<p>I’m an Indian-American rising sophomore at Pitt who came to Pitt from a southern state. I think I could be some help. </p>
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<li><p>Yes, most of the kids are from PA. Pennsylvania, however, is a huge state, and most people won’t know each other. Even then of the people, from what I noticed, wanted to branch out and make new friends so lots made it a conscious effort to stay away from their HS friends for at least the first few weeks. Many of my best friends have friends from HS at Pitt, but now they are more just acquaintances, and they have made new friends.</p></li>
<li><p>No one really goes home on the weekends…don’t worry about that. There’s a lot to do on the weekends, provided you make friends early. Don’t be shy - make friends with the people on your floor and it’ll all be good. </p></li>
<li><p>It’s urban, but not like BU or NYU, like what others above said. Almost everyone you see on Pitt’s campus will be Pitt related - being students, faculty, and staff. I was especially worried about this one when picking Pitt, and you really shouldn’t even let this concern you. I went into the college application process thinking I wanted a more “typical” college campus with greenery etc, but today I love the city so much more. Everything’s close by, you have the greenery of the Cathedral Lawn, upper campus areas, Schenley quad, etc. It’s perfect, and I am sure you’ll love it. Haven’t met too many people at Pitt who dislike the urban environment after a few weeks of settling in. My philosophy: the “real world” isn’t an enclosed campus, so why should the place that supposedly prepares you for the real world be enclosed?</p></li>
<li><p>The school does a good job, but it’s all up to the students. Many students don’t go to the orientation events, and shame on them.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t think this one is true at all. Like I said, I’m an Indian-American, and I have white friends, Middle-Eastern friends, black friends, Indian friends, and many more. Diversity is there. However, it is true that many groups of people tend to hang out in groups, but that’s just natural. Some want to stay in their comfort zone and some want to branch out. Nothing different than any other college.</p></li>
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