<p>When we did the college visit tours a few years ago, the quality of the tour - or person giving the tour - had a direct correlation with my daughter’s interest. We went on a tour of Georgetown that was so awful, my daughter said she didn’t care if they offered her full tuition she wouldn’t go there. As a result, it was quickly scratched off her list.</p>
<p>Being from the Pittsburgh area my daughter didn’t even want to apply to Pitt. She only did so at my insistence. She applied in early November and received her acceptance within a few weeks. She had no desire to attend Pitt because “it was too close” to home. Of all of the campus visits we made, she never found one that she felt was perfect. </p>
<p>It wasn’t until the Open House day for admitted honors college students in the spring that she felt that “love at first sight” feeling. I told her that if she went to the Open House and hated Pitt, I would never mention it again. I only ask that she attended with an open mind.</p>
<p>Although I will admit the one session that they had with some of the honors students missed the mark (the students really didn’t seem to connect with the audience), overall, all of the other presentations/tours resonated with her. They hit all of the things she was looking for in a college.</p>
<p>She loves Pitt and has told me that going to Pitt was the best decision she’s ever made. </p>
<p>Pitt is very much like the City of Pittsburgh - big-little campus/city, with something to offer everyone. It’s big enough to have many choices, but small enough to feel like you are part of a great community.</p>
<p>Oh,and the research opportunities, even for liberal arts majors, is there for the asking. My daughter is majoring in a social science and the professors have been great with helping her find research opportunities.</p>