The city of Pittsburg.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
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<p>Is it good to live at for 4 years? What are the points of interests for visitors? How is the sight around CMU - depressing or bearable (I've heard about Pitt being mostly industrial)? What about the crime scene? Do the student go out of the campus often? What they do there?</p>

<p>We might end up visiting it this spring as whole family, which means dragging along 10-years-old child with us. Are there good attraction for her to spend about half-a-day, while her big sister explores the campus?</p>

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<p>You can search the archives for lots of threads about student life in Pittsburgh, but as a short answer for the 10-year-old there's the Carnegie Natural History Musueum <a href="http://www.carnegiemnh.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.carnegiemnh.org/&lt;/a> walking distance from campus. (It's attached to the art museum.) There's also a great conservatory in Schenley Park <a href="http://www.phipps.conservatory.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.phipps.conservatory.org/&lt;/a> right behind the campus - just walk over the hill. There's also a excellent Children's museum <a href="http://www.pittsburghkids.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pittsburghkids.org/&lt;/a> but it's about a 15-20 minute drive from campus so you may want to save that for another time.</p>

<p>As a slightly longer answer from a parent's perspective I had the same opinion about Pittsburgh before our first visit but it was completely unexpected and impressive. It's a lovely city with great vistas, lots of nice restaurants, good museums - try to have dinner up on Mt. Washington for a fabulous skyline view. I don't think the crime is anything different than other cities the same size.</p>

<p>The CMU campus is very nice - with the park right behind, Squirrel Hill 5 minutes one direction, Shadyside 5 minutes another direction, and the collegiate Oakland area 5 minutes in the third direction (and U-Pitt) it is indeed quite bearable. There really isn't any industry nearby anymore - mostly turned into shopping malls!</p>

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<p>I went through this (CMU) sub-forum and didn't find any other threads related to student life or the Pittsburg area.</p>

<p>BTW, what about the climate there? How much snow in the winter? How hot it's in the early fall/late spring?</p>

<p>About that park right behind the campus - how big/shady/foresty it is? Is it safe to go for a walk/jog in? Can it be ski-ed in winter? </p>

<p>Generally, how far from CMU/Pittsburg any outdoor life (for weekend outings)? What are the most popular nearest weekend destinations for CMU students there?</p>

4

<p>I live in PittsburgH, and l definitely think that, although it isn't the most attractive city in the world, it has its high points. I guess I will go through your questions one at a time.
1. I've lived here for 17 years, so I think 4 should be bearable
2. If by visitors you mean the family that you are bringing on spring break, there are plenty of museums, a zoo, good shopping on the southside, and lots of touristy activities like riding the incline up Mt. Washington
3. CMU is in a relatively pretty area.. there's Schenley Park as a back yard.
4. I can't really speak to the crime scene in Oakland, but you don't really hear too much about it on the news.
5. Yes, people leave campus often, although what they do varies depending on what they like.
6. The climate...ah, the climate. If you like the sun, this is not a good city for you. There are on average 200+ significantly cloudy days/year.
7. Snowfall ranges from a few inches to a few feet in and around Pittsburgh, but never anything unbearable. On the plus side, it's almost always good packing snow for snowball fights.
8. In the early fall and late spring, the temperatures here are wonderful. Mid-50s and 60s, usually.
9. Schenley Park is pretty big, pretty shady, and in parts it can be pretty foresty. It is also safe, but running alone in any city can be risky. I'm pretty sure there is no skiing, but I could be wrong.
10. Outdoor life... well, for hiking you can go as far as Moiraine State Park, which is several hours away, or to Raccoon State Park, which is closer. I don't really know much about popular weekend destinations for the students.</p>

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<p>I agree that if you have in your mind Pittsburgh as a smoky industrial city, you'll be presently surprised. Actually that's about 50 years outdated.</p>

<p>It seems to be cloudy a lot more than sunny, like elsewhen said, I'd say particularly through the winter and early spring. You don't get tons of snow like Buffalo, but you can get a quick cloudburst of an inch or two of snow. Fall is generally warm and beautiful.</p>

<p>By midSept I'd say most of the real hot weather is gone. If you aren't there during the summer you can get by without air conditioning.</p>

