<p>I'm looking for opinions/experiences that others might have had with Pitt in general but most especially the honors program/college. Do high achieving students feel challenged enough? How do out of state students fit in? What does it take to get merit money and does full tuition mean instate dollars?
Thanks for any thoughts.</p>
<p>My son is in the honors college. The honors courses he has taken so far have been good, with expanded and more in-depth curriculum. The teachers of the honors courses have also been good.</p>
<p>Now, not every department has honors classes and not every class comes in an honors version. For example, the German department is small and I don't think they offer honors classes; rather, you just take whatever level of class suits you. The Engineering School has some honors classes, but not a whole lot; it mostly applies to freshman classes in physics, math, chem and computer.</p>
<p>Now for the honors housing. My son was in it his freshman year, and it was nice. It was good to live with other motivated, high-achieving students and was probably a little less rowdy than some floors. That said, be aware that the honors housing is not academic but social, and there is not enough honors housing to meet the demand. They have parties, outings, activities and such. But, they offer housing to people they want to party with and I don't think much of the guy in charge of housing. Straight A students can be bumped by students who don't even meet the minimum grade "criteria" for inclusion. They don't want people who spend their time studying and working at a job, they want people who want to party and have fun. This is not necessarily bad, but I do believe that Pitt holds honors housing out as an enticement, and it is really false advertising. Frankly, my son got a better housing arrangement by just living with a group of smart, hard-working guys he met during freshman year. </p>
<p>The honors housing disappointment aside, Pitt has been a good place. There is no shortage of bright, motivated kids. The atmosphere is unpretentious and cooperative, and there are challanges for those who want them. Research opportunities are abundant.</p>
<p>Most students live on campus, and there is lots to do on the weekends. Pitt is absolutely not a commuter college. Out-of-state students have plenty of company, and nobody really cares where you came from. One good thing for out-of-staters is that Pittsburgh is a friendly city, and you are sure to get invitations from local friends over breaks and days off.</p>
<p>The quality of the schools and departments probably varies, just as at any college. Do you know what area you want to study bluejay?</p>
<p>Our D is a Pitt freshman in engineering. She got a full tuition honors scholarship and we are OOS, and it covers both the in state and OOS tuition. She also got an engineering scholarship that pays a good part of her room and board. She was invited to apply for a chancellors scholarship, but did not get it. In a way, I think she may have gotten the engineering scholarship instead of the chancellors as it kind of looks to me like Pitt leverages their "bait" to get as many high achieving kids as they can, so they spread the bait around accordingly.</p>
<p>For example, D was also invited to interview for Pitt's guaranteed med school admissions program, but she didn't get that either (although it was the bait that got us to buy the plane ticket and actually come visit Pitt, after which D was hooked). While at Orientation, I met the mom of a student who did get the med school admission and that student did not get the chancellors scholarship or the engineering scholarship. (D also got a small engineering study abroad scholarship). So it looks like to me, could be wrong, but if Pitt thinks they can get you with the med school (and the med school wants you), then maybe you don't get all the scholarships. If they think you could qualify for help with your room and board some other way, then maybe you don't get the chancellors. There is also a small one time award for NMF (D didn't get that either), but they only give out maybe three of those and maybe they go to NMFs who didn't get some other thing. See? They leverage their bait.</p>
<p>As for OOS, the kids come from all over - Ohio, NY, NJ, Mass, Va, WVa, Ill, Calif, Fla, Ala, Ga, La., etc. Our D claims to have met only 2 people who are actually from Pittsburgh. The classes are challenging depending on what you take. She's doing FHEP, the Fessenden Honors Engineering Program, and feels challenged on a daily basis. Some of her courses are not honors per se, like she started in Calculus2, but then some kids on her floor started in Calculus4 (so she says). Honors Physics is a blast or at least she thinks so.</p>
<p>Yes, there is a social life on the honors floors, but it's not bad or anything to complain about. They do midnight football (self-explanatory). They have personal knowledge that the Cathedral of Learning is open 24/7. A bunch of them went to see Snakes on a Plane together 'cause some Pitt faculty member wrote the script for it (actually I think he sold the idea to Hollywood and is the reason they made the movie), which I think is kind of cool.</p>
