jcm15850

Hi! I applied to 2 MSW programs and 1 MFT (Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR). Haven't seen much on this forum in regards to L&C. Good luck to you!

Hi all-for you admitted Uchicago folks, congratulations!!! Would you mind sharing when you applied? I submitted my app on 11/10 (but had a recommender linger and ended up not being complete until 12/4). It's probably my anxiety getting the best of me combined with being super slow at work today, but I am so eager to hear back and wondering if it's just because mine was sort of "late." thanks again!

Absolutely! I think one of the best things I like about Portland State/Portland in general is that it doesn't feel like a "big" city. PSU is so well-known in the community too, so I feel like it's a great network to be a part of especially if you're interested in staying in Portland long-term. I don't consider PSU a traditional university, just because the students are so diverse in their experiences. I can't say for certain, but I would estimate that most students from PSU are non-traditional/transfers for undergraduate studies. I came out to Portland in 2015 for AmeriCorps, and I feel like I heard about PSU right off the bat because many non-profits utilize student interns from various programs. Also, in the 3 different jobs I've had here, at least 1 co-worker of mine earned their Master's from PSU. I've enjoyed working for them too (being a state employee has great benefits!), although the institution as a whole seems to be pressed for funding. To be honest, I am not counting on getting a generous financial aid package if accepted (it will likely just be federal loans). The social work program from what I heard (which hasn't been a whole lot) seems to be popular and competitive. I've heard it's a bit of a generalized education to social work and a lot of focus on the macro level. It also seems to be highly regarded to other Portlanders and employers. As far as the city goes, I came from the south, so Portland was a bit of a culture shock for me. I've grown to really love it here and the neighborly vibe in the city. There are plenty of non-profits and the job market seems to be on the up & up too, which helps! It is kind of true though that it can feel like a place where "young people go to retire," but ultimately my experience here and the people I've met have been invaluable to me. I can also testify that despite how crazy housing can be, I've been able to live comfortably in Portland on a very small salary for the last 2 and a half years or so, so it might not be that bad if living here on a student's budget (although I will say it probably won't be easy, but definitely not impossible). I hope that helps! Feel free to message me if you have any other questions.

Hi all! Also a long time lurker and first time poster as someone mentioned earlier in this thread. I applied to UChicago, PSU and Lewis & Clark college also in Portland but for their Marriage, Couple, Family Therapy program. Currently Portland based and work at PSU, but UChicago was my "pie-in-the-sky" reach school. Good luck out there! The waiting is making me a little antsy.