Portland or Vancouver, Schools (Dallas: high schools, universities, live)

[MissC]

I am moving from Dallas, TX (which I absolutely hate) to the Portland/Vancouver area later on this year because I want to be closer to mountains and to have some beautiful scenery to look at. I am not sure which city would be a better move...I am looking to get back in school for business and psychology/sociology and I would prefer to take classes with adults. Which schools would be best for this? Which ones will I get the best bang for the buck?
Also, is there a difference in the weather between the two cities? How far is the drive between them, and how bad is the traffic?

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by MissC

I am not sure which city would be a better move...I am looking to get back in school for business and psychology/sociology and I would prefer to take classes with adults.

There are several good schools between the two cities. I would first point you towards Clark College and Washington State University-Vancouver, for those in WA. Portland has Portland State University, University of Portland, Portland Community College, Reed College, Concordia University, and Warner-Pacific College. I think that's it for Portland, though. Really, most of them will have some great programs. It's probably best to check them out yourself to see which ones you're most comfortable with.

Most of the colleges/universities will have classes with adults, meaning those over the age of 18. If you're looking for an older student population, in general, I would probably begin your quest at either WSU-Vancouver or Portland State. Both schools have a large returning adult student population.

Originally Posted by MissC

Also, is there a difference in the weather between the two cities? How far is the drive between them, and how bad is the traffic?

Weather is pretty much identical. Some areas will have more snow occasionally just because of simple elevation differences. The east side of either city will usually have more wind and cooler weather in the winter time just due to their proximity to the Columbia River Gorge.

Portland and Vancouver are only across the Columbia River from each other. It's maybe a 5 minute drive across either the I-205 or I-5 bridges during off-peak travel hours. During rush-hour, that could take much longer. It's all going to depend on where you live and where you go to school.

Another thing to keep in mind is the state of public education in either state. Oregon constantly has funding shortfalls for all of their education, but most acutely for elementary and high schools. But it is still an issue for even higher education institutions.

When you check out each school, I would ask specifically about the funding issue. Also, talk with not only the admissions department, but check out advisors for your desired program and even talk with some of the students actually in the program.

Traffic is all relative to what you're accustomed to. Most people in Portland/Vancouver consider traffic to be "bad" when they're unable to go at least the posted speed limit. Traffic can definitely be an issue, though. Particularly if you're heading into Portland in the mornings or into Vancouver in the evenings. If you're going against the grain, you'll likely find a much easier time of it.

Good luck. If you have any other questions about the area feel free to PM me!