University of Pittsburgh
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Philosophy. I find holding classes in the upper floors of the Cathedral of Learning is a great way to provoke discussions of mortality.
- Medicine. My researchers developed the polio vaccine and the Mr. Yuk label for poisonous substances. Doctors at my med school have also pioneered everything from organ transplantation to medically induced hypothermia, which helps patients recover more quickly from traumatic injuries.
- Basketball. The student section—a.k.a. The Zoo—really brings the heat.
- Study abroad. Programs abroad and volunteerism are big. I sponsored the Semester at Sea program from 1981–2006.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Steeler Pride. Six rings and counting.
- Half-price menus after 10:00PM at all of the Oakland restaurants.
- O fries. Dump some vinegar on 'em. You'll love it.
- Study time in The Cathedral commons. For when you need to study, but you want to look like Hermione Granger doing it.
- An umbrella. It rains more here than it does in Seattle. After a year, you'll barely notice.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- Michael Chabon. Ever heard of the movies Wonder Boys or Spider-Man 2? How about those books The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay or The Mysteries of Pittsburgh? Chabon wrote 'em and we love him.
- I'm the backdrop for big blockbusters and little indies alike. The Road, The Dark Knight Rises, and Dawn of the Dead were all filmed here. That last one is why Pittsburgh is known as the zombie capital of the U.S.
- Mr. Rogers' actual neighborhood is right next door. Won't you be my neighbor?
- Carnegie Museum of Natural History. It's right across the street and home to the world's largest collection of Jurassic dinosaur bones.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
I'll be all over the place, doing pretty much anything, anywhere. The city (and especially the Oakland, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods) is your campus. Concerts, movies, and amazing food are all within arm's reach. Or close to it.
Favorite Hangouts:
- Phipps Conservatory. Beautiful, free with your student ID, and eighty degrees inside during winter. What's not to love?
- Hillman Library. Also known as "Club Hillman," or where you go when you want to make a show of studying without actually getting much done.
- Looking to escape the concrete jungle? Walk five minutes to Schenley Park and you're instantly surrounded by 456 acres of wooded trails. There's a good chance you'll run into a wild turkey or two, as well as an odd staircase in the side of a hill.
- Peterson Events Center. Or "the Pete." This is where you can catch a basketball game with a revved-up audience or hit the rec center for a workout.
- Schenley Plaza. When the sun makes an appearance (cruelly right around finals), everyone you've ever seen on campus (and a lot of people you haven't) will hit the plaza at full force.
- Hemingway's. Get a Yuengling and pita chips now and thank me later.
- Flagstaff Hill. Great for sledding on lunch trays in winter or watching movies in the park in summer.
Quirks:
- Graduation happens in April, which is about a month earlier than most schools. What does that mean for you? A thirty-day head-start on getting a great job before your peers.
- There's also quite a bit of scholarship and grant money to be earned beyond your freshman year. Take advantage of departmental resources to get the most bang for your buck.
Famous Alumni:
- John Irving, author
- Mike Ditka, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Gene Kelly, Academy Award-winning performer
- Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize-winning environmentalist and political activist