<p>I didn’t get a “commuter vibe” at all. In fact, D thought the student guides spent a bit too much time talking about their sports teams, how to get tickets, etc. That would seem inconsistent with a campus that clears out over the weekend.</p>
<p>the alumna comment is for FC.
I’ve never been to Pitt, just taking the word of a friend.</p>
<p>My impression of Pitt was more like what you’re describing missypie. I’m just curious about the in-state/out-of-state numbers…</p>
<p>Welcome RenaissanceMom and 2Education. </p>
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[quote]
Way up-thread, some of you mentioned visiting UPitt. My son is considering applying there as a safety (slitheytove, I think you suggested it to me via a thread I posted in college search.) Does it have an actual campus feel, sort of like Johns Hopkins or Columbia, or is it more like NYU, BU? [/qquote]</p>
<p>My S just visited earlier this week. H&S said it is very much like BU with it running up and down the main street, but it had more of a campus feel, whatever that means. We live in the Boston area and know BU but are not familar with the other school’s campuses.</p>
<p>On the campus tour at Pitt we saw two dorms and I didn’t like either (and they didn’t even show us the old, un-air conditioned ones.) I know to keep my mouth zipped about the dorms, however. I am very sensitive to my surroundings. In my many tours with two different kids, I’ve seen dorm rooms that would be an absolute deal-breaker if I was going off to college. But if my kid thinks she can live there, it’s not my call.</p>
<p>I just mention this because if anyone’s child is looking for cool multi-bedroomed suites or other “dorms like palaces” I don’t think they’ll find them at Pitt.</p>
<p>Hi college4three - Yes, I am an alum, and now a Tulane parent (D will be starting her 2nd year). Big shock I am a booster, lol. Although interestingly Tulane was my D’s second choice (she says by a whisker but I am not so sure, lol) but when she got the full tuition scholarship to Tulane and nothing from the other, it was an easy choice for her. She is practical that way. BTW, she had a fantastic first year, loves the school, loves the city, and is excited about starting up again.</p>
<p>Regarding the Pitt campus, there are quite varying opinions on this. We lived in Pittsburgh for 10 years and I got to Oakland, the suburb where Carnegie-Mellon and Pitt are both located, pretty often since my business revolves around scientific enterprises, including universities. I never cared for the PItt campus personally. While it is not a commuter school, it feels extremely urban and I just don’t find it attractive. Some others disagree, or even if they do agree somewhat, they like being in a highly developed area and relatively close to downtown Pittsburgh. Now I personally really liked the city, and the areas close to Pitt (Squirrel Hill, Shadyside) are very nice. And I think Pitt is a good school. I just don’t personally care for the aesthetics of the campus much. To each their own, of course.</p>
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<p>I hate to say it but all the money schools are spending on dorms drives me crazy. I lived in the 2 person cinderblock dorm for four years. Suites are nice, AC is nice, dining rooms in the dorms are all nice, but I really don’t want to pay for it. Would I live in a 2 person cinderblock room at my age, no. But, my S can. I would rather see the schools invest in other stuff, like labs, academics, theater stuff, etc. JMO</p>
<p>Hi mamom - It is a widely shared opinion. But you know how these things go; once a few schools start doing it the others all think they have to keep up. Unfortunately they may be right, especially since some of those schools have enough money to spend on ncie dorms, food, AND the labs, academics, theater stuff, etc. The New York Yankees of universities, lol.</p>
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<p>I feel just the opposite. When I see lovely labs or whatever, then they have the students living in tiny dingy warrens, I think “what the heck? is the comfort of the students not important at all?” Like I said, I keep my mouth shut, but I’ve been horrified at the dorms at a few of the schools.</p>
<p>We both have big checks to write. I guess the fortunate school has a big enough endowment to make us both happy!</p>
<p>Like another poster above–
We are going to see where the acceptances fall–where the fin-aid comes in and evaluate.</p>
<p>The total COA - beyond the basics is a shocker when you really start crunching the numbers–
Collegeboard lists some interesting facts–
am not sure where this number comes from -
however college board lists
MITs cost per credit hr at $605 vs BU at $1228!</p>
<p>Some of the private reaches have better fin aid than some OOS publics–
and kiddo does not want to go to the HUGE state flagships.</p>
<p>As for threads–I like ths one–and the meandering of the community–which was why I asked about birthdays for 17 yr olds a few pages back…</p>
<p>The variety here makes this more like a coffee group –
We get
bad day reports,
drama,
GC issues,
spouse’s waking up to the realities issues,
siblings, test plans and scores
proms etc etc…</p>
<p>I certainly didn’t try and read from the beginning–
and when I have been gone–I go back maybe a page or 2 to catch the drift of where the group is headed</p>
<p>I use the search tool for specific issues and then also post in those relevant boards…</p>
<p>just my 2 cents…</p>
<p>Oh
on dorms–
I would be appalled to have my kids living in some of the conditions of the dorms at some places–</p>
