University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

Dorm life varies, usually people sneak in drugs or alcohol on a daily basis. It gets loud. There is no A/C. Pitt puts on events, but for the most part they're really lame. Dating is hit or miss...

There are the athletes that no one sees much of because they are always at practice. Once again there is the Greek Life. There are also House Parties all around Oakland. It is a real good party school, even if you don't visit the Fraternity Houses. However, I have never had a dull day since I decided to pledge. The football and basketball games are especially popular. Be careful tailgating though at the football games. There are always guest speakers, almost too many. Go to these events if your meal plan runs dry. They usually feed you some pretty good food before/after they talk. Also, there is a lot of free food everywhere, just look for the flyers. Dating scene? Don't get a girlfriend/boyfriend the first two weeks of college. You'll be missing all the fun. But yes, some people date. On Tuesday at 2am you are watching TV or procrastinating homework, unless you're a raging alcoholic. Drinking nights can begin on Wednesdays, but traditionally Thursdays. We like to be conservative on our Mondays and Tuesdays. I usually party Weds-Sunday in the beginning of the semester... which gradually becomes Thus-Saturday... which gradually becomes Friday... which gradually becomes not at all. Like I said before, I think fraternities/sororities aren't a solution to finding a good time, but they intensify your entire involvement on campus. You make a really close group of friends, but that does not mean you don't have other friends. I'm rooming with three of my good friends who are not in my fraternity, but I guess that's just how I approach my involvement in Pi Kappa Alpha. But we are the best fraternity on campus, so if you're going to join one, you know where to go. Sigma Sigma Sigma is also a good sorority to join. You can go to the Waterfront which is a brand new section of Pittsburgh that has plenty of shopping, restaurants, museums and theaters to go to. You don't need a car or gas money for anything. That's a definite plus.

The first few weeks of college are awkward. It takes everyone time, but eventually everything will fall into place. I had a hard time meeting people initially. I did not connect with the people on my floor, and in classes of 100+ students I did not speak out to introduce myself to others. Although it took a few months, I eventually found a group of close friends. Now, ~6 months later, it feels like I have known them forever.

Popular organizations: The Oakland Zoo (cheering section for the basketball team) is popular, but tickets are not that easy to come by. Football games are great fun, but are a 10-minute bus ride (at Heinz Field) away. I've said this several times before; but really, if you enjoy a hobby, you'll find like-minded individuals here at Pitt. Check out Pitt's "student organization resource center" (Google it) for some types of groups. Party scene: Good heavens, there is a party scene. Most of it occurs in South Oakland, several blocks from campus. Yeah, the neighborhoods look shady; but go with friends, and you'll be fine. Most people party only on Friday and Saturday, some also on Thursday. There are some who drink every night, but they'll drop out. Don't be them. "Excess in moderation." Don't drink two beers every night; wait until Friday, and drink all the beers. If you don't drink, don't come here. I'm kidding, don't worry. If you don't drink, and want to have fun, catch a (free for Pitt students) bus to SouthSide Works or Shadyside. I took my girlfriend to a jazz club, then an indie-friendly movie theater; there's always something to do. Frat life: Near non-existent. Something like 8{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students are in a frat/sorority. I was in one for 36 hours, then walked out of my first meeting. I'm not a fan of paying $400 a semester to make friends, so that's that. However, within the sororities, they all seem to form very "sisterly" relationships with each other.

Pitt has a great social scene - whatever you're into, they usually have it. i used to wander down into Towers (the freshman dorms) at two or three in the morning to see kids playing magic cards on the tables. Sports are huge, especially Pitt basketball - but also the Penguins and the Steelers (when they won the superbowl in 2006, our campus went into a riot, setting cars on fire andpolice were called in - it was a blast, some of the most fun I've had in college.) Parties are prevalent, every weekend there's always stuff to do - but if you don't like to party, it's not an overbearing scene, and you can go your own way. it's fairly easy to date, there's lots of bars/restaurants/coffee shops/museums/parks/countlesss other date-things you can do. there are different sections of Pittsburgh, you have oakland, downtown, southside, waterfront, strip district, all with different sorts of fun activites to do. frats and sororities are not really all that much fun or all that prevalent. But if you're into that kind of thing, it's big enough to have fun.

