Admissions
The SOU - Portland Metropolitan Area Connection
Your SOU Admissions Representative
Counties: Multnomah, ClackamasIan Parent
phone: 541-552-6411
fax: 541-552-6614
ParentI@sou.edu
SOU has always been popular with prospective students from the Portland Metropolitan Area. Situated at the elevation of 2000 feet in the cradle of the Siskiyou and Cascade Mountain ranges, 15 miles from the Northern California border, we offer a fresh, outdoor mountain climate together with the stimulation of a first rate liberal arts university and culturally dynamic town. The climate in Ashland is moderate compared to Portland (more like California!) with an average of 20 inches of rainfall per year compared to Portland's 40 to 45 inches per year. Expect about 265 rain-free days per year! And, located only 5 hours from the Portland, you're not far from home!
Our students are successful. Thousands of SOU alumni throughout the world are thriving as civic and business leaders, educators, doctors, scientists, attorneys, and creative visionaries. When our students and alumni talk about SOU, many say what they value in the education they received here is their relationships with professors who became their advisors and mentors. You won't be a number at SOU. Click here to see our School and College Fair Visit Calendar for the Portland Metro Area and find out when we might be visiting you!
- To find out what's happening at SOU, see the News, Events and Dates page!
- Click here to find out what other opportunities the Southern Oregon Region can offer you and what the town of Ashland is like.
Profiles of SOU Students from Portland:
Maggie Donaldson
Age: 18
Year in School: Sophomore
Major: Business
High School Attended: U.S. Grant High School
Maggie Donaldson is an 18 year old sophomore majoring in Business at SOU. What attracted her to SOU was the small private school feeling. Her ultimate decision to choose SOU was because SOU had the two majors that she was interested in and because she wanted to explore another part of Oregon than the Portland metropolitan area. What she likes best about SOU is the atmosphere where everyone is genuinely nice, and her ceramics class of which she says "the studio is amazing and art is fun."
Erika Read
Age: 19
Year in School: Sophomore
Major: Mathematics
High School Attended: Parkrose High School
Erika Read is a 19 year old sophomore majoring in Mathematics. Erika says she was attracted to SOU for the small class sizes and for the region's climate. Erika likes the fact that small class sizes means she can interact with her professors in and outside the classroom. She enjoys all of her math classes because SOU has "a fabulous math faculty." Erika hopes to graduate with a 3.5 GPA and to return to Portland to teach. Outside of school activities, Erika loves walking in Lithia Park and taking advantage of student rush week at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Erika's advice to any prospective SOU student is to live in the dorms, take advantage of office hours to drop in on your professors to chat and to take classes that interest you.
Regina Freshour
Age: 23
Year in School: Senior
Major: Business with an Emphasis in Restaurant Management
High School Attended: Marshall High School
Regina Freshour is a 23 year old senior majoring in Business with an emphasis in Restaurant Management. Regina was attacted to SOU's small size, friendly staff and students. She chose SOU particularly for the Hotel, Restaurant and Resort Management program in the School of Business. Her favorite classes at SOU are the business classes which she finds interesting and intriguing. She also enjoys any activities put on by the Inter-Residence Hall Council. The Inter-Residence Hall Council (IRC) is a representative group of students who live in the residence halls. Throughout the year, IRC provides a variety of educational and social programs, including contests, dances, and educational programs.
Regina says she would tell any prospective student that "SOU is a small and friendly school that allows students and faculty to get to know each other."
