TORN between 2 options

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pittsburgh
1

<p>Hello all!</p>

<p>I am new to CC, but I have read forums for a while and decided to join due to the fact that I am in need of much assistance.</p>

<p>I am a high school senior who is getting ready to go off to college, yet I am torn between two universities- one of which did not accept me into their main campus, but rather one of their branches.... Needless to say, I am in need of much help.</p>

<p>But first, some background (as if this post is not long enough):
Public high school
Honor roll student
Top half of class
Ran XC junior and senior year- honorable mention, varsity letter both years
Ran Winter and Spring Track all 4 years- Track varsity letter junior and senior year
Volunteered at Children's Museum, part-time job at grocery store and part-time jobberry-picking in the summer
9th Grade-College Prep Courses
10th Grade- All Honors Courses; doubled in math
11th Grade- All Honors Courses
12th Grade- 4 AP Courses and 2 Honors Courses with 1 lab pd/ week for AP Bio-- My Gpa increased this year and I took a heavier course load because I knew it could stand as an advantage over other students who decided to take it easy their senior year; also, it's good prep for courses in college for the material goes into much greater depth</p>

<p>Now, the college process. However, before you go about reading this, pleeease do not obsess over the fact that it is later on the year, housing deposits were due, etc. I am well aware of that and was able to get in touch with the admissions office of both universities regarding these concepts.</p>

<p>Okay, so here goes:</p>

<p>I was accepted into Syracuse University, and I also applied to University of Pittsburgh (might I emphasize applying very early, for I believe that I should have applied earlier than I had), except the main Oakland campus did not admit me. Instead, they offered me a choice between the branch campuses that they have. I had originally planned on going in as a Nutrition and Dietetics major for both Syracuse and Pitt Main, but then reconsidered and decided nursing would be a better option... And if I would decide not to follow the nursing route throughout my college experience, then I would go into another field- preferably another form of HEALTH CARE such as physical therapy/ public health.
For nursing, I would have the option of going to Pitt Titusville, and for Nutrition/ Dietetics, I would go to any of the 4 branch campuses of Pitt (Greensburg, Titusville, Johnstown or Bradford). I figured Titusville would work because I am considering nursing now anyway, but it seems that it does not offer as many opportunities to advance and is ranked lower than any of the other branch campuses (and obviously main since the Oakland campus is the top campus out of any of them). I don't know if I should attend pitt titusville or perhaps change my major and attend one of the other 4 branch campuses. ALSO<< I have heard of students from other branch campuses transferring to the pitt main campus, and although UPT claims it's their "primary goal," I have not heard of students transferring from UPT to pitt main----If you have info/ stats of this, pleeease let me know.</p>

<p>Anyways, I was devastated when I was not admitted into Pitt Main. I had heard so much about their medical strengths and the challenging yet prestigious nursing program. Also, I was planning on running for their cross country and track teams- although this was not my primary reason/ concern when applying to Pitt, it was a bonus and the fact that I would have the opportunity to participate in extracurriculars such as these excited me and came as a bonus. ---Btw, I knew that I would be given the chance to run for Pitt for my best friend who was admitted into Pitt main visited the oakland campus, spoke to the coach, and was guaranteed a spot on both the XC/ track team- Our stats in high school are nearly identical, except I improved this year and lowered my times, so I cannot imagine not being accepted and given an opportunity to run on the team. My friend decided on Northeastern University due to the fact that they offered her more financial aid than Pitt.
The thing is, with the Pitt Titusville Campus, they have a small fitness center, but really no sports other than basketball and volleyball. Would I be able to run for Pitt main's team if I had spent 1/2 years originally at Pitt Titusville (assuming I'd go to UPT, then transfer to Pitt Main upon admittance)?? I assume I would be but am unsure.</p>

<p>Furthermore, I looked into depth at the different schools, strengths, majors, and programs that both of the universities had to offer and I also tried to contact others to hear about each of the schools and the afterlife that one had after successfully graduating the university. Syracuse is well known for its school of communications/ journalism-Newhouse- and media, which is definetely one of its strengths, and it is good for those looking into business majors. However, since I have not heard much about their health careers or majors (and how strong they are in anything associated with medicine and the health field), it worries me that I will not recieve as strong of an education/ preparation as I would at Pitt). Syracuse has different options for a health field, though they no longer have a nursing major. Though I realize Syracuse is a good university, I would not want to risk the possibility of being unable to pay off loans if I do not recieve a job with an adequate amount of pay by the time I'd graduate from the University. Also, NY is pricey. Weather wise, I will deal with because I am more concerned about academics, education, and a well paying job once I graduate than anything else even though $$, sports, and other concepts may play a role.</p>

