UMD vs Pitt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oakland > College Park

If you like an urban campus, there’s no contest here. Oakland wins.

If you like traditional college campus feel, UMD wins. No contest.

But back to OP's question. Both of my kids turned down full tuition offer from Pitt to attend UMD. No regrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child was admitted to both last year (honors programs with merit aid in both cases). I thought he would like Pitt because of the location- it feels like a college town. He just did not like it. I am not sure why - if I had to guess, the emphasis on school spirit/sports at the accepted students presentation might have turned him off. Otoh he came back from the UMD accepted students day full of enthusiasm. I can’t tell if the OP’s child is trying to decide between the two but I hope your child has an opportunity to get a feel for both places so they can get a sense of whether it would be a good fit. They are both good schools.

Pitt fells like a college town? I never thought I would hear someone say that.

[Anonymous]

Try Pitt if you don’t like it transfer to UMD.
If cost is the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oakland > College Park

Nice try.

Inside the beltway of the worlds most powerful city vs ... to don’t want to be mean....

UMD marketing intern is my new favorite poster

[Anonymous]

I don't understand the love for Pitt here. I'm a Pennsylvania native, and my parents used to use the prospect of Pitt as a threat: "If you don't find a way to get that A, you'll end up at Pitt" and "We can't afford to pay for the schools you want to attend, so if you don't pull off that scholarship, you'll end up at Pitt." My friends' parents said similar things.

And indeed, the kids who ended up at Pitt (my brothers included) were not stupid, but were not exactly academic powerhouses. It's a school for high average kids who don't want to or can't get the grades for a truly excellent school. Sure, it's improved a bit, but it isn't a great school by any means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was admitted to both last year (honors programs with merit aid in both cases). I thought he would like Pitt because of the location- it feels like a college town. He just did not like it. I am not sure why - if I had to guess, the emphasis on school spirit/sports at the accepted students presentation might have turned him off. Otoh he came back from the UMD accepted students day full of enthusiasm. I can’t tell if the OP’s child is trying to decide between the two but I hope your child has an opportunity to get a feel for both places so they can get a sense of whether it would be a good fit. They are both good schools.

Pitt fells like a college town? I never thought I would hear someone say that.

+1. Lol, yes, Oakland and what passes for the Pitt campus certainly does not feel like a college town. Does OP mean one of the satellite campuses? In any case, OP's kid sounds more academic and likely made the right choice in avoiding Oakland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was admitted to both last year (honors programs with merit aid in both cases). I thought he would like Pitt because of the location- it feels like a college town. He just did not like it. I am not sure why - if I had to guess, the emphasis on school spirit/sports at the accepted students presentation might have turned him off. Otoh he came back from the UMD accepted students day full of enthusiasm. I can’t tell if the OP’s child is trying to decide between the two but I hope your child has an opportunity to get a feel for both places so they can get a sense of whether it would be a good fit. They are both good schools.

Pitt fells like a college town? I never thought I would hear someone say that.

I suspect PP has never been to Pitt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the love for Pitt here. I'm a Pennsylvania native, and my parents used to use the prospect of Pitt as a threat: "If you don't find a way to get that A, you'll end up at Pitt" and "We can't afford to pay for the schools you want to attend, so if you don't pull off that scholarship, you'll end up at Pitt." My friends' parents said similar things.

And indeed, the kids who ended up at Pitt (my brothers included) were not stupid, but were not exactly academic powerhouses. It's a school for high average kids who don't want to or can't get the grades for a truly excellent school. Sure, it's improved a bit, but it isn't a great school by any means.

Haha I hear this for sure. I think the reason it's gotten so popular is two fold:
1. rolling admissions, so alot of people apply and get in early, which helps them get connected to the school early on.
2. recently known for very good merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the love for Pitt here. I'm a Pennsylvania native, and my parents used to use the prospect of Pitt as a threat: "If you don't find a way to get that A, you'll end up at Pitt" and "We can't afford to pay for the schools you want to attend, so if you don't pull off that scholarship, you'll end up at Pitt." My friends' parents said similar things.

And indeed, the kids who ended up at Pitt (my brothers included) were not stupid, but were not exactly academic powerhouses. It's a school for high average kids who don't want to or can't get the grades for a truly excellent school. Sure, it's improved a bit, but it isn't a great school by any means.

I think it is because of merit aid and rolling admission.

[Anonymous]

Most STEM programs in UMD are ranked in top 30, whereas those in Pitt are ranked below 30.

Graduation rate: UMD 87%, Pitt 81%.

SAT scores: UMD 1390, Pitt 1330.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was admitted to both last year (honors programs with merit aid in both cases). I thought he would like Pitt because of the location- it feels like a college town. He just did not like it. I am not sure why - if I had to guess, the emphasis on school spirit/sports at the accepted students presentation might have turned him off. Otoh he came back from the UMD accepted students day full of enthusiasm. I can’t tell if the OP’s child is trying to decide between the two but I hope your child has an opportunity to get a feel for both places so they can get a sense of whether it would be a good fit. They are both good schools.

Pitt fells like a college town? I never thought I would hear someone say that.

I suspect PP has never been to Pitt.

Actually did go last year after ds was accepted. Spent a couple of days staying near campus. Saw lots of Upitt and CMU students in the local restaurants. Visited the Carnegie museum of natural history which is walking distance from campus. It is not Boston but it does feel like there are a lots of students living in the same area and there are interesting things to do right off campus.

[Anonymous]

Maryland campus/quad looks nice. Then you realize you are living in the absolute strip mall fast food dump that is College Park. Pitt by a mile for overall experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maryland campus/quad looks nice. Then you realize you are living in the absolute strip mall fast food dump that is College Park. Pitt by a mile for overall experience.

+!

We visited Pitt in 2019, and the school exceeded our expectations. The surrounding area was pretty decent, and we liked the school's feel.

The buildings of UMDCP look nice in isolation, but when the entire school and community is considered as a whole, it's pretty terrible. The surrounding town is ugly and seems to make its money with a parking police strike force that attempts to ticket you when your car stops for more than 10 seconds!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland campus/quad looks nice. Then you realize you are living in the absolute strip mall fast food dump that is College Park. Pitt by a mile for overall experience.

+!

We visited Pitt in 2019, and the school exceeded our expectations. The surrounding area was pretty decent, and we liked the school's feel.

The buildings of UMDCP look nice in isolation, but when the entire school and community is considered as a whole, it's pretty terrible. The surrounding town is ugly and seems to make its money with a parking police strike force that attempts to ticket you when your car stops for more than 10 seconds!

good luck with preference of looks over contends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland campus/quad looks nice. Then you realize you are living in the absolute strip mall fast food dump that is College Park. Pitt by a mile for overall experience.

+!

We visited Pitt in 2019, and the school exceeded our expectations. The surrounding area was pretty decent, and we liked the school's feel.

The buildings of UMDCP look nice in isolation, but when the entire school and community is considered as a whole, it's pretty terrible. The surrounding town is ugly and seems to make its money with a parking police strike force that attempts to ticket you when your car stops for more than 10 seconds!

good luck with preference of looks over contends.

"contends"? Pitt is ranked higher than UMD in USNews! They've got both