Pitt FAQs

<p>You have to take guide books with a grain of salt, as you do with any ranking or similar thing. Do you really things changed at a university between 2011 and 2012? Pitt has to be one of the least “cliquish” universities out there, IMO.</p>

<p>It is also not true that an disproportionately large number of kids live within an hour of Pitt. Only 15% of last year’s freshman class came from within Allegheny County whereas 35% were out-of-state. A large percentage come from the Philadelphia area 5-6 hours away. It is pretty safe to assume a large majority of Pitt’s students are from over an hour away. I came from 2 hours away and was definitely shy when I arrived but if college doesn’t help you break out of your shell then it is failing the student on a very important level. That is a major advantage of going away to college.</p>

<p>Plplpl, my daughter lived in an LLC (international community) her first year. She would agree with the guidebook for that comment. Most of her suitemates were humanities majors and it was difficult for her to find study partners for physics and other subjects. She would have done honors housing if she had another chance.</p>

<p>The comment about cliques does seem odd to me. DD’s suitemates were from all over the northeast, but none went home regularly. My daughter’s best friends are from upstate New York as was her first room mate and from Connecticut.</p>

<p>Plplpl, my daughter lived in an LLC (international community) her first year. She would agree with the guidebook for that comment. Most of her suitemates were humanities majors and it was difficult for her to find study partners for physics and other subjects. She would have done honors housing if she had another chance.</p>

<p>The comment about cliques does seem odd to me. DD’s suitemates were from all over the northeast, but none went home regularly. My daughter’s best friends are from upstate New York as was her first room mate and from Connecticut.</p>

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<p>First and foremost, above ranking or recognition or any of that, you want to be HAPPY where you go to college. If you aren’t happy, then the next 4 years of your life are going to be quite miserable.</p>

<p>It’s a bit hard to get a merit scholarship from Pitt after your freshman year. You can always look for outside scholarships to help fund your education. But as for Pitt itself, getting additional money is rare, at best.</p>

<p>Pitt has a GREAT reputation in the Pittsburgh area. We do a lot to enrich and enliven the community (seriously). We through events for the public (Bigelow Bash is popular for families to attend). We host plays and concerts and speakers. We go out and volunteer in the surrounding community. We provide sports entertainment (football, basketball). If you go to Pitt, people in Pittsburgh like you.</p>

<p>As for nation-wide. It’s growing! Just by looking at the number of OOS people applying to Pitt, and their academic qualifications, Pitt is getting better and better each year. The academics here as just as good as anywhere (honestly) and the opportunities you get here are crazy (co-op, internship, research, volunteering, etc.).</p>

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<p>You’re right. Sorry, I confused EPhys with Engineering Science. But that’s right.</p>

<p>Engineering Science is new (as of next year) so unfortunately, I have NOTHING to tell you right now other than what is on the website you saw.</p>

<p>Just a word to the wise: I came to Pitt interested in Nano, but eventually strayed from it. Unless it’s changed, the class is a bit weird (the professor is so-so) and the research (in my opinion) is less nano-related than it could be. I say that after doing two summer R&D internships at a nano-research lab with Lockheed Martin. I don’t think Pitt’s labs really compare the way other schools might.</p>

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<p>I’m going to semi-agree with MD Mom about LLCs. Depending on the TYPE of LLC you are in makes a huge difference. The two best ones I experienced were UHC (Honors housing) and SPACE/Engineering LLCs. I’ll talk more about UHC since I lived there all 3 years.</p>

<p>1- How many kids? The freshman is half of Sutherland hall. So I think in the range of 400-some students. Sophomore housing just got bumped from 1 building (Forbes Craig) to 2 (Brackenridge Hall). So the number went from 103 to about 400 as well (I’m not sure of the number of beds in Brack).</p>

<p>2-Planned Activities: Movie nights EVERY Friday (MESS), F-C had a monthly building dinner, we had speakers come in to talk to us (either about UHC things or otherwise), Annual Thanksgiving dinner, cookies and milk during finals week, movie showings, video-game tournaments, discussions (book clubs or literature review), study halls, just hanging out. Almost anything you can think of has been hosting for the students. I think there was always 1-2 things happening every week in Forbes Craig. It was just a manner of picking what you wanted to attend and going to it. The students absolutely participate, especially since so many of them involve free food!</p>

