<p>@awesome opossum or anyone else,
D and I are coming in tonight for the admitted students day tomorrow. Would love a dinner recommendation - someplace with fun atmosphere and decent food. Can you recommend something? We are staying close to campus.
Also, not flying out until Sunday night so want to walk around to get the flavor of Pittsburgh on Sunday. Think the weather won’t be great, but… Should we stay by the campus and get to know Oakland, or head into the City proper, or do both? And if we go into the City, how best to get there and where should we go exactly? Like a fun neighborhood with boutiques, cafes etc. Or if it is really rainy Sunday, any museums etc we shouldn’t miss?</p>
<p>Where exactly are you staying, what is your price range, what kind of food do you like?</p>
<p>Oakland:
-Black Bean (Cuban/Chinese)
-Spice Island Cafe (Asian/Pacific)
-Fuel & Fuddle (Amercan)
-Winghart’s (excellent Burgers)
-Thai Hana (Thai)
-The Porch (New American)
-Mad Mex (Mexican)
-Primati Bros (Pittsburgh sandwiches, go here if you’ve never been and want to know what fries on a sandwich tastes like)</p>
<p>“Far Oakland” (aka Craig Street):
-Lulu’s (Asian/Noodles)
-Union Grill (American)
-Rose Tea Cafe (Taiwanese)
-Orient Express (Asian)
-Tamarind (Indian) (Note: never been there, heard good things)</p>
<p>If you haven’t wandered around campus, do that. Go inside the Cathedral, explore the Nationality Rooms and the 35th/36th floors. Poke your head into Heinz Chapel if it’s open.</p>
<p>Museums: Check out the Dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum. Or the flowers at the Phipps Botanical Conservatory. If you don’t want to pay for the Natural History museum, go inside the Carnegie Library and head up to the 2nd floor. Walk all the way to the back and the windows look directly down into the dinosaur exhibit. Fun times.</p>
<p>If you have time after that, head to Station Square. Park your car there and take the Incline up to the top of Mount Washington. Admire the view of downtown. Walk around if it’s nice.</p>
<p>If you want to wander more, head over to the North Shore where Heinz Field/PNC Park are. There’s a trail along the river you can walk. Otherwise go to Point State Park across the river and sit at the fountain. Still want to museum it up? The Carnegie Science Center is 2 buildings and 4 floors of awesome interactive exhibits. I believe the submarine is also still docked there for you to explore. There’s also an Omnimax.</p>
<p>The physical downtown location of Pittsburgh isn’t that exciting beyond Market Square and the Cultural District (Where all the theaters are) so you aren’t missing too much there. If you want to explore other neighborhoods check out Walnut street in Shadyside (lots of cute shops, regular stores, great coffee and food options).</p>
<p>Awesome, Opossum!! Now I wish we had a week to try out more of those restaurants (well, if D goes to Pitt, maybe I will!)
We are staying at Residence Inn Pittsburgh University/Medical Center. Get in too late tonight for dinner, but can squeeze in something on Sunday before flying out.
We don’t want anything fancy, but will pay for great food and great atmosphere! It’s just my daughter and me, not the whole family. We are adventurous and like exotic foods, but we get most of those around home as well, so probably something more local, or fun, understanding of course that I’m trying to get a Saturday night table on Friday!
When I first started this process someone mentioned a special kind of sandwich only available in Pittsburgh. I’m guessing that is the sandwich with fries you mention from Primati Bros…</p>
<p>When we stayed we ate at Spice Island Cafe and thought it was really good. Simple/college messy decor but the service and the food were great. Don’t forget Dave and Andy’s ice cream. We stayed across the hot metal bridge near the Haufbrauhouse. There was a burger place over there that was good and a street festival while we were there. </p>
<p>I asked a question about transferring from Pitt Bradford to main for nursing before. So instead of picking between Pitt Bradford, I transferred my admission to Pitt Johnstown. I know that their nursing program is designed supposedly similar to the main one (sorry if I’m wrong). Would I be able to transfer from there since they have such similar program or would I have to reapply like I would have had to if I were to go to Bradford? </p>
<p>However, depending on the courses it may take you up to an additional year to get your degree. I would talk to someone in the nursing school at both UPJ and UP Main and see what they say and what kind of transfer numbers they have. I imagine it is very competitive to get into UP Main especially as a transfer (since there are a limited number of spots entirely dependent on who drops out during the first year).</p>
<p>I’d go for Nordy. Newer dorm = nicer facilities. Unless you really want to live in a pie slice. It’s literally across the street from Towers so distance between the two shouldn’t be an issue if you’ve got a lot of friends in a Towers dorm.</p>
<p>@awesomeOpossum, just wanted to thank you for the great recommendations for our Pitt visit this past weekend.
Went to Shadyside for dinner at the Elbow Room - great choice! The next day visited the Phelps Botanical Gardens - which we absolutely adored, and then shared a primanti sandwich (which D loved, I hated, but happy we can say we tried it!)
