University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

The University of Pittsburgh has opened my eyes like I never expected it to. I have so many opportunities to grow as an individual, from the vast clubs and organizations to the thousands of unique course offerings and research experiences. I am studying abroad and taking classes that fuel my curiosity. Each student is taken care of and has the opportunity to explore their passions and interests in hundreds of different ways. Not only is the University of Pittsburgh rich in academic experiences, but also in social experiences. Despite being a big campus, the University of Pittsburgh feels like a close-knit community where there is always a chance to meet someone new and find "your people." In the heart of Pittsburgh, Pitt is the perfect blend of college life and city living. Pitt feels like home and I am forever grateful for it.

In a 100% completely honest opinion, there is not a single thing I would warn other students about. My experience has exceeded all my expectations. My one complaint is that the dining hall was subpar during my freshman year, but this was due to COVID-19 and the restrictions on dine-in food options. With COVID-19 loosening up, Pitt dining has offered hundreds of fresh and tasty selections that made up for the lack thereof in 2020.

It is a very good school.

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I transferred to the university during my Sophomore year. I couldn't have been happier with the level of education I received and the dedication the professors have to their students. There are many great classes across all categories of study. Additionally, I had an AMAZING academic advisor who genuinely cared about his students and helped me be able to take courses that truly mattered to me so I didn't have to waste time on "filler" courses. The food is great, especially compared to other schools. There are plenty of food options both on and off-campus. There are numerous gyms for those fitness fanatics. Sports are pretty big at Pitt, so if you are into that scene, you'll be surrounded by many like-minded people. Being at Pitt made me super happy I transferred. I have recommended Pitt to many people and I will continue to recommend the university to anyone seeking a good education with opportunities to flourish.

There are two downsides to the university, in my opinion. The first is it is in a city. If you are not about the city life, you might want to visit first to make sure you're okay with living there for a few years. On the plus side of this, there are parks and green spaces around for you to enjoy. There are always options for food and shopping. Public transportation is also provided to students so you do not have to drive as often in the city. The noise, the smell, and the people might get to you, though. The second downside is the class sizes. Some of your more "general" classes can be in auditoriums filled with 100+ students. The classes seem less personal, but they are still very good classes. If you are looking for a more consistently small, close-knit classroom setting, I'd take this into consideration as well. However, once you get past your "gen ed" classes, your more "major-based" classes are much smaller in size.

Classes are pretty enjoyable with the right professors, and lots of students are focused on academics. After finding the right group of friends, Pitt is really enjoyable and a very student-friendly campus. Being in the city is nice because there is always stuff going on and things to do, so it offers a quick-paced environment that feels encouraging.

At first, I really did not adjust to the college experience well. My freshman dorm room was Holland Hall and didn't have air conditioning, which was the only extreme downside to our dorms. The meal plan at the eatery is pretty bad, and there are hardly any options later on in the day. Tuition is very expensive and seems a bit extreme, so I would make sure that you apply for scholarships or find another way to cushion the high cost.

Pitt is a very inclusive, diverse, spirited school with thousands of opportunities for research, jobs, outreach, academics, and even your social life. It is big but I have never felt like just a number; you see people you know on campus every day. The pros of it being a large school far outweigh the cons, like the number of different classes offered and the number of people at your side if you reach out. Overall, Pitt is definitely worth it if you are in-state, but if you are out-of-state consider coming for sciences or philosophy. In those subjects, there are lots of professors who are passionate about the subject they teach and are good at teaching it. Rate my professor as your friend, but take bad reviews with a grain of salt!

Pitt cares a lot more about research and appeal than students’ livelihood. Professors are not picked based on how they teach—they are picked based on their academic caliber and research potential. They are very money-focused so the campus is always littered with construction projects just to take away the green space we do have. Getting help is very convoluted (“it takes a village” approach; for one problem, you might have to contact 3 separate people) and if you don’t need help from a person, online help isn’t so much better. Also, the math department is pretty bad so beware!

The whole campus feels like one big community. Even though it is a big school with many areas of study, everyone has your back because we are all panthers and connected by the community Pitt creates from the very beginning. School pride is huge!

Be ready for challenging professors that only want to give you the best education for the best future possible. Be ready to work and have even more fun while doing it.