<p>Would you recommend taking at least 1 UHC class, even if you came from a non-rigorous high school? </p>
<p>I want to take advantage of UHC but I’m not sure if I’d be overwhelmed. Wouldn’t “trying out” a class put you a little behind of another class if you switch?</p>
<p>My S signed up for 3 UHC classes as a freshman and, wisely, decided to drop Honors Chem 1 after he got mono. The workload is tremendous and the grading very, very tough. The other two, Honors Bio 1 and Eng Lit were challenging but fair to him. He’s taking 1-2 more this spring. Taking one UHC class is a good idea, just not Chem 1. On the bright side, his 8 weeks of Honors Chem 1 will make his regular Chem 1 class this spring look very easy in comparison.</p>
<p>Awesome, you have provided some pretty timely advice in the past, so here we go again. My son is currently a sophmore computer engineering major, everything was going smoothly until this past semester, he now needs to repeat Digital Logic, and Linear Circuits and Systems I, due to low grades. He is fairly confident he can do good in them the second time around, I am well aware of the two class and then you are done rule. He will also be taking Linear Algebra, and Computer Organization and Assembly Language, along with Data Structures, and the above mentioned two classes this coming semester. He said that some people that he knows have dropped out of of engineering because of the Linear Circuits and Systems I class, he says they instead declared their major as Computer Science. Is this class actually that dreaded? Is it common for it to have to be repeated? He loves engineering and does not want to have to change majors. Any advice? Happy Holidays.</p>
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<p>Absolutely, if it’s something that interests you or is related to your major and may help. The reason add/drop weeks (the first two weeks of term) exist is so that all students can test out and add or drop classes to their schedule as they see fit. Professors (especially freshman class professors) are aware of this, and will not go too in depth the first few lectures to allow for students to not be behind when they switch in.</p>
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<p>Honors Chem 1 is one of the BIGGEST weed out classes I have ever seen. I had a rough time with it, and that was coming from a rigorous AP Chem background. I strongly encourage it ONLY for students who are very successful with chem in high school. With that said, I don’t think I could have taken regular chem without being bored to death. But again, I will definitely agree that the workload (especially with the lab) was the biggest I ever had as a freshman.</p>
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<p>I’m trying to remember what my former roommate (an EE major) said about these classes. From what I recall, yes they suck. However, if EE/COE is what he wants to do, dropping down to a CS major from COE will not really help him. Yes, he may avoid these hard classes, but CS is no easier, and I have friends struggling through upper-level senior classes in CS right now. I think if anything, he needs to thin out his courseload. My roommate is taking 5 years to graduate from EE instead of 4 so that she wasn’t overloaded with so many difficult core classes at once. This may not be appropriate for every student (especially ones paying a lot of money per term/taking out loans), but finding a way to not overload is probably best.</p>
<p>Thanks awesome, that is what I also told him, if it takes an extra semester to get thru, so be it. He will have alot of loan debt, and his father and I will also have alot of parental loans. He still remains very positive, and wants that engineering degree. He has also mentioned taking a harder class over the summer, so the load is not quite as difficult the rest of the year.</p>
<p>@AwesomeOpossum</p>
<p>Can you give me your take on the GAP programs? My son just got accepted to Pitt about a month ago. Can he apply to GAP at this point? or is this something he should’ve done when he sent in his application.</p>
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<p>DD agrees with this statement. Her comment about Digital Logic and Linear Circuits and Systems I is that her BF got Cs in both and said that circuits is boring AND a lot of work. She will be taking circuits this coming semester to see whether she wants to do mechanical or electrical engineering in grad school. She is a year behind Awesome.</p>
<p>FromMD–the GAP program is by invitation if I remember correctly. Students also have to maintain a 3.75 GPA, which is extremely difficult in pre-med. In contrast, for the honors (full tuition) scholarship you have to maintain a 3.0 and for guaranteed grad school (DD got whatever the international studies one is called) a 3.5.</p>
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<p>Like MD Mom said, you have to be invited to apply, and it is a very rigorous application-- only 10 or so students a year are chosen to receive GAP. And if a person loses GAP, they cannot get it back and it will not transfer to someone else. MD Mom is also correct in the requirement of maintaining a 3.75 GPA every semester in order to maintain the GAP.</p>
