-
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Pacific University is 78%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.
-
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Advice I would give myself is to not be scared and to believe in yourself that you can compete academically with others even though you received an education from Hawaii. So many people doubt student from Hawaii because of our low education scores and it effects us. I'm one of many who are in college to prove them wrong. I am prideful and wont let anyone take it away from me. I would also tell myself to get them study habits instilled in you because once your in college the library is your new home. Going from my school to a great University such as this was a shock at first, but slowly I figured it out. It's not the fact of wanting to succeed in the classroom, it's making right choices to succeed. With such great people around me I find myself among others focusing on school. One more thing I would tell myself is to never give up. There are times in classes when I feel dumb, and I beat myself up about it. There is so much help on campus from other students and teachers who want nothing but for you to be successful.
Read all 82 answers
-
What kind of person should attend this school?
Anyone who is open minded with respect for a variety of backgrounds. Be prepared to hang out with only white people if you're not from Hawaii. Also, it is wise to have deep pockets or really empty ones so the government can pay for it.
Read all 21 answers
-
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
Pacific University is a student-centered academic private university that encourages and supports personal interests by providing opportunities to learn from and work with highly qualified professionals in all conventional and even unconventional areas of interest where novelties are strongly welcomed.
Read all 20 answers
-
What's unique about your campus?
The best thing about Pacific University is the staff of world-class professors. They are passionate, dedicated, and challenging instructors, as well as exceedingly kind and supportive human beings. They demand the best from their students, pushing students past his or her comfort zone and into excellence. I am constantly forced to grow and challenge my own beliefs. My professors have helped me become a better student and a better person.
Read all 18 answers
-
Describe the students at your school.
Hardworking, lively, funloving individuals.
Read all 16 answers
-
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst thing about my school is not enough cute boys on campus. Too many girls.
Read all 14 answers
-
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
I fell in love with Pacific because by going there i have a higher percent chance of getting into the graduate program of my choice. I love Pacific because we are such a small school that most people don't even know we exist but we are still a very competitive school and are ranked among ivy league schools.
Read all 13 answers
-
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
I wish I would have been more aware of the small town atmosphere at Pacific. The professors and other students are more cooperative than I had even dreamed. Had I know this I would not have stressed out so much about going there.
Read all 13 answers
-
Describe your favorite campus traditions.
Pacific is best known for such a great student body and faculty. Everyone has, I guess you could say, adapted to the Aloha spirit Hawaii people bring to this school. The teachers are awesome and the staff is great. This year was the second year having a football team after twenty plus years of not having one. Seeing the great support this school had from its students, teachers and town was an indescribable feeling. When you walk on to Pacific you will definitely not be ignored but will be welcomed with a hello.
Read all 11 answers
-
What kind of person should not attend this school?
One who is looking to get lost in a sea of students because profs don't let that happen here. Also, someone who is only in college to party; we have fun, but it is also a strong academic university.
Read all 11 answers
-
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
Pacific is a very small, private school with only around 1,500 students enrolled in the undergraduate program. I love that I can always see a friendly face when I walk around campus. I also love how the campus is small enough to walk in about five minutes, but it does not feel stifling. It is also a gorgeous place to live!
Read all 10 answers
-
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
I do not get enough artistic interaction, there are no places to go during the weekends, or weekdays, there is not enough diversity in faculty or in staff, we're in themiddle of WHITE country, yo.
Read all 7 answers
-
What are the academics like at your school?
Most professors knew my name and classes were small enough to facilitate good discussions (under 25 students). My favorite classes were in English, History, and French, and that was largely because of the faculty in those depts. I was disappointed with the Art department even though it was my major (not very conceptual/challenging). Some departments are better than others and have more resources, and also some are more vocationally oriented (exercise science, for example). All of the arts except music (i.e. visual, theatre, dance) need new facilities.
