U of Pittsburgh good safety school?

Parents Forum
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<p>My son got a flyer in the mail from U of Pitt for OOS saying they'd pay for travel costs and a hotel for one night if a student comes to visit and apply to Pitt (and they'll waive the app. fee). It's never been on my son's list but he does really like Pittsburgh and we know there's a really good church in the area.</p>

<p>He's a math/physics (not astronomy)/music kid with lots of college math and physics under his belt. He's been looking at smaller schools (his list ranges from Harvey Mudd to Vanderbilt to U Penn in terms of size) and said he didn't want to go to a big school. </p>

<p>I'm debating whether he should have one more safety on his list or just go with what he has, which already seems to be too many schools.</p>

<p>We know nothing about the school and frankly, neither of us has time to get to know it before applications start shortly. Are there scholarships to be had for OOS with excellent stats? Is it a party school? Is there a strong music and/or Christian community?</p>

<p>Thanks for any input.</p>

2

<p>We ended up applying last minute and DS was given a great scholarship. The only issue was that he wasn’t able to visit in the Spring due to lacrosse/school. We regretted not seeing the school with using the travel voucher. If you have the time, you should visit</p>

<p>DS also applied to U of Penn and Vanderbilt. Got into Vanderbilt, but cost was too prohibitive for us. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the update.</p>

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<p>I know of several top students who have gotten merit scholarships from Pitt. But I don’t know what their experience was like after they got there, except for one premedical student, who was pleased with the research opportunities she found on campus (as well as with the full-ride scholarship she received).</p>

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<p>not sure why you’d consider Pitt if your son doesn’t want to attend a big school. Also, it doesn’t have a very church-y vibe. Sounds like they want your son very badly though. Is he URM? I know of at least two URM students who were offered full rides at Pitt last year. However, they were both accepted at Ivy’s and chose to attend the Ivy rather than Pitt.</p>

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<p>For top students at our PA high school, Pitt and PSU University Park are the usual safety schools, but it is not uncommon for such students to turn down acceptances to more “prestigious” schools to go to one or the other because they are attracted by the combination of affordability and perks offered by large research universities with honors classes offered to top students. </p>

<p>Pitt’s generous merit aid seems to attract a large cohort of talented students, many from OOS, but I would advise applying early for the best chances of getting a merit scholarship. These have become increasingly competitive in recent years.</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pittsburgh/1031409-any-regrets-choosing-full-tuition-scholarship-over-elite-school.html?highlight=yale[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pittsburgh/1031409-any-regrets-choosing-full-tuition-scholarship-over-elite-school.html?highlight=yale&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Probably should take them up on the offer and see it for yourself. Try to find someone in the depts. your kid has interest in to talk with. My feeling is that it’s a large school but with a smaller school atmosphere. If you already know a church nearby then you should be set. If your son got the offer, then he probably has stats good enough for a free ride (or at least a half ride). They are actively recruiting top-level OOS stduents and very good to them in that regard. Also check out UHC as Pitt’s honors college is different than many.</p>

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<p>It can’t hurt to visit, especially if thy are covering the costs.</p>

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<p>I think its a question of the investment of time to visit rather than cost since they will cover your travel and hotel- if small class size is a priority (since he wants a small school) then Pitt may not be a good fit- though honors sections will be small I found that most of my D’s freshman classes are 100+ students. Why don’t you or your son go on their website and poke around a bit to see whether it would be worthwhile at all to visit. Yes you are saving the application fee too but that is only $45. I would bet that incidental expenses of the trip would be more than that.</p>

11

<p>You might also use the visit to check out Carnegie Mellon, which is only a few blocks away (and ask about the opportunity for taking classes there, since Pitt and Carnegie Mello do offer cross-opportunities). Carnegie Mellon appears to fit your S’s criteria very well.</p>

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<p>Also, it doesn’t have a very church-y vibe</p>

<p>Well, the iconic Pitt building is called the Cathedral of Learning!</p>

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<p>true but that “cathedral” has more of a Hogwarts vibe that a church one LOL </p>

<p>Pitt students also are know for partying and that sounded like something you were trying to avoid?</p>

<p>I think you might find Southern schools have a more Christian feel</p>

14

<p>Since the trip is paid for, I think your S should go check it out, and see in person if it is a good fit. It’s a fine school!</p>

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<p>I loved Pitt when I went there and my son just graduated from Pitt engineering and business. It’s a big school, but nothing like Penn State. Plus, the fact that it is a compact campus makes it seem smaller. Additionally, the physics and math departments are relatively small. I don’t know about the math department, but the physics department is well-regarded.</p>

