I was looking for a medium-sized school in the Midwest or east coast, as well as an accessible urban campus where I would be able to do things outside of the school. Pitt checked all the boxes and I fell in love with the campus when I visited for the first time.
Course Curriculum
There are thousands, of course, offerings (a perk of a larger public school) with specific concentrations for every interest. Sometimes this means that classes are not offered when you want to take them or end up being very large.
Exams
I took the SAT and ACT, only one was necessary for admissions but I wanted to get a range and see if I was better at one or the other.
Placement
The career development office and university staff put on tons of career fairs and networking opportunities for students looking for jobs. There are also many jobs on campus or in the general area for students working while in school.
Internship
Yes, internships are often a requirement for field work for specific majors and minors. I have completed 600 hours at the placement of my choosing as part of my degree, which equates to 12 credit hours. I do not receive a stipend.
Fees
All fees are included in a lump sum of tuition payment. This includes a bus pass, tuition, wellness fees, student insurance, etc.
Examination Structure
Finals week is structured to have exams in two-hour time blocks from Monday through Saturday. Many professors choose to host final exams in the last class meeting time instead of coming in during the assigned time. Midterm exams are less regulated and more spread out.
Faculty
All of the staff are extremely knowledgeable in their fields and most are accomplished in research or external career choices.
