Between living in a new place and taking demanding courses, starting college can be daunting at first. Senior students at Pitt University have advice for the slew of new freshmen coming to Oakland.
Eithne Hartnett, a senior majoring in classics and philosophy, advises students to take advantage of all the resources on campus.
“I think it can be so overwhelming to come to college and not know that much, but you have an incredible amount of resources at your disposal and you should make the most of them if possible,” Hartnett said.
Pitt is known for his prestigious STEM courses, and some students have told us that the science programs at Pitt can be challenging at times. Morgan Puglisi, a third-year biology major, believes there are many resources at Pitt to ensure academic success.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Puglisi said. “Many STEM courses are really hard, and here at Pitt there are so many resources to help you succeed. Office hours and peer tutoring in the study lab are a great way to get help or practice concepts