<p>The Laurel Mountains, where you can ski etc, are about an hour east.</p>

<p>Popular weekend destinations: basically you're in a city so there's lots going on. Not like NYC but still a lot. So there's no great exodus of kids for the weekend. But I can remember a couple from my son: he's been to Cleveland for concerts (though of course they're in Pgh), Kennywood (?) I think it's called is an area amusement park he and friends went to a few times. Twice I believe he road tripped to Niagara Falls...drinking and gambling age I believe is 19 in Canada (yeah I know). S went to lots of Pirates games... even though they usually lost the stadium's new and nice. I took him and a couple friends to Jets-Steelers when they were in town, including playoff game if you like football, Steelers fans are out of control. He was in a fraternity and worked many weekends on buggy, for Spring Carnival, which is VERY big at CMU.</p>

<p>I agree with Marilyn the views are beautiful. I don't think there's a prettier urban vista than the city from Mt Washington. The area around the campus is cosmopolitan with major museums, restaurants, coffee shops...very lively. I like CMU's campus, it's in this busy area but has its own distinct somewhat quiet feel to it.</p>

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<p>I live tenish minutes away from campus and i would be happy to answer any questions...</p>

<p>I personally think that its a great city to go to college in</p>

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<p>Here's a couple of older threads with Pittsburgh info:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=286744%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=286744&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=259079%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=259079&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I believe Schenley has cross-country skiing and sledding hills - I've heard that students grab cafeteria trays and go traying in the park.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.pittsburghparks.org/_76.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pittsburghparks.org/_76.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>And I think there is a ski club at CMU.</p>

<p>My S hasn't really had complaints about the weather (we're from the Chicago area and Pittsburgh is a few degrees warmer). I don't really know about outdoor trips - my S is more the indoor type :-) But I do know there are various organizations that do weekend excursions, including one opportunity during Orientation. Try searching the clubs <a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/studentactivities/org.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/studentactivities/org.html&lt;/a> for what might interest your daughter.</p>

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<p>Came upon this site just today, hope it works. Beautiful pictures.</p>

<p><a href="http://pittsburghskyline.com/content/2006/06/13/piecesofpittsburgh/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://pittsburghskyline.com/content/2006/06/13/piecesofpittsburgh/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>First, it's Pittsburg"h".</p>

<p>I have lived about two miles from CMU for two decades. My D went to the pre-college art program at CMU throughout high school.</p>

<p>Pittsburgh has the second largest college population, after Boston. There are no shortage of museums, galleries, music clubs, coffeehouses and eclectic stores not too far from campus. Try Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside, or the South Side. Or the Waterfront for shopping</p>

<p>Pittsburgh's crime rate is low when compared to similarly sized cities. The area around campus is affluent and safe. CMU runs a shuttle bus system off campus.</p>

<p>There is also an extensive rails to trails system for walking and biking and pro hockey, football and baseball teams. PNC Park, where the Pirates play, has a beautiful view of downtown from behind the plate.</p>

<p>If you can't find something to do in Pittsburgh on the weekend, you're not really trying.</p>

<p>You should be fine for four years.</p>

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<p>Ok. I think its important to take the view of someone who has not lived in Pittsburgh all their life. </p>

<p>Honestly, Pittsburgh is a horrible "city" to be in for four years. Unless you're looking for a poetic atmosphere, the perpetual cloudiness WILL make you depressed. Pittsburgh is also the second rainiest city in the US (second to Seattle), and it's not like the rain comes and then leaves; rather it's the kind of rain that's light and lingers on for days. </p>

<p>Most people I know who come from larger cities complain that there's nothing to do in pittsburgh. I'm not going to argue this. You REALLY have to try hard to do something if you don't have a car. </p>

<p>Also in pittsburgh, people don't call it soda, they call it "pop". Pittsburgh has the midwestern feel where everything closes down at 9. </p>

<p>There is no professional basketball team here in pittsburgh. Be prepared to be in Steeler country.</p>

<p>When driving in pittsburgh, people make "pittsburgh lefts". This is kind of annoying at first.</p>

<p>While the area around CMU is one of the more affluent areas of pittsburgh, bear in mind this is "pittsburgh affluence", not orange county. </p>

<p>The weather really sucks. I can't emphasize this enough. </p>

<p>From what I know there is some crime nearby. There was a recent sexual assault near the KQED building which is basically adjacent to one of the dorms on campus. If you go a few blocks to oakland, there has been a rise in crime there. I have to say in general it's pretty safe here at CMU though.</p>

<p>The snow here isnt that bad, it's just CMU never closes for snow. I'm serious. NEVER. Walking to class in the winter is really hard sometimes.</p>

<p>There is very little flat land in Pittsburgh. Honestly, walking ain't that great.</p>

<p>At least it doesn't rain in hell.</p>

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<p>
[quote]

