<p>Hi Pitt Students! I was lucky enough to be accepted a few months back and am definitely interested in attending. I had a few questions for those who go there, though.</p>
<p>1) I am very interested in the English Literature and Writing program as well as foreign language (considering French, Russian, or Spanish) and psychology. For those of you who are majoring/minoring in these or have friends who are doing so, do you think these programs are overshadowed by the science/pharmacy classes? Do you think any of these programs are especially weak or strong at Pitt?</p>
<p>2) Who were some of your favorite professors and their classes? I'm especially interested in the subjects above, but there are very few subjects I dislike, so I'm really interested in using my electives on courses that are incredible and change the way I think. Please let me know any you would recommend! :)</p>
<p>3) I was accepted into the UHC and am thinking of staying in Forbes if possible. For those who live in Forbes, do you feel it is at all secluded or cut off from the rest of the campus? Do students at Forbes still make friends with many in other dorms? How do you think Forbes is different from other dorms?</p>
<p>4) Recently I was invited to interview for the Chancellor's Scholarship. I know it's very unlikely I'll receive it, but if anyone here happens to be in the Chancellor's program, I was wondering how it has changed your experience? I hear that you have an extra seminar if you are in the program - what is this seminar like? </p>
<p>2) If you want the best professors and classes take UHC classes. They are more theoretical, smaller class sizes, and the professors will give you a lot of attention. The material is more difficult and in-depth, but the professors realize that when determining grade curves. </p>
<p>3) I live in Towers and had the opportunity to live in Forbes. It really comes down to what you prefer. The rooms in Forbes are much larger and nicer. You will be with other smart UHC students and yes it is secluded (not cut off however) and really it is it’s own little niche on campus. However, it is right on the edge of campus. Most of the other freshmen will be 3-4 blocks down in Towers, which is the hub of campus. It is much busier around Towers, as most organizations, clubs, or anything congregate in or around Towers. For example, the G20 police were on the Towers patio and marched right past it. Basically, everything goes down around Towers. So it’s really up to you.</p>
<p>I’m not a student, so I shouldn’t be answering your post. Feel free to disregard my advice if you choose! My daughter is a psych major in her junior year.</p>
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<li>Pitt in general has some strong foreign-language offerings, including Japanese. My daughter just finished the first half of Japanese Fourth Year and has been very happy with the level of instruction. Every language will be different, of course. </li>
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<p>I recommend you look over the course offerings online and read each department’s website. How many instructors are there? How many students are enrolled?</p>
<p>For example, here’s what Pitt offered in Fall 2009 in Russian-language instruction:</p>
<p>See if it meets your needs. Also, if I were you, I wouldn’t hesitate to e-mail a professor directly. Most times they’re happy to reply to a prospective student!</p>
<p>Regarding English: My daughter placed out of one writing requirement out of three. She felt that the one she had to take was rigorous, and she told me she learned a lot.</p>
<p>The psych department at Pitt seems to be thriving and is one of the largest in the university. My daughter had no problem getting the directed-research project of her choosing, which she is working on now. She has been very happy with her professors and TAs.</p>
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<li><p>Can’t answer, except to say that I would agree with AKittka that the UHC courses are awesome (and a lot of work, based on what my daughter told me!).</p></li>
<li><p>My daughter didn’t get into Forbes but enjoyed her two years in Towers (second year in a single).</p></li>
<li><p>Can’t answer. My daughter chose not to pursue the Chancellor’s.</p></li>
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<li><p>The friends I have majoring/minoring in English literature and foreign languages seem to be having a good experience. I would say (as a Philosophy/Microbiology double major) that science classes are much more rigorous than humanities but that is only based on 1 semester evenly split between the two. Thats is just a generalization though and it is definitely possible to get a rigorous humanities education you just have to be a bit more selective I think. </p></li>
