Another thing to consider about schools like Pitt - they often have an Honors College that offers more personalized guidance and opportunities than the larger university (although some are just as hard to get into as some of the “elite” schools). My daughter was in Pitt’s honors college and took advantage of special housing and some topical sessions not always available to everyone. She loved her time at Pitt—sang in the choir, travelled for Model UN conferences, was a TA, and loved having free transit that comes with being a Pitt student to explore the city, as well as free entry to many museums and discounts to performances and events. And she worked p/t too. She had a great internship experience (that carried from spring through the summer of 2020, during Covid), and was able to study abroad in Paris for a “mini-mester” since she wasn’t sure she could do a full semester. These are the kinds of things pure rankings don’t get into, and they’re so important to consider in the application and decision process.
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