University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

Attending the University of Pittsburgh has brought me so much more than I could have imagined when first coming here freshmen year. Already as a sophomore, my life has taken a completely new direction from my experiences here, both in and out of the classroom. I have learned so much about myself and about the world around me. I have been exposed to problems in the world that I was not previously aware of and I have been motivated to make it my life's work to do what I can to help. My freshmen year I got involved with a campus volunteer organization called FORGE (Facillitating Opportunities for Refugees Gaining Empowerment) and through my ESL tutoring of local refugees I have decided to spend time abroad and eventually become an ESL teacher. Pittsburgh is a fascinating place. It is a city, but one in which seems so much more livable and accessible than other large metropolises. There are so many gems surrounding oakland, and each neighborhood has something unique to offer. It is definitely a college city and the abundance of students makes it a fun environment extremely conducive to growth academically and socially.

I attended college back in 1994, I never finished, die to not enough funds. I want to go back to college to get a Bachelors degree in Grafic Arts here in IdahoFalls Idaho. This is the first time that I have worked towards a Bachelors degree. I am very excited to start attending. I look forward to making this a career.

I think I probably learned more (and matured more) living in a city on my own and going to college than I ever did at home in high school. It taught me how to deal with people and think ahead and plan. Practical, every day experiences are the most important for a young adult to recieve. I don't just mean a well rounded education, that's important too, but I mean things that you have to know about life in order to make one for yourself. There's nothing like learning in a city when you grew up in the suburbs of a town. I feel, wherever I end up in a career, that I at least have what it takes to thrive in whatever environment I am placed.

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about this question and wishing somebody had warned me about the things I now know. I was the first in my immediate family to attend college and I am also the oldest. I would, first of all, tell myself to closely look at the requirements of each degree. Some degrees, such as psychology and political science, allow for a lot more freedom in choosing classes, whereas other degrees, such as medical and engineering, have a specific track that you must follow (and these tracks are not easy, and not to be taken lightly). I would also warn myself about study skills that need to be developed early, and I would make it a point to mention that classes go by much quicker than in high school. This means you do not have time to mess around in the beginning. Often, the first tests are the easiest, so you have to study for them so you do not blow it right away. It is much harder to make up missed points later than to allow yourself some room to mess up at the end of the semester when things get much harder.

You can never prepare yourself too much for the level of work at the college level. The most important thing is to prioritize your work, set a schedule for completion of items. Learning to set goals, sticking to a schedule, and developing study habits will make the transition from high school to college work much easier.

Work hard, Plan and get ready to face the world. Also research schools and your chosen career path! Always try and connect the dots.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have changed just about everything. Originally, I decided that I wanted to stay around home and commute to a local university because I was a bit skeptical about being out on my own since I am an only child. Pitt is a wonderful school, but my true dreams and aspirations are in Washington, D.C. at Georgetown University. I would absolutely love to study the political science of the American government and become a part of it one day. I never realized how much of a struggle it would be for my parents to put me through college either, so another thing I would have done was apply for as much financial help as I could. I am not a minority, nor am I classified as "poor" in todays society, however, if I had the chance to help my parents with my financial situation I would. I would have changed all of my plans for college, right down to the university in which I attended.

The best advice I could've given myself at 18 is to take a deep breath and to expect changes. When you're in high school, you don't always realize that not everyone is the same as you. The minute that you move into cramped quarters with someone you've just met, you realize very quickly that there are a lot of people in this world and that they all have different habits, values and upbringings, even if on paper they seem very comparable to yourself. It's easy to get frustrated and upset when dealing with people who are different than you, especially when you're living in the same small space, but take a deep breath, and learn to find the humor in the situation. There really is a silver lining in every situation, and if you can manage to find it, especially when dealing with friends and roomates, you'll get much more out of your college experience. It's much more fun to be able to look back at all the laughing you did and all the fun you had than to see a bunch of stupid fights--you only get to do this once!

If I could go back in time to when I was a senior, I would tell myself to take it one day at a time. As a high school senior, I had a lot more on my plate than just the transition into college. My mother was dying of pancreatic cancer. I wanted so desperately to make time stop, because I felt completely out of control. I know this is a feeling that everyone experiences, but I experienced it on a more intense level. I would tell myself to take things one day at a time. I would also tell myself to follow my gut instincts - stick with what I am passionate about. I would reassure myself that I was worth the time and energy I spent trying to figure out my future. Perhaps most importantly, I would stress to myself that I cannot stop time. Thus, I should make the most of the time I did have then. I would tell myself to take advantage of my last months in high school, my last months with my mother, and all the time I had to prepare for college.

I would tell myself to take more chances. I am the type of person that doesn't like to step outside of my own shell and take risks. I would tell myself to put myself out there and challenge myself more. Take the hard classes that really make you think, join the clubs that you would never see yourself doing before. These are the types of things that you will remember when all is said and done, not the boring safe choices you make. I would also tell myself to stop memorizing material for tests because you don't remember what you learned down the line. And what's the point of a college education if you can't even remember what you learned? But, I think most of all, I would tell myself not to forget that my whole future lies ahead of me. Every single day is the next day of your future, and there is always room to grow and change where you are going. Never take this opportunity to become everything you want for granted.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior, I would tell myself to enjoy my time with my friends. All of my closest friends went to different schools all over the state and some out of state. I now do not talk to them nearly as much as I'd like to and I wish I would have spent more time with them when I had the chance. Of course in college you make new friends, but they never know you like hometown friends do. I also get to see them when I am home for breaks and during the summer, but with work and vacations, that can be difficult too. So while you are still close to them physically and through your friendship, enjoy it! Once college starts, everything changes.

Definitely try new things. When the activities fair comes around, sign up for everything you think you want to try because you can make alot of friends by participation in clubs. Don't wait until the last minute to study! Take advantage of community service opportunities.

As a high school junior, I was very ambitious with regard to which University I hoped to attend. I didn't realize that students need not only ambition and good grades, but also proof of social skills, commonly referred to as extracurriculars. I hadn't participated in any clubs for more than two years, and didn't think it was so important. If I could go back in time I would tell myself to lower my expectations and to pick a couple of extracurriculars and stick with them no matter what. I would tell myself that it's more important to find what I'm really interested in rather than to get into a particular prestigious university. Our society places so much pressure on college students to attend an ivy league or similarly esteemed college that when they are rejected and must accept a different institution, students feel a loss of self-worth. I have learned during these two years in my university not to feel guilty about my choice to study here, and to focus on finding a path that feels right no matter where I am.

As I stroll through the courtyard, a mysterious stranger appears. This strange being lifts her head and I am startled to see my own face before me. But how could this be? Suddenly, this other me speaks. "Hello. I am you, from the future." How much this startled me, I cannot even begin to describe. How could I be from the future? "Listen, Ashley, I don't have much time. I know this must seem weird to you, but I must give you some advice. You may think you have got it made senior year, but you don't. You need to apply for colleges, and apply early! Applying early could mean a larger scholarship. Also, start on scholarships now. You have some great teachers that can write great letters of recommendations, so utilize them. The more money you can get now, the less loans you will have to pay back. Believe me, we have enough loans. Oh, no, the wormhole is closing. Listen, just do what I say, and you won't be nearly as stressed." I pondered this statement as my other self faded away. Should I follow this advice? Let's find out!

I would tell myself to apply to more colleges; especially those with grants and scholarships.

We all wish that we could rewind time and "go back and tell ourselves what we know now." As a college freshman, if I had the opportunity to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would specifically tell me to apply for as many scholarships as possible no matter how long the essays requirements are. I've always heard about how expensive college is but now that I am experiencing it firsthand I truly understand. As I was applying for scholarships in high school I would skim through the requirements and if it had an extremely long essay or difficult topic to write about I wouldn't apply for that scholarship. I now realize that I shouldn't have been lazy because the couple of hours that it would have taken me to write the essays would have helped me save so much money.

As an incoming freshman, I wasn't sure what to expect or how to deal with living in the dorms, studying for exams, or prioritizing my schedule. When it comes to meeting new people, keep in mind that all of the other freshmen are in the same boat as you. They are nervous and want to make friends just as badly as you do. Open up, socialize, and show them who you are. First impressions are lasting. In your classes, don?t be intimidated by your professor or even by the size of your classes. There are many opportunities available to you if you need assistance whether it?s during office hours, tutoring, or review sessions. Managing your time will be the most difficult task. You?re going to be faced with decisions like whether to go to the party at Sigma Alpha Epsilon or study for your biology quiz and go shopping at the waterfront or attend the chemistry review session. There is always a small cost to making the right decision and it?s often hard to find middle ground. Remind yourself that you are here to learn and make the best of every opportunity you?re given.

I wish I would have looked at schools in other states. At the University of Pittsburgh it seems that a lot of the scholarships go to out of state students, and in highschool I was at the top of my class, with a high probability of getting a good scholarship - just not at Pitt because I'm an in-state student. I only applied to a few schools and all of them were in Pennsylvania, I regret this choice now because of all the loans I have already taken out and thinking about how many I will have to take out in the future makes me sick. Other than that, the University of Pittsburgh is a great school for me and I love this city and the people in it, it just may have not been the best choice financially - and I wish I would have known more about that as a senior in highschool.

Do not worry. There is no need to stress. Yes, college life is a big step; you are on your own, and it is time to embrace more responsibility, but there is no need to worry about succeeding. You will succeed and managing your life is part of the process. You need to work hard, always be ready to step up to a challenge, and be prepared to be on top of things. It might be overwhelming at first, but take one day at a time. Make to-do lists in order to get your priorities straight, even if you have to make a list daily. Stay organized because every little bit of organization helps you to succeed in your classes more and more. Study as often as possible instead of cramming everything together. Most importantly, get help. If you are struggling in a class, stop being stubborn and go get help. Whether it is tutoring, or study groups with friends, get help and learn off your peers. Teaching and helping one another assist in your understanding. Of course, have fun too! Get involved. Cheer on the sports' teams. Have fun with your new, exciting, once in a lifetime experience.

I think that the best advice that I could give knowing what i know now and what I have been through would be to tell myself not to be overly optimistic and to think myself the exception to all of the college stereotypes of transitioning. I had three hell roommates and within the first month of school also broke up with my boyfriend. I wish that I could go back and give myself the sage advice to choose a roommate instead of opting for a random assignment. And I would also advize to reconsider having a highschool boyfriend carry over into college. I wish I could go back to rethink some of the naive assumptions I made about how everything simply works out as long as you believe it will work because sometimes no matter how much you try to control or manipulate a situation, you are unable to determine the outcome.