Pitt versus UMD

[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.

Indeed, South campus has been totally transformed with the addition of the City Hall plaza, Trader Joe's as well as new bars and restaurants. Rt 1 still makes it less pleasant than it should be, but with the upcoming opening of a new commercial street away from it and the wrapping up of major construction (Purple line construction on campus is expected to end at the end of summer), their downtown is coming together quite nicely.

[Anonymous]

I have firsthand experience with both. My undergrad at Pitt. I attended grad school at UMD. However, two of my three MoCo-raised children wouldn’t even consider Pitt. One has committed to UMD and another has a bit more time to decide.

The Honors College at Pitt was an amazing experience academically that overshadows many aspects of life in Pittsburgh and the university overall where UMD would win. Specifically, the DMV is a better place to be a student if money is tight. Food is taxed in PA. The museums aren’t free. The public transportation sucks.

That said, the academic experience really is stellar at Pitt. Professors are leaders in their field, but they are down to earth people and really committed to teaching. Three decades after I graduated, I still communicate with a few of my former professors on a regular basis. Undergraduate research is encouraged and well-supported both logistically and financially.

There is more support for student wellness at UMD. I came to college with a lot of past and ongoing physical illness and emotional trauma from my home life. Even at orientation, it was necessary to address the most pressing physical issues so that I could be my most successful self. Pittsburgh has world class medical facilities and Pitt helped me find specialists. However, I was on my own to find a therapist. UMD almost seems the opposite (both my kids who were accepted for Fall 2024 have SN), maybe due to the recent suicides.

If I were doing it over, I’d still pick Pitt for undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have firsthand experience with both. My undergrad at Pitt. I attended grad school at UMD. However, two of my three MoCo-raised children wouldn’t even consider Pitt. One has committed to UMD and another has a bit more time to decide.

The Honors College at Pitt was an amazing experience academically that overshadows many aspects of life in Pittsburgh and the university overall where UMD would win. Specifically, the DMV is a better place to be a student if money is tight. Food is taxed in PA. The museums aren’t free. The public transportation sucks.

That said, the academic experience really is stellar at Pitt. Professors are leaders in their field, but they are down to earth people and really committed to teaching. Three decades after I graduated, I still communicate with a few of my former professors on a regular basis. Undergraduate research is encouraged and well-supported both logistically and financially.

There is more support for student wellness at UMD. I came to college with a lot of past and ongoing physical illness and emotional trauma from my home life. Even at orientation, it was necessary to address the most pressing physical issues so that I could be my most successful self. Pittsburgh has world class medical facilities and Pitt helped me find specialists. However, I was on my own to find a therapist. UMD almost seems the opposite (both my kids who were accepted for Fall 2024 have SN), maybe due to the recent suicides.

If I were doing it over, I’d still pick Pitt for undergrad.

Don’t you think Pitt today might be different from Pitt 30 years ago?
Museums are free for students, for one. Students love the free busses, for two. And there is a lot of focus on mental health - everything from Therapy Dog Tuesdays at Cathy to an ongoing mental health programming (all free).

[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.

+1000 Consider opportunity cost. $60k growing into a down payment on a first place is worth it.

[Anonymous]

What’s your age?

My third kid I had much later in life. I am limiting her to closer schools. My first I drove DC to Amherst MA and I could do it easily.

But the last kid I will be 67 when she graduates. I have no desire to drive to Pitt when UMD is 40 minutes away