<p>Bathrooms are the responsibility of the students (at least 4 students, because at least 2 rooms share a bathroom). They have to bring their own bathroom necessities (floor mats, soap, etc.) and cleaning supplies (For a sink, toilet, and standing shower). Your D should contact her roommate and suitemates to coordinate who will bring what supplies.</p>
<p>Truth! They provide toilet paper and there will be a curtain hanging on the standing shower (one of those generic, white vinyl ones). Other than that, you’ll have to bring the rest.</p>
<p>Awesome - thanks - that is what I feared! Ds is in honor’s housing but will need a few lessons about what this “cleaning” is that you mention. :)</p>
<p>Even though Honor’s Housing has been in Forbes in past years, we still had private bathrooms that we had to clean as well (we=past residents, some of whom will be your D’s awesome RAs next year!). So if she needs help, advice, etc. she can always go to them (or to another hallmate/etc.). But the RAs for sure will have experience with this sort of thing. Also, there’s a 24 hour RiteAid on campus that she can always get emergency supplies from (just off of Forbes on Atwood).</p>
<p>AwesomeOppossum: Thanks for sharing your experiences re: laptops for Pitt
engineering. My daughter is still seriously considering a MacBook Pro instead of a PC laptop (for Bioengineering) and thinks it might be worth the extra work you described; regarding your friends who used Macs - any sense of whether they regretted the choice? Did most stick with their Macs or eventually switch? Did compatibility issues become more or less frequent as they moved from freshman to upperclassman? Any thoughts are appreciated!</p>
<p>Well, as any Mac user would know (and I’m not one of them :P) when you get a Mac, you <em>never</em> regret it (to my knowledge, I have yet to meet anyone who says they wish they had a PC). So, on that note, I don’t know of anyone who switched either. Compatibility issues may become slightly more of a problem as D increases in school, it all depends on the classes that require engineering programs. I’m in the MEMS (MechE/Mat Sci) department, and I know we use a lot of CAD/Mat Sci programs that can only be installed on PCs for Sophomore/Junior year. Not sure if the same is true with Bio (your D may want to email the head of the undergrad BioE department and simply ask, they’ll be very friendly, I’m sure). The only issue I can see if having to keep that Windows/OS partition throughout college, which will surely eat a lot of memory up. And the programs that I’m mentioning aren’t exactly small either! So, if getting a Mac I would</p>
<p>A- Contact the department and see if they reccomend otherwise or have any warnings, and,
B- Make sure you get one with sufficient Memory and Processing Power</p>
<p>Thanks AwesomeOpossum! Of course, you’re so right about Mac users (D1 is one of them), I should’ve figured there’d be no regrets For better or worse, D2 ended up going with the MacBook Pro plus more RAM and hard drive space. She contacted a Bioengineering faculty member who admitted to not being a computer expert, but didn’t have any objections to a non-PC (also mentioned planning to purchase a MacBook and that many of the faculty own them which was interesting).</p>
<p>Haha yep, a lot of faculty in MEMS use/LOVEEEEEE their Macs. It’s all about what kind of programs you need and how willing you are to be flexible (For what it’s worth, she may be okay with not doing a partition and just figuring out a good time to do homework requiring Window’s software in our awesome/big computer lab in Benedum (the engineering building)).</p>
<p>awesomeopossum: you said you were from northern VA? im a rising freshman from mclean, VA! </p>
<p>Have you lived in/ know anything about Lothrop Hall? i requested towers and was assigned a double in Lothrop. i was wondering if you knew some pros and cons about the building??</p>
<p>Awesome - Is there dorm storage somewhere for suitcases/boxes or do you have to find room within the rooms? Also are you able to store things on campus somewhere over summer or do you need to get a storage facility? Thanks!</p>
<p>DD was in an eight-person suite in Sutherland freshman year. There was not storage outside the suite that I know of. However, the beds are on tall legs and the dresser fits underneath. DD also stored her suitcase behind the dresser, and there was still some room for other things. The room also had a closet in the corner with shelves for stacking and hanging. In the hall inside the suite, there were two what I would call linen closets where the girls kept the vacuum and other cleaning supplies. </p>
<p>The plastic boxes with lids work well for moving though it is an extra expense. When you move in, they stack nicely in the roller laundry carts and they stack inside each other when they are empty for storage.</p>
<p>For summer storage, some kids go together with their roommates for the next year and rent a place. The plasitc bins are great for storage over the summer as well because they seal nicely. Storage units are abundant in Oakland and they are not expensive. We hauled everything home and DD greatly reduced what she needed to take back in the fall. This year, however, we will be taking furniture for her unfurnished apartment.</p>
<p>Which is the best bookstore to purchase books from (preferably used). My son will be a freshman and is planning to reserve his books for first semester. I’m leaning towards Campus Bookstore which seems to have better prices than the Pitt Book Center and better availability than Got Used Books. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I only know of the Pitt Book Center and the Got Used Bookstore, and nearly everyone I know gets their books from the Book Center. The Book Center is Pitt’s official bookstore and they will stock everything the professor requests, including custom course notes and lab manuals (which are not available anywhere else). If you reserve your books there, you can indicate that you want used books if available and pick up your order in a white package when you arrive.</p>
<p>For the first semester, it is SO easy to order from the Book Center. It will also keep a credit card on file, so if the kids need something during the semester, they can get it. I like that option because if DD needs a sweatshirt or even a snack, she can get it there. She is not one to abuse this privilege–though she will buy an occasional textbook for a class she has no intention of taking just because she wants to learn about something (about the same price as a new dress or boots, I guess).</p>
<p>Now, my daughter will order through on-line booksellers sometimes.</p>
<p>Lothrop is slightly further away from classes. The rooms are carpet but I know the singles had a sink in the rooms, not sure about doubles. Apparently <em>some</em> have AC but not all? Do you know what floor you’re on? The first was just renovated and is supposedly <em>really</em> nice.</p>
<p>My bed was raised sophomore/junior year so I would keep a suitcase and a few boxes underneath it. What dorm are you (your S/D? Sorry I can’t remember! Eep!) located in for next year? Towers will have VERY difficult storing situations, you’ll probably have to take the boxes/suitcases back home with you.</p>
<p>Over the summer I split a storage unit with a friend. I <em>highly</em> recommend Iron City Storage (Website: [Pittsburgh</a> Storage Facilities | Self Storage Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Area Storage](<a href=“Self Storage Units and Facilities | U-Haul”>http://www.ironcityselfstorage.com/)). I’ve used them every summer with GREAT experiences. They have loads of help at the location to help you move stuff in/out. The rooms/rates are AWESOME (especially if splitting) and their hours rock. I got a huge walk-in closet type room, with AC for $120 a summer (when I split with one other friend). For 4 full months, that’s pretty sweet! And they’re located about 1 mile off campus!</p>
For better or worse, D2 ended up going with the MacBook Pro plus more RAM and hard drive space. She contacted a Bioengineering faculty member who admitted to not being a computer expert, but didn’t have any objections to a non-PC (also mentioned planning to purchase a MacBook and that many of the faculty own them which was interesting).</p>
(For what it’s worth, she may be okay with not doing a partition and just figuring out a good time to do homework requiring Window’s software in our awesome/big computer lab in Benedum (the engineering building)).</p>