University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

It's a great campus. Plenty of opportunities on campus and in the community. Pittsburgh is a unique city because the colleges are what really make it what it is. Oakland is basically a college town comprising of a few colleges, but dominated by Pitt. In comparison to some NJ schools I've seen it is definitely not a suitcase college. Also, unlike WVU you do not have to take a bus to get everywhere fun or to get to downtown. When you become 21 Pitt has an awesome bar scene. It is a city that is recovering from the steel industry collapse, but is wisely investing in future technologies and is on the cutting edge for environmental standards. Pitt students get free city bus transportation for when they want to visit downtown, which is remarkably clean. Pittsburgh is a nice city, but feels like a small town. Especially if you are coming from the East Coast. There is a lot of school pride and the Greek Life is also active. I am involved in the Pi Kappa Fraternity which like others, can dominate some aspects of the school. However, the school does not huge mansions like Penn State and other colleges, so non-Greeks do not feel left out if they choose not to join. Also the Living Communities make excellent areas of learning for some students. My one personal compliant is how it is hard to change a mistake in your schedule or fix a mistake in financial aid. Sometimes you have to make 3-4 appointments with different people in order to get what you need. This is because its a big school and not every school employee knows all aspects for everything. The other concern is that it gets very cold and windy in the winter. This past winter it snowed every day almost. So bring a pair of boots. However, it gets real hot in the fall and warms up quickly in the spring. Also you get out before any other school I know. (As early as April 20)... and without going in excessively early. (You go in around August 20). Some of your breaks are just shorter, but it is well worth it for a long summer break.

Pitt is in a city, it isn't out in the middle of nowhere. There is so much to do, especially for non-drinkers. The huge college stereotype is that everybody drinks, but at Pitt there is a lot more to do. There are so many school sponsored events as well as events and shows going on throughout the city at any time.

The big picture of Pitt... Geez, I'm not sure I know. Your big picture is going to be different from my big picture. I'm a simple guy; I go to classes, work out with friends a couple times per week, go to a club meeting or two, and enjoy the weekend. Let's try to answer some of the standard questions: - most time spent on campus: around the Cathedral; lots of classes are in or within a block of there - Is Pittsburgh a college town? No. Pittsburgh is a city. You go to college in that city. - School pride? Only during basketball season. There are a lot of apathetic football fans, which is disappointing. However, you'll see about 30-40{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your classmates wearing assorted Pitt gear every day.

Pitt has a great atmosphere, for a large school, it's hard to feel lost among the crowd. Professors can get to know you, if you want them to, that is, and its not hard to stand out if you try. Oakland, where the campus is located is kind of run down, but it has a good flavor to it, sort of a good place to mature. there are bums and crime, sometimes i can hear gunshots at night, but its also fairly safe, as long as you're not stupid. but there's lots of good coffee shops and restaurants, making it easy for a chill time or to take someone on a date. there is a good deal of school pride, especially during basketball season, due to our excellent team over the past few years. there's also a lot of pittsburgh pride, especially for the penguins (our hockey team), but no one gives you too hard a time if you're a fan of some other team, especially from philly or ohio.

The best thing about Pitt is that UPMC is providing some money for me to go to school. Other than this, I will receive a raise at work after completing my Master's degree. When I tell people I go to Pitt, they say 'oh'. Not really much of a respose... The only school pride is in their basketball....when they are good. When their sports teams are not good, they talk badly about them. I can honestly say I did not have a great experience here. Administration for my program sucked, and they are not very organized at all. It is in the middle of the city, and I do not like when the homeless people would ask me for money after getting done with a class.

Best thing- many hospitals which allow for research, internships, and volunteer experience. It is a huge school which is awesome because there are so many students. I spend a lot of time studying at Hillman Library and in the Cathedral of Learning. People love Pitt- everyone loves it and I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I will always remember when the Steelers won the Super Bowl (for the 5th time) freshman year because everyone was going crazy and they had to close down the streets in Oakland because everyone was being crazy outside.

The best thing about Pitt is the level of diversity we maintain. The student body, itself, is culturally, racially, economically and religiously diverse. The majors, courses, and honors programs offered are diverse. Also, the amount of volunteer, research, extracurricular, leadership and social opportunities are incredibly diverse. You can do anything and be anything that you would ever chose to at Pitt! Every day is like a new adventure, packed full with possibilities. For once, I feel as if my dreams are completely within my grasp. I have never been a sports aficionado, fanatic or even devoted fan, but after coming to Pitt, I have been completely transformed! I now religiously follow Panther football, basketball and lacrosse and support the Steelers. There is such a shared pride and community when attending sports events that I never imagined I would enjoy so much! There is nothing like a packed stadium full of screaming, united fans to get the blood rushing and the school spirit flowing. Something I will never forget about my freshman year is the incredible sense of friendship and community I found within my very own residence hall, Tower B. I think I had friends on every floor! The ability to just walk up a few flights of stairs to talk for hours about anything and everything with a diverse group of supportive friends was immeasurably life-changing. When I began at Pitt, I knew not a single person. Now, having completed my freshman year, I have friends from classes, activities, living quarters and best of all, a group of seven incredibly supportive and close friends with which I know I will never part. There is nothing like that feeling of complete and supportive solidarity to make one feel that college is, perhaps, the happiest place on earth.

Pitt has a wonderful city life atmosphere that makes even the most mundane days exciting. There is never a dull moment at Pitt and having the city and professional sports team so close by makes every season exciting.

The best thing about Pitt has to be the buses and you're location. It's hard to run out of things to do since the buses will take you anywhere and you ride for free. Sometimes it does suck having all of these great restaurants but no money to eat at them. And since I live a few hours from WVU, lets just say people's reaction to my going to Pitt isn't always thrilled.

Pitt is the ideal place for me. The people are friendly. I am in a city setting. The school isn't too big or too small. I see a new face everyday. Most of the time I am either with my friends working on homework or in my room alone studying. Pitt athletics are very entertaining. The most memorable day of my freshman year was when the basketball team upset No. 6 Georgetown.