<p>DD admitted to Pitt (Engineering) and honors college. LOVES Pitt’s urban atmosphere and all it has to offer but is worried that it might become a distraction. Since most honors activities at Pitt are optional, how easy is it to stay on the honors track? How much contact is there with professors? Would love to hear from current students especially if you’re in honors housing. She is also considering Virginia Tech. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>I think it is easy to stay on track, especially in honors housing and if you stay involved in honors activities. Any college setting is filled with distractions. The difference is the urban environment will give a lot more variety of them as opposed to, say, just a partying scene at a more rural school. You still have to have some self-discipline, just like anywhere. But the good thing is those cultural opportunities in the city are often integrated into the educational experience as well. Personally, I feel there is a ton of contact with professors, especially at the honors level. If she is a good enough student to get into the honors college, I doubt she’ll have any problems with the “distractions”.</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. She ended up choosing Tech.</p>
<p>Redirecting the thread a little …</p>
<p>New UHC Dean: [Pitt</a> names new dean of honors college](<a href=“http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11136/1146982-100.stm]Pitt”>http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11136/1146982-100.stm). Stricker is one of the original neuroscience professors, which we like since my S is going into neuro. Now the ‘what will he change’ guessing game can begin.</p>
<p>Stricker is awesome. Excellent pick.</p>
<p>^^^ My daughter agrees with that! She had him for Intro to Neuro, and he’s great.</p>