<p>Scholarships are less rigorous. My UHC scholarship requires a 3.0 and my SSOE scholarship requires a 3.25 GPA every semester. Guaranteed grad (masters) requires a 3.5 for Engineering, but apparently the admin at SSOE don’t even realize they give out guaranteed spots because every time any friend of mine has brought it up, they seem really confused. Just an FYI for anyone banking on the guaranteed grad thing: keep your letter and remind your department ahead of time.</p>
<p>@MD Mom and AwesomeOpossum;</p>
<p>Thanks. It’s very helpful. </p>
<p>Do you have any data points on Pitt’s pre-med such as % seniors who got into med schools, avg MCAT scores and such?</p>
<p>Can you also comment on diversity situation? I am sorry if probably answered these questions before. I didn’t want to go thru 30 pages to look for it… </p>
<p>On a less serious note, I see (Opossum) that you are a senior. I have a son who is in similar situation - UMD-College Park senior, Engineering/English double major, Honors (Gemstone). What are your plans after college if you don’t mind me asking?</p>
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<p>I just looked around the website and couldn’t find anything on it. It may be a word-of-mouth type thing, in which case I can consult my roommate (a pre-med student) and get back to you. But officially, I can’t find anything.</p>
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<p>Lacking, but not pitiful. I come from the DC Metro area, which is actually quite diverse, so moving to Pittsburgh/Pitt was a bit of a shocker for me. According to CollegeBoard, Pitt is:</p>
<p>50% Men
50% Women </p>
<p>6% Asian
6% Black or African American
2% Hispanic/Latino
<1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
79% White
3% Two or more races
2% Non-Resident Alien</p>
<p>So, predominantly white. However, I will say that depending on what you study and where you live, the diversity will VASTLY change. In the engineering school, it is much more diverse than…the English department say. Also, UHC housing is incredibly diverse both in ethnicity and origin (state the student is from) compared to Pitt. Because of these two factors, I don’t generally feel like I’m in a non-diverse area, but when I first moved up, it was a noticeable change.</p>
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<p>I’m graduating in the spring with a BS in Materials Science Engineering, a Concentration in Ferrous Physical Metallurgy, and a Certificate in Nuclear Engineering. I plan on working this summer (internship) in the area, and then continuing to get my Ph.D. in Materials Science Engineering, a graduate certificate of Nuclear Engineering, and focus my research on Ferrous Metallurgy for Nuclear Applications. Fun stuff!</p>
<p>Hi Awesome,
I read a while ago that you mentioned you know 3 pre-med track friends (I assume they are in GAP), and one has already left; was that because he changed his interest or the 3.75 issue? Thanks.</p>
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<p>She did not maintain her 3.75 GPA and so she lost her GAP. I don’t know when this happened, as I only knew her since she lived in my dorm freshman year.</p>
<p>Is the business school good?</p>
<p>Where are you going to grad school?</p>
<p>If you’re going to Pitt for grad school, where are you going to live, on or off campus?</p>
<p>Is there on campus housing available for grad students?</p>
<p>Can’t remember your background. Are you OOS or instate? Just asking because of your screen name, and we have tons of possums, many in my backyard, here in the Deep South.</p>
<p>Is there a Catholic Church on campus or walking distance from campus?</p>
<p>@Opossum;</p>
<p>Can you comment on the Chancellor’s scholarship invitation and GAP (medical) invitation? My son received the invitations for both. I’ve heard only about 10 students get selected for each. Pretty extensive applications too. Particularly for the GAP program, I am not sure if he should apply… Any thoughts on what they are looking for and the interviews? </p>
<p>So, you are from DC area. I was wondering how you knew Blair. Are you from Blair? If so, how was your first year at Pitt compare to your senior year at Blair??</p>
<p>FromMD: I believe Awesome posted this earlier – she attended TJ.</p>
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<p>I don’t know much about the business school, but my friends who are in it, enjoy it highly. I think the graduate level business school has been ranked quite well recently, and I believe it may have been #1 (or very high) in Cost vs. Education Value (or some equivalent title).</p>
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<p>I’m hoping to stay at Pitt although I have been recruited to apply to a few other schools. I will continue to live in my apartment off campus. To my knowledge, only the Med school provides housing at the Darraugh Street Apartments. The other graduate schools have no housing provisions, and students live off campus. (A few can work as Residence Directors in dorms, but there are only so many positions, and it’s a dorm.)</p>
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<p>OOS- Northern Virginia</p>
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<p>Yep. St. Paul’s Cathedral. It’s quite beautiful: <a href=“http://www.catholic-church.org/st.paulcathedralpgh/[/url]”>http://www.catholic-church.org/st.paulcathedralpgh/</a></p>