We were only sorry not to have more time to try different neighborhoods, since there seemed to be so many fun ones!</p>
<p>UPitt - Awesome school in an awesome city. And they did the accepted students’ day very well…</p>
<p>Thank you AwesomeOpossum, you really are awesome. You’ve answered most of my questions regarding to PItt. I think I’m most likely going to UPJ, in hopes that I can transfer later I have 10 usable credits, so hopefully that also helps in some ways as well. </p>
<p>@AwesomeOpossum I had a couple questions about the Pitt GA Med program, but I’m not sure if you or anyone else could answer, if you know anyone in the program. I’m still waiting to hear back from the GA Med Program by next week :)</p>
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<li><p>How difficult would you say is it to maintain a 3.75 cumulative GPA for biology, chem, physics, and math as well as an overall 3.75 GPA in all your classes by the end of junior year? This would be my main concern if I do get accepted to this program.</p></li>
<li><p>How’s life at Pitt in regards to the cold weather and snow? I was on campus and it seemed very hilly, so does walking from class to class or going by car ever get tiring in the winter when its snowing all the time, especially when you have to walk/drive up all those hills? (Mainly the hill going up to the medical school)</p></li>
<li><p>How safe is the campus, since it isn’t very closed off (in the city)?</p></li>
<li><p>Which dorms would you suggest-- Honors dorms or Nordenberg, and what are some pros/cons of both?</p></li>
<li><p>Would you say most people are happy at Pitt? How’s the environment there? </p></li>
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<p>Since I’m going through replies, I’ll throw my answers in and then Awesome can add to them.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you were academically outstanding enough to be admitted to the GA Med program, my guess is that you’ll be able to maintain that 3.75 without much of a problem. </p></li>
<li><p>Pittsburgh is cold and snowy at times. The campus is very compact, so you never have to trudge very far. It is literally less than a mile from any one point to another on campus. Often less so. The entrance to the university’s main library (Hillman) to the Med School (Scaife Hall) library entrance on DeSoto Street, per Google maps, a 9 minute (0.5 mile) walk. There are also campus shuttles that run around campus if you don’t want to walk, and you can catch public buses for free up and down Forbes and Fifth if you wanted. Personally, I seldom used them because I’d rather just walk. If you walk down 5th Ave to the corner of DeSoto at the point where you turn up to the med school, the hill is two blocks and you can enter without going the whole way up to the Petersen Events Center (where you can catch an escalator up to the upper campus) if you enter through the med library entrance. It’s not that steep of a grade at that point. If that walk, from 5th up Scaife Hall library entrance is a major issue for someone, they likely have health issues that should forgo them entering the med school and instead turn straight in at the hospital ER entrance. </p></li>
<li><p>Pretty darn safe. Pitt has lower crime rates than many rural colleges. The university police presence is large. That said, like any college in America, you have to use common sense, particularly at night. Use university shuttles services if you are ever weary. And remember you are in a city, so you should familiarize yourself with its neighborhoods when you wonder off university property or the areas that are immediately adjacent to it, and do not make yourself a target (like being a single, loud, drunk person talking into their new iPhone).</p></li>
<li><p>Nordy didn’t exist when I was there so I can’t answer that for you. Nordy’s the newest though.</p></li>
<li><p>Pitt was ranked as having some of the happiest students in the country according to a Princeton Review poll a year or so ago, so most students seem to be pretty happy there. What the environment is like is a very open ended question. You might need to be more specific.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Do you have any experiences or know anyone who has been through a business degree (preferably economics or accounting)? Is it easy to find an internship in the city and find a well-paying job after graduation? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Good morning all. Does any one have any information on the School of Education? I am wondering if they will accept a class taken S/NC that is a prerequisite class. For example, someone going for their Masters in English must take at least one Shakespeare class. Can that Shakespeare class be taken as S/NC? Thanks for your help. </p>
<p>Actually @wgmcp101 is incorrect here, it’s pretty difficult to maintain the GPA and I know in my year only about 3-4 of the original 10 students maintained the GPA through senior year so that they could keep their guaranteed acceptance. I will say this- DON’T THINK YOU NEED A SCIENCE FOR MED SCHOOL. My one friend did anthropology with her pre-med requirements so that she was not overwhelmed and was able to maintain her GPA.</p>
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<p>Agreed here. The campus is compact, never more than a 10 minute walk from any building to any other building. The winter can be brutal depending on the weather (this year was particularly bad, last year was really mild) so it’s up in the air from year to year. However, you should own a good pair of snow boots (THAT ARE MEANT FOR THE SNOW), a good heavy winter jacket/accessories (i.e. scarf, hat, gloves), as well as layering clothes (sweaters, long johns/sweater tights, etc.) Those are all key.</p>
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<p>Agreed again. Super safe. I’ve been on campus at almost ALL hours of the day/night and never felt unsafe. We are in a city in the sense that the neighborhood is in Pittsburgh proper, but we are a neighborhood of Oakland, not a downtown/skyscraper type of area. It’s not NYC. </p>
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<p>I always say UHC if you can get it. Best atmosphere, most diverse, kids will actually focus on academics when they need to (but are still cool/hang out/do other things). Not having to worry about your laptop getting stolen or finding a study buddy is really key.</p>
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<p>Agreed again here. Students are happy unless it’s eternal winter (i.e. this winter). Sports is pretty big here, so is school spirit. Kids love the football/basketball team and going to those games is a big event. Academics/research are also big here and students are super proud of the work they do in and outside of the classroom. But yeah, you might want to be more specific with this question.</p>
<p>Wow possem, I’m shocked there was so much attrition in the GA program. Thanks for correcting me. You’re right though, you don’t have to major in a science to go to med school, but obviously you need take the standard med school prerequisites in things like chem, biology and physics and demonstrate an active interest in medicine as a career through volunteering in medical settings, etc.</p>
<p>I wonder if some of that attrition are because these high achieving students coming out of high school try to bite off more than they can chew such as overloading on upper level course credits? I mean, 3.75 isn’t easy, but I have a hard time grasping a 60% failure rate of GA students.</p>
I have 10 usable credits, so hopefully that also helps in some ways as well. </p>