Impressions of Pittsburgh after a first-time visit (Indiana, Edinboro: environment, military)

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by goodgirl49

He first lived on the North Shore in Allegheny Center apartments when he started there in the fall of 2001. They didn't have housing in the downtown area at that time. He felt fairly safe living there, but one thing he didn't like was that some of students were pranksters and would throw things out of the upper windows in the building and they would sometimes hit the cars below. He asked for a covered parking spot for this reason.

Overall, he did enjoy the city. He made friends and we already had relatives there, so he was already somewhat familiar with it, even though we live in LA. After 6 years there, his main gripes were with the limited job opportunities, and the winters were starting to get to him. He sure doesn't miss scraping ice off his car at 7 AM to get to work. I think your son will like it, as it's certainly nothing like NY, but different from Charlotte. It's worth going to a different environment for awhile. You will only be about an hour plane ride away from him.

Do you think that your son was impressed by what he saw there? If not, there are a few other AI schools in the south, but the one in Pittsburgh is the most established, and this mattered to my son.

Also, was your son a recent high school grad when he first went to Pittsburgh, or an older student?

[goodgirl49]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Thanks for refreshing my memory about your sons experience

From what I understand the Allegheny Center is being fazed out by the new housing called "Miller Hall"right around the corner from the AI. Sure wish we had a relative or two in the area, that would make me feel better about being 8 hours away from him. He did like what he saw of the city and the school itself. He has the same feeling about going to Pittsburgh over any other location as your son did

Well then, I wish him luck there! I wish that they had the downtown housing when my son was there. I forgot to add that he stayed in the school sponsored housing for 5 quarters, which was about halfway thru his program. He was allowed to stay out one quarter without his tuition being raised, so he came home for the winter quarter of 2003. When he went back to Pittsburgh that spring he moved into an apartment on Mt. Washington where he stayed until moving back home about a month ago. Overall, he liked living by himself better and it was NOT more expensive than sharing student housing with 2 other people. The school really made a tremendous profit on housing!

What does your son plan to major in? My son went for Graphic Design.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by goodgirl49

Well then, I wish him luck there! I wish that they had the downtown housing when my son was there. I forgot to add that he stayed in the school sponsored housing for 5 quarters, which was about halfway thru his program. He was allowed to stay out one quarter without his tuition being raised, so he came home for the winter quarter of 2003. When he went back to Pittsburgh that spring he moved into an apartment on Mt. Washington where he stayed until moving back home about a month ago. Overall, he liked living by himself better and it was NOT more expensive than sharing student housing with 2 other people. The school really made a tremendous profit on housing!

What does your son plan to major in? My son went for Graphic Design.

I like the idea of the downtown housing too, so convenient to the school. Since my son is the last one at home, and has been for a few years, he's not used to sharing space or a bathroom any more, lol. This makes him dread having a roommate. I think having to have one will be a good experience for him, but ultimately I bet he will end up in a place by himself like your son. Since he won't have a car I do want him to have places he can safely walk to for eating or shopping. We liked what we saw of Mt. Washington and wondered if students lived there at all. My son could have gone in a couple of different directions for a major but has decided his biggest interest is in digital media. He loves web design, but has won awards for his digital photography. I am sure he'll be guided in the right direction once he actually starts classes and gets a feel for things.

Hey another question...do you have an opinion about starting mid quarter versus full quarter? The mid quarter sounds like a good way to get your feet wet with only 2 classes to worry about at first.

[Katiana]

My DD went to a different college, but was in a similar situation as your son. She was not used to sharing a room or bath. Eventually, she became an RA so she could have a room to herself. She was much happier that way. She now rooms with a male roommate (friend, not boyfriend) in a 2 BR apt. It's really good if they can have their own rooms, I think.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

My DD went to a different college, but was in a similar situation as your son. She was not used to sharing a room or bath. Eventually, she became an RA so she could have a room to herself. She was much happier that way. She now rooms with a male roommate (friend, not boyfriend) in a 2 BR apt. It's really good if they can have their own rooms, I think.

So funny you should mention that as this is exactly what he is already thinking of doing, LOL. Lord help him if he ever had to be in the military and sleep in bunks with several dozen other soldiers or something!

Was your daughter in school in Pittsburgh?

[guylocke]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70 View Post
My DD went to a different college, but was in a similar situation as your son. She was not used to sharing a room or bath. Eventually, she became an RA so she could have a room to herself. She was much happier that way. She now rooms with a male roommate (friend, not boyfriend) in a 2 BR apt. It's really good if they can have their own rooms, I think.
So funny you should mention that as this is exactly what he is already thinking of doing, LOL. Lord help him if he ever had to be in the military and sleep in bunks with several dozen other soldiers or something!

Was your daughter in school in Pittsburgh?

I did the same exact thing at Duquesne. My first year I personally requested a "single" of which there are VERY few on campus. I actually got one!! It was AMAZING. After my freshmen year, the campus made a new policy that only students with disabilities and or medical conditions can qualify for the few singles.

I got lucky!!

The following year I became an RA.

WOOT!!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by guylocke

I did the same exact thing at Duquesne. My first year I personally requested a "single" of which there are VERY few on campus. I actually got one!! It was AMAZING. After my freshmen year, the campus made a new policy that only students with disabilities and or medical conditions can qualify for the few singles.

I got lucky!!

The following year I became an RA.

WOOT!!

One concern maybe you can address...did being an RA work against having many friends in the dorm? Were other students afraid to trust you because you might rat them out on stuff?

[guylocke]

One concern maybe you can address...did being an RA work against having many friends in the dorm? Were other students afraid to trust you because you might rat them out on stuff?

Well, I was an RA in a freshman dorm and was a sophomore at that point. You can't be an RA starting as a Freshmen, the school doesn't think your are knowledgeable enough. There is a fairly extensive program you have to complete to become one, and many people will be turned down.

As a sophomore, I already had my network of friends and since I was in a freshman dorm I wasn't very concerned making friends with the freshmen. I don't think it would have been a problem, though, I was considered "the cool" RA in the building... and sometimes the "gay RA"....

oh well, lol, they said it in love.

I think....

[fleetiebelle]

so she could have a room to herself. She was much happier that way.

I don't know, I kind of thought that living in a dorm, sharing a bathroom and living space, was kind of a rite of passage and an important part of college life. Like having siblings, you learn to negotiate and compromise, and those are important life skills.

[guylocke]

I don't know, I kind of thought that living in a dorm, sharing a bathroom and living space, was kind of a rite of passage and an important part of college life. Like having siblings, you learn to negotiate and compromise, and those are important life skills.

I don't think many schools allow freshman to be RA's, so I would bet he would have a roomie for at least one year. I would inquire about "singles" though, most schools have at least some.