The Art Institute of Pittsburgh (rental market, dorms, buy)

[lovesMountains]

Comments good or bad welcomed. Thanks in advance

[goodgirl49]

My son graduated from this school three years ago with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design. They accept most everyone that applies, and a portfolio is not necessary, but a lot of students leave before graduation because they feel that they don't have what it takes to succeed. He said that some of the instructors are good and others not so good. One good thing is that you do an internship your last quarter, which gives you valuable experience, and led to a job in my son's case. You also display your portfolio at your graduation and employers are present and leave their cards, so you do get leads that way. Overall, he felt that it was a good educational experience.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by goodgirl49

My son graduated from this school three years ago with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design. They accept most everyone that applies, and a portfolio is not necessary, but a lot of students leave before graduation because they feel that they don't have what it takes to succeed. He said that some of the instructors are good and others not so good. One good thing is that you do an internship your last quarter, which gives you valuable experience, and led to a job in my son's case. You also display your portfolio at your graduation and employers are present and leave their cards, so you do get leads that way. Overall, he felt that it was a good educational experience.

Thanks so much for the response! I am just trying to figure out if that expensive tuition is really worth it Is your son still in Pittsburgh? Do you feel okay as a mom that he was/is safe living there?

[SteelersFan09]

I have a friend that went there. She enjoyed the school a great deal but hated the Allegheny Center "dorms" they have on the north side for API and PCI students. She told me about how it was common to hear gunshots every night when she had her windows open.

[guylocke]

Really? I had a friend who really liked his time on the northshore and said it has been much safer since all the new development nearby. *shrug* I'm sure girls and guys have a much different perspective on that sort of thing.

[lovesMountains]

Thank you everyone for all your input - I am taking notes as I try to learn as much as possible about your city. My son will not have a car when he goes to school. Can he get along without one if he goes to the art institute or will that be a problem?

[guylocke]

Can he get along without one if he goes to the art institute or will that be a problem?

Most definitely, most of the art students walk from the north shore to their campus. It's probably about a fifteen or twenty minute walk. But I like I told you in my personal messages, there are plenty of other options around town that he can rent that might be a bit closer and safer. They don't require you to live in their housing on the Northshore. He is very close to a grocery store and plenty of entertainment including both the baseball field and the football field. That is all part of the northshore.

[gallacus]

The Art Institute just renovated the Try Street Terminal building in First Side District, which is becoming quite the nice little area of town. The building is now dorms for 650 kids, and there are plans to put street-level retail in on the first floor. I drive right past PNC and the Art Institute dorms every day after work and there's always tons of kids walking to and from their classes. I've never had any experience with the North Side dorms, or if they even still use them, but the dorms in the Try Street Terminal building are really nice and in a good part of town. If you had the choice, I'd definitely try to live in these. On another good note, they are RIGHT across the street from the T station (Pittsburgh's light-rail).

Here's a little article about when they announced the project:
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - News & Calendar

[guylocke]

The building is now dorms for 650 kids

Wow did not know that!

If you had the choice, I'd definitely try to live in these.

I would demand it. :P

[Katiana]

there are plenty of other options around town that he can rent that might be a bit closer and safer.

As a parent of college students myself, I would prefer my freshman in a dorm, rather than at the mercy of the rental market in a strange town. I think there is more safety at least inside the dorms, than if you were in an apt on the N. Shore. College freshmen don't usually have much of an idea of how to run a home. IMO, better to live in the dorms for at least a year, and learn how to do laundry (yes, my kids were doing this for yrs before they went to college, but were surprised at how many others didn't have a clue), buy a few necessary supplies, in general be on your own a little bit. Then, move out into the real thing of cooking, cleaning, etc. This assumes, of course, that the dorms are safe.