<p>Pitt, however, is great for anything medical (Main campus, although I would think their branch campuses would also be strong in this field for it is all a part of Pitt in general). They are nationally ranked for Nursing/ the medical field, but I do not want to risk having a crummy time at Pitt Titusville and end up wasting money and time for nothing. The university has emphasized the fact that their goal is to provide students with adequate preparation in order to move them onto the Main Pittsburgh Campus.... but they always leave that with the note that they cannot guarantee admissions into the main campus, which is my ultimate goal; I know that there are students who often choose to either stay at the campuses all 2/4 years or directly go and get a job when at the Pittsburgh branch campuses, but honestly, my primary goal is to transfer to the branch campus. If I need to spend a year or two (depending on whether/not I am admitted into the Nursing program at UPT) at UPT in order to achieve this goal, that is fine, but if I cannot gain admissions into the Main campus, then I do not find my time at UPT worthwhile.</p>

<p>Syracuse and Pitt would both leave me with debt... However, for Syracuse, I would be beyond $60,000 in debt after 4 yrs/ bachelor's degree in whatever I chose to pursue. I would be in debt about 15,000/ year but that is without considering the loans because out of the $38,000 they gave me, $7,000 would be loans each year... So I would say it is more like $31,000/ year?? Whereas for UPT, I would imagine it would be less (I would be an in-state student for I live in PA)> They are still trying to figure out my financial aid, but overall UPT is $23,000, except I imagine they would have to give me some sort of financial aid, which would make it about $10,000 or $15,000/ year, if not less.</p>

<p>To be honest, I have been leaning toward Pittsburgh throughout the process, but the fact that they did not admit me into their main (Oakland) campus came across to me as devastating. Had I been admitted to Pitt main I don't think I would be nearly as hesitant to make my decision. </p>

<p>--I feel as though Syracuse is not worth it for all the debt, especially since it is more known for Newhouse, business, and communications rather than health, medicine, and nursing which I plan to pursue, but it is still a good school and apparently has good connections.</p>

<p>I guess the ultimate question would be whether or not UPT is worth it and will actually help me proceed onto the main pitt campus?? Also, is the debt for Syracuse worth it?</p>

<p>Any feedback would be appreciated, thank you!!!</p>

2

<p>Well it seems pretty clear that you would rather attend Pitt over Syracuse. Although you did not get accepted into the Main Campus if you start off at UPT you will be able to transfer over to the oakland campus provided that you perform well academically. I believe Pitt has a pretty high transfer acceptance rate around 50% and I would assume although i am unsure, that Pitt branch campuses have some sort of agreement with transfer students. I read that you would need to remain at the branch campus for a whole year(minimum of 24 credits), then transfer as an incoming sophomore. When you arrive at UPT your advisor will be able to tell you what classes you would need to take to make sure you are on track for nursing on the main campus. If you like Syracuse and can afford it for one year, you can attend to get the “full” freshman experience and transfer to Pitt for the next year if you do not like it. Or you could attend UPT, assuming they have on campus housing and such then transfer after a year. Regarding track and xc, they wont let you run until you are accepted to the main campus and discuss with the coach if he wants you as a walk on. Not starting off at Pitt’s main campus should not make you ineligible.</p>

3

<p>The biggest issue is the debt you would have to take on at Syracuse. I would be for going to a branch, taking the apporpriate classes for the program you want to transfer into, and do as well grade wise as you possibly can.</p>

4

<p>The branches have one major advantage over a main campus - much smaller class sizes particularly for freshman classes. </p>

<p>Hopefully, you make a good set of friends at the branch and then try to transfer together so you have a built-in social network when you arrive in Pittsburgh.</p>

<p>I would go to a branch of Pitt and put full energy into doing well academically so you have a very high chance at transfering. You also can do sports at a branch without needing to make sports a priority over your academics.</p>

<p>At a Pitt branch, you also keep your options for many health care fields, which is where the jobs are.</p>

