<p>I’m from Long Island, and I have had similar experiences regarding Pitt’s prestige. Nobody at my high school, including myself, had ever heard of Pitt until the beginning of senior year when I applied there. I didn’t even intend on going there until I got a scholarship and visited the school. I ended up falling in love, and enjoyed a wonderful freshman year there. Regardless of what other people say, Pitt is a great school, even if it is little-known outside of PA. (Once I went off to Pitt, suddenly all of the Ivy-shooting high school seniors started applying there as a “safety.” Ha.)</p>
<p>Within PA, however, I know Pitt is very well known. A good 60% of the people I’ve met at Pitt are from the state. Before moving in, I had to go to a family party out in rural PA, where I was told that Pitt was an Ivy League school. Ha! I don’t think most of PA shares that perception, but my family members are a little backwards…</p>
<p>Anyway, I know it can be unnerving to be treated like your school totally sucks next to all the “great” schools your friends are attending (my high school peers went off to Princeton, Northwestern, UChicago, Columbia, etc…), but Pitt really is an excellent place–and if you’re going there, you know that. Pitt maintains an academic yet home-y and laid back environment, which is why I love it so much. I hope all you entering freshman have a great time because Pitt is so much more than its reputation (or shall I say lack thereof).</p>