After a 1.5 hour drive south from Portland, I arrived at stop #2 on my Oregon college tour, Oregon State University in Corvallis. Oregon State is a university that I have been recommending for years, both for its lack of impacted majors (great for engineering students) and small-town, friendly vibe.
I loved the flat, easily walkable/bikeable campus, with an impressive football stadium right in the heart of the school. We happened to coordinate our visit with Beaver Days, which meant opportunities to listen to student panels, tour dorms, and ask questions of Admissions reps. I met current students from Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California.
Another thing I like about OSU is how easy they make it for students to apply. They offer an early action deadline of 11/1, where students receive their admissions decisions in December, as well as a Feb 1 deadline. No additional essays other than the Common App essay are required (a plus for busy students juggling multiple applications).