<p>I was in hearing distance of students at Columbia–talking about their ceiling falling in…
and I know of some students on the Penn campus in a high rise right now
–the toilet in the suite overflowed–and filled the bathroom with several inches of awful water etc…</p>
<p>We have let D2, as we did with D1 in 2008, that we can afford to send her to one of our state universities, and that she can take that amount of money anywhere she wants. We will not be taking out loans to cover additional costs nor do we want either child (or the one graduating from high school in 2021 - that’s not a typo!) taking on debt.</p>
<p>D2 has an interest in West Point. She was giddy coming in from the mailbox today with a Letter of Assurance in her hand! She has made it clear that she will not make her final decision about where she’s attending until she’s seen all her options.</p>
<p>This afternoon D2 is volunteering at a local historical site then dropping by Starbucks to work on essays. She had an epiphany as we were driving around town yesterday for a topic. Love seeing the way she works!</p>
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<p>Wow, does that mean she is in? How can any other school beat that kind of quality for free!</p>
<p>thanks FallenChemist. I’m hoping that there will be some scholarship money coming from somewhere. My S is also quite practical and has been clear that if he doesn’t get into his top choices, he’ll follow the money.</p>
<p>Just talked again to H about Pitt. He said it is like BU in respect to being off a main street, but runs deeper than BU. More open space than BU. Neither S or H has issues with the dorm rooms, but it wasn’t a big deal with either of them. (both males remember!)</p>
<p>My S who is definitely NOT picky vetoed applying to MIT because ‘the buildings looked liked they were falling apart and the dorms (he saw three) were totally gross. Even I couldn’t live there’.</p>
<p>Neither of my Ds, interestingly enough, even cared to look at dorms on college visits. They say there’s no way the dorms, or even the food (unless truly criminally bad) would be deal-breakers. I’ve been glad for this.</p>
<p>I think fogfog is right - let this thread ramble, and if we have specific topics, start new threads on them as needed. This is a fun kinda coffee shop thing.</p>
<p>I can’t tell if my D is truly done with her list, or if she’s just tired of looking. I think she’s done. We do have two fairly local publics, her safeties, to see. One she’ll visit on a school break in October, but she’s not committing to a day to visit the other. She’s really familiar with the campus, and OK with it, so I think she doesn’t feel much urgency. I just worry that she is tipping her hat to it, but might freak out if it turns out to be her only option (it is the absolute dead safety on her list). I guess that will have to play out …</p>
<p>On the other hand, she is 100 times happier than she’s ever been, having a wonderful summer, picking up on her responsibilities, really good company. I can’t complain. She’s even cleaning out her room (what would be a 2 day job for me that’s taking her 2 months, but I can live with that).</p>
<p>I would like to say that one of the most gratifying experiences with these teenagers is talking to adults who really like them, and value them, people who are truly good friends to your kid. She’s got a passel of them, and she knows how much that means. She’s also the kind of person that insecure, crabby people tend to target, so these approving, inspiring adults are even more valuable to her. </p>
<p>This is a kid who does know what looking for meaning in her life is all about. I’m very proud of her. I know this year will be so, so hard, but I am really looking forward to it. </p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. Nice chatting with you all.</p>
<p>I would love it if we would visit a college and SOMETHING about it would either light up my son or turn him off completely. We’ve seen over a dozen colleges now and he sees something he likes at every single one. Somehow he’s going to have to narrow down his list! </p>
<p>Right now I’m at a hotel near RIT where son is participating in a program called Colleges and Careers. He’s spending the night at a dorm. We’ll see if this techy school lights him up!</p>
<p>On cost, we have three or four schools in the 35 to 41 (I think), one OOS with tuition of 28, and 5 Canadian schools with tuition between 6 and a bit below 10 (these would be higher if ShawD were not a Canadian citizen but would be lots less than OOS in the US). We’ve fully saved for college and plan to pay for professional schools if desired. I’d think that for many PhD grad school, students’ tuition and expenses are covered by scholarship or teaching/research assistantships, etc.</p>
<p>As far as the LOA from West Point is concerned, my understanding is that it’s not 100% certain that she’s in, but as long as she passes the physical, secures a nomination and finishes up the rest of the application, it’s very, very likely. The free education comes with the price of five years of your life serving in the military. D has been nursing a stress fracture which prevented full participation at SLS. Today was the first day she said it hasn’t hurt since mid-May, so I’m hoping she’s going to receive a clean bill of health soon and start training for XC.</p>
<p>Kathiep, my son is similar. Every school seems fine to him. He doesn’t noticenthe surroundings at all. Has no preferences or at least none he is willing to reveal. When he does have a slightly negative reaction, he cant won’t explain it. So the list just grows…</p>