What is life like as a Phd student at Portland State? (schools, university)

[EliEverIsAHero]

I'm waiting to hear back about an application for the Public Affairs and Policy PhD program. There are two faculty I'd be really interested in working with in particular.

Anyone have any word as to PhD life at Portland state, or this program in particular?

[EasyBeezy]

I worked at Portland State for many years. I'm not sure what you mean by PhD life, but Portland State in general is a decent University in an interesting location. Not as well resourced as bigger R1 schools, but PSU generally punches above it's weight in graduate programs and research, and support systems there are pretty good. If I were to describe PSU in one word, it would be ”scrappy.”

[Nell Plotts]

It is an urban school with very good public transit access.

[Cyberpunk1981]

Can you live without a car as a grad student? I plan to attend the school next year and would like to live without a vehicle if possible.

[ormari]

Originally Posted by Cyberpunk1981

Can you live without a car as a grad student? I plan to attend the school next year and would like to live without a vehicle if possible.

Portland has great public transportation, especially downtown, at least during the daytime. PSU is serviced by numerous bus lines and by the Portland Streetcar.

Grad school often involves late nights in the lab or library. So I would want to live close to the school, regardless of whether I had a car or not.

I would contact your academic department, and ask to speak with current grad students about it. They’ll clue you in.

I should note that I have never been a PSU grad student, but have known some through work and friendships, many years ago.

[mlhm5]

IMO after living here for 3 years, Portland is not bohemian but seedy.

[texasdiver]

I don't think the OP is really asking about life in Portland generally. But rather about what life is like for a grad student at PSU.

Honestly, PSU is not a major research institution like UO, OSU, UW, or WSU so the culture there is going to be primarily oriented towards undergrads and professional programs. So you probably won't have the same degree of camaraderie and organization of grad students that you might get at a larger research institution.

On the other hand, I was a grad student at UW and you mostly live in your own world anyway. Grad school is not like undergrad where there are all kinds of social events organized around you. Rather, you mostly just live in your own specific silo and have little or no contact with any grad students outside your own particular small group anyway.