I wouldn't say that most students have intellectual conversations with each other outside of class, but I sometimes would with my professors. The amount of studying depended on the difficulty of the course load. I probably averaged 4 hours a day, but I was on the higher end of the spectrum. Some classes have a lot of participation (English Lit) and in some classes it was like pulling teeth. The liberal arts requirements were manageable and helped me foster a love of learning for its own sake. But overall, it seems the main reason students go there is to get a good job later.
I hate the recent switch from a 3 credit system to a 4 credit system because you're not able to take as many classes and get in as much breadth. Plus they are severely cutting the amount and variety of class offerings since professors don't have to teach as many. I'm not convinced that the classes will get so much more challenging that taking only 4 will seem like a full load.
Read all 1 answers
-
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
The campus isn't exactly a flurry of activity, but there are things going on if you seek them out. There are a few very active extracurriculars/groups that are visible on campus (mentioned above). There are some guest speakers every semester brought in by different departments (Philosophy, Sociology, and Visiting Writers are the main ones). There are definitely weekend parties which involve drinking, but everything seems pretty low-key.
Not a ton of arts events; there's usually one mainstage play, one dance showcase, and one choir concert each semester. IMHO, the theatre dept is mediocre, but the music dept seems quite good, especially the Chamber Singers. I haven't been to any dance performances but I know they don't offer Hip Hop or Social Dance classes. There are art shows in the gallery throughout the year and a senior show in May, but that's the only time student work is displayed (and that's the only gallery space).
I'd say school spirit is about average. A lot of people play sports but it doesn't seem super competitive and I only really hear about it from the school newspaper. There is Greek life but it doesn't dominate the campus.
The Hawaiian Lu'au is an annual tradition that is very well-attended; others include spray painting the spirit bench, Drag night, Pacific Idol, the Tom McCall forum...
The only thing I do off-campus is eat at Maggie's Buns or Pizza Shmizza. Forest Grove is a one-horse town. I don't hang out there on the weekends since I live in Portland.
It was kinda hard for me to get to know people because I was a transfer student and live off campus, but I met most of my friends in classes where there was a lot of interaction. And you tend to run into the same students in several classes. If I'm up at 2 am on a Tuesday, it's because I procrastinated on a paper... but I'm usually asleep then.
Read all 1 answers
-
What is the stereotype of students at your school?
Most people have never heard of Pacific, so they haven't formed stereotypes. If they have heard of it, it's usually in relation to the graduate schools (health stuff). I guess a few trends within the student body are a large percentage of Hawaiians and a lot of students interested in health professions.
Read all 1 answers
-
What is your overall opinion of this school?
The best thing about Pacific is the education. I think Pacific challenges most students most of the time and provides a strong liberal arts foundation. However, sometimes you have to consciously choose to take more challenging classes because it is possible to get by on easy "A"s.
Most of the professors I had were really awesome and there were a few that I would take their class no matter what they were teaching. The profs care about students' success and make themselves available if students need extra help or just want to chat.
I've heard from other students that the study abroad program is a major asset and definitely an important part of their college experience, though I haven't done it myself.
The school is very small and the surrounding town is even smaller, so there isn't a lot to do and that seems to be a major complaint. Portland is a 1 hour commute by car, 1.5-2 hour commute on public transport, so people don't go there that often (maybe once a month?). The small size is good in that classes are small and you get to know your professors and classmates well, but it also means that class offerings and other opportunities (internships, extracurriculars) are limited. Some classes only come around once every 3-4 years.
Another common complaint is the administration. They can be very inflexible at times and don't always seem to be there for the students, sometimes even becoming an obstacle to a good education. I didn't think that they really support student initiative.
I spend most of my time in class, in the UC, or in the library. I actually was commuting from Portland so I didn't experience the same cabin fever/boredom as other students stuck in Forest Grove for 9 months.
The campus is very beautiful with lots of hundred-plus-year-old trees and some classic architecture. Nothing is too spread out, so it's easy to get around on foot. (Just bring rainboots)
Read all 1 answers
