I’m a high school senior and was accepted to Pitt (I didn’t apply to honors college), and I am waiting on my admissions decision for PSU Schreyer. I want to pursue medicine and wonder how much access I would have to opportunities to gain clinical hours at Pitt w/o honors vs. Penn State SHC.
Pitt is located in Pittsburg where there are a lot of hospitals. Plenty of opportunity for shadowing etc.
But remember, a lot of medical school aspirants do their shadowing and volunteer time during their school vacations.
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If you want to pursue honors later know that “As an upper-division student, you can apply to the Honors Degree program to enhance the learning you’re already participating in.”
The limiting factor for gaining clinical hours is your ability to schedule it, in other words time.
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A lot of students shadow during school breaks.
I believe you can take honors classes at Pitt even if you are not in honors.
I have not seen PSU so cannot comment but have been to Pitt a few times and there does not seem to be a shortage of volunteer opportunities.
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Psu Schreyer is one of the top Honors colleges in the country, with incredible opportunities (including for top freshman premeds an option for a paid summer internship in Hershey where you shadow various doctors and surgeons.) However out of 8,000 freshmen on the UP campus only 300 are admitted to Schreyer, so if you have the opportunity to attend take it but don’t expect to get in.
Pitt will let you apply to take individual Honors classes (it’s NOT the same as being in the Honors college but does offer smaller classes and more interactive or in-depth material.) Avail yourself of that opportunity+apply for living learning communities to create a supportive environment.
In short : if admitted to Schreyer, take the opportunity (and congratulate yourself).
If not, use the opportunities at Pitt.
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I think you should wait until you hear about Schreyer to make a decision. If you are admitted to Schreyer, I think the advantages of that exceptionally strong honors program outweigh the greater clinical opportunities in Pittsburgh. If you aren’t admitted to Schreyer, Pitt is probably the better choice and as mentioned above, you can still take honors classes there.
ETA: Cross posted with @MYOS1634
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I’ll take a different side. Which school do you want ? They are not the same - PSU is large and gorgeous - walking toward Old Main is just super cool. But PSU is in the middle of nowhere. Pitt is a city campus but is campus and in society.
Which is better for you?
Honors colleges are not all the same. Have you looked at the requirements PSU has a senior thesis - are you interested ? Smaller classes, extra lectures.
Honors colleges are different everywhere. See if the enrichment actually matches your desire. Many kids apply at some, but not all schools, because if this. Or many get in and don’t take advantage when they realize they’re not interested.
Yes, you’ll have access to better advising, programs etc.
But being in Schreyer won’t get you to med school and not being in won’t keep you out. Just like at other schools - where they don’t necessarily impact job prospects. You can’t even add Honors Colleges on the online job apps.
Go to the school - Honors or not - that fits you best.
Both are great options - with or without Honors.
Best of luck.
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Pitt Honors has a very loose structure, you can make of it what you want. The main advantage for my daughter has been priority registration for classes. She is super involved (not pre med, pursuing genetic counseling) and has had a TON of opportunities. Having UPMC right near campus is huge, she got an internship this summer and has a job in a lab. All of her pre-med friends have taken advantage of the med center. Lots of related activities too, pre health fraternity, etc. Being in Honors College has nothing to do with getting jobs and internships.
Penn State honors is MUCH more selective. I can’t speak to what you gain from that but they don’t have a world class medical center near campus if I am correct.
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Yeah, the pre-med kids I know that targeted Pitt (a popular choice in those circles) generally cited the sheer density of nearby experience opportunities as a top plus. Not necessarily the only thing that might matter in college choice, but since the OP was specifically asking about this factor, I would think Pitt would score extremely highly.
And as you say, that is unconnected to Honors.
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To answer your question, you have endless opportunities at Pitt to rack up clinic and shadowing hours. It’s incredible the access you have to hospitals, doctors and research jobs. Join Pitt’s AMSA group. Pitt Honors is irrelevant to pre-meds except for priority scheduling. Honors College will not find nor schedule any of the above mentioned opportunities. This is on your own but easy to find.
The bigger question is do you want to literally walk to the hospitals in minutes or take transporation to PSU opportunties. I am not versed on PSU honors opps.
Also, no one calls Pitt UPitt. It’s just Pitt. 
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