Touring Pitt as Admitted Student
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Anonymous
Pitt-Michigan PP. The biggest cross-pollination happens between faculty, in my opinion. They are part of a larger intellectual community in the area. This applied to Economics, Psychology, and other faculties when I was in school. Pitt-CMU cross-registration for undergrad courses is allowed but rarely happens from what I hear. CMU has a bit of a reputation of "where fun goes to die" like U. Chicago and many high math SAT STEM-heavy schools. That's not a very Pitt vibe. Pitt is way more liberal artsy, health professions (pre-med, nursing, pharmacy), and chill. Pitt engineers were sufficiently challenged by their own profs...no need to walk 20 minutes more to take electives elsewhere. CMU is a bit MIT-like...why would they go down the road? There is a bit of school-based snobbery in play...kind of like Georgetown vs. GWU level. I can't speak to the hardest classes at Pitt Engineering vs. CMU, but the perception has always been that CMU is more difficult. And people are very happy with Pitt. So personally I'm not sure where people would come to the determination that they both needed to trade up in rankings to CMU for grad school and that it was a great option vs. continuing at Pitt. I believe anything's possible with a great track record, just sharing that I don't feel it's that common. I personally looked into the coursework for a 2nd masters in data science through CMU as part of an employer program this year. I found out that I'd pretty much need to already be skilled in using Python and be an engineer to be ready to start the (non-engineering) program. So I didn't apply. That's an example of a quant/skill barrier around entry to CMU. I don't need a 2nd master's so it's not a big deal to me, but it would be costly and time consuming to develop the quant pre-reqs needed just to begin the program. If you are not asking about Engineering or CS, I think there are even fewer reasons to switch schools for grad school. It would vary by department. CMU is very niche for certain majors. You can also do some research on how things are these days...but hometown Pittsburghers at Pitt would often like to stay. CMU kids are more the OOS types and people who want to make big bucks and leave town. I had a high school friend at CMU (English major, friend of my good friend) and I probably visited her only 3 times during college. We met up more back in our Pittsburgh area hometown. I read on DCUM that the CMU frats got cracked down on long ago. Not exactly my scene, but point is, people say that has impacted some of the fun of social life there. The same has been said of Stanford. Many people think drinking is the quintessential fun undergrad activity but it brings many safety risks and much liability to the universities. CMU students come down to Central Oakland near Pitt for most of the restaurants, bars, clubs, a little shopping, and hanging out fun. Close to and past CMU to the east, there's less of a business district feel. CMU people are also more likely to live in/patronize the Shadyside business district. The bus system runs through Oakland and goes there. But it's a bit of a hike for Pitt students. They are more Oakland and downtown Pittsburgh focused. Anyone with a newer/different take feel free to chime in. There have been a few threads on CMU in the last year that can be found by using regular Google. |
Anonymous
OP here: Great overview. My kid is NOT STEM/Quant minded so no need to even really bother CMU for grad school then. Thanks! |
Anonymous
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Yeah, and the employment data coming out of Pitt is quite good. It is starting to consistently appear on lists that tap into employer perception and employability data. For example it is #39 in the country on Times list of best colleges for future leaders.
https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/pittwire/accolades-honors/2024/11/22/time-best-colleges-future-leaders And Forbes just named it a new public ivy. On many lists it appears higher than the current US News and World Report rankings. My point is simply that your kid doesn't HAVE to consider any "higher ranked" school - he'll likely be in great shape coming out of Pitt. |
Anonymous
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Awesome perspectives in this thread.
You should focus most of your visit on the school, which, as others have noted, has a nice mix of urban and suburban feel. But if you make future visits to Pitt, be sure to go to the Warhol and Robert Clemente museums. They are truly incredible, particularly the Clemente museum. You have to book ahead but it generally isn't hard. Pitt has really upped its game, but in a very organic way. I have lots of family in the area and could easily see my younger child thriving there. |
Anonymous
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Pitt-Michigan PP again.
