<p>So I've been reading on here about Pitt, seems like it could be nice fit for my daughter, she'd be automatic in the Honors College I believe, from OOS so she'd be likely to get some tuition $$ help, interested in Neuroscience as part of a double major option, wants a CITY, not a bucolic rolling-hilled LAC.</p>
<p>Then I get a comment (sneer?) from my cousin who lives in PA insisting she could do better, that kids going there aren't "top tier" and she hates Pitt.</p>
<p>Now, I know everyone bases their opinions on their own experiences, and I shouldn't be swayed by offhand comments; I'm doing homework and research etc. and should be able to help my daughter make a good decision, but still there's some lingering doubt. We don't KNOW anyone who has actually gone to Pitt (and I'm just using it as an example, I hear Tulane IS a party school or ISN'T a party school, Venderbilt is VERY GREEK or is NOT VERY GREEK) and so when hearing from someone who has more insight than we do, it's tempting to pay heed.</p>
<p>How do you all separate the valid points from the stuff everyone THINKS is true so they repeat it???</p>
<p>You first the run the numbers and make darn sure it is in your financial ballpark and then you visit. You use your gut and turn the volume down on your ears.</p>
<p>Daughter of a close friend picked Pitt over Duke, WUSTL, UMich and a couple other “higher ranked” schools, for 2 reasons - 1) She got into their direct medical program, ranked among the top-15 in the country and 2) she got a full-ride scholarship. After 2 years, she’s thriving and couldn’t be happier.</p>
<p>hen I get a comment (sneer?) from my cousin who lives in PA insisting she could do better, that kids going there aren’t “top tier” and she hates Pitt.</p>
<p>People who aren’t paying for your child’s tuition - in this case your cousin - have no right to make such comments. People who want your child to go elsewhere should be directed to make annual and sizable donations to:</p>
<p>Sujormik’s DD’s College Fund
Bank of XXXXXX
Acct # 1234567890</p>
<p>and…ignore the whole Party School rep…every school is a party school (except some Bible Schools).</p>
<p>My daughter has visited Pitt twice and absolutely loves it. She’ll be applying to higher ranked schools also, but I think she may very well end up at Pitt even if she gets some reach admissions. She loves the atmosphere of Oakland, and she was crazy about Upper Campus (where the freshman Honors dorm is) when we toured. I’d definitely recommend a visit. Pitts’s website is pretty poor, so don’t base any opinions off of it. :)</p>
<p>Your daughter needs to make up her OWN mind about the schools. One thing we really tried to do was NOT discuss college application choices with anyone friends, relatives or neighbors. DD and DS kept it pretty quiet…maybe chatting with close friends. That way they didn’t have to hear the “well meaning” but sometimes mean spirited comments of others until after they made their college choices.</p>
<p>Pitt is an excellent school and Pittsburgh is a fine city. There are many OOS students who apply there as their number one choice. Sometimes folks just can’t see the strengths of the schools in their own backyards…you know…the grass is always greener.</p>
<p>The only thing that matters at the end of the day is if your DAUGHTER likes Pitt.</p>
<p>I’m all for Pitt if that is what a student wants. I personally think prefer the LACs, but if a student likes city schools, it’s a great choice. It also has some good merit aid that is actually more accessible than other state schools. Check it out and if your D likes it, it should go on her list. It won’t be the only schools on the list; so there will be time to compare and see what transpires.</p>
<p>I think it is also important to realize that Pitt is an example of a school that has improved quite a bit in recent years and Pitt today is a much better school than it was 20 years ago. I like hearing opinions from parents/students who have visited a school recently - or who have applied there - or are attending now. Opinions from people who really have no particular knowledge about about a school beyond what they have heard - really not worth much.</p>
<p>I know it is hard - comments from “well-meaning” relatives are the worst to deal with. You have the option to just ignore her completely - or turn it around - along the lines of “I guess you are not aware of of Pitt’s recent ranking/award/national recognition, etc.” Lots of unsolicited opinions to deal with - if she is going to be nasty - you do have the right to just keep your college search private.</p>
<p>I got a /lot/ of nasty comments when I decided to go to Umich in-state, and I have a friend that goes to Harvard and people even came up with nasty things to say about her. You really just have to do your own research and get advice from other /knowledgeable/ resources (possibly like parents of current students you can find on CC?) and make your own choices. I think a lot of people who aren’t mid-college process don’t understand how much hype and thought goes into the decision and they throw out comments without really thinking about them or even expecting us to take them seriously, just talking to talk. </p>