<p>There is supposed to be an Honors College dance on one of the Gateway Clipper boats at some point but I haven't heard about it yet. So far nothing to get upset about yet, but the year is young I suppose.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. My daughter is interested in applying as she also is enticed with a city environment and turned off by the typical, small LAC's. Being out of state we are of course hopeful for some type of financial carrot. Maybe mercymom, you could comment on her chances? All AP's, IB, and honors courses, unweighted 96% top 2 % of class over 500, SAT 1420 (verbal/math). EC are average. I hope the semester(s) continue to go well for your kids!</p>
<p>Stats look excellent, bluejay. There's never a guarantee, but you seem to be right in the ballpark for a good offer. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>My D also wanted the city environment. Pittsburgh is the total opposite of where we live (small town in the south), and that's what she wanted - northern, urban, etc. She can't wait for the snow.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the input. I'll probably be back with more questions!</p>
<p>Mercymom,
I wish we could get our d's together! We're heading to Pitt next week for a full day of tours, info sessions, honor college and engineering appointments. And my D just said to me last night, "Mom, AP Physics is da bomb!" And, she is the only girl in the class.....</p>
<p>So looking forward to visiting Pitt after all the great comments from you and Nurse123. I think she's gonna love it. </p>
<p>Karri</p>
<p>kschmidt - I sent you a pm.</p>
<p>As a freshman, I encourage any future students not to take honors courses, ever. You are really screwing yourself. You get subject material that is ridiculously hard, and the fun part is that the grade that you get is NOT GOING TO BE WEIGHTED. As someone who is taking Honors Chem and 711 (Computing), trust me; Honors Courses are a guaranteed way to bring down your GPA and your free time.</p>
<p>Honors physics and honors engineering were good classes, I hear. Great teachers and not impossibly difficult. Even though they were probably more work, my son enjoyed them and did well in them.</p>
<p>He did not opt for honors calculus because it combined both calc I and calc II into one semester. Are they nuts?! Now that sounded like too much risk!</p>
<p>I've heard about that Calc1 and 2 together. . . I wonder if that's just like AP Calc BC? My daughter took AP Calc AB in h.s., and got credit at Pitt for Calc I.</p>
<p>My S was in the honors program freshman year. He took Honors Chemistry and Honor Engineering. Liked the engineering seminar, thought that the Honors Chemistry was way too hard. Loved the Honors housing, he was on a floor in Sutherland. Moved off campus sophomore year with several of his suitemates. He loves Pittsburgh, is currently on co-op. One of his roommates has the full-tuition scholarship.</p>
<p>Do students in the Honors College usually receive some merit aid? Any insights/experience would be appreciated. My D wants to attend, but since we're OOS, I'm very concerned about $.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I've heard about that Calc1 and 2 together. . . I wonder if that's just like AP Calc BC? My daughter took AP Calc AB in h.s., and got credit at Pitt for Calc I.
[/quote]
The course you are talking about is Calculus 235. No, it is nothing like BC Calculus. You don't even do problems in that class..You take down his pointless notes and proofs. Its more of a theoretical math course than BC. If you want BC equivalent, go for Calc 230.</p>
<p>It's interesting how Pitt handles Calculus. At D1's school there is only Calc 1,2, and 3. That sequence is followed by Linear Algebra. Calc 3 at her school is the equivalent of Pitt's 420, multivariable calculus. The other school has an honors version of each of the three calculus classes and they are heavily weighted on proofs. While some engineering majors take those classes rather than say repeating calc 1, they seem to be more geared for potential math majors who are expected to get into the theoretical stuff early.</p>
<p>So who else is looking forward to this Friday's Honor's Chem Test?!!</p>
<p>Whoa. I got owned on that thing. Lets hope Siska has a good curve.</p>
<p>so far I have enjoyed my experience in the honors college this year. I am a freshman living in the honor college housing and have had a very good time. It is nice to be around people that take school work seriously and there is no worrying about a party going on during a tuesday night when I have an exam the next day. With that said the students on these floor know how to have a good time too and the activities the honors college cooridinates are fun as well including the semiformal dance on the gateway clipper, midnight rugby, and trips around pittsburgh. </p>
<p>I am loving my experience with Honors classes. Of course they are more work but that is why they have the designation as honors...they are designed for students who want to explore further into a topic. If you are no looking to put in the extra effort I would not recomend honors classes. I enjoy the smaller class sizes of my Honors classes and although their is no weighted grade point for taking them, graduate schools do take the honors courses into consideration when evaluating your application (since the honors designation shows up on your transcript)</p>
<p>waterpolo:</p>
<p>Are there many engineering students living in the honors housing? Thanks.</p>