Anonymous wrote:I am a Pitt grad. I spent a week on Indiana Bloomington's campus this past summer and I really liked it.

I think you should consider these factors:

1) Strength of the major(s) of interest
2) Feelings about each campus
3) East Coast personality or Midwest personality type
4) Where your son wants to live after graduation (imagine a radius around each as the zone of most opportunity)

Let me know if you have specific questions about Pitt.

Would an East Coast personality really fit Pittsburgh OR Indiana?

Pitt guarantees on campus housing for three years; Indiana does not. There is a big rush to find off campus housing after freshman year, if that matters to you.

IU's campus is beautiful. Pittsburgh is a fun city!!

I would prefer Indiana. Most importantly ~ his decision completely without interference from you. It's on him. First big decision of his life, you want him to own it.

He owns it and he will work hard to prove to himself and anyone else, that it was a great decision.

I love Pittsburgh, so I would lean that way. Indiana Bloomington is a pain to get to (fly, THEN drive a good while). Does your son mind not coming home for every break?

Indiana has very strong sports management and kinesiology programs. Pitt also has a good pre-physical therapy program. The caliber of students at Pitt may be higher.

So many more opportunities off campus at Pitt….internships, volunteering, fun of all kinds.

They are so different (rural/urban). Has your child visited each? If not, do visits - one will be an easy no and one will be an easy yes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Indiana for sure

Bloomington is nicer and IU non-science programs are stronger

+1 Pitt is used as a safety school. Relatives have had cars broken into and one raped. It is urban. IU is rural.

No need to make Oakland sound like a hellscape or Bloomington sound like a cornfield. This is what campus safety reports are for. Facts. Violence against women and exposure to risk often connects to alcohol use culture so that's something college-bound kids should be thinking about when they decide what kind of school and parties they want to seek out.

The acceptance rates are lower at Pitt. But that's not important for making this decision. I'm just responding to the slam that it's somehow a safety school and IU is not. Both are good choices and have some big differences.

People at IU are very friendly & welcoming. I was an out of state grad student there & students & professors were incredibly nice.

Anonymous wrote:Indiana for sure

Bloomington is nicer and IU non-science programs are stronger

+1 Pitt is used as a safety school. Relatives have had cars broken into and one raped. It is urban. IU is rural.

Indiana for sure

Bloomington is nicer and IU non-science programs are stronger

I am a Pitt grad. I spent a week on Indiana Bloomington's campus this past summer and I really liked it.

I think you should consider these factors:

1) Strength of the major(s) of interest
2) Feelings about each campus
3) East Coast personality or Midwest personality type
4) Where your son wants to live after graduation (imagine a radius around each as the zone of most opportunity)

Let me know if you have specific questions about Pitt.

Pitt is in a great walkable neighborhood so he will like that. It is also more diverse that Indiana. And is strong in health related fields. But Indiana has good sports management and kinesiology majors. Can’t go wrong either way.

I think Pitt will be more challenging academically but both are viewed about the same in terms of job prospects/prestige. It might be nice to live in the Midwest for a change of pace.

It looks like DC will be choosing between Indiana and Pitt. He is athletic (for intramurals), somewhat introverted, and is not sure about major (potentially thinking of a sports or health related career). He enjoys the urban environment of DC but also really liked Indiana’s campus. Any thoughts/experiences?