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Who are the Pitt Pathfinders?
We’re student ambassadors, about 140 of us, who you will meet when you visit the University of Pittsburgh. We work in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid and are representatives at visitor programs. We give campus tours and we are telephone contacts for students during their college search.
The following is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions that we hear. And while conducting about 4,200 walking tours annually, we answer a lot of questions! Feel free to contact us if there is something else that we can help you with.
How does advising work at Pitt?
Every student has their own advisor. A student will initially have a general advisor for freshman year who will guide them through their first year here at Pitt. After the student selects a major, the student is then assigned a department-specific advisor who will provide insight within that department. If a student feels compelled to take on multiple majors/minors, he or she will have multiple advisors to see that all of the requirements for each program are satisfied in addition to providing moral support.
There are many academic resource programs in place here on campus for those students requiring some additional support in their studies. First and foremost, students should take advantage of their professor’s office hours which are at least four hours each week outside of class time. Students requiring more specific assistance should seek out a personal tutor from the Academic Resource Center (ARC). The ARC provides one-on-one peer tutoring, as well as seminars based on developing good study habits, note taking skills, and even personal finance tips. We also have a Math Assistance Center (MAC), a physics and chemistry “fish bowl” where upperclassmen and graduate students will be stationed for answering subject-specific questions, and a Writing Center.
What kinds of internship opportunities are available at Pitt?
Pitt offers many internship and cooperative education programs with a variety of companies inside and outside of the greater Pittsburgh area. The Career Services Office helps students find a suitable match with their interests. Advisors are a great place to start discussing your options. Many of these positions will even compensate students participants for their time—a great way to supplement college expenses!
What is the University Honors College like?
The University of Pittsburgh’s Honors College is unlike many typical university honors programs. Here at Pitt, we like to say that everyone at the university is a part of the honors college. The honors program here at Pitt is geared towards providing students who are “intellectually curious” the opportunity to quench their thirst for knowledge. The UHC, as the slogan goes, emphasizes “life above the neck.” Honors courses are not necessarily more difficult; rather, they are a resource for students to examine disciplines in greater depth.
Does Pitt have opportunities for undergraduate research?
Pitt is well known nationally for its undergraduate research programs. Students interested in seeking research as an undergraduate will have no problem finding a project, at any time of the year, that fits their interests. You can even get involved as early as your freshman year. With the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center combined with tremendous variety of companies in the area, the possibilities are endless. Many undergraduate research opportunities are initiated merely by talking to professors and showing interest in their field. Many professors are more
than happy to accept a student volunteer in their research lab which can often lead to a paid position.
What is the food like?
Despite all of the rumors about college food, Pitt’s Dining Services offers a variety of tasty choices to suit your appetite anywhere on campus and off.
The variety is impressive:
- subs, pizza, burger, smoothies in the Schenley Café in the William Pitt Union,
- sushi, bistro salads and a deli in the Cathedral Café,
- pastas cooked to order in the Peterson Events Center,
- vegetarian, kosher, pan-Asian and much more in Market Central in the heart of the Towers.
Also, there is a nice selection of really good local restaurants that accept Panther Funds which allows students to use their Pitt ID as a debit card.
Believe me. There is something for everyone!
How safe do you feel on campus?
Pittsburgh is considered one of the nation’s safest cities and the Pitt campus (where almost every building can be locked down at the press of a button by the Pitt police department) reflects that same characteristic. Our campus police are very visible, on foot, in cars and on bicycles. More than 500 police call boxes are located throughout campus and connect directly to the Campus Police. Our residence halls have 24/7 security and nobody, and I mean nobody, gets past them without signing in with their Pitt photo ID. We have SafeRider, a shuttle service that is available 24/7, as well.
What kinds of study abroad opportunities are there for Pitt students?
Lots. Roughly 20% of Pitt students participate in a study abroad program before graduation. This is almost double the national average! Study abroad is highly encouraged here regardless of your major and our programs span the globe. They include programs in Mongolia, China, Brazil, Germany, and India to name a few. Many scholarships are available for studying abroad; all you have to do is ask and apply. International opportunities range in duration anywhere from two weeks to a full semester and even a year abroad. The possibilities are endless!
What are Living/Learning Communities?
Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) provide students with an academically integrated living environment.
Everyone living in one of these communities will be surrounded by peers within their community’s theme. This allows students a great opportunity to work together on projects and homework throughout the year. Also, many social events are planned on the floor geared towards the LLCs subject. These communities
are available for engineers, the Honors College, nursing, business, and various languages just to name a few.
How easy is it to get home during the semester and over breaks?