<p>3-Type of Students: One of the great things about UHC housing (and I say this every time) is the DIVERSITY. UHC housing is WAY more diverse than Pitt, in every way. There’s a pretty good mix of boys and girls (roughly 50-50 I’d say) as well as a much higher percentage of minorities (asian, african american, hispanic, etc.). There is also a good mix of majors (engineering, health sciences, humanities) instead of a huge group of one with not so much of the other. The kids are mostly down-to-earth (as is almost anyone at Pitt) and pretty friendly. I went to Pitt knowing no one at all and some of my closest friends 3 years later are the ones I met in freshman housing. The kids also come from ALL over the country, we had kids from Alaska, California, Texas, New York, Louisiana, even two international students. As for the students, they’re a good mix of studying and relaxing. It’s not a 24-hour study hall, and it’s not a crazy party dorm like Towers (sorry to generalize) but somewhere in between. On any day of the week you can find people to do work with, but if you want to go to a movie, sports game, or downtown to see a show, you will always find a crowd of people willing to go. Or even just sit in and watch something (I once had 10 people in my tiny room watching Pride & Prejudice at midnight).</p>

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<p>I am not even sure what this means. Like AmandaKayak said, in Engineering, there is SO much stuff to do, you have to pick and choose what fits your schedule. The way I see it is this: if you are a student that wants to succeed and do well, you’re going to do a lot of outside things (research, volunteer, clubs, whatever). If you’re not, you’ll sit in your room and play video games 24/7, or whatever. The nice thing about being involved in the UHC is that the kids you are surrounded by are mostly the former. They get involved and do things, which encourages YOU to get involved and do things.</p>

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<p>This is definitely not true in my opinion. 1- only like 10% of campus is greek, so I never even remember they’re there (so I can’t even fathom that being a clique). Yes it’s true they do a lot of events together, but I’m fairly certain all those greeks do other things too…</p>

<p>The reason I can’t see this is that, that quote would mean that you are only in ONE club and only hang out with the people from that ONE club. How many people are only in one club??? I know right now that I have many “groups” of friends: UHC friends, Engineering friends, Quidditch friends, etc. and that while I may see some more than others, I would never qualify any as a clique.</p>

<p>As for the free things on campus: also definitely not true. A lot of our most popular events (Bigelow Bash, speakers though PPC, etc.) are highly attended. Recently, Pitt brought in Comedian Seth Meyers (from SNL) to do some stand up. It sold out in 3 hours! </p>

<p>But anyway, I just…CAN’T…see Pitt as cliquish. Based on other schools I’ve been to, I have to agree that Pitt is as un-cliquish as I’ve seen.</p>

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<p>I have a friend who tutors, not sure if it’s private or through tutoring. He’s ridiculously smart though (MechE major, Physics minor), so in the chance your S didn’t meet him, I can PM you his name and contact email.</p>

<p>Awesome - not sure if it’s too late, but if you have a physics tutor contact, pls pm me because he could use some help.</p>

<p>How likely is it to get into Towers as a guy if I request it for next year? Do they ask for just your top choice, or your top two or three choices? </p>

<p>Are Forbes and Lothrop anything like the towers? Do they have food, laundry, etc in the building? Is it as lively?</p>

<p>I really want the typical college dorm/roommate experience my first year, and I feel like Towers is the best place for that at Pitt. Am I right?</p>

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<p>Pretty high, since your options are Towers and Lothrop for the most part (unless you’re honors college). As a girl, you have a 1 in 3 chance at Holland, but boys only have Towers A, B, C and Lothrop to pick from for Freshman year. Considering Lothrop also houses sophomores, there is a HIGH chance of Towers for a freshman boy. When you apply for housing, they will ask you to list your top three choices. </p>

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<p>All the dorms on campus are the same: A bedroom with a bed and desk. Some sort of bathroom with showers (whether private in a suite or public floor style). Laundry facilities. A workout facility. And a lounge area. </p>

<p>Some dorms have more (the patio in Forbes, dining hall up at Sutherland, etc.) but that is the basic of each.</p>

