<p>I'm going to PittStart July 19-20 (holler) and my dad insists on attending. Am I going to need to work hard to avoid him? Also, how does the rooming work? I have friends from my high school attending the same days as I, so would I be able to room with one of them? Or should I room with a random person to work on my friend-making skills? Lastly, will I be attacked if I wear Flyers/Phillies/Eagles apparel? That's all :)</p>
<p>Okay, DS did PittStart early in June. It appears that roommates are assigned as you check in. It appears that, if you check in with your friends you will be rooming together as rooms seems to be assigned one right after the other at check in.</p>
<p>My DS suggests that you do NOT check in with friends because you will have an opportunity to meet others. He also suggests that once you check in and go to your dorm room to drop your stuff off that you hang in for a bil and try to meet your roommate. It is only one night but given the opportunity to meet some one new I would take it. Also, you will be broken up in to groups for many of the activities so you will have an opportunity to meet a lot of new people - even at dinner tables are assigned by color dot on your itinerary. </p>
<p>You will not need to work hard to avoid a parent. There are few activities that parents and students can do together. DS and I met up for the First Year Mentor session before he went off to dinner on day one and even at that 1/2 way through they split up parents and kids. It also appeared that MOST parents and students met in the morning for the opening session on day two. You will do most activities with other students and can easily avoid a parent. Although you may want to have dad buy you lunch! 
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<p>Pitt’s campus is FULL of Philadelphia sports team fans so I can’t image that you will be attached (other then people may laugh if you wear Phillies gear anywhere these days - even (especially) here in the Philly area). </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>It was very easy for me to avoid my daughter and I had lots of fun with the other parents I met.</p>
<p>Plus, I gave her some money so I could go to lunch where I wanted. ;)</p>