<p>I have to make the decision between Penn State and Pitt. I am looking to major in biology and eventually go to medical school or veterinary school. What are some pros and cons of each school? Which would you choose in my situation?</p>
<p>University Of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus (Princeton Review)</p>
<p>Academics</p>
<p>"The University of Pittsburgh “is the perfect-sized institution,” a place with “all the benefits of a large urban university, including research, internships, and lots of amazing experiences,” but also small enough “that people truly have a chance to make a name for themselves on campus. You can’t go five minutes without bumping into someone you kn..."The University of Pittsburgh “is the perfect-sized institution,” a place with “all the benefits of a large urban university, including research, internships, and lots of amazing experiences,” but also small enough “that people truly have a chance to make a name for themselves on campus. You can’t go five minutes without bumping into someone you know here.” Many departments stand out; all medical fields benefit from the school’s affiliation with the renowned research-oriented University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; and programs in dentistry, pharmacology, physical therapy, neuroscience, and biology are all considered outstanding. Programs in engineering, business, and the liberal arts are also noteworthy. Students appreciate the fact that “professors here are all very accessible and really want their students to learn and understand their courses. They are willing to work with the students to [help them] achieve better grades and enhance the learning experience.” Opportunities to study abroad abound, and undergrads “can often find study-abroad programs that are cheaper for them than their tuition would have been.”" </p>
<p>Student Body</p>
<p>"A “very diverse population” of 16,796 undergraduates virtually guarantees that “everyone is bound to meet someone whom he or she would have never met staying in his or her hometown.” The school has “over 450 organizations, and all those groups provide a place for students to come and be their own people in a group they feel comfortable with.” Highly competitive admissions mean that “kids here are definitely intelligent and have a lot going for them.” They’re not just brainiacs, though—in fact, Pitt students “like to have a good time too, not just going out to parties. Many students really take advantage of the free admission to numerous museums and free city busing to visit the many neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.” The most dedicated students here, our respondents report, can be found in the medical sciences (neuroscience, chemistry, and biology) as well as in some of the humanities (writing, literature, philosophy).</p>
<p>Campus Life</p>
<p>"Pitt is located in Oakland, a “really nice location relative to downtown Pittsburgh and the surrounding neighborhoods.” Thanks to “the school’s arrangement” with the city of Pittsburgh, “every Pitt student gets free city busing,” a perk that allows and encourages undergrads to explore the city. Further such encouragement comes in the form of PittArts, a program that “heavily subsidizes cultural events in the city. When Broadway shows come to Pittsburgh, you can get tickets for $10, a dinner at an Italian restaurant, and free transportation downtown. They also offer free lectures, operas, and symphonies.” No wonder students tell us that “Pittsburgh is a college city, one that really caters to students. Bigger cities may offer more renowned acts coming through, or more famous museums, but in Pittsburgh we can actually afford to experience them!” The campus is also busy, with “many campus organizations,” “free movies in the Union, student performances on campus, lectures (Maya Angelou came recently)”; these offer students lots of opportunities to socialize. Pitt athletics are also popular, with basketball and football drawing the biggest crowds. All of these options “make socializing easier and less alcohol-centric. While there is a lot of drinking on campus, it is just as easy and socially acceptable to sit down to coffee.”"</p>
<p>Pennsylvania State University - University Park (Princeton Review)</p>
<p>Academics</p>
<p>"At Penn State “You can do anything you want” academically because with “over 160 majors” to choose from, “There are unlimited opportunities” for every undergraduate. Such vast resources are typical of a sprawling public flagship university, but it’s the personal touches that leave students “pretty impressed with how such a large school can run like a small one.” For example, “Professors do a lot to facilitate personal interactions.” They are “really easy to talk to both in and out of class, and they’re always accessible.” Unfortunately, it’s not always a professor students end up with: “They do use a lot of teaching assistants, which can get frustrating.” Still, professors are “thought-provoking” and “You can tell that a lot of them really do want to be teaching.” If you can manage to get into it, the Schreyer Honors College’s “rigorous” curriculum presents “tremendous opportunities.” In addition to more challenging courses, it “offers incredible amounts of money for study abroad, internships, and faculty co-ops,” and its students get perks like “priority registration for classes.” Administratively, “Penn State is a huge machine . . . run with amazing efficiency.” Credit is given to President Graham Spanier, who is praised for not only “holding office hours” and “responding personally to e-mails,” but also for being “very involved in student life.” Despite having “created Late-Night Penn State and the News Readership Program,” he also finds time to be the “advisor to the magician’s club” and “play the washboard in a bar downtown.” Perhaps the greatest long-term benefit of a Penn State education is “the social networking.” With an alumni association of over 159,000 members and growing, opportunities for success through networking are “well in your favor” at Penn State." </p>
