Chatham University
Reviews

Friendliness

Each student is willing to help out another student, no matter what. Everyone is very friendly and completely dedicated to helping each other do the best that can be done and accomplished. It is a great place to go to school, because while each student strives to do their best and is competitive, it is not done maliciously.

Green Campus

they have a compost bin in the dining hall and a farm that provides milk and vegetables.

Just a Note

I find the performing arts to be quite poor only because this year the theater department has been done away with, this is nothing to do with the nice souls who have been involved in it year after year doing wonderful pieces.

Chatham Values Mediocrity Over Excellence

Chatham is more focused on building up student enrollment rather than making sure current students are happy. The administration is very good at marketing but unfortunately does not keep their side of the bargain.

Alright, but Not Always Dependable

There's multiple shuttles that take you to Oakland and the Eastside campus. They're really convenient and usually come often; however, there's has been times when they do not come for hours late at night and you're stranded on Pitt's campus until 1 or 2 am. Overall, very good though.

Printing Quota Sucks, Bring Your Own Printer

Every new student gets a MAC computer!!!! Printing quota was reduced from 2000 pages a year to 300 pages a year, which sucks big time!

Wide Variety!

There are a wide variety of food choices available in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill! On Forbes Avenue there are Chinese Food, Italian Food, and Coffee shops nearby!!

Biology

I love the Major I selected and I could have gone to any one of the local universities for a Biology Major. However, I chose Chatham. Just simply requesting information on the Physician Assistant program - Problem-Based Learning, I was immediately invited to sit in on one of the graduate classes. When I arrived, I was overwhelmed with the sincere courtesy from everyone, even the security guard at the door. I was escorted to the class by awesome staff that talked to me, not just led me to the classroom. Inside the classroom, I was quickly invited to participate and welcomed by each of the students. After the class, the instructor set aside time just to talk with me about my goals with college. With me being quite a bit older than the average student, the instructor reassured me that, regardless of my age, I had every reason to reach for my goals. She considered my background of work experience and referred me to programs in the undergraduate program that would enhance my experience and education. She showed me that my "one day" was here, there is nothing that I can't do! All that from a simple visit sparked by an inquiry into the university

Cultural Events

I love our cultural districts and things that go on in the city. I just wish they weren't so hidden! There needs to be more publicity. Being from this city I know more about events than most of the students I go to school with. I wish it wasn't so!

The School Is Great at Marketing but Not at Holding up Their End of the Bargain

The academics are excellent.The teachers are some of the most experienced and educated. Work load from classes can be overwhelming. They often cancel classes due to lack of students. The housing is poor compared to the schools in the area. Campus is much safer than area schools. The food is lacking; undercooked, no meat, and too experimental. It is my belief that the school takes your money but does whatever they want with it without keeping the students in mind. During the winter they hardly ever plow the snow or salt/sand the roads. The roadways are narrow winding and often quite dangerous. You may get the run-around from certain departments while others can be very helpful although, most take a long time to process your things. Bottom line is the reality does not live up to the promise.

"The Chatham Bubble"

Chatham is a truly interesting location because it's a lovely arboretum filled with old mansions and winding paths, in a very safe ritzy neighborhood, smack dab in the middle of Pittsburgh. It's a short walk to multiple shopping centers, and a 5-minute shuttle ride to the busy Oakland area that is home to Pitt University and Carnegie Mellon. You get the lovely nature-filled feel of a school set out in the country, but the city's just a walk away. As someone who feels most at home around lots of trees, yet can't stand the idea of living in the middle of nowhere, it's the ideal balance. And Pittsburgh itself is a great city, with a lively downtown theater district, eclectic shopping strips, and basically anything else you could want.

Individual Attention

Chatham University may be a very small school, but the professors and the amount of individual attention and help they are willing to provide make it a good choice. As a double major in math and music (neither of which are top draws at Chatham), I thought I might have issues being one of sometimes only three students in a class, but the professors take the opportunity to try and engage you on a personal level, and direct class content to your interests. It really helps you get the most of your classes, and leaves you feeling like a student rather than some mass-produced degree-seeking drone. You won't find any 300-student lecture halls and a teacher you can never seem to catch after class in this school.

Great Dining Options!

There are great restaurants nearby in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. There are a variety of options as well such as Chinese, Vietnamese, and Italian. In Oakland, there are more restaurants as well, if you want to travel a little further from campus!

Extremely Safe!

This campus is extremely safe. We have police officers on duty 24/7 and they are always patrolling the campus. There is very little campus crime. We are an open campus so sometimes cars get broken into. Items have been stolen from the laundry facilities in dorms but it's mostly because students leave their clothes down there alone. I feel very safe walking on this campus alone. The worse crimes that happen by students are drug use and underage alcohol use.

Not Too Strict

This campus really isn't that strict. There is an 'honor code' but it is not enforced AT ALL! I've seen people break aspects of the honor code and they just get told to 'not do it again'. No one is ever removed from the campus, even if they have tried to harm themselves or others.

Housing Is Expensive

Housing can be expensive, but many of the dorms (aside from the apartments) are renovated mansions. I lived in Fickes which was great, but I shared a bathroom with the whole floor so I plan on moving into the apartments next year. Meal Plans can be expensive and you are still required to purchase a meal plan even if you live in the apartments.

Food Is Ok..

I enjoy being able to have Cafe Rachel to go to in the morning. However I don't like the hours that the dining facilities are open and if you don't like whats for dinner at Anderson (which is a whole other story) then you don't have have a lot of other choices (only the Weathervane which is mostly greasy unhealthy foods). Andersons meals are not always good and even when so I find the food rather fattening. Not many healthy options are available (only a salad bar), and it gets boring eating salad every night..

I suggest stocking your mini fridge with snacks and some food options.. that's what I did because I ended up getting sick of Anderson.

Decent Facilities

The facilities on campus are mostly up to date.. the gym is wonderful and library is great. I love how green the campus is.. however it is not very handicap accessible and some friends have not been able to visit. Also the campus activities are plentiful but there are not a lot of students who show up so it is not as fun and some activities seemed to be aimed at a younger crowd..

Great Teachers

The teachers are all very good and personable, most are willing to help you out and work with you if you need it. Classes are great and small however I wish they had more choices for classes in my major..

Weather

The weather in Pittsburgh is always bringing something new. I often do not know if I should wear a dress or a coat. But in every season, the city is still pretty.

Great Diversity

We have a ton of students from different countries which is great! Also, a lot of lesbians reside on and off campus and professors and other students are very accepting of us. Coming Out week is always a big deal.

Night Life at Chatham University

Chatham's Student Affairs office has organized a ton of activities for students. There are always tickets to plays and concerts being offered. We are located in Pittsburgh and can ride the Port Authority buses for free so we have the city at our fingertips. There are 21+ bars for older students and clubs and parks for the younger crowd.

Athletics at Chatham

Chatham is small so athletics here are small too but still supported. The athletes train long and hard to keep the school honor and pride high. For the non-athletes, there are intramural sports to be involved with! However, although there are plenty of sporting options, majority of the students are not involved

I don't Live on Campus

The dorms seem to fit the needs of the on-campus students.

Culture

There is a lot to do in the surrounding areas of the campus. Very diverse communities offer a variety of interests, religious interests, and cultural activities. There are great museums, libraries, and cultural activities.