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anybody got their financial aid package yet? ths
ouli said:anybody got their financial aid package yet? ths
HSteacher said:No, did you? I think they're gonna start sending them out in May.
funshine said:How generous is the fin aid at Pitt? I've heard they give out pretty good packages the first year, but start skimping each year after that. Is this true?
Didn't read abovewuironl said:Did anyone receive their anticipated reward package yet?
dagst said:Nah! That's just weird rumor. You'll be able to count on pretty much the same living budget year after year. Like I said- expect nothing from the school, it'll all be your gov't loans.
As far as housing, DO NOT buy the "party line" of Shadyside, Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Ruskin... there are a lot of decent areas, just steer clear of Tunnels and Route 28. Both cause major traffic. Parking is available and reasonable on campus. Commuting will get you a nicer pad, esp for the non-traditionals, people with dogs, or if you just don't want to run into your freaky classmates when you're out having a good time. I've lived 10-15 minutes away for the past 7 years and love it up here (Observatory Hill).
dagst said:Nah! That's just weird rumor. You'll be able to count on pretty much the same living budget year after year. Like I said- expect nothing from the school, it'll all be your gov't loans.
As far as housing, DO NOT buy the "party line" of Shadyside, Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Ruskin... there are a lot of decent areas, just steer clear of Tunnels and Route 28. Both cause major traffic. Parking is available and reasonable on campus. Commuting will get you a nicer pad, esp for the non-traditionals, people with dogs, or if you just don't want to run into your freaky classmates when you're out having a good time. I've lived 10-15 minutes away for the past 7 years and love it up here (Observatory Hill).
dagst said:Parking is available and reasonable on campus. Commuting will get you a nicer pad, esp for the non-traditionals, people with dogs, or if you just don't want to run into your freaky classmates when you're out having a good time.
dilated said:It is? Where and how much? I asked a friend who went to Pitt UG and he said he dropped like 350 a semester for a terrible lot up on top of the mountain by Sutherland Hall. Is there a special deal for med students?
Economist said:I disagree. I mean, sure... don't buy the party line. But if you don't live in Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Oakland, or Ruskin, you're not going to be near your classmates. If you don't care about that, then fine. But if you're a person who likes to be social then you're going to be sorry.
And I don't see why you'd want to drive into school every day if you don't have to. Sure, it's possible. But it's so much easier to just use the buses.
SungHyun7 said:hey dagst,
thanks for your input. other than the craigslist, is there any good housing list for pittsburgh? i just want to stay off any major highways and freeways to avoid traffic and driving over ehh... 30mph on snow.
dagst said:I recommended a few neighborhoods specifically for "favorable" traffic patterns and cost of housing: Westview, Ross, BenAvon, Highland Park, Bloomfield, Observatory... pretty much anywhere north or northeast of Pitt. If you've got specific neighborhood questions, hit me up and I'll give you my opinion (whatever that's worth).
funshine said:30-45 minutes just to get to class? Hmm, I think I'd rather live in Oakland within walking distance, even if it means the apartment's going to be crappy. The buses were really crowded when I visited...my hosts said they just "got used to it" but what do you do during those 45 minute busrides? Study for class? Wouldn't you freak out on exam days?
For anyone who's looking: I found the area between Shadyside and Friendship to be quite nice...there are a bunch of condos on Hemingway which you can buy for around 200K, and I believe a lot of doctors and residents live here. I'd check out prudential online, schedule an appt with a realtor and look around for a day before deciding.
JDWflash44 said:I was thinking about the pre-mat program, but all of my friends that are in med school say dont do it. They say these programs don't really help that much and to just take the summer to relax because 1st year is long enough as is. Just what I was told...
Jim
SungHyun7 said:i heard pretty much the same thing. but it's been awhile since some non-traditionals like myself sat on a desk with a textbook open, so we may need to warm up a little bit before the marathon.
dagst said:Sorry if that sounds caustic, but your comment serves only to perpetuate pure crap.
dagst said:You buy parking "cards" (magnetic security cards) at a booth near the Emergency Department. Last year they were 3$ per day- it may have gone up, but expect somewhere around that price. You'll have to show your SOM ID to get your card. The lot is located behing Trees Hall (the old gym)- it's a secure parking garage with shuttle service to the front door of Scaife Hall.
SungHyun7 said:how many % of the first year has a car in pittsburgh?
i'm debating whether to bring my car at all... or maybe just store it somewhere for the third year rotations.
Economist said:I would say over half have cars and it could be more than that... but honestly I'm not sure what the % is. I can only think of a few people I know that don't have cars, so I'm guessing it could be a very high %.
If you have a car, definitely bring it. Pittsburgh is not NYC, SF, Boston, or Philly. Public transportation only gets you so far and it's not exactly a dense city, so you can't just walk to most things.
joyous said:To those who are attending the Pre-matriculation program, are you planning to get housing before or during the program? I saw on the schedule that they have a day devoted to "Housing Search" so I am debating whether to just stay in temp housing (dorm) in the beginning and look for a more permanent housing later.
What are you all doing? Do you think that good housing will be gone by then (late June/July)?
joyous said:To those who are attending the Pre-matriculation program, are you planning to get housing before or during the program? I saw on the schedule that they have a day devoted to "Housing Search" so I am debating whether to just stay in temp housing (dorm) in the beginning and look for a more permanent housing later.
What are you all doing? Do you think that good housing will be gone by then (late June/July)?
joyous said:Thanks for your responses. I would prefer to find housing before the program begins but I don't have the time to look for apts right now. Also, I would like to have a roommate preferably a fellow med student so I'm not sure what to do at this point. Any suggestions?
prana_md said:Some more Pittsburgh-specific rental connections ...
http://www.forbesmanagement.net/
http://www.mozartapts.com/
http://www.walnutcapital.com/
HSteacher said:You may want to stay away from Mozart Apartments. Check out this link I found about them:
http://bandit.pc.cs.cmu.edu/mozart/
bkflaneur said:Has anyone heard anything about financial aid?
ouli said:I called and was told that letters will be mailed out next week (monday). aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrh.. this is making it difficult for me to drop other schools.
prana_md said:Did everyone else get a pitt e-mail account? I was thinking this was how they were going to send financial aid information.
jody1211 said:I know most people here have already been accpeted, wonder if any of you know anything about the waitlist people, is the admission starting to select people from the waitlist pool yet? or is the class filled already?
Economist said:The "short" one is your @pitt.edu address. You'll (very occasionally) get stuff from the university on this... mostly regarding your tuition account. The "long version" that you posted above is your med school account. That's the main email you'll be using.