Ellen
For the most part no, the kids that party a lot have a lot more to them than that sometimes. And not every student drinks. It can be difficult to find students that don't, but they are out there.
Ash
The truth is, there is a lot of partying if that's what one is looking for! Many students feel that the party scene is what college is all about and plan their lives accordingly. HOWEVER, there is at least an equal, if not greater, number of students that care about so much more than partying. They care about their grades, families, friends, healthy socializing, sports, activities, research, internships, jobs and making a difference in their college community. These students far outshine the few that only care about partying. It's up to the student to set his or her own priorities. At Pitt, every type of student exists.
As for large classes, I must say that almost all of my classes were much smaller than my high school classes! I was shocked and elated by the amount of personal attention I received from my professors. Furthermore, in my few large classes, my professors still knew my name and I continuously spoke up in class, asking questions and offering opinions. I made it my personal policy to sit in the front row whenever possible. This truly made me forget that the class was large at all! Again, it's completely up to the student to decide how active he or she wishes to be in the classroom.
Finally, I am anything but a number here at the University of Pittsburgh. In fact, and somewhat ironically, I often find it difficult to remember my student ID number! Any club, any class, any group of friends are available to me at any time here. I mold my life, day to day, moment to moment, to my exact desires and expectations. Problems are addressed, concerns are heard and dreams are achieved. People may think that one might get lost in a large school, such as Pitt, but that's precisely the reason that only some students opt to come here! The students that come are outgoing, motivated, community-oriented students that believe "the more the merrier"! We look around us every day and admire and appreciate our differences, but in the end, we marvel at how we are really very much the same. We all strive for excellence, promote individuality, work long hours, foster the growth and development of our community and above all, care and nurture one another as one big, spirited, rambunctious family.