<p>I know it's kind of like comparing apples and oranges, but could anyone answer the following Q. For my well-traveled daughter from the NYC area who is an undeclared major and is pretty social but also not a typical happy/popular kid, for whom school comes very easily but she doesn't really have a focus yet, is there any reason for her not to consider U Pitt very seriously? Up until last week, she has been very certain of her decision to go to Penn State, but now she is beginning to question it.
My preference is for her to go to U Pitt, based on it being within the adult context of a real city instead of being in a college town bubble, but that is just my opinion. And naturally, it is totally up to her anyway.
But I am really curious about what other people would say.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Applemom, I think you nailed the huge difference. One is a pure college town and the other a college with a city. To me Pitt offers the best of both. The campus itself is can be pure college but the fact it is in a wonderful city adds all the extras. My daughter sounds much like yours and it appears to be a good fit for her and her personality. What does your daughter think?</p>
<p>Applemom, have you visited both schools ?</p>
<p>I went to PS UP, so my opinion is biased, but I don't see a reason for her to question going to PS UP. Applemom, it kind of sounds like you would rather have your daughter in a city, but there are many advantages to being in a college town. State College is consistently ranked as one of the safest and most crime free college towns in the country. It may sound simple, but it is a really good feeling to never have to worry about anything if you have to walk home from the library/wherever late at night. Also, there are never a shortage of new people your age, as the majority of State College is normally between the age of 18-23. It is nice to meet older students, but I always connected that with going to grad school. Plus, and I may be wrong here, I felt like there was a greater sense of school togetherness at Penn State UP that I didn't feel when I visited Pitt. It just seemed like at Pitt many of the students would kind of go off into different area of the city and do their own thing, whereas in State College the Penn State UP students were always doing large social functions together on the weekends. I always attribute that to a large reason why people love Penn State UP so much and keep many friends from there well after college, which I am sure is true of many school, but I found it particularly true of Penn State. I was just trying to give another view. Penn State UP and Pitt would both provide her with great opportunities. I do suggest that you go visit both if you haven't already. The campuses are very different, but you can't wrong with either. Best of luck with your decision.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses. We are going to visit U Pitt soon. She went to Penn State and loved it. Anyway, the decision is up to her. I have learned the hard way not to interject my opinion too much.<br>
I can see advantages of both environments.
I have also heard that Penn State has a much better advising department. She is pretty smart, just hasn't yet focussed. Also, crime free sounds good to me. I am just biased towards city life.
I really appreciate hearing different points of view.
Anyone else?</p>
<p>I am also baised. I went to Pitt. However, I never thought D1 would go there. We actually wanted her closer to home. She went to Governor's School at Pitt this summer and fell in love with the whole package. She is pre-med so she loves all of the access to the hospitals. She also enjoyed living in oakland. There is so much to do and they made sure the govies had a chance to experience the shows, PNC park, restaurants and shopping. I think there is so much more to do at Pitt. I have visited PSU UP. The Creamery is worth the visit:) Good Luck</p>
<p>I would argue that Pitt has a better advising program. From what I heard through PSU parents course selection is done in a group setting and their advisor goes through what courses they can take and they complete their course card. At Pitt, you meet one on one with your advisor (which is a requirement that you meet 2 times a semester) and discuss what your likes/dislikes are and what you are considering majoring in. My D too was undecided major and she really looked at what resources are available and advising program in helping her make her decision. She is at Pitt and LOVES it. There is a lot to do in Pittsburgh - and my D has done some exploring -but weekends she generally does on campus events - she feels that when she is a senior/junior she may be doing more exploring in Pittsburgh. My D also looked at PSU - but felt it really wasn't for her - she likes being in a city and felt PSU might have been too big. Good luck to your daughter in her decision making.</p>
<p>I think what holds the campus together are functions of the students. I am a PSU-er and of course am biased, but less now. We went to Pitt over this past weekend. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. The sports at Pitt (mens and womens basketball in particular), their 24 hour dance marathon (like PSU but much smaller), the Oakland Zoo (student cheering section at the games), etc... are just a small part of what makes that school have an intimate feeling and tightness. The school is less than half the size of PSU. For my son, that is a positive. It will be up to your child to take advantage of what the schools has to offer. </p>
<p>As far as advising: When we met at Pitt with the College of Business (at the day for admitted students on 3/21) they were very emphatic that the students will not get lost in things. It is their goal to guide and advise them throughout their entire time at Pitt. I never heard this when we took our daughter to PSU when she was in incoming freshman. Not once. Another thing: The Pitt freshman have to go to school almost 1 week early in August for orientation, and before that they need to go to PittStart, which is the mandatory academic orientation program (offered in May-June). PittStart involves taking placement exams online/there to see which levels of class to schedule and also they create their fall class schedule. They will entertain the kids and make them feel comfortable and psyched for their future at Pitt.</p>
<p>I was surprised about the campus. For an "urban" campus, it gives one the sense of a real college community. The buildings have character, mixing old with new. It is very collegiate. We went to Shadyside for dinner that night, which is a cool upscale neighborhood with restaurants and several shopping streets with the Apple Store, Banana Rep, artsy stores, etc. I am sure, in time some freshman who like to explore things will check it out...ride the bus for free ---- it's a mile away. I don't think one could get bored, that's for sure. Also, with their Panther Card, the students can go to all of the museums for FREE. The Carnegie Museum of Art (across the street), Schenley Park (adjacent to school---smaller than Central Park) are walking distance ! </p>
<p>All in all, my son has spent many visits at PSU as a kid of two alum and brother of a junior. When we visited Pitt on Saturday he thought it was "cool".</p>
<p>I have never been to PSU, so I can't comment on the differences between the two, but my daughter is a sophomore at Pitt. She loves it. D was sure she wanted an urban setting. And yes, the advising has been excellent. We're from NYC, so let me know if you have any questions, and I can give you a New Yorker's viewpoint.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your replies. You have given me a valuable outlook on the varieties of possibilities at each school. And of course, so much of college depends on an individual's personal experiences.
We are leaving for Pittsburgh on Friday, and I am lobbying my daughter for another visit to Penn State.<br>
Does anyone know how either school advises undeclared students? According to the live infomercial at PSU, they seemed to have good advisement for these kids to keep them from wandering all over
I'll keep in touch.</p>
<p>Spent last Fri at PSU and Sat at Pitt attending sessions for admitted students.
Each has advisory programs for undecided or undeclared students. I would probably give PSU slight edge, although not significantly.</p>
<p>Issue #1 through #100 has to be the “ambience” of each school. Despite protestations by partisans on each side, I don’t see a hair’s bit of difference between the academic offerings of these two schools. Each offers anything a student could want to study. </p>
<p>My D found PSU sterile; Pitt far more energized. Others may be put off by city life. The whole deal boils down to which environment do you prefer.</p>