Believe it or not, we are going to want to come home now and then. Of course we miss you, but we also may want to see our old friends, bring back some food, supplies, and get our laundry done. Whatever the reason, there are many ways to travel home. First, the Pitt campus is very close to downtown, so the Amtrak Train Station and the Greyhound bus terminal are easily accessible. The Pittsburgh International Airport is about a 45-minute bus ride away with a Pitt ID. All three offer great reduced fare programs for students. If your family lives in the greater Pittsburgh area, remember that students can ride the PAT public transportation system free of charge with their Pitt ID.
For the Thanksgiving, winter and spring recesses, the University of Pittsburgh offers the Buses Home for the Holidays option to 14 select destinations in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Greatly reduced fares for one way and round trip are available. See the Buses Home for the Holidays webpage for more information.
There is also an informal ride-sharing network for travel home. Students can check the campus bulletin boards for travel info, or post their own request. We have students from all over the country here and ride-sharing can be a great cost saving option. You can split fuel and toll costs with someone who is
already heading your direction. The only risk might be spending six hours
in a car with someone who doesn’t share the same taste in music as you…
Should my son/daughter bring a car to school?
Pitt is known for excellence in many areas, but parking is not one of them. Besides, you don’t need a car around here. Consider bringing a bike, (lots of trails throughout neighboring Schenley Park) but avoid bringing a car. The campus is small enough (132 acres) to navigate from end to end on foot. Plus, the campus shuttle and SafeRider system can get you anywhere on campus you may want to go 24/7. And, don’t forget, students can ride public transportation throughout the county free.
Do students tend to bring laptops or desktop computers?
Personal preference, plain and simple. Each has their pros and cons.
Some students like to use their laptops to take notes in class. Taking the laptop to the library can also be helpful when doing a research paper, for example. On the other hand, a desktop is less likely to “walk away” if you make the mistake of leaving it unattended for a while.
Currently there are 36 locations on the campus where students can access the Pitt wireless network. An additional six locations offer partial access.
How long does it take to get from class to class?
The campus is actually quite compact, only 132 acres, so getting from one end of campus to another is quite simple, maybe no more than a 10-12 minute walk apart. Of course, the university shuttles can get you where you need to go in case you don’t feel like walking. Take a look at this campus map.
How long are the classes?
Classes typically meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for 50 minutes per session. Other classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays for 75 minutes each. Evening classes usually meet once per week for two-and-one-half hours.
How many credits do students typically take?
Depending on the curriculum, a full-time student usually enrolls in between 12-15 credit hours per semester. More ambitious students sometimes take 16-18 hours. Enrollment beyond 18 credits is less frequent and also carries a surcharge per credit.
What do students do on weekends?
Where do I start? I can’t even begin to scratch the surface. First of all, there are lots of things going on on-campus, but first, I’ve learned that before going anywhere, I make every attempt to stay on top of my homework obligations. (It’s true. If you are going to succeed at Pitt, you will learn that you cannot afford to get too far behind.) Let’s see… first-run movies, speakers, live theater (performed by Pitt students), concerts (the Men’s Glee Club, or a performance at the Jazz Hall of Fame), an art show in the Frick art museum, a table tennis or pool tournament, and of course Panther football or basketball. Plus, there are all of the clubs and organizations that are available here. And off-campus, the City of Pittsburgh is just full of fun things to do; national touring companies of Broadway shows, concerts, symphony, ballet, the zoo and aquarium, professional sports, malls, museums, and many of these things are either within walking distance, or a short free bus ride away. Speaking of
free, many off-campus cultural events carry no charge or are very inexpensive with my Pitt ID. The PITTArts Program does an excellent job of connecting students to events that are going on in and around the city.
What clubs do you belong to?
There are literally hundreds from which to choose . . . newspaper, yearbook, comic book club, Greek life, academic or social . . . the list is practically endless. And to top it off, if Pitt does NOT offer something to your liking, students can start their own official organization with only 10 members!
What’s your favorite part about Pitt?
Choosing just one favorite is difficult! But we enjoy the choices we have here - academics, housing, activities, athletics, meals, support services, study abroad, and many more. There are so many wonderful experiences that we have enjoyed here at Pitt, and we look forward to more in the future. Having a Pitt education has been totally exciting and fulfilling so far.
Siobhan Huggins-Sullivan, President sah46@pitt.edu Howell, NJ/Athletic Training & Physical Therapy
Mia Dragoslovich, Director, New Hire Training mid10@pitt.edu Center Township, PA/Psychology
Amanda Burger, Vice President amb109@pitt.edu West Middlesex, PA/Clincal Dietetics/Nutrition
Sammi Reisser, Director, Tours sar40@pitt.edu Mechanicsburg, PA/Mathematics
Christina Ramos, Director, Finance & Telerecruiting cer16@pitt.edu Lake Elsinore, CA/ History of Art & Architechture/Anthropology
Adam Short, Director, Recruitment Programs afs9@pitt.edu Apollo, PA/Communication
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