The University of Oregon (UO) is a top public university located in Eugene, Oregon, that offers more than 300 undergraduate programs and 120 graduate programs to its 29,000 students. UO gives students the ability to continue their education surrounded by, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful campuses in the country and many engaging student events that you are able to attend.

In my opinion, one of the best parts of the UO is the beautiful campus. Situated on 296 acres of land, you can walk across it in 15 minutes, under shade the whole way. Because the school was built in 1876, the campus has many renovated historic buildings, which have been mixed in with newer buildings as the university has grown. 

Freshmen at UO are required to live on campus for their first year, but are allowed to start pursuing other options as a sophomore. The school has 13 different residential halls, offering single, double, or triple rooms. I was able to see some mock dorm rooms, and in my eyes, they all looked nice and spacious.

UO provides five different meal plans for those who are staying on campus: deluxe, standard, select, mini, and carson, with carson being a buffet style instead of the more pre-selected style of the other plans. The meal plans each have their own unique points system that you can use to purchase food, while also providing “Duck Bucks,”  a university currency that can be used for services like printing or purchasing around the campus. UO allows you to change your meal plan at any time. There’s also a huge farmers market every weekend that’s only about a 15 minute walk away from campus. I visited the farmers market and had some great tacos and freshly made brownies. 

In my opinion UO has some of the best student life in the country. On campus, you can attend basketball games at the arena, or you can visit the many music or art exhibits at the school. Their football and baseball stadiums are also only a short walk away. I attended a football game, and even though the school year hadn’t started, the stadium was very loud with an electric atmosphere. The stadium was very clean and the views from the top were breathtaking.

Overall, I would definitely recommend the University of Oregon. From the beautiful campus, to the top academics, to the vibrant student life, the school has plenty to offer. If you are on the fence, I would highly recommend touring the school – everything that I saw made me feel welcome on campus. For potential applicants, regular decision applications are due Jan. 15, 2025.