Marilyn

Our son's first visit was during his spring break so classes were in session - he set up a morning meeting with the SCS admin, had a tour of the CS department buildings, met with one professor, and sat in on a programming class. If your son has specific departments in which he's interested, I highly recommend seeing what they might be able to arrange in the summer.

In terms of campus, definitely explore the entire University Center. Students can easily be there several times a day for various activities and meetings (including movies and student performances), to eat, to get their mail (all students are assigned a PO box in the UC for all time at school), and to meet friends and hang out. Go upstairs and downstairs; in addition to what KrazyKow mentioned there are several dining places plus gym facilities. If at all possible try to eat at least once on campus; food is one of the major complaints from some students and freshmen have to go on a meal plan.

Tours don't include going into the dorms but try to walk around those areas, both on the Hill and across Forbes Ave on Morewood (see campus map). You can then get a sense of what they're like and how close most of them actually are to the classrooms. It's a compact campus compared to most.

If the Waterfront in Homestead is on your route, I suggest stopping by and driving around to see what's there. Students can take the bus from campus (I think it takes less than half an hour to get there) and it's a major shopping destination (the Target is totally geared to students in the fall).

My son goes to Squirrel Hill by bus (5 minute drive by car up Forbes) both for weekend breakfast (at either Pamela's or the Bagel Factory) and to shop at the Giant Eagle on Murray. It's the closest grocery store off campus (the GE in Shadyside is much bigger but slightly more complicated to get to). There's also a good deli in Squirrel Hill.

We've stayed at various places in downtown Pittsburgh but near campus only at the Hampton Inn University Place (check for a student rate) - they offer a free shuttle to campus every hour and from campus when you call.

rlm919

Also be warned that unlike many of the states surrounding it, Pennsylvania still permits smoking in restaurants. We are from NY so it is like going back in time (and not in a good way since I am allergic) There is a web site that lists the places that are smoke free so we try to visit those.

dsultemeier

My D and I are planning a visit to CMU in late May. We will be flying into Pittsburgh International Airport (I'm not sure if there is more than one airport) and staying at the Holiday Inn Express near campus. I read on the internet that we could take the 28X Airport Flyer bus to the campus. Would you recommend doing this? Does anyone know where it picks you up and drops you off? It looked like the cheapest way to get from the airport to campus.

Otherwise thanks for posting all the great suggestions above since we can use them all also.

mathmom

28X is very easy way to get to campus - it takes about an hour and costs $3. There's a stop near University Center on Forbes. I was at the Holiday Inn last night. It was fine, though it has a lousy exercise room. It's a very easy walk to campus, easier walk to Pitt if you are interested.

rlm919

Did you see the tents and displays at the Cathedral/Pitt lawn near Bellefield? I was curious about what it was all about, saw no information but lots of security.

RacinReaver

Pitt should be getting ready for graduation soon, so things might be in preparation of that. They're usually a week ahead of CMU in finishing in the spring, so the time seems about right for it.

And, yeah, the 28X is great. I took it a bunch of times when I was flying out of Pittsburgh to visit grad schools, and it's a pretty reliable bus. They run something like every 20-30 minutes, so you don't have to worry about waiting forever for one. If you're not sure where to get off the bus, you could call the hotel and ask which stop, or ask the bus driver to let you know when you're nearby. If you get an a-hole bus driver, ask the people on the bus that are on it when you get up to Oakland (you'll know you're up there because you've gone through downtown and you'll be able to see one of the rivers on your right for a little bit).

mathmom

My husband got a bus driver who made bad puns about all the street names. "If you're inclined to be let off, I'm inclined to let you off. (At Incline St.) or "What's the opposite of Small and Tall?" (Bigelow St.)

I don't know what the was going on near Bellfield, it looked like Carnival stuff. Of course Google maps had sent me down a closed street there, so I had to detour!