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The biggest organization on campus is Black Action Society which holds some really nice events for its members. Pretty much there is a club for any interest you have- there is a ski club which gets you really cheap passes for skiing at Seven Spring Mountain Resort which is really sweet. The boys are cute here and most girls are pretty. I'm not in a sorority but there is a great greek life here. People party every day of the week here and there are seriously a million bars. There's the Waterfront if you don't drink and you can see movies or go out to dinner or go on the incline in Pittsburgh, which is a little train thing that goes up and down Mt. Washington. There is a ton of stuff to do here. Commuting, from what I heard, is terrible- don't do it just live in Oakland!

Sports, volunteer work and Greek life are the most popular school activities. Next year, I plan to explore a multi-cultural sorority with which I have become quite familiar, as well as hold greater participation in a music group that my very own friend and high school classmate, Alicia Bekany has founded at Pitt. I am part of the student-alumni association, have participated in various activities with my residence hall and spend quite a lot of time socializing with friends from my dorm, from classes and from other activities and experiences I have had at Pitt. My favorite form of volunteering is the English tutoring that I do, nearly on a daily basis. I made it known to everyone that I would be available to read, edit, advise and revise any type of English assignment, paper, report etc. should anyone ever need or desire the help. Little did I know that I would get a response from almost all of my friends! Some nights, I had two or three papers to work on. I even helped a friend go from a C to an A- average in her Composition class with some instruction and paper-writing help. I find great purpose in helping others achieve their goals, because ultimately, they are helping me achieve my goal of being a great teacher as well! On a typical Saturday night, even in the dead of winter, girls can be seen leaving the dorms clad in mere mini skirts, tanks and heels, already tipsy and headed out for a night of extreme partying. My friends and I, however, will most likely be found on a bus, headed to some outlaying area -- Squirrel Hill, the Waterfront, Southside Works and Shadyside are some of our favorites. Or perhaps we are holed in with ice cream and a movie for a night of relaxation. On the other hand, we might be studying, writing papers or catching up on school work. Further still, we might be throwing a lounge party, hitting up Market Central for a midnight snack, or having a sleepover in one of our rooms just for the excitement of throwing all of our pillows and blankets all over the floor and acting like kids again. There are a million things with which to fill a weeked in Pittsburgh. Between the museums, outlaying communities, academic buildings, restaurants, shopping areas and movie theatres, there is no reason at all to waste one's life with partying and sloppiness.

Pitt has a very neat social life. Pitt sports provide sports fans an outlet and the inner city environment gives everyone something to do even in the wee hours of the night.

Last year the girls on my floor weren't all that nice. I was friends with about 4 out of 27 people. No one's door was ever open and some of the girls formed a little clique and all they did was stand in the hall and loudly talk about everyone and cackle at obscene hours. The girls I mangaged to make friends with were amazing and we all became close with some guys on a lower floor. And as for 2am on a tuesday, we were usually found watching television telling dumb stories, mini golfing around the floor, just sitting in the hall being goofy, or some other shenanigans.

Pitt athletic events are the most popular. Football is the most popular during its season, as is basketball. In the dorms, I've noticed that when one person on the floor leaves their door open, the whole floor tends to. But, there are some floors who all have their doors shut. Partying is a big deal. The parties are fun, as long as they don't get too out of hand. I am not a fan of frats or sororities. If people have to pay to have friends in college then they should see a psychiatrist and be tested for social disorders. There are a lot of people with many different interests that will be your friend and not ask for money. Also, frat guys thing they're God's gift to man. News flash, they aren't.

The most popular group is the pitt alumni council, I see those shirts everywhere. But other than that theres no campus wide popular club because, again, of the lack of unity. Students keep their doors opened depending on the dorm and the floor. Almost everyone in towers leaves their doors open and close-knit floors in sutherland do as well but on my floor not a single door was open. I once went 4 months without laying eyes on my next door neighbor. Athletic events are somewhat popular and most people go to atleast one pitt arts theater event. I met my closest friends from my floor. I did not meet a single friend from a class, only from my floor. If its 2am on a tuesday then I'm more than likely hanging out with my friends in the lounge just talking. There are few traditions/events ever year and most people dont go to them because of a. the lack of unity or b. their disdain for school spirit of any kind. There's orientation week and lantern night, fall fest, and bigelow bash but that is about it. I went to all of them and truly enjoyed it but compared to how many people go to pitt, very few came to those events. Most people go out thursday friday and saturday and stay out till midnight of 1. Frats and sororities are looked down upon and disgusting for the guys and slutty for the girls. I don't drink or party and instead go out to nice restaurants downtown, watch movies, shop, or explore oakland and the cathedral.

wasn't involved, not enrolled long enough before graduation.