Honestly, Pittsburgh is a horrible "city" to be in for four years. Unless you're looking for a poetic atmosphere, the perpetual cloudiness WILL make you depressed. Pittsburgh is also the second rainiest city in the US (second to Seattle), and it's not like the rain comes and then leaves; rather it's the kind of rain that's light and lingers on for days.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I grew up overseas in the tropics (in a place where temperatures never drop below 50 degrees and it never snows). Yet, I didn't mind Pittsburgh weather. Spring and fall in Pittsburgh are actually quite nice (despite the occasional rain); summers are warm, but not oppressively hot; and winters are not bad at all compared to the upper midwest and the central plains where it gets ** much colder **. In fact, Pittsburgh's weather is not significantly different from that of any continental city in the US that is above the 40-degree parallel, so what's the big deal ? </p>

<p>
[quote]

Most people I know who come from larger cities complain that there's nothing to do in pittsburgh. I'm not going to argue this. You REALLY have to try hard to do something if you don't have a car.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If you live in Orange County, or anywhere in southern California or the American southwest for that matter, it is virtually impossible to do anything without a car. In Pittsburgh on the other hand, you can still go anywhere just taking a bus. I lived 5 years in Pittsburgh and never had a car while I was there. I'd actually say Pittsburgh is one of the least "car-dependent" cities I know in the US (and I've been to several major US cities: LA, Dallas, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Boston, NY, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Miami, etc.). </p>

<p>
[quote]

Also in pittsburgh, people don't call it soda, they call it "pop". Pittsburgh has the midwestern feel where everything closes down at 9.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don't know exactly what you mean by "everything", but there are certainly lots of places open after 9 in Pittsburgh.</p>

<p>
[quote]

There is no professional basketball team here in pittsburgh. Be prepared to be in Steeler country.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Pittsburgh has one of the top professional football teams in the US, two great professional baseball and hockey teams, and brand new word-class stadiums. There are also great college football and basketball teams. I'm not really a big sports fan, but, if I were, Pittsburgh wouldn't be a bad choice at all (compare it with living in Urbana IL, Ithaca NY, or some place else in the middle of a corn field !). </p>

<p>
[quote]
When driving in pittsburgh, people make "pittsburgh lefts". This is kind of annoying at first.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That's true. But "Pittsburgh lefts" can be also convenient after you get a hold of it. </p>

<p>
[quote]

While the area around CMU is one of the more affluent areas of pittsburgh, bear in mind this is "pittsburgh affluence", not orange county.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Still, the western (?) section of Shadyside bordering CMU is pretty affluent (even Alcoa's CEO used to live there !). Besides, contrary to Orange County, which has a suburban feeling and an annoying car-dependent culture, one can easily walk down the beautiful tree-lined streets of Shadyside (especially in the fall when leaves start to color and fall down), while going for a meal or shopping at Walnut Street, or going to church for a service. </p>

<p>
[quote]

The weather really sucks. I can't emphasize this enough.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>See comments above.</p>

<p>
[quote]

From what I know there is some crime nearby. There was a recent sexual assault near the KQED building which is basically adjacent to one of the dorms on campus. If you go a few blocks to oakland, there has been a rise in crime there. I have to say in general it's pretty safe here at CMU though.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I think there are sections of Oakland that are pretty scary, especially at night. But, again, compared to other US cities, Pittsburgh is relatively safe. I was never mugged or robbed while I was there and I did go out often. </p>

<p>
[quote]

The snow here isnt that bad, it's just CMU never closes for snow. I'm serious. NEVER. Walking to class in the winter is really hard sometimes.</p>

<p>There is very little flat land in Pittsburgh. Honestly, walking ain't that great.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Maybe you need to work out more often. You seem out of shape (just kidding !).</p>

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<p>The weather is kind of depressing sometimes- there's no denying that. I'm from Houston, where it's suny all the time and never really gets cold (80 at Christmas last year). But it's not a huge deal- there are plenty of colleges with weather that is probably just as bad that I'm sure people who applied to CMU also applied to (MIT, Cornell, Northwestern),</p>

<p>It's true that you can take the bus and actually get someplace in Pittsburgh, which is completely unlike Houston or many sprawling cities. And while there might be 'nothing to do' in Pittsburgh, I'm pretty sure that a bunch of people from major cities really come from their suburbs (I know I do...) where there's even less to do unless you're willing to drive 30-45 minutes. At least here you're in a city, close to museums, and with public transportation. There is usually stuff going on on campus- last night, I played Capture the Flag with Stuff and went to a swing dance. Granted, plenty of people say that there is 'nothing to do', but they never go anyplace in Pittsburgh except Southside (shopping and Cheesecake factory) and the Waterfront (shopping and other chain restaurants).</p>