OP, you asked about sightseeing and things not to miss while visiting Pittsburgh and Pitt. On campus, definitely go in these buildings if possible: Cathedral, William Pitt Union, Hillman Library, Forbes Quad, Frick Fine Arts, and the Campus Bookstore. Check out the Litchfield Towers Plaza and look at pictures of the small pie-shaped rooms if you don't get to tour them. (I only lived in the Towers temporarily...I far preferred Lothrop...and these days I might choose the new dorms up the hill built after I graduated.) Visit the B-School and Engineering buildings if relevant. Most of the must-visit places from my college years are gone but new owners recently saved the indie ice cream store "Dave and Andy's". https://www.facebook.com/DaveNAndys/ I've heard good things about The Porch across from the Cathedral. https://www.dineattheporch.com/schenley Regarding other things to see while in Pittsburgh, I have tried to think of some things that a sporty boy might like and also to give some suggestions re: deeper ways to experience the city. Some of my suggestions will repeat/endorse what others have suggested. I'm also going to share some other Black History/Black culture suggestions in case that would help. Have fun! General Interest Activities: -Pittsburgh walking tours -Pittsburgh biking tours -Strip District food tours (or just wander) -Gateway Clipper River Tours (w/meal?) https://www.gatewayclipper.com/ -Submarine tour at Carnegie Science Center https://carnegiesciencecenter.org/exhibits/requin-submarine/ -Duquesne Incline -Meadowcroft Native American site (1 hour SW) -Heinz History Museum which includes the Southwest PA Sports Museum https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/visit/heinz-history-center/ Walking and biking tours can be found through AirBnB, Get Your Guide, and Viator. Below are some additional specialized tours that particularly interested me. https://www.viator.com/tours/Pittsburgh/New-Black-and-Gold-Sports-History-Tour/d22639-197979P11 https://riversofsteel.com/experiences/tours/industrial-tour/ https://www.viator.com/tours/Pittsburgh/Fire-in-the-Valley-Carnegie-Steel-and-the-Town-That-Built-America/d22639-12953P3 This last one would be for the car ride on the way home from Pittsburgh to DMV. https://www.viator.com/tours/Pittsburgh/Eastbound-Pennsylvania-Turnpike-Explore-history-with-part-1-of-an-audio-drive/d22639-110804P224 Interesting for parents but might not hit right for teen boys: Pitt Cathedral of Learning Nationality Room Tour (This is different from the regular campus tour which just breezes through the Cathedral. It makes a strong point about the University's early attempts to appreciate the diversity of the region's many European immigrants and to branch out to honoring other countries and continents beyond Europe.) https://www.nationalityrooms.pitt.edu/tours Andy Warhol Museum (Very interesting if you like pop art and weird installations, but not for kids who don't like art.) https://www.warhol.org/ Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (1 hour South) https://pa-trolley.org/plan-your-visit/ Kind of fun like the Baltimore railroad museum. For public transportation fans. Black Culture Interest (to attend/visit) Presentation about the Rooney Rule (4/17/25) Sports law/minority coach hiring https://playhouse.pointpark.edu/shows-events/community-features/backstage-onstage/backstage-onstage-february-april August Wilson homesite (block party on 4/26/25) https://augustwilsonhouse.org/ (note...the Hill District warrants being mindful of where you park...my knowledge is too obsolete to advise.) Carnegie Museum Temporary Raymond Saunders exhibition https://carnegieart.org/exhibition/raymond-saunders/ Pittsburgh Courier 40 Under 40 Awards (5/9/25) https://real-times-media.guestmanager.com/events/npc-fab-40-2025-05-09-2025-06-00-pm Pittsburgh Black Culture Resources New Pittsburgh Courier https://m.facebook.com/TheNewPittsburghCourier/ https://newpittsburghcourier.com/#a6d52d69d0f9e841b742f7a1a6d36ac2 Program about the original Pittsburgh Courier https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pJNYtASW3Lk Hill District info https://hillhistory.org/items/show/62 Notable Pittsburgher Damon Young who used to write the Ask Damon column for the Washington Post (which I liked reading). Maybe he still reads his 2023-2024 Artist in Residence Pitt e-mail? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damon_Young_(writer) https://www.motherjones.com/media/2019/03/white-people-often-dont-see-damon-young-thats-about-to-change/ https://www.frederickhonors.pitt.edu/people/damon-young |
Anonymous
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My black DD is a sophomore at Pitt and she loves it. Her friend group is racially diverse, they are from NY area, DMV, and OH. Pitt was not on our radar but her HS counselor suggested it so she applied; visited after she got accepted and it just clicked. She is in BAS but mainly just hang out with her friends.
The volleyball team is really good, last year they were exceptional but lost a couple of pieces to graduation and the portal. Football and basketball games are big draws for the students. My kid has also been to the symphony and plays, through PittArts they get free tickets. Public transportation is free with ID so the students take advantage of that. Check out the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and try Pamela’s for breakfast (there is usually a long line). |
Anonymous
My word Pitt-Michigan poster, I'm saving this post for future reference! This is so helpful and so many great ideas. I love when DCurbanmoms works as it should, rather than the snarky swamp it can devolve into. Pitt-Michigan poster, you get a gold star today. 
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Anonymous
OP here, awesome! Thank you for sharing your DD's experience. |
Anonymous
OP here, thank you for this wealth of information! |
Anonymous
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OP, I read your question because I went to Pitt but saw that you were looking for a Black perspective so I held off on answering. I am white but a Black coworker’s daughter is now at Pitt so I asked her for feedback. She said that her daughter is absolutely loving her experience at Pitt. One thing to keep in mind is that her daughter is very comfortable in a diverse setting and specifically did not choose a HBCU. Her roommates (2/3 are also Black) are from all over the country.
Pitt is a great school for sports lovers but also for those not into sports at all. There is something for everyone there. Maybe catch a Pirates game while you’re there? |