<p>so i have this huge dilemma with my decision with college and i was hoping you all could help me!</p>
<p>So here is the situation. I have a full scholarship (tuition, room and board, fees, etc.) to Upitt honors college and i'm looking to go Pre-med and major in chemistry. This would be good b/c of pitts' facilities and connections BUT here is the problem. I want a campus-y feel to my college and not a city school where i have to deal with sidewalks, crosswalks, taxi's, and non-college people walking around. I'm not a fan of the urban feel. I also don't want the 300 kid lecture hall deal b/c i like to be close with my teachers. Ive been accepted to UNC-chapel hill and Boston College and my number one at the moment is Wake Forest (i haven't heard back yet). The money situation is a big deal but UNC and Wake meets 100% of my need and BC gave me almost half of the total cost in financial aid. My dad is a retired teacher and my mom has a japanese college degree which doesn't bode well in the US so money is scarce. I know they really want me to go to Pitt b/c of money and i kinda don't want to b/c of some pre-existing prejudice against the city. I was hoping you guys could help me get over my fears of a city school/big school feel so if it comes down to the worst, i have to go to Pitt. Any maybe some advice?</p>
<p>I too am going premed and have applied to many schools but Pitt has given me the most money. My only comment would be that where you go for your undergrad doesn’t matter a whole lot. I would say go with Pitt and save the money for when the education really matters (medical school). But then again, if you really don’t see yourself being happy at Pitt, then you’ve got to go someplace else.</p>
<p>Well, the campus of Pitt is urban, but there really aren’t many taxis or shady non-college people walking around. And what’s wrong with sidewalks and crosswalks? Every college is going to have non-college people walking around on campus. Have you even visited? You probably haven’t been in big cities often if you’re having these fears. </p>
<p>You also have to realize that as a pre-med, you’re going to have to deal with 300-kid lecture halls, whether at Pitt, UNC, BC, or Wake Forest. The only way to get around it would be to take honors courses or go to a small liberal arts college.</p>
<p>AC1460- Grow up. You have a full scholarship and your family has limited income for your education. If you fear the city, stay on campus. You will have big classes at the other schools you mentioned. What makes you think a professor wants to be or has time to be close to you? Cuddle up to your TA instead.</p>
<p>You recieved a full scholarship (tuition, room and board, fees, etc.) to Upitt honors college with a 1370 SAT (M/CR)? I’d hurry up and take it before they change their minds. </p>
<p>^ If that was meant in humor, it wasn’t very funny. He probably got the Helen Faison scholarship for URMs which is full tuition, room and board.</p>
<p>If you have the Full Scholarship and money is an issue you at least need to go to the school and check it out. You can’t know if you hate it before you even visit it.</p>
<p>I would definitely visit Pitt and then decide. And it is true, pre-med classes – you will be with lots of other students at any college. You are young and don’t have the perspective of your parents – there is a lot to be said for graduating with no debt especially if you are planning to go to medical school. </p>
<p>If money is a big issue for your parents – I would take the scholarship from Pitt and make the most of my four years there – who knows – you might like it so much that you want to go to their medical school.</p>
<p>First, congratulations on the wonderful scholarship! College Confidential is full of stories of students who took a Pitt full ride over tippy-top schools, so you’ll be in good company. </p>
<p>Yes, it’s a big school. But the honors program will help by giving you a home among a smaller group of people. Approaching the school with a positive attitude will also help. There are wonderful people and resources and activities to discover at any school. </p>
<p>If you are looking towards med school, then keeping your undergrad debt as low as possible is a really, really, really good idea.</p>
<p>Since it’s unlikely that you have received financial aid letters yet, you should be aware that although UNC and BC might state that they meet 100% of need, much of that aid will probably consist of loans. If money is an issue, consider all aspects carefully.</p>
<p>My older daughter is in the honors program at Pitt. So far her honors chemistry, biology and organic chemistry courses have consisted of fewer than thirty students per section. That’s one way of shrinking the school. (Be aware that the honors sections require a lot more work.) All of the schools you have listed will have large numbers of pre-med students and every school’s introductory science courses will be large, it’s not just a Pitt thing. You owe it to yourself (and your parents) to look at the school and especially sit down and talk with some of the professors. (In fact, that is something you should do at any school you are serious about.)</p>
<p>If you decide to stay pre-med, Pitt’s research opportunities are unsurpassed, especially in the medical field. That is one area in which the honors program is of great benefit, as well.</p>
<p>There is a tremendous advantage to graduating from undergraduate school with zero loans. Remember, medical school will cost in excess of $200,000.</p>
<p>When you visit Pitt make appts to sit in on classes, talk to professors etc. Get a true overview of the school.</p>
<p>Pitt was originally a safety school for my son but the full tuition scholarship, UHC, and the fact that he deosn’t want to graduate with loans has put it in his top 3.</p>
<p>When he goes for Honors Day he is going to sit in on a class, meet the head of the dept and look at the Comp Sci facilities.</p>
<p>Give Pitt a fair shot before you write it off. There are lots of plusses.</p>
<p>hahaha thanks guys! yes it was the helen faison scholarship. and believe me i was freaking out when i found out it was a full ride but like someone already mentioned, i haven’t really been around the city enough. i mean i live in the country in CT so its just like a HUGE difference when all of a sudden i get stuck in the city. I’m not the biggest fan of the city feel since it just seems so cramped and somewhat unsafe. I did visit the campus though. When i saw it i didn’t know whether or not it was a part of the school or part of the city and i don’t like that. i might have to sit in a class, or do a more thorough visit but there wasn’t a wow factor. Anyone have any insight about the campus that i might have missed?</p>
<p>So you didn’t take a guided tour and just explored on your own? If money is an issue, wouldn’t it have made sense to do the tour/sit in on classes/explore the campus versus having to travel out there again. </p>
<p>I can say from our first visit, I knew when we were on the campus. It is definitely not a truly “urban” campus. It sounds like you don’t want to go to Pitt and is trying to find reasons to justify it (perhaps to your parents). If money is an issue – NOTHING beats a full ride. I am all for students graduating with zero debt especially if they plan to attend graduate/medical school. You are very lucky – there are plenty of kids who would be grateful to receive the scholarship you were awarded.</p>
<p>Oakland isn’t the “city” of Pittsburgh. Without Pitt (and to a lesser extent CMU), there would be no “urban” feel to the campus. The vast majority of people on campus are students/employees of Pitt.</p>
<p>1) You cannot ignore this free ride undergraduate if you also want to go to medical school.</p>
<p>2) Definitely go back and visit. Take the official tour and see if you can talk to some professors. U of Pittsburgh was totally off my sons radar. He was looking at mostly LAC. While in the Pittsburgh area we took the tour by one of their Pathfinder student guides. It was probably the best tour we ever went on and s said even though it was not the traditional campus he envisioned going to he could see himself fitting in there and ended up applying.
It is a very vibrant area with a lot to offer.</p>
<p>Like everyone else in the college-application maze, you have to wait until April 1, add up your acceptances, see what each option will cost you and your family, and then weigh the pros and cons of each. </p>
<p>Pitt has a lot to offer. Premed is an extremely challenging endeavor there. You will be challenged to the max. My daughter wanted an urban campus, and she loves Pitt (she’s a junior). But if you DON’T want an urban campus, I can see where you wouldn’t be too enthused about Pitt. There are green lawns and places to play Frisbee, though. And my daughter loves all the dining options off campus. </p>
<p>But it’s not for everyone. That’s why you need to wait until all your choices are in front of you, then decide. Things may look very different in April.</p>