<p>Unless you are an engineer, you cannot live in Forbes, as it is the freshman engineering LLC (you have to apply to live there). Lothrop is partway up the hill. It generally houses a lot of nursing students, or upperclassmen (sophomores) who want to have a single dorm room. Forbes, at least, is just as lively. My friend had very…interesting…stories from when he was at Lothrop. In terms of floor-bonding, though, Lothrop will have less since there are lots of upperclassmen.</p>

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<p>Any freshman dorm at Pitt will give you that experience. HOWEVER, if you’d like to actually get work done, not worry about loud/drunk people, and maybe have a bit of fun without always resorting to alcohol, I might recommend something outside of Towers, if possible. (Yes, I am generalizing, and I apologize). I just think that the experience I had living in the honors dorm was SO much better than what my friends had in Towers (which is why they were always coming over to visit us). We studied hard during the week, and then relaxed on weekends. That way, we didn’t suffer in classes, but we still had fun and had the “college experience”. I’ve heard wayyyyyy too many stories about drunken, crazy things happening in Towers every night of the week to consider it a “great” dorm for a freshman. No doubt that there will be normal people there, but Towers is also the crazy party dorm atmosphere for a reason too.</p>

<p>So, if you can live in Forbes or Sutherland. I’d do that.</p>

<p>Also, I’m not sure what you mean by “typical college roommate experience”. Unless you request a friend in advance, you’re going to have a random roommate. You’ll either be best friends, or you’ll cohabitate. That’s how everyone will be. Unless you get a crazy drug-dealing roommate (joke), you will have a “typical” experience.</p>

<p>Does Pitt have a good disablities program? Like for people that are ADD or have emotional problems that sometimes have times when it is nearly impossible to concentrate on school? What would they do for students like that?</p>

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<p>For some disabilities (like ADD) I know of students who have approached professors at the beginning of term explaining their condition. Generally, the professor will just give them extensions on any assignments that may require longer to complete. If you ever feel the need to talk to someone, you can always go to student health and see what they say (or just get an opinion). Beyond that, I’m not really sure.</p>

<p>Hi - my S is thinking about attending Pitt - trying to decide between Pitt and Vermont. Got into A & S Business Dual Major - he wants to double major with music. Any thoughts?? Tkx</p>

<p>Is the workout facility in Forbes a new addition? I thought those students had to use Lothrop’s (or any of the campus-wide gyms)…</p>

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<p>Because I’m not aware: Is a business major considered part of A&S and not part of the business school?</p>

<p>From what I know, our business degree/department/classes are quite good. The music school is nice, but small (which is good or bad depending). I personally love my “professor” for bassoon, I’ve been taking private lessons with her for 7 semesters straight. I’ve heard craziness about other teachers. Some of the music classes are good, others are a bore.</p>

<p>I have a friend double majoring in music and something else in A&S. She loves the mix, but is going forward with graduate school in the other degree. Out of curiosity, what does your S plan to do with the music major? (Because Pitt is not a big music school, it’s something to consider).</p>

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<p>Originally Forbes students could use public gyms (Pete, Trees, Bellefield) or Lothrop. Last year, they took out the “indoor” patio section (where the pool table and smoker benches were), carpeted it, and turned in into a workout room with a few pieces of cardio equipment. Naturally, way after I was there. Hmpf.</p>

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<p>A business major is part of the business school, but there is a collaborative program with A&S and the business school that allows students to double major in a business major and an A&S major.</p>

<p>he’s not sure but thinks something in the music industry. He’s a pretty serious musician and was accepted into music industry program at Drexel and Business music at American but both are very expensive. He likes Pitt and thought he would double major there or at Vermont.</p>

<p>Hey! If you are interested in seeing what the Pitt life and campus is like before making your selection, seriously head to YouTube. There are all sorts of videos out there that show Pittsburgh and Oakland for a student perspective. I found that really helpful before making my choice about the location (I knew Pitt as a school was a great fit but was very curious about life as a student in Pittsburgh and Oakland).</p>

<p>Best of luck with your decision!</p>

<p>[Pittsburgh</a> is Katz Ready. - YouTube](<a href=“YouTube”>YouTube)</p>

<p>Any update on Pitt 2012 GAP program?</p>