<li><p>If you are interested in literature (and i mean really interested) Paul Bove’s UHC Great Books course is an excellent class to take. I was in it last semester and I am in the second half this coming semester and it was my favorite course. Paul Bove himself is a really influential scholar and is well worth knowing. </p></li>
<li><p>I live in Forbes now. It is not all that secluded and a lot happens on Forbes. Maybe you will feel a little less connected with the freshman towers scene but overall i would say you will feel a bit more connected to Oakland. Plus you have to go to panther central to get food (the walk isn’t that bad) so you end up there often enough. Socially it is also less different then you might think. People still party. People still get caught with alcohol/other illegal substance. There are still definitely cliques. However, i do think it is more inclusive and everybody does study sometimes. Overall, it has been a good experience.</p></li>
<li><p>I am a CS and I didn’t expect to get it at all going in for the interview so I would say trying is definitely worth it. They really only interview 50-60 despite what they say and they took 13 for my year so the odds aren’t all that bad. The only extra thing we have is the Seminar. I haven’t experienced the standard seminar version yet since they have a special first semester freshman version. That was pretty casual. Some people liked it and had a good time. Others didn’t do the reading. Everyone passes which is nice. I liked it myself but I like intellectual discussion a lot. Next semester we are reading nobel prize winning lectures in my section.</p></li>
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<p>If anyone has more questions I am happy to answer those as well.</p>
<p>Congratulations on being a Chancellor’s Scholar! Your first hand experience in Forbes is helpful. Do you participate in the Book Clubs or the Friday lecture series?</p>
<p>Do you find that you are making most of your friends from within UHC, or most from outside, or is it a mix?</p>
<p>If you don’t mind me asking, which other colleges were you considering before you decided on Pitt? Are you happy with your decision? If you had to go through the college application process all over again, would you do anything different? If you don’t want to answer this, no problem. I’m just curious.</p>
<p>By the way, I’m asking as a mom, not a potential student. My D has been accepted to the UHC with a full tuition scholarship, and has been invited to apply for the Chancellor’s Scholarship. We visited Pitt and from our experience there for two days, I would be very proud to say my D is a student at Pitt!</p>
<p>Thanks! I did pizza and plays last semester and I hope to again. It is a lot of fun. I haven’t gone to any of the lecture series yet. </p>
<p>My friends are almost all involved somehow with the UHC (no one is technically “in” the honors college) but a lot of other people aren’t like that. It just happens since i live in Forbes, don’t really go to the parties, and am in mostly UHC EC’s that is how it worked out. My roommate is in a frat and most of his friends aren’t in Forbes or involved with honors stuff. If you come from outside of Pittsburgh though and live in Forbes that is mostly who you will know/meet unless you make an effort to meet others.</p>
<p>Well, I got into Chicago. If i could have gone there without having to work like crazy and take on loans I would have been torn in may but I wouldn’t have wanted to face that difficult of a school with a job as well. If i could do it again i would apply for money money money and more money. I am lucky i got this scholarship and I should have applied for a lot of similar ones and I was crazy not to. </p>
<p>I am happy with my decision. The three things I like most about pitt are the UHC, the campus, and the opportunities for research. Everything else has been kind of mediocre but since like 80% of my life falls under that I am pretty happy. </p>
<p>Good luck in the rest of this process. I know it can be taxing. An honors tuition scholarship is a great thing to have and everyone who is invited to apply basically has an equal shot at getting a CS. It is just a matter of sending in some good (interesting) essays and seeming like someone they want in the interview.</p>
<p>I’m currently a freshman living in Forbes. Honestly, I dont really care for it all that much, but I know a lot of people who like it. I ended up joining the crew team so I never ended up spending much time there so I didnt really connect with the people from my dorm too much. Most of my friends live in Towers/ Holland so its tough when I have to walk back alone (especially at night). Bottom line is if you make friends in Forbes you’ll be fine, but if your friend group isnt from Forbes, you can feel pretty isolated and lonely when you’re always walking back alone!</p>