For Three Quick Questions, I send the same three questions to admission representatives at colleges all over the country, and then I hope to hear back from them. The three questions are meant to probe some of the things that make a school unique but that aren’t easily captured as a stat to go in a book or web search.

Today’s response is from Heather Woffard, Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions for Multicultural Recruitment at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.

What is a course, tradition, program or event that is unique to Oregon State University?

There are so many ways to answer this question for Oregon State. Our Honors College has numerous unique classes that we could use as an example, including Farside Entomology, Experiential Marketing- Sports, Tourism & Performing Arts, The Truth is Out There: The Rise of Conspiracy Theories, and The Science of Science Fiction. We also have opportunities for students to study marine conservation biology and coastal ecosystems at our Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Oregon coast. No matter the class, students have an opportunity to get hands-on in their program and take their education outside of the lecture hall through research, internships, and special projects.

A favorite campus tradition happens each fall term when we start the year with our new students gathering at the Memorial Union quad and walking together through campus to Reser Stadium. The same path they will take four years later when they attend graduation and receive their diploma. There is so much pride and love for the OSU community here. You can walk across campus and yell “Go Beavs” and you’ll get a GO BEAVS in return from another student.

Naturally every college wants to recruit the perfect student--high grades, high test scores, involved in their community, leadership...everything. But what kinds of imperfect students tend to flourish at OSU?

Oregon State utilizes a holistic review process which allows for us to look at the unique skills and experiences students have and could bring to Beaver Nation. We want to build a strong community of thinkers, problem-solvers, advocates, and explorers who are ready to take on challenges in their field. We embrace our responsibility to Oregon and the world, building a future that’s smarter, healthier, more prosperous and more just.

When people come to visit Corvallis, what's a place off campus that you recommend they check out while they're there?

Since Corvallis is known for being one of the best college towns in the country, we recommend students check out downtown or take a stroll along Monroe to see where OSU students commonly grab a bite to eat off campus. Corvallis is located in the heart of the PNWonderland and there is much to explore around the area. Take the 1 hour drive to see the Oregon coast and visit the Hatfield Marine Science Center or stop by OSU’s college forest, McDonald-Dunn Research Forest, just a 15 minute drive from campus.

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Photo by Angela Elisabeth. [The banner photo is not of Oregon State. I use the same photo for all Meet the Class posts so you can spot them easily.]