<p>Student Body</p>
<p>"“There is a bit of everything” on this huge campus in the center of the Keystone State. That’s why some students find it so difficult to describe their peers succinctly. Rather than a “typical” student at Penn State, for some survey respondents it makes more sense to describe the school’s “multitude of groups of ‘atypical’ students: frat boys . . . jocks, internationals, loners, skaters . . . ‘jokers, smokers, midnight tokers’ . . . city kids, rednecks, country bumpkins, and so on.” In this way, “It’s like a large high school, where everyone is in their own group.” So “if you come to Penn State, don’t worry about finding friends because there is someone up here for everyone.” Yet even “Though there are a lot of differences, everyone wears blue and white on their sleeve.” Ultimately, “All Penn State students . . . love this college.”</p>
<p>Campus Life</p>
<p>"At a university this size, “you can do anything and everything” in your free time. There are, however, a couple of common threads. First, “PSU football is a religion.” During the fall, “Everyone goes to the football games and tailgates on Saturdays.” Second, is the partying. “People party as hard on the weekends as they study during the week.” “Popular choices” for freshmen and sophomores are “frat or apartment parties,” while “For those over 21, Penn State’s College Avenue has a great range of over 20 bars for students to choose from.” However, “If someone is not a partier, there are plenty of activities and organizations” he or she can devote her time to. For example, “substance-free activities that occur during the weekends at the Student Union (such as movies, video game tournaments, concerts)” are alternatives for those that decline to imbibe. In terms of extracurriculars, the options are practically endless. According to several students, “with over 700 student clubs and organizations, there’s something for everyone” at Penn State, offering “virtually limitless possibilities to carve out your own corner” and “help students get involved, build a resume, and network.</p>
<p>Both of those posts tell me a lot about each of the universities. Thank you. Anyone else?</p>
<p>Personally, I'd go to Pitt over Penn State for med school/veterinary school just because Pitt has a top 20 med school. Also Pitt is more reputable in health sciences/biological sciences such as physical therapy, nursing, pharmacy, biology, chemistry etc...</p>
<p>I give the nod to Penn State for undergrad. My niece looked at both as did my nephew and most of their friends. Pitt has nice buildings, and is not as huge as Penn State, but Penn State seems to have more appeal.</p>
<p>If you think it's more likely that you will want to go to vet school, I would seriously consider doing your undergraduate work at a university that HAS a vet school -- neither Pitt nor Penn State do. Universities that have vet schools also tend to have the best undergraduate preveterinary studies programs, preveterinary advising, and available opportunities for you to gain real world experience working with animals -- all important factors in gaining admission to vet school. Trust me on this -- vet school is harder to get into than med school, and my daughter has been offered admission. She is very glad that she made the right choice for her undergraduate program.</p>
<p>if ur gonna be a doctor, Pitt, Pitt Medical System is top notch. A experience you will not get at Penn St. Chances are upon graduation, a Pitt Med Student looks better than Penn St. student bc of the fact they have amazing resources. Not taking away from PSU, i applied to both and got into both, for engineering.</p>
<p>The OP is talking about undergraduate school, NOT medical school.</p>
<p>but still, being around a med school opens you up to opportunities/resources</p>
<p>
I completely agree, but the OP is presumably looking for in-state schools. Unfortunately, Penn is not as easy to get into as Penn State or Pitt.</p>
<p>Despite lacking a vet school, Penn State would not be a bad choice. It's a land grant university and as such has considerable</a> offerings in animal science. I suspect it's the largest feeder school for Penn's vet school.</p>
<p>Pitt would not offer nearly as much to a pre-vet student.</p>
<p>Penn's a great school I recommend u apply.</p>
<p>IBclass06,</p>
<p>I agree with you. If the OP is choosing between Pitt and Penn State for vet school preparation, Penn State is by far the better choice. And you are correct -- there is a sizeable group of Penn State grads at UPenn's vet school.</p>
<p>I just started college at Pitt and can already tell that it is a great school for biology. It’s a tough program from what I understand, but once finished you will be really well prepared for medical school. Pitt’s also nice because it’s in the city. I guess it depends what you want out of your college experience. I have friends who are at Penn state and love being in a town full of college students and I have friends who hate it and feel trapped in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>People in this thread are emphasizing pre-vet, but the OP says she wants to either go pre-med or pre-vet. I would pick Pitt, cuz I go there. :P</p>
<p>things to consider if you are looking at both pitt and penn state </p>
<p>urban environment or college town in the middle of no where.
big school or medium size school
what kind of parties do you like? crazy wild - penn state.
college sports - football or basketball?
housing - guaranteed housing at 3 years for pitt…only frosh year for penn state</p>
<p>*rememeber UMPC (pitt) is a nationally recognized health system </p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>hail to pitt! (i haven’t even been accepted yet. haha)</p>
<p>This thread is over a year old. I think the OP has moved on.</p>
<p>Pitt is much better.</p>