[PeppyGPhiB]

Portland is a cool little city. To tell you the truth I don't know much about the neighborhoods, other than that the Pearl District is the trendy spot.

Why your question about schools? Are you a current college student? University of Portland is a private school, there's Oregon Health Sciences University, and I think there's a Portland State University (correct me if i'm wrong, Oregonians). There are lots of other private Oregon schools relatively close by (Linfield, Willamette, Lewis & Clark, Reed), but Univ. of Oregon and Oregon State are both quite a drive from Portland.