<p>Yes there was a mugging behind WQED, and also an assault. But for people who don't know the area- WQED borders the parking lot of Morewood (a large dorm), and there is a tree lined, narrow path that cuts between the parking lot and 5th avenue through WQED's property. Many students take it as a shortcut because there are a bunch of apartments on 5th. After the mugging, CMU installed a really, really bright light because the area had been dark, and there a bunch places someone could hide. After the sexual assault, CMU placed flyers about what to do about sexual assault in everyone's mailbox. Both times, students received emails encouraging them to walk down well lit streets with traffic, instead of taking that shortcut, and to walk with a friend. There are busses that run until late around CMU, and there is a 'safewalk' service where someone will walk you home. CMU sends out emails whenever there is a (semi-major) crime- those two and one about someone being robbed in a bathroom during the day (weird anamoly) are the only one's that I've received this year. Yes, there is crime, but I think that's probably better than most campuses, and everyone is going to have some crime. I think CMU does as good of job about it as one can ask. Pittsburgh is a fairly safe city- probably a bit of a benefit of being a smaller, more 'boring' city.</p>

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<p>Hey KrazyKow, if you played Capture the Flag last night you may run into my S - he was there - hope he doesn't know I'm posting about him!</p>

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<p>Does it very cloud in Pittsburgh? I like playing basketball, almost every afternoon after class now. If it is true that it has 200+ rain day a year, it means i can't play basketball more~~~it's so sad~~</p>

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<p>"Pittsburgh is also the second rainiest city in the US (second to Seattle)."</p>

<p>No it isn't. Pgh isn't in any of these 3 categories: 10 rainiest cities; 10 cloudiest cities; 10 wettest cities. Seattle is #4 in 10 cloudiest cities category.</p>

<p><a href="http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/usrecords.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/usrecords.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>edit: heck I don't think the link works</p>

<p>It does have a lot of cloudy days (drizzly) from late fall through the spring. But, as pointed out, lots of good colleges have crummy weather.</p>

<p>"Most people I know who come from larger cities complain there's nothing to do in Pittsburgh." </p>

<p>I guess some things never change. Been a while but I spent 4 yrs at Penn. Philly's a pretty big city. The New Yorkers (and there were a LOT) constantly complained there was nothing to do in Philadelphia...gets old and obnoxious after you hear that the hundredth time. A city like Pgh isn't supposed to compete with a Chicago, NY, LA. Sadly if you're looking for that you'll miss the "charm" (really!) of a city like Pittsburgh.</p>

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<p>I was only at Capture the Flag for about an hour, and there were over 150 people (Wean 7500 had all the seats full and a bunch of people sitting on the stairs), so I probably didn't meet your son, Marilyn.</p>

<p>It is cloudy in Pittsburgh, although today it's not. You can play basketball indoors in the gym- I see pickup games in there fairly frequently. Also, you could join an intramural basketball team or take 'basketball skills,' though most of the sports courses are offered at inconvenient times.</p>

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<p>I have some negative comments to add as well:
A lot of people mention the bus system like it's so great. In reality, it is so mismanaged that they were threatening to cut the bus that goes to the airport, which hundreds of students and workers need. You will find yourself waiting for half an hour for a bus, only to have four of them arrive at the same time. Another annoying pet peeve is that drivers usually don't open the back door, forcing you to get through a crowd of people to get out. You REALLY do need a car, when I went to Boston to visit my brother I was amazed at the fact that he had a grocery store within easy walking distance and good restaurants right across the street. It's such a hassle to have to wait for the bus and carry your stuff on every time you want to go grocery shopping. It's like some kind of weird middle ground between the suburbs and a city, that usually just leaves me frustrated.</p>

<p>The weather is as bad as everyone says. It rained/snowed for at least a week straight when I got back from winter break. I don't mind the cold that much, but I can't speak for other people. They sky is almost constantly grey, and I can pretty much guarantee it will rain at least three times a week. Also, pray you don't have to stay here for the summer. The humidity is terrible, I could barely breathe any time I stepped outside. Today is one out of the handful of actually nice days, it doesn't take long for it to swing from cold and rainy to hot and humid however.</p>

