Porte enrolled at Cooper Union (1951–52) after graduating from high school and intended to pursue an engineering career, but left owing to lack of interest and of perceived ability. A paragraph from Mark Van Doren's A Liberal Education (1943) compelled him to switch to literary studies, first at night school at Brooklyn College (1952–53) and subsequently at the City College of New York. In 1957, he received his A.B.
Porte attended Cooper Union from 1951 to 1952 after graduating high school but decided against an engineering career due to a lack of interest and perceived ability. A passage in Mark Van Doren's A Liberal Education (1943) influenced him to switch to literary studies, first taking night classes at Brooklyn College (1952–53) before earning his B.A. from the City College of New York in 1957.