<p>Hello all, I was wondering if anyone else received an invitation for the scholar's retreat the weekend before the last pittstart and orientation. The activities seem to coincide with the Honors College orientation too. I got invitations to both and am attending the last pitt start so this is all going to require lots of careful planning for me..Anyways, who else received these and which are you attending?!</p>
<p>The chancellors scholar retreat has been the couple of days before the honors housing move-in, so you can do both.</p>
<p>Just for clarification: There is University Wide Orientation for all entering freshmen. There is Honors Orientation for only those honors students living in Forbes. There is a retreat for the handful of Chancellor's Scholars (the lucky 10-20 students getting a FULL ride.)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>That is what I don't understand. My daughter did not get honors housing, so now she doesn't get honors orientation either? What sense does that make? It seems to me the kids not living in Forbes need orientation too, if not more so!</p>
<p>Agreed LurkNess. I think you should call and ask about that now, as it might take a few calls to get to someone who can address your concerns. It certainly couldn't hurt to try!</p>
<p>More confusing information now. So the Scholar's Retreat is NOT just for the 10-20 full ride students? Did kids get the invite by e-mail or paper?</p>
<p>I can understand the logistics of early move-in for those NOT in Forbes. If the honors students are potentially living in misc. dorms/floors then all of those buildings would need to be opened early. But then again, I'm sure they are open early for orientation staff, athletes, marching band...all sorts of groups.</p>
<p>I guess the bottomline is that the honors orientation is just to "orient" to living in honors housing in Forbes and has very little to do with the honor college? Maybe I quite possibly don't get it. What I do get is the feeling that some honors students will end up not really experiencing the "honors experience" that drew them to Pittsburgh in the first place.</p>
<p>Any positive comments about this or PittStart (good ones already!) would be helpful.</p>
<p>THANKS.</p>
<p>The scholar's retreat is just for the lucky 10-20. They move in about a week early and go somewhere off campus. Then there is the early move in for honors housing two days early. Then there is the general move in.</p>
<p>Of the chancellors scholars I know, none of them are best buddies or socialize with eachother. They, like every other "normal" kid, seem to become friends with other in their own college/major.</p>
<p>I thought PittStart was very well organized and valuable (two years ago) and served its purpose of getting the students comfortable and situated.</p>
<p>Join PittArts. Lots of students attend cultural events around the city for a minimal fee. This seems to be another good way to make friends with similar interests.</p>