Wanna build a race car? Join SAE. African drumming ensemble... we've got it. Along with anything else you could think of. Freshman year is the year to connect with the people on your dorm floor. We would hangout and do stuff all the time. Dorms are pretty secure but off campus you want to keep your doors locked. I don't party and I'm not involved with greek life, but if you want it, it's here. Pittsburgh is a free bus ride away, so theres restaurants, clubs, shopping, movies etc. easily available.

There are a lot of guest speakers and whatnot but I think that the biggest activity Pitt students do is party. There are activities where you can go to but it seems like not many people go or it's a certain kind of people that go to those activities.

Lots of sports clubs- almost everything you'd want. There's black action society, Chinese Association (CASA) *&also there is one for all the different asian groups*, Carribean & Latin American Assocaiton (CLASA), Hindu Assocation, African Student Organization (ASO), "White" Greeks, "Black" Greeks, Intercultural Greek, Christian Organizations, Anointed Steps of faith (I recommend even if you've never stepped before!), political organizations, volunteer organizations, etc (there are alot!!). People love basketball and football mostly. There is a Pitt Arts- which provides free or cheap downtown pitt art events & free food sometimes! Guest speakers- yea there are a couple. I met my closest friends through organizations & then my best friend from high school's friends & I all rented an apartment together. Dating scene- well there's plenty of people- a lot of people "hook up" so it's harder to find someone to be serious with- I wouldn't recommend it unless you really find someone you can be with that wants that- you can have so much fun with just friends. Fraterntieis & sororities are kind of in their own world- but they do have events anyone can attend. There are a lot of pitt arts, activities by each organizations, friday night improvs in the cathedral, game nights (friends can have), random places to visit in Pittsburgh, Lots of places to go camping/hiking, concerts, etc (much to do besides party!) make you own fun- I guess I partied a lot at house parties & fraternities and by the end of the year I felt like it was an empty lifestyle- b/c I didn't enjoy them very much & you don't make quality friendships if all you do is party. But most people experience it for themselves to discover this.

I would say at our Johnstown campus the most popular activities are athletics. Although, our frats and sororities are very big and very involved with our campus as well. There are a lot of restaurants and things to go to around campus that are really fun so you can enjoy to get away with friends.

Pitt doesn't really emphasize sororoties and fraternities terribly much but they are definitely there if you are interested. if you want to go out on a weekend and not drink i recommend going to eat n park (like denny's) or going to squirrel hill and seeing a movie. there's a movie down at the waterfront too which is amazing and reasonably priced for what it offers.

I would like to minimize the so-called "Greek" impact on Pitt's campus, since it is one of the few aspects of Pitt of which I am ashamed, but almost 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the student population is involved in some Greek organization. Many of these are academic in nature, and perfectly respectable. However, there are around 20 or so more "traditional" fraternities and sororities which many people join. Not that all Greek organizations are bad, but some are, luckily, if you aren't so big on the loud music, sexual assault, underage drinking scene, there are plenty of things to do, because as I've said, Pittsburgh is a great city, and relatively safe, as cities of its size go. There are lots of cool places to go on dates, lots of great food, especially after 11pm, when many of the Oakland restaurants offer their food for half price.

Freshmen year in towers is where I met all my closest friends to this day. I think it can be generally said that the people that you live with and around freshmen year, are going to be the people that you will spend your college years with. It's hard to live on a floor with 40 other people (especially girls) but you learn to live with each other and you learn who and who you cannot get along with. People generally go out every weekend, but much more freshmen year. It's ok, just do it cause its the easiest year of your life. While it's tempting to go out with 16 of your new closest friends, please dont all leave at one time. You look foolish hahah. Go to the frats but not too often, stick to South Oakland house parties. But also please go to plays and concerts that are around the city. I always complained felt that there wasnt anything to do but go to parties on the weekend freshmen year but then sophomore year i realized that i just wasnt looking.