Carnegie Mellon University - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Allegheny County may be one of the most elderly counties in the nation, but that doesn’t make Pittsburgh any less of a college town. With Pitt right down the street and Duquesne and Chatham nearby, lots of local stores are tailored to college crowds. There are more than enough coffee shops, and during school year, Forbes or Fifth Avenue is always good for a concert, party, restaurant, or bar. In addition, the residential neighborhoods of Squirrel Hill and Shadyside are nice complements to Oakland’s college atmosphere. These nearby areas offer students some variety in upscale dining and shopping. For the adventurous student, downtown Pittsburgh has a lot to offer. Unfortunately, however, downtown does not offer the same youth and cultural scene as larger cities like New York or Chicago.

There are always activities going on in the area, ranging from sporting events to plays, rock concerts to symphonies, and wild clubs to romantic dining. Despite the large quantity of events happening nearby, many students are disappointed to find out just how small of a city Pittsburgh actually is. Begin to explore the area slowly. The amount of entertainment in Pittsburgh is limited, and trying to run through it all leaves little resources for the future.
 

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Students Speak Out

CMUJK says: Carnegie Mellon University 2016 Business

The atmosphere in Pittsburgh is... The atmosphere in Pittsburgh is definitely dull unless the Steelers win the Super Bowl, which I was lucky enough to enjoy. Stay away from dark alleys in the wee hours of the morning for obvious reasons. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 16, 2009 Report

CMUKC says: Carnegie Mellon University 2016 Math and Statistics

Pittsburgh is a very eclectic... Pittsburgh is a very eclectic city. In the city, there are a lot of small music venues if you are into live music. Also, the Carnegie Museum is a fun place to visit along with Andy Warhol museum. University of Pittsburgh is right down the street and no more than a 15-minutes walk. There are a lot of places to shop and eat in this neighborhood along with many other districts in the city—all with their own personality. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 03, 2009 Report

angelicdevil1614 says:

Pittsburgh is a nice city, if you... Pittsburgh is a nice city, if you can find the time to leave campus to go explore it. You get into the museums for free, and food in the college area Oakland is half off after 10. Pitt is nearby, but we usually don't interact with them at all. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 02, 2009 Report

CMUFS says: Carnegie Mellon University 2016 Other

The atmosphere is varied. I... The atmosphere is varied. I generally like it. There are lots of things to do if you look, including shopping places, outdoor activities, clubs, bars, and free museums. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 02, 2009 Report

CMUIF says: Carnegie Mellon University 2016 Other

There are a lot of other colleges... There are a lot of other colleges in Pittsburgh, and it's nice to be able to meet people from them. Pittsburgh has a lot of cool museums, a lot of which you can get into for free with your student ID. Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are both really cute neighborhoods, and there is a lot to do as long as you're willing to go out and find it. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 02, 2009 Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Pittsburgh:
• In addition to being called one of America’s most livable cities, Pittsburgh is also known as the City of Champions, thanks to its legendary sports teams.
• Pittsburgh is a beer town. Home to a number of breweries, the city makes its local favorite, Iron City, right here.
• The Mothman Prophecies, Dogma, Silence of the Lambs, The Wonder Boys, Kingpin, Night of the Living Dead, Inspector Gadget, Smart People, Adventureland, and and many more movies were ?lmed here.
• If you like nice stadiums, Pittsburgh has two of them. Both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Steelers have two state-of-the-art facilities on the North Shore.
• The Duquesne Incline and the Monongahela Incline are cable cars that run up the side of Mt. Washington and provide riders with a fantastic view of the city.

Famous Pittsburghers:
Christina Aguilera
Gene Kelly
George Benson
Henry Mancini
Rachel Carson
Dennis Miller
Perry Como
Mr. Rogers
Stephen Foster
Gertrude Stein
Jeff Goldblum
Andy Warhol
Ahmad Jamal
August Wilson
Michael Keaton

Local Slang:
Pop – what a Pittsburgher calls soda
Yinz/yunz – rumored to have originated from “you ones;” similar meaning as “y’all”
Gumband – rubber band
Red up – to clean up

Most Recent Contributing Author

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Major: Creative Writing, Professional Writing

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