

Reasons to Attend

1) There are good social connections with the professors and students.
2) There are a lot of good majors and departments to go into.
3) I like Eugene and the campus.

Reasons Not to Attend

1) It’s expensive to go to. [Estimated total costs for in-state students 2019-2020 are about $25,120.]

Around Campus

Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Bean Hall with one roommate
Sophomore: Off-campus house with four roommates
How was transitioning from your hometown to Eugene, OR in terms of location?
It was really scary but it was an easy transition because I grew up in the Portland metro area. If I had gone to another state for school, I think it would’ve been a harder transition for me.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
The safety on campus is really good. I think the campus police do a good job of looking out for students. There are a lot of resources for students to go to if they need help. There was the one shooting that happened by a bar next to campus and I think that scared a lot of people. Overall, I feel very safe on campus.

Social Opportunities

What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
Last year I went to see a lot of local bands play. People do house shows where the bands would just come over and play. We usually just show up and pay a fee. Going to games is definitely a big social aspect, along with going to a friend’s place to hang out.
What’s an alternative to going to a party or a bar that you like for a night out
I bike a lot in Eugene.
How happy are you with the weekend options? Is there anything you would change if you could?
I wish there were more activities for students to be at, along with more engagement with the city.

Campus Culture

How did you meet your closest friends?
I met my closest friends through the [Academic Residential Community (ARC)] I lived in last year. I also have some friends from high school that go here that I knew before.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Oregon?
Everyone is in their own world, but it’s not like high school where it’s cliquey. I noticed a lot of students I know have really big friend groups. Some people know a little bit of everyone, but it depends on who you hang out with or who you know through your major.
To what extent do you think people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
I’d say there’s a lot of different ethnicities, but I see a lot more White people hanging out with White people. [The undergraduate population is 6% Black, 14% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 3% Native American, and 60% White.]
To what extent do people in Greek life and not in Greek life mix socially?
Greek life is kind of its own thing. I don’t see much of it but I encounter a lot of guys that I know in fraternities. I don’t care for Greek life and that’s why I’m not in it, but it doesn’t interfere with anyone. They just have their own parties.
How do you like the size of Oregon in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How was transitioning to a school with [about 19,000] students?
There are a lot of students which can be overwhelming sometimes. You can feel like a number in a big system, but it doesn’t bother me anymore.

Careers

What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
It’s helpful whenever I do go speak with my advisor.

Financial Aid

Have you used financial aid? If so, accommodating was the office to your needs?
Yes, I use financial aid. I’ve encountered a couple of issues and weird communication errors online which was frustrating.