What is the appeal of Pitt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's really interesting. I had several college friends who lived in Pittsburgh, but didn't want to go to Pitt and attended VT instead.

I'm sure they did.

DP. Why wouldn't they? Just like a lot of kids come from all over to attend GMU, but kids who live in Fairfax/NoVA usually look elsewhere. Too close.

[Anonymous]

I mostly only hear about Pitt as this rolling safety that no one actually goes to when they get other offers. But it's good to have a fallback and to hear early on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mostly only hear about Pitt as this rolling safety that no one actually goes to when they get other offers. But it's good to have a fallback and to hear early on.

My kid graduated from TJ in 2020. That year, Pitt was the throes most popular destination— after UVA and WM, and BEFORE VT. And my
Kid didn’t attend. BUt, knew lots of kids who did. Strong STEM and a direct admit MD program.

[Anonymous]

Visited. Really nice campus and know kids who are happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Solid school academically. Urban setting with a campus feel. Great mid size city with good food and neighborhoods. Greek like is not dominant (but there if you are interested). A good mix of serious students but also a fun place to be for 4 years.

My kid is a first year CS major and very happy.

Did they get any merit aid last year? My kid is in (found out yesterday) to the School of Computing and hoping for aid. Not very high stats so keeping our fingers crossed.

No merit award for my kid. He was solidly at the 50% level for SAT/GPA for SCI (Pitt breaks it down by college). I have read on College Confidential that Pitt gives little merit to CS majors. It does seem to happen occasionally, so good luck. My son received decent merit from Minnesota. It might be worth checking out.

Where do you find test scores/GPA by college?

[Anonymous]

I always assumed Pitt was popular because a ton of 17 year olds want (1) big time college sports or they (2) want to live IN (not just near) a decent big city.

At very few affordable colleges can you have BOTH, but Pitt is definitely one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always assumed Pitt was popular because a ton of 17 year olds want (1) big time college sports or they (2) want to live IN (not just near) a decent big city.

At very few affordable colleges can you have BOTH, but Pitt is definitely one of them.

I guess that depends on your definition of affordable. OOS COA is $56k+

[Anonymous]

Yes, but if your child gets $15-$20k merit aid, as many OOS do (despite what you hear), it's very reasonable. Back and forth during breaks is super easy, as their is a Pitt bus, several of them, that drives the kids back and forth from the DMV to Pitt over Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring break. The 4 hour drive makes it far enough away to keep the kids happy and close enough to keep the parents happy. Off campus housing is reasonable (we have one in Pittsburgh and one in Chicago, ask me which is affordable for rent). And most importantly, our kid at Pitt is happy. With more applications, and accepting higher stats kids, Pitt's status is rising/on the rise.

[Anonymous]

We live in a Pittsburgh suburb (used to live in DC). Dd did not apply as a senior in high school for various reasons. Did not like the school she chose and transferred to Pitt as a second semester sophomore. From day 1, she has had an incredible experience. She has met other nice students and has had great professors. She is in arts & sciences and is not a stem major. She has relationships with many professors and has kept in touch with them after the class is over. Her friends who graduated last year all either got a good job or into a good grad school program. She loves being in the city and it is an easy city to navigate. I can’t say enough good things about Pitt.

[Anonymous]

Our student was accepted (STEM) and received a nice merit package. It is a fun town that is big enough to find things to do but not overwhelming. Plus college and pro sports. At the right price it is a good value.

[Anonymous]

Appeal is: close enough, rolling admission. fun enough, big time sports, urban enough for students coming from the DMV, respectable choice.

[Anonymous]

Appeal on dcum: most kids get in so we don’t get bitter parents of rejected kids tearing the school up as we do for more selective schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Solid school academically. Urban setting with a campus feel. Great mid size city with good food and neighborhoods. Greek like is not dominant (but there if you are interested). A good mix of serious students but also a fun place to be for 4 years.

My kid is a first year CS major and very happy.

Did they get any merit aid last year? My kid is in (found out yesterday) to the School of Computing and hoping for aid. Not very high stats so keeping our fingers crossed.

No merit award for my kid. He was solidly at the 50% level for SAT/GPA for SCI (Pitt breaks it down by college). I have read on College Confidential that Pitt gives little merit to CS majors. It does seem to happen occasionally, so good luck. My son received decent merit from Minnesota. It might be worth checking out.

Where do you find test scores/GPA by college?

If you search “Pitt 2023 student profile” you should be able to find it. If you scroll down you will see certain admissions info for each college. You need to toggle through each college. It will show GPA and SAT and % TO.

[Anonymous]

How is Pitt's housing, do they offer first year housing or full four years?
DS is considering Pitt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is Pitt's housing, do they offer first year housing or full four years?
DS is considering Pitt.

They guarantee three years on campus housing. My son is a freshman. He says the dorms differ, some new and nice and some older like typical non fancy dorms. He is in one of the older dorms with doubles. They have apartment style available after first year. His dorm is simple but room is a decent size and a great central location. Not a dorm, but they are building a huge gym/wellness center in the middle of campus. Looks very nice and should open next fall.