<p>I can't really speak on things to do here, I find it boring but other people may not. Usually you get the requisite answer of "museums" and whatnot; I like Phipp's, but it's not something you can do every week. I'm not 100% sure about movie theaters, but the one I think of is down at the Waterfront, which means (you guessed it) waiting for a bus which may take like 50 minutes to get to you, no joke. Food here is pretty bland (I blame the water) but most can put up with it because CMU's food is HORRIBLE. Also, don't believe the "Pittsburghese" stuff they tell you about; I've been here for almost 2 years and I've never heard anyone say "yinz" or any such jargon.</p>

<p>That was catharthic.</p>

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<p>I simply don't understand how the water makes food bland, and I will agree that typical 'Pittsburgh' food is kind of.. um... unexciting, but in Squirrel HIll and Shadyside there are quite a few good restaurants.</p>

<p>There are movie theaters in Squirrel Hill, the Waterfront, and Southside, as well as movies on campus most weekends. If you really have your heart set on goign to the Waterfront without taking a city bus, CMU runs buses on Friday and Saturday nights, and I think they usually are on schedule.</p>

<p>If you think it's humid in Pittsburgh in the summer, you obviously haven't been in Houston in the summer. It is annoying that there isn't air conditioning in the dorms, but usually it's only really warm for the first week or two of school, and after that it's fine.</p>

<p>The bus system is a bit messed up, and they may cut some routes because of lack of funding, but what are they supposed to do if there's no money? I'm sure that if the route to the airport gets cut, CMU will run shuttles around break times or something...</p>

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<p>hm. while i have lived in a nice suburb outside pittsburgh all my life and practically lived at CMU on and off (for music activities) since i was 5 i have a hard time finding it justified to say there is nothing to do in pittsburgh or around cmu.</p>

<p>sure, downtown pgh is the most boring place i have ever been after 5pm, but oakland and squirrel hill (just 5 min from cmu by bus, around 15 min walking if you like a nice brisk walk uphill [come on people, work out more]) have PLENTY to do. </p>

<p>there are 3 movie theaters in sq hill, and they often show really interesting indie films you wont see anywhere else for miles.</p>

<p>there are multiple pizza, chinese, indian, american, and jewish foodstuffs places including restaurants ranging from casual to upscale. gulliftys is a GREAT place to go, not for the food (its eh, the deserts are FANTASMALISTIC) but for the entertainment. they often have live jazz playing ,and sometimes its even CMU students. its a good time.</p>

<p>theres a new art gallary that exhibits great contemporary stuff. right now they have a big andy warhol (hes kind of a pittsburgh idol, theres a whole museum dedicated to him) display right now on BRILLOS. its sweet.</p>

<p>also, seriously i must give the area mad props for having like 10 libraries in a 5 mi. radius. sq hill library, cmu hunt library, carnegie library, upitt hillman library, and then the spec. libraries at upitt.</p>

<p>now if you are talking about CLUBBING, yeah, pittsburgh doesnt have the best scene for that. there is the strip district (which, btw, on a saturday it is so enjoyable to go down there and shop in the open air markets) which has club zoo and some clubs for older kids/adults, but personally i dont like them. </p>

<p>yeah, i agree, you cant do a museum more than once a week. just doesnt work. unless we're talking warhol, then i mean, its got pretty sweet stuff happening all the time.</p>

<p>btw if you are LUCKY enough to get tickets to a steelers game, you should go. </p>

<p>penguins....i mean, if you're into hockey, go for it. its fun, and the ppl who go are really into it. but i wont tell you we rock.</p>

<p>pirates..........uhhh i am not a baseball fan............</p>

<p>btw whoever said we dont have sports bc we dont have basketball....WE HAVE THREE PRO SPORTS TEAMS...not many other cities can boast that.</p>

<p>anyway i will prbly post more later.</p>

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<p>How can you even mention Pittsburgh without mentioning KENNYWOOD?!? </p>

<p>Best amusement park ever... old fashioned, wooden rollercoasters... combined with new fangled steel beomoths... oh for another ride on the racer...</p>

<p>My best friend lived in Pittsburgh for years. It is neighter hell nor heaven. It is infinitely interesting -- steep Appalachian-coal mining country hills, 3 rivers, working class ethnic neighborhoods and markets combined with a new, edgy artsy influence a la the Warhol museum and some new foodie places to eat.</p>

<p>It's not NY, SF or Paris. But some folks go to Grinnel or Colby or Buffalo a zillion of other places in cities that are not the main attraction. Only you can decide how important the location is to you!</p>

<p>And, read "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh" whether you go to school there or not!</p>

<p>s</p>