<p>Occasionally when one of my cousins or someone made a remark about my school choice, and where I should be going instead, I would put on a really serious look and be like, “oh… really!? oh gosh, could you tell me more about that?” like i am all ready to take their sage advice, and usually at that point it would become very obvious that they had walked themselves off a pier and couldn’t come up with anything productive to say to prove they knew what they were talking about. “Oh… um… well… I mean… School B is SO much better! Because… um… well… you know… FOOTBALL!” If you talk to people for a few minutes it’s not hard to see who knows their stuff and who doesn’t. ;)</p>
<p>Right now you are not making the final choice. You are just selecting schools to consider and for your DD to be considered. Hopefully, you have a variety of choices, and in April, you will choose what the best option is. In order for a school to even be an option, you gotta apply to it, so if the honors program at Pitt looks good, and a full ride Chancellors scholarship a possibility, certainly put it on the list. Look for better alternatives too, but I think you’ll find it hard to beat in terms of cost/ quality/atmosphere, particularly in terms of a city school. Mini’s remark is succinct and right on mark.</p>
<p>Just as a personal aside, my husband’s cousins are very down on their state flagship school due to some problems some kids in the family had there. They had some bad experiences and it seems when that happens, such stories get collected. It’s only been recently, with the new generation going off to college, and when they are looking at all of the options that they are seeing the school for what it is. Many kids do very well there, and for the money, it is by far the best deal for their kids. Swallowing this was hard for some of them as they had been talking down the school for a long time. I give them credit for being open minded enough that they can see the possibilities. Some fools shut them out permanently.</p>
<p>Everyone has an opinion and sometimes that opinion is based on out-of-date or even outright erroneous information. I live in the city of Pittsburgh and there are many people who still see my city as a dirty steel town. Just as the city has changed, so has the university, and many have not kept up with the reality of that change. Our city school kids have learned that Pitt is not a safety.</p>
<p>For PA kids who want to go to an in-state school, Pitt is the “hot” school for kids who seek top academics in an urban environment. Penn State is tops for those who want great academics with huge school spirit and don’t mind living in Central PA for 4 years.<br>
Pitt is also high on the radar of high stats OOS students who are seeking merit aid- Pitt is known to be generous in attracting these kids. If your kid could be a candidate for HYP, then he/she could likely get a full ride scholarship to Pitt. What would you choose? That can be a tough choice. </p>
<p>On the other hand- if you are choosing between schools like Pitt, NYU, GW, BU- well—its hard to justify paying double the price for a college education at schools like that.</p>
<p>You know I may be somewhat biased (since my D will be an entering freshman at Pitt this year) but I would encourage you to visit and see for yourself. Its very impressive!</p>
<p>Someone earlier remarked that there are schools whose reputations have failed to catch up with their actual quality. I can think of a bunch: Pitt, American, Earlham, Santa Clara, and maybe Denver come to mind. Then there are schools that trade on the quality of one or two undergraduate programs but are likely overrated otherwise (NYU with Tisch and Stern immediately comes to mind). Then there are schools that, because of budget cuts, have seriously declined in the quality of education offered to undergraduates - I know that is true at UWashington, and it would be surprising if the same wasn’t true in the UCalifornia system. </p>
<p>There is no substitute for kicking the tires.</p>
<p>Just remember…those folks with the negative opinions are NOT going to be convinced that Pitt is a great place by your comments…they will “but but but” you go death. Just smile and nod.</p>
<p>I live in a Pittsburgh suburb, and many of our HS’s top students choose to attend Pitt. My D used it as her rolling admissions safety, but did not want to attend college so close to home, even with a full tuition scholarship offer. Have her apply as early as possible for best merit chances.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. The more I hear about Pitt the more I think it would work really well for her. She is already looking at the application and though I think they don’t require an essay, working on an essay as well because she really has a cool story to tell.</p>
<p>Will definitely report back when we hear (still no teachers or people in the advising office to get recommendations yet), your input is greatly appreciated.</p>