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University of Pittsburgh - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.62

Local Atmosphere

A
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Quick Stats

Points of Interest
  • Andy Warhol Museum
  • Benedum Center
  • Carnegie Museums
  • Carnegie Science Center
  • Heinz Field
  • Heinz Hall
  • Kennywood Amusement Park
  • Mattress Factory
  • Pittsburgh Zoo
  • PNC Park
  • PPG Place
  • The Strip District

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Students love the busy city life of Pittsburgh that lacks the stress of being overwhelmed by an area too large to explore. There are so many different things to do and different colleges to interact with that most students have no complaints about the atmosphere in and around campus. In the Oakland area alone, there is enough to do that you can have fun and easily stay within walking distance of Pitt. Exploring other neighborhoods around Pittsburgh is sure to expand your experience of living here tenfold.

One of the main complaints about Oakland is the number of panhandlers. Over time, students figure out that these people are harmless. There are a few areas of the city that you should stay away from, including some parts of East Liberty and the Hill District, for example. Like any city, there are places that you shouldn't go to if you don't know your way around. The few "bad areas" of the city are mostly out of the way, and there's really no reason that students would ever need to go there. These areas are also out of the way so it is unlikely that you will stumble into them accidentally. Nearly every neighborhood has something to offer, from upscale dining and shopping in Shadyside to nightlife and restaurants in the South Side and Station Square and the cultural districts of Downtown and the North Side. Top everything off with three sports teams, the extensive Carnegie Library and museum system, and you have a well-rounded city atmosphere to enhance your college experience.
 

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Pitt Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at University of Pittsburgh

Katieantolik

'15

Literature

5.0
A+

Attractions and Transportation

The University of Pittsburgh is full of beautiful attractions. With a Pitt ID any student can get into the Natural History museum, art museums, and conservatory. Plenty of shopping centers and even the outdoor mall known as the water front is within a short bus ride of the university. Bus fare is also free to all students.

Nov 16, 2011

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Local Atmosphere at University of Pittsburgh

abedane

'15

Chinese Language and Literature

4.6
A

Great for College Students, but Not TOO College-Oriented.

The scene in Oakland is great-you get the feel of being in a city while still being surrounded by fellow college kids. There are plenty of places to eat, both take-out and sit-in, with any type of ethnic food you can think of. The great thing about living in Pittsburgh is that it's not ALL about college there. It's a big city, so there are lots of other things going on not related to the school that you can get involved in if you want to.

The people here are also REALLY nice. I came from DC, and was shocked by how much more polite everyone is. You barely ever hear people honking their horns, every car stops for pedestrians, and people will give you directions to wherever you want to go.

Nov 16, 2011

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Local Atmosphere at University of Pittsburgh

flannelocalypse

'13

Astrophysics

4.6
A

Pitt

There are always plenty of events happening in PIttsburgh from plays to sports games to museums. I can always find something fun to do on the weekend. Pitt has a great Pitt Arts program that is always bringing the students at Pitt a great opportunity to experience the cultural events of Pittsburgh. I always feel safe and welcome at the University of PIttsburgh's campus. The students are friendly (for the most part) and so is most the faculty. Pitt has made my college experience great.

Nov 07, 2011

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • Downtown
  • The Mall at Robinson
  • Monroeville Mall
  • Pittsburgh Mills
  • Ross Park Mall
  • Shadyside Shops
  • South Side Works
  • The Waterfront
Major Sports Teams
  • Pittsburgh Penguins: hockey
  • Pittsburgh Pirates: baseball
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: football
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Cleveland: OH: 2 hours, 30 minutes
  • Philadelphia: PA: 5 hours
Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Pittsburgh:
• Pittsburgh is the only city whose sports teams all share the same team colors: black and gold!
• More than 120 major motion pictures have been filmed in Pittsburgh, including The Silence of the Lambs and Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
• There are 446 bridges in Pittsburgh, earning the city one of its nicknames: City of Bridges.
• Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park is one of the largest in-city parks on the East Coast. It contains plenty of biking and hiking trails, along with an ice rink, swimming pool, and golf course.
• The city boasts 33 colleges and universities, and sees over 100,000 students return to school each fall.

Local Slang:
Gumband – Rubber band
Pop – What a Pittsburgher calls soda
Red up (redd up) – To clean up
Yinz (yunz) – Rumored to have originated from “you ones;” similar meaning as “y’all”

Famous People from Pittsburgh:
Christina Aguilera
Rachel Carson
Annie Dillard
Stephen Foster
Gregg Gillis (Girl Talk)
Jeff Goldblum
Ahmad Jamal
Michael Keaton
Gene Kelly
Dennis Miller
Zachary Quinto
Fred Rogers
George Romero
Gertrude Stein
Andy Warhol
August Wilson

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

AMC at the Waterfront
300 W. Waterfront Dr.
Homestead
(412) 462-6384

Manor Cinemagic Theaters
1729 Murray Ave.
Squirrel Hill
(412) 422-7729

South Side Works Cinema
425 Cinema Dr.
South Side
(412) 381-7335

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Pitt

Name: Courtney Vock

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Major: Creative Non-Fiction Writing

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