Psu?

I'll weigh in even though my experience at PSU is slightly different than what you would be doing. I've been attending PSU as a PhD student in one of the few PhD programs at the school for the past 3 years. I love PSU for the urban quirkiness and have made lifetime friends - that tends to happen with small PhD cohorts. I know nothing of the program you are considering, but I can say a few things about family-school balance at the school.

PSU is (1) a state school, (2) a commuter school, and (3) an urban campus. This means it is very unlikely you will get student family housing (there is very little student housing period) and most people come to school and go home to other quadrants of the city (this is particularly true of students with children). PSU also has very limited family services. DO NOT COUNT ON THE CAMPUS CHILDCARE CENTERS.... THEY MAINTAIN 2+ YEAR WAITLISTS.

Many people live in the inner southeast or northeast and commute by bus into campus. Most of my classmates and their significant others live in 1 bed apartments off of division, hawthorne, or belmont. We too have chosen this route even though I'm the only one with a small child. A few others live in Sellwood or up in some of the quickly gentrifying areas of the NE quadrant. It is a quick ride, buses come often, it is cheaper and easier than parking on campus, it allows us to be a one car (and for a while a car free) family, etc.

Not much help on preschools as my kid is still under 2. My general impression is that options start to appear around 2.5 years or so, but since we are moving over the summer, I haven't really developed a strategy around preschools.

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Sorry, I'm late getting back to this thread. I don't know much about their anthropology and/or psych programs specifically but one thing to look at (and I'm totally not kidding) is the average GPA of a graduating undergraduate. Yes, we all want good grades but a high average GPA screams low standards and low standards mean that over time people will graduate who shouldn't with the same degree you have and devalue your degree. You want a school with high standards. If you are looking at a graduate program, look for faculty who's interest align with yours.

Hope that helps

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Yikes!

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Wow I never even considered that!

I think I have made up my mind to transfer to U of O. They have family housing (wait list of a year or more but that's OK as I plan to transfer in the fall of 2010) and on campus child care. I submitted my application today. I can also continue to take classes here through U of O at COCC until housing becomes available there in Eugene.
Thanks for all your input