<p>Pittsburgh has tons of churches of all denominations, so you can probably find the one you want. The ethnic, neighborhood vibe is one of the qualities that makes Pittsburgh seem small and friendly. The gorgeous St. Paul’s Cathedral is right across the street from the Cathedral of Learning.
[Saint</a> Paul Cathedral - Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh](<a href=“http://www.catholic-church.org/st.paulcathedralpgh/index.html]Saint”>http://www.catholic-church.org/st.paulcathedralpgh/index.html)</p>

<p>There is also a vibrant music scene in Pittsburgh, but Pitt itself focuses mainly on jazz. Pitt students can cross-register at CMU or Duquesne, both of which have more comprehensive music schools. I don’t think that you would be disappointed in the music scene.
[Cultural</a> District](<a href=“http://culturaldistrict.org/]Cultural”>http://culturaldistrict.org/)</p>

<p>The think about Pitt is that it is fully integrated into the city. The campus is not an isolated island and traffic runs through the campus. Although the Oakland neighborhood exists for Pitt and is 90% students, it blends into the city. OTOH, it abutts CMU, Carlow, and Duquesne universities, so it is very much a college town. Some people like that integration and some don’t. You should visit if you have time.</p>

<p>Re: the “safety school”, the Oakland campus of Pitt is not as much of a safety school as people think. See where your son fits in the admission statistics.</p>

16

<p>Is your son a likely NMF? does he have really high test scores?</p>

<p>If so, that may be why he’s being recruited.</p>

<p>You mention having other safeties. Are you certain that you have all of the costs of those safeties covered? If not, then they’re not safeties. And, does your son really like his safeties.</p>

<p>*Vanderbilt *</p>

<p>Some would argue that Vandy is a party school. That said, I have nothing against party schools since kids at virtually all schools party…and no one has to party…and many students don’t party…it’s just that some get stuck with a silly meaningless label.</p>

<p>he does really like Pittsburgh and we know there’s a really good church in the area.</p>

<p>Aren’t there some “really good churches” in virtually every area?</p>

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<p>My son has interests similar to yours, and I would add one more advantage to applying: rolling admission. Pitt offered him a free app and he was happy to have that acceptance, as well as a scholarship offer, in October.</p>

<p>Many of his friends are excited to be attending Pitt in the fall, although he chose to go elsewhere.</p>

18

<p>Thanks for the feedback on Pitt. We’ll try to spend a little time on the website. </p>

<p>Yes, I think CMU is a great fit but when I ran the $$ for f. aid, it came off the list, unfortunately. We are middle income (78K for family of 5) with no savings (he’s got a small 529 that my parents set up for him) so he’ll need quite a bit of financial help.</p>

<p>So it’s really true that students at Pitt can take classes at CMU? While my son enjoys listening to jazz, he’s a classical/rock/fiddle violinist and a good music scene is very important (which is why Vandy’s on the list, though we’ve never visited)</p>

<p>Yes, he will probably be a NMS finalist. Quick stats on him:<br>
1590 (2320) SAT;
800, 800, 730 on SAT II with one more in Oct (hopefully an 800)
about 65 units of college coursework
Doing grad level physics research at local state uni.
physics olympiad semi-finalist twice
Top 50 in country in chess for his age
music is biggest ec with professional freelance work, teaching, service, etc.
long time baseball player
And yep, he’s 1/2 Puerto Rican, so yes, URM</p>

<p>Re. churches: Our denomination is kind of unique (reformed with a charismatic component and those two aren’t usually married! LOL) and we have churches in a number of different cities but not near every school my son’s interested in. He’s not tied to the denomination but it’s nice to be able to connect and get accountability/fellowship right away; that’s important to him and us.</p>

<p>Also, thanks for the link regarding students that don’t regret their choices. It sounds like kids are very happy with Pitt.</p>

<p>It is true that my son has said he doesn’t want a large campus. He made a list of things he wants/doesn’t want in a college and both “large” and “party atmosphere” were on the “don’t want” list.</p>

<p>He does his research on our local large state uni. campus and he sees lots of apathy and a party attitude in the students and that’s a turn off. He wants to be around others who love to learn. He’s super social and loves to “party” in terms of going fun places with his friends, playing music, games, etc. but not the kind of partying he sees at State.</p>

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<p>much as I am a fan of Pitt, it does not sound like a great “fit” for your son based on what he’s expressed as preferences. If thats the case, it might be the Christian thing to let the scholarship opportunity go to someone who really is interested in attending.</p>

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<p>S got the same postcard the other day–assume this invite is based on PSAT or SAT scores.</p>

<p>They cover up to $250 in travel expenses + one night hotel, so not really worth it for us as we are far away and S doesn’t like big school/urban atmosphere.
My nephew’s friend, a top student–not from PA–will be attending there on a great scholarship. OP, with his excellent stats, your son will likely be offered big $$. If that is important to you, and you’re not too far away, you should check it out.</p>