Admissions

One unavoidable thing at Pacific is their dedication to the environment. There are many programs on campus that support sustainable living, and I guarantee you won't get through college without hearing about it. Also, one misconception is that at a small school such as Pacific, there wouldn't be much to do - however, between parties, festivals, clubs, and events around the Grove, there really isn't a day where you can't find something to do. Pacific hosts the annual Luau, as well as the Mensch Festival (this year including a free Blue Scholars Concert) and many other events. Clubs and organizations hold dances, lectures, movie nights, trips to Portland, and lots of other things. A friend of mine is even hosting a Cuddle Party for a school project this week - there's plenty to do here.

For prospective students, I would recommend visiting the Pacific University campus early in the application process. Pacific is a wonderful school, though it is not for everyone. When I was a prospective student, I was told, “Once you’re here, you’ll know if Pacific is right for you”. This is true because Pacific has a unique environment, which is hard to explain though readily experienced on campus. I would also encourage prospective students to take challenging classes, keep a high GPA and prepare well for standardized tests. All of these things will lead to more scholarship opportunities to help cover tuition. Feel free to contact Pacific admissions staff as they are happy to answer questions and help you figure out if Pacific University is the right school for you.

For future students, I would advise taking classes back to back (preferably in the morning) so you can get done with your day as soon as possible. That way, you have the rest of the day to do homework, rest, eat, do chores, or anything else that needs taken care of in the daily life of a college student :)

Visit campus, get to know your admissions counselor.

scholarships, scholarships, scholarships. pacific is pricy, yes. but it is worth any amount of money you could pay. so keep hunting for those scholarships.

If you are undecided it is almost as good as a student who knows what major they want. Some teachers will let you know if you have a calling in a certain subject. Also, get a jump start on work study if you have. A lot of spots get taken up super fast! Do not miss the club and job fair! You never know what you can get yourself into! Also, internet in the dorms is really bad! I suggest if you could get your own internet.

+Go to Pacific's bookstore website early on in the summer to get your book list for your classes. You always have the option of finding the books you need from that site and ordering them elsewhere, but they also offer a great rental program that is easy to afford on just about any budget.

+Ask for help! The professors are more than happy to help you out if you need it, but won't know that you're struggling if you don't ask. They are very approachable and easy to talk to, so don't be afraid of them just because they have a Ph.D. and you don't. If you still don't feel comfortable asking your prof, there are any number of great on campus resources you can go to for help, and many of them have student volunteers that may be easier for you to talk to.

+Get involved in something. There's plenty of sports, especially now that Pacific brought back football. There's clubs for just about anybody, whether you're a biology or math fan or all about cancer research and prevention. There are tons of music groups for you to join, from symphonic band to orchestra to the chamber singers and more. The Theater Department has a full schedule lined up with any number of plays that you can get involved in, and even if you don't act, you can get down and dirty building sets in the scene shop or helping put together costumes in the costume shop.

+Don't come with a bad attitude or crummy work ethic. Someone once said that college is the only institute you /pay/ to get into but relish your days off. Just because you have a free day, remember that the weekend ends on Monday morning, and even though the professors are cool, they will still get grumpy if you don't have your act (and your homework) together. Don't put things off until the last minute and throw crap essays together the night before, because it's easy for profs to tell when that's the case. And don't think you can just skip readings because you have too much other work. Even if you just skim the chapter and get an idea...