I think the percentage of the student body following an engineering or premed track (and therefore needing to put in more time in class work) is likely higher at Rochester. That can be good or bad depending on the kid!

They're unsure about post-college plans for work or grad school. We're from the West Coast, but they've spent time in major Midwest and East Coast cities and enjoyed them. It's unclear if either school has stronger West Coast alumni ties or name recognition.

I wasn't clear about this comment "official school team". They have plans to get involved with a school club (that Pitt has but U of R doesn't) but not an actual sports team or club.

The 25% comment is less about a drag on their learning and more that their determination and effort might incease if the feel the heat from not just the top but the bottom.

I'm a Pitt grad.

I think Pitt probably has better global/U.S. name recognition. But that's really subjective.

Both schools will have a more localized alumni base. If your kid is heading for NY state jobs or grad schools, Rochester might be more on people's radar. DC is a big focus for Pitt kids because it's close and there's a growing enrollment base there.

It will probably work out either way but I would think being on an official school team at Rochester would appeal more to your kid.

I don't really understand the concern about the bottom 25% of the class. My experience is that they are not a factor in classroom experience. I always sat at the front of the class and did the maximum possible. Never had any issues in discussion classes or sections. If there were deadwood people, they weren't hurting anything. I took a wide variety of classes. In my opinion, it's the professors that determine the course quality. Note - I am accepting of large lecture classes for intro subjects. I get why courses such as Bio 101 and Econ 101 don't have to be small group discussion classes. I'm also okay with having TAs with accents. I like going to schools where there are people from all over the world studying. And many fields have mainly international grad students. So that might impact your thinking. I don't know how TA-heavy Rochester would be.

This is a decision you can leave to your kid's preference.

Two different vibes completely. My DC is at Pitt. Wonderful location along a row of 4 other colleges—Duquesne, Carlow, Carnegie and Chatham. Lots of new buildings on lining this year and next—bigger sports arena, huge new wellness center. Easy to get around on foot and by bus (for free). Just a lot to do. A smaller, more contained NYC sort of. And huge on medicine, tech, engineering, the arts and sports. Phipps, museums, parks, three rivers. It’s beautiful and fun!

Rochester is similar in many ways, but the major differences that I see are the vibe—Rochester seems chill but slightly more sophisticated. Not as rah-rah at all. You have to dig a bit beneath the surface. More in your face intellectual, though Pitt is no slouch academically. I don’t see Rochester as super vibrant. Some great sections along the Genesee and in areas like Park Avenue are cool. Downtown is sort of hit or miss, but there is stuff there. The outdoors are quite nice as well.

Pitt is just a bit more down to earth and fun. Rochester is nice and a tad more worldly and sophisticated. I can imagine Toronto and Montreal are the escape bacays for this group.

If looking for only top 25 type kids, a little quirk, then Rochester.

But if you want those type of kids (premed and engineering), plus the fun sorority/frat kids, and some competitive D1sports, and top professional sports teams for added fun and stuff to do, Pitt is the answer. It is really climbing the ranks in terms of its ability to offer a complete college experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Also on the WL at Case, Villanova, W&M, Holly Cross, and George Wash

zero chance kid got into Rochester and WL at GW - GW is a safety for kids targeting Pitt!

Not necessarily. Sometimes its about how well a college knows a school, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pitt. School spirit matters

pls elaborate - this is an urban school, not university of Nebraska

Urban doesn’t really change the D1 school spirit

yes it does

Have you ever been to Pitt football and basketball games?

If they visited U of R and said "not for me" we'd be done with the wondering. We and they expect the academic drive and abilities for the top ~25% kids will be the same for both schools but the bottom 25% at U of R will be higher then Pitt. On average for all classes, we expect the workload and rigor will be higher at U of R. At the end of the day, it's instinctive decision deciding which academic environment will be the best fit and then how much 'everything' else will be a plus or minus on the academic side.

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that Rochester has a much stronger reputation with better students. Pitt while well liked is more of a safety school.

Yeah, that's not my impression anymore. I'm seeing Pitt pull in more and more super high achievers. I know that a lot of high achievers do use it as a saftey, because of rolling admissions, but I'm seeing a bunch of super smart kids going there. It seems like the reputation is going up and up. It just has such positive buzz.

They’re very different and a smart kid can go on to whatever they want from either school. UR’s rep for grad school is higher generally speaking but Pitt has a wider range of students-top Pitt students can of course do as well as Rochester students.

The vibe, though, is completely different d as bc it’s hard to imagine a kid not leaning more toward one!

Anonymous wrote:UR has the better reputation academically, right? Plus, there's the garbage plate, so there is that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Tahou_Hots

Meh. They're both great, and depending on major I think they're pretty similar in reputation. Some majors (medical-related) Pitt will win, other majors, Rochester will win.

Just telling the truth...no reason to fib.

Also
Rejected: WashU and Tufts
Guaranteed sophomore transfer: Boston U.
Also WL: U Conn
Accepted: Trinity U (Tx), Deninson, Dickinson, U of A Honors, and UBC (Vancouver)

Anonymous wrote: Also on the WL at Case, Villanova, W&M, Holly Cross, and George Wash

zero chance kid got into Rochester and WL at GW - GW is a safety for kids targeting Pitt!

We're facing the same dilemma. Our 2025 grad is 95% committed to Pitt. U of R has the major they want but most everything else at Pitt ranks higher (city vibrancy, school spirit, their top club EC, etc. Tried to get them to visit U of R during this week's admitted student date but so far so luck. Top major is CogSci (which U o R has) so they'd be doing Neuro at Pitt. Grad school plans vs med school. Also on the WL at Case, Villanova, W&M, Holly Cross, and George Wash but no guarantee of any movement of course.

In the end the desired major that really gets them excited and the academic growth potential (higher over all rigor classes, more academically motivated kids, and higher academic caliber) that the parents believe would be best ranked 2nd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that Rochester has a much stronger reputation with better students. Pitt while well liked is more of a safety school.

Pitt is not a safety school, dumbass.

It was for my kid…

4 years ago Pitt's acceptance rate was over 60%. Now it's 49.xx%. So it's could be someone's safety in the past, and in reality currently is very close to a safety for a high stats kid.

I agree, anyone with a 3.9+ UW, 6-8+ APs, and a 1480+ SAT can consider Pitt a safety (not a likely) but a safety, especially if you work to show demonstrated interest.

But for a 3.8 W, 1350, no it's not a safety.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that Rochester has a much stronger reputation with better students. Pitt while well liked is more of a safety school.

Pitt is not a safety school, dumbass.

It was for my kid…