<p>If you have manageable debt, you will keep your options open for grad school.</p>

<p>Besides, Syracuse is the snowfall capital of the east coast. That would get a little old by February.</p>

5

<p>Thank you very much!</p>

<p>@invader71- Yes, I would prefer Pitt over Syracuse, the primary reason as to why I was hesitant to attend Pitt is due to the fact that I did not get admitted into the main campus which is where I was planning to attend initially. It was mostly that I was unsure of how likely of a chance I would have of being able to transfer over to the main campus later on because that is my essential goal. I would rather transfer to Pitt Main (assuming I get in after 1 or 2 years if I attend a branch campus 1st) from a Pitt branch campus than from Syracuse due to the facts that 1) Cheaper (NY is very pricey, out of state, and Syracuse in general is just a very expensive university, even with the decent amount of financial aid I recieved from them), 2) Pitt Branch is still within the Pitt system (which I assume would make it cheaper to transfer from Pitt branch campus than from another university like Syracuse)<<Correct me if I’m wrong… and 3)Also correct me if I’m wrong on this one… Credit Transfer may be less flexible from Syracuse to Pitt Main than it would be from a Pitt branch campus to Pitt Main (b/c of Pitt being one system). </p>

<p>Also, does anyone know/ can anyone give me some information as to the likeliness of transferring to Pitt Main from each branch campus? As in, is there a difference as to the chance you have of tranferring to Pitt Main depending on which branch campus you go to? I have heard students transferring from other branch campuses like UPG, but not yet heard students transferring from UPT (in my experience). Though it’s UPT’s “primary goal” to prep students for Pitt Main, how many actually end up transferring to Pitt Main successfully from this campus? Would I have more of a chance of succesfully transferring to Pitt Main later on if for instance I went to a different Pitt branch such as UPJ/ UPB/UPG?</p>

<p>@southeastmom- I agree. I don’t feel as though Syracuse debt would be worth it because I could still get a good education at Pitt-if not better, and I figure it would look better transferring from a cheaper and less “prestigious” branch campus than it would an expensive and more well known university. I know of a neighbor’s friend who had started out at Syracuse and majored in music (which IMHO does not seem like too good of an idea because you would be paying off loans for quite a while considering the salary you would make for music ed) but ended up transferring after freshman year because it was too expensive. She ended up transferring to Millersville University; thing is, she didn’t like SU anyway because she thought the people there were snobby. Credits actually did end up transferring okay for her from Syracuse to Millersville, however. To be honest, I will come across snobby people and those that I will not particularly be fond of, but I know that I will also be able to find those that do care about schoolwork, work hard, and continue to strive for their goals like I do. I just don’t want to run the risk of going to a University that asks for more money, leaves me in debt, and is not worth it in the end.
^^Grade wise, I do not think I will have much of an issue for I have had good grades throughout high school, worked hard, and taken classes that are challenging (or at least I assume this; hopefully it will turn out not to be).</p>

<p>@charlieschm- Yes, I think this is what makes me feel better even though Pitt Main did not admit me for the Fall of 2012. One of my mother’s friend’s daughter’s friends (yes quite the list) is currently studying at Pitt Main and has one freshman class of 600 students (though I have not had the opportunity to talk to her yet about Pitt which I plan to do); My neighbor also started out at a branch campus though it was Penn State, and then moved on to the Main Campus (she actually then ended up going to Pitt after she went to Penn State… She liked both universities, but she LOVED Pitt and is always giving me advice and acknowledging me about the campus as a whole- I’m fortunate to have her as a neighbor and be able to talk to her about this). Anyways, my neighbor said that starting off at a branch campus allowed her to develop good relationships with the professors and try to choose a major/ career. She liked the small classes and I guess it would be helpful because once you move onto a Main campus from a branch campus, your classes are still smaller due to the fact that you have chosen a major (Even though majors can change) than they would be if you had gone to Pitt Main for your 1st year. Also, you feel less like a number and more like a name in that professors will know you and they are more easily accessible. </p>

<br>

<br>

<p>Now the question does not become whether I attend SU or Pitt, but rather which campus should I attend if I choose to go to Pitt??</p>

<p>Thanks for the comments and if you could keep posting for further advice, that would be great. (especially Pitt Students and their experiences, ones that have successfully transferred from a Pitt branch campus or know of someone who had, etc.) These are very helpful.</p>

6

<p>If Syracuse is more expensive and still doesn’t have a nursing major, you may have answered your own question.</p>

<p>Because if you do decide to do nursing, as opposed to nutrition, you’ll be wasting more time and money going to Syracuse than if you were at UPT where you would presumably prepping for either career choice. Now the problem is that the School of Nursing on the main campus is very competitive to get into, so I’m not sure what that means for transfers. But keep in mind that the School of Nursing actually runs the nursing program at UPJ, so that could always be a fall-back.</p>

<p>As far as XC, the distance program at Pitt is actually pretty weak by major Div 1 standards. Syracuse would be a lot harder to contribute at because they currently have a strong distance program. Pitt T&F puts more emphasis on sprints, hurdles and jumps. However, you really should email the distance coach (I believe is named Clinton Bell, search on Pitt’s athletic site) with your times and ask about opportunities to walk-on including the possibility or complications of transferring. Sometimes, but not always, coaches can tweak some things with admissions. Don’t hesitate to reach out. At UPT, there is no XC team, so you’ll have to train on your own unless you can latch on to a local club or high school team. UPJ has a women’s XC team (I don’t know if you are a guy or girl), UPG and UPB have both men’s and women’s XC. Participating in these school’s varsity teams might affect your eligibility after transfer so you want to try to engage Pitt’s coach in these questions.</p>

7

<p>Yes, at Syracuse I would end up doing a club/ intramural sport, but since Pitt’s D1’s pretty slow for, well, D1, my times would match up with the times they currently have for their girls now-definetely xc, maybe a bit slower for track. I am a girl, so UPJ xc would be an option for me if I would go to THAT branch campus.</p>

<p>“Now the problem is that the School of Nursing on the main campus is very competitive to get into, so I’m not sure what that means for transfers.”<<Correct. I am still trying to search for more info regarding this.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

<p>Also, another question (I ask many of them believe it or not): Since I plan to transfer to Pitt Main later on, would I be able to visit it? Atmosphere plays a big role and Pitt Main is in a different location that UPT. I figure it would be worth it because I could talk to the coach 1-on-1 and abt. transfer possibilities… Also, I could possibly talk to students there and see how I like Pitt Main since I would plan on transferring there. Thing is, can I do this? I also sent them an email asking about this situation…</p>

8

<p>

</p>

<p>The only spots that open up are ones made by students who drop out/transfer out their freshman year. It’s not a lot. The spots are competitive as other Pitt Main, Pitt Branch and outside College students all compete to get a spot as a transfer.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Absolutely! UPG and UPJ are roughly 1-2 hours from Main each, and it’s pretty easy to ask someone for a ride in or figure out public transportation (a bus perhaps) to the campus. I know for Homecoming, Main has free buses from the branch campuses to Main.</p>

<p>My guess is that UPG and UPJ have the highest transfer rates, then UPB and UPT last (since people tend to forget it exists). I know a LOT of students who have come from UPG to Main after a year for Engineering, not sure about the other disciplines.</p>

9

<p>Awesome, thanks!</p>

10

<p>AwesomeOpposum, this goes off to a different topic, but if I took AP tests, and say I did well (scores don’t come in until July), would I send them to Pitt Main or a branch campus (If I would initially attend 1 of the branch campuses)?</p>

<p>Also, I recieved an athletic scholarship from my school- same idea here- I am not sure if it would need to be sent to the main campus or the branch campus I would attend…</p>

11

<p>I believe at least one of the Pitt branches offers an associates degree in nursing. My understanding is that it is possible to take the RN test after completing that degree. You then can finish a bachelors degree in a related field without necessarily getting a BSN from Pitt.</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>Whatever school (i.e. branch) you enroll in you would send your scores there. The easier thing to do is to take the scores (the paper that is mailed to you) with you when you go to enroll for classes.</p>

13

<p>Okay, thanks. My guidance counselor told me that an extra fee is charged for sending scores in later but not too large of an amount. I am not sure if I would be charged if I took the mailed paper with the scores to the branch campus when I would enroll for classes. I would think they would still charge me this way, but not positive.</p>

14

<p>

</p>

<p>The whole point of the charge is that CollegeBoard charges you for them to mail your scores to a school. If you take your paper with you, there’s no charge.</p>

15

<p>Thanks awesome!</p>