Pitt versus UMD

[Anonymous]

PP. I worked on the Pitt News long ago for one semester on the Culture beat. So long ago that my observations about the experience may not be relevant (before widespread personal home internet, lol). The kids were pretty into it. The business side treated it like work. The student journalists got paid a tiny bit for column inches...not a job replacement but more like getting $25 for a tiny splurge once in a while in today's money. There were no barriers to joining but the students weren't exactly my crowd (they prioritized the newspaper over school).

I found the current website, and there's info and contacts right on it. This is the kind of research your kid can do. At some schools, it might be hard to be on the campus paper if it's a prestigious EC.

https://pittnews.com/application/amp/

So basically just use the web, Reddit, Google, e-mail, campus visits, etc. If you're not sure if a club exists or can't find it, try contacting whatever organization controls centralized club funding. Could be student government, etc.

[Anonymous]

PP again about class sizes.

It would be good to talk to current students but much of the physical plant is the same as when I was there. The Cathedral's Nationality Rooms are a highlight for small humanities classes. They now all have rolling big screens but are the same inside as when I was there. Honors College at top of Cathedral still the same. I like the Frick Fine Arts Building also (Art, Art History).

Class size does vary a lot by major for upper division electives. You could try talking to someone in the academic departments - maybe a random academic advisor for specific insights.

It used to be easier to look at course info online (which would give some insights into room assignments). But now that info is mostly only available to logged-in, admitted students. So asking questions to various people is probably best. A single faculty student ratio statistic doesn't help much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMD for the win!

Save the money for your retirement or give it to them. Put the $$ difference every semester in a Fidelity stock account invested in the S&P 500,

Having over $60K growing in stocks when you graduate is worth it and UMD is wonderful.

yeah but you only are in your formative years once

but, again, the schools are so not different, and I don't get how 60k is not that much, it's really a brand grand new car

UMD has college town feel, and it is so close to DC that you can experience both easily, also the job opportunities in the DC metro area, and the kid can come home if s/he feels like or spend the whole semester in the campus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats. Those are both good schools.

My only input is that people seem to love Pittsburgh, and I am not a fan of College Park.

If you gave your kid the option of either, I would let her pick. Unless you really can’t afford it. Otherwise, don’t bargain hunt on her future home.

She must have worked hard to get these options, let her choose her reward for that effort.

Curious what you don’t like about college park. DC is looking into it but will not be able to visit until summer when school is not in session.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMD for the win!

Save the money for your retirement or give it to them. Put the $$ difference every semester in a Fidelity stock account invested in the S&P 500,

Having over $60K growing in stocks when you graduate is worth it and UMD is wonderful.

yeah but you only are in your formative years once

but, again, the schools are so not different, and I don't get how 60k is not that much, it's really a brand grand new car

UMD has college town feel, and it is so close to DC that you can experience both easily, also the job opportunities in the DC metro area, and the kid can come home if s/he feels like or spend the whole semester in the campus

+1 you can tell your kid they can buy a brand new almost luxury car after graduation with the cost difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Pitt (as an in-state PA Pittsburgh area student). But I lived in Rockville for 7 years and Gaithersburg for 2. Based on what I read here about all the smart MoCo kids going to UMD, I actually think either choice would be fine. I like that your child has two honors programs lined up. I'm influenced by the really great review of UMD's journalism program that was brought back by a grad from my kids' high school in flyover country. She was having a great time and had already had some name internships.

The monetary difference is meaningful but not life-altering. Meaning, in proportion to buying a new car or a house or a year of grad tuition, it's not an insane amount of difference. But definitely worth thinking about due to financial prudence.

I would have your daughter take a look at faculty bios for the humanities subjects that she is interested in at both schools. I would also have your daughter think about whether she's likely to want to return to the DMV after graduation. If you feel that UMD has a good enough reputation to get her access to jobs of interest in DC, that favors UMD. I had to move from Pittsburgh to the DMV because the job market is much smaller there. And I graduated in a cyclical downturn. I was an economics grad. I left the DMV to go to grad school.

I think the best part of Pitt's campus are the very nice, unique buildings and the local fine arts institutions. Plus the downtown Pittsburgh amenities (outside of Oakland but reachable by bus). I understand people feel College Park lacks a collegetown feel. But for me, since I was not too fond of the Oakland restaurants and shops, I would not weight comparative collegetown factors too heavily in making a decision.

Good luck with the decision!

This is a great post.

The only other thing I would add OP is have your student look at the curriculum requirements for their major at both schools. The requirements could be slightly different and might make a difference to your child.

NP. Yes, 2 great posts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats. Those are both good schools.

My only input is that people seem to love Pittsburgh, and I am not a fan of College Park.

If you gave your kid the option of either, I would let her pick. Unless you really can’t afford it. Otherwise, don’t bargain hunt on her future home.

She must have worked hard to get these options, let her choose her reward for that effort.

Curious what you don’t like about college park. DC is looking into it but will not be able to visit until summer when school is not in session.

The campus itself is fine, but there is no charming town in the environs. There are busy cross county roads and strip malls geared to Spanish speaking families/workers. No diss on that population, but the options did not seem geared to meeting the needs of young undergrads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats. Those are both good schools.

My only input is that people seem to love Pittsburgh, and I am not a fan of College Park.

If you gave your kid the option of either, I would let her pick. Unless you really can’t afford it. Otherwise, don’t bargain hunt on her future home.

She must have worked hard to get these options, let her choose her reward for that effort.

Curious what you don’t like about college park. DC is looking into it but will not be able to visit until summer when school is not in session.

The campus itself is fine, but there is no charming town in the environs. There are busy cross county roads and strip malls geared to Spanish speaking families/workers. No diss on that population, but the options did not seem geared to meeting the needs of young undergrads.

I like CPs mini downtown on the edge of campus. It was hopping on Saturday afternoon. DS said its a madhouse on weekend evenings. Looks like fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats. Those are both good schools.

My only input is that people seem to love Pittsburgh, and I am not a fan of College Park.

If you gave your kid the option of either, I would let her pick. Unless you really can’t afford it. Otherwise, don’t bargain hunt on her future home.

She must have worked hard to get these options, let her choose her reward for that effort.

Curious what you don’t like about college park. DC is looking into it but will not be able to visit until summer when school is not in session.

The campus itself is fine, but there is no charming town in the environs. There are busy cross county roads and strip malls geared to Spanish speaking families/workers. No diss on that population, but the options did not seem geared to meeting the needs of young undergrads.

I like CPs mini downtown on the edge of campus. It was hopping on Saturday afternoon. DS said its a madhouse on weekend evenings. Looks like fun.

Are you referring to south Campus? Yea, DC said next year they want to live there because that's where all the fun is. Still, it's no Pittsburgh, and I say this as a UMD parent. The area around CMU and Pitt is great; downtown Pitt is well.. the pits. I think the city itself is pretty neat, though.

Having stated that, IMO, UMD is academically a better school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats. Those are both good schools.

My only input is that people seem to love Pittsburgh, and I am not a fan of College Park.

If you gave your kid the option of either, I would let her pick. Unless you really can’t afford it. Otherwise, don’t bargain hunt on her future home.

She must have worked hard to get these options, let her choose her reward for that effort.

Curious what you don’t like about college park. DC is looking into it but will not be able to visit until summer when school is not in session.

The campus itself is fine, but there is no charming town in the environs. There are busy cross county roads and strip malls geared to Spanish speaking families/workers. No diss on that population, but the options did not seem geared to meeting the needs of young undergrads.

I like CPs mini downtown on the edge of campus. It was hopping on Saturday afternoon. DS said its a madhouse on weekend evenings. Looks like fun.

Are you referring to south Campus? Yea, DC said next year they want to live there because that's where all the fun is. Still, it's no Pittsburgh, and I say this as a UMD parent. The area around CMU and Pitt is great; downtown Pitt is well.. the pits. I think the city itself is pretty neat, though.

Having stated that, IMO, UMD is academically a better school.

PP. Downtown Pittsburgh is not "the pits" imo. It's just simply a business district similar to Farragut North with a theater district as well (Heinz Hall, Benedum Center). The park at "The Point" is a nice place to visit during festivals. The really fun parts are scattered all around (and often across bridges) from the business district. Basically different parts of town for different purposes. There used to be good shopping downtown but city department stores and skyscraper boutique malls died in Pittsburgh just like in DC (think downtown Woodies, Lord&Taylor, White Flint). The North Shore where the stadiums are, Station Square, South Side, Lawrenceville, the Strip District, East Liberty, Shadyside are places where students go to have fun. Different districts for different purposes. If you went to Pittsburgh and didn't know about the fun places it would definitely feel like going to DC and only visiting Farragut & Metro Center. But the students have time to explore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a kid more interested in humanities than STEM. Prefers Pitt but UMD is about $15K per year less expensive. Honors College at Pitt and College Park Scholars at UMD. Any insight?

I mean, the campuses are both very different. Urban vs. more suburban.
I went to PITT for grad school and LOOOOOVED it, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMD for the win!

Save the money for your retirement or give it to them. Put the $$ difference every semester in a Fidelity stock account invested in the S&P 500,

Having over $60K growing in stocks when you graduate is worth it and UMD is wonderful.

The financial component would make the decision for me also.

Put that $60 in a boring Index fund and use it for grad school or as a down payment on a house. Not a small chunk of change (for us, anyway, I guess it is for some on DCUM).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMD for the win!

Save the money for your retirement or give it to them. Put the $$ difference every semester in a Fidelity stock account invested in the S&P 500,

Having over $60K growing in stocks when you graduate is worth it and UMD is wonderful.

The financial component would make the decision for me also.

Put that $60 in a boring Index fund and use it for grad school or as a down payment on a house. Not a small chunk of change (for us, anyway, I guess it is for some on DCUM).

I went to Pitt and loved it. I’d be thrilled for my kid to go but I’d pick UMD and pay for grad school.

[Anonymous]

This may not be relevant to OP, but for future readers, Pitt does have a pre-admit to 5 year bachelors + Int'l & Public Affairs masters. As well as some other pre-admit programs.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to chime in and say that Pitt is strong in the humanities. In particular, philosophy, Eng Lit, languages, esp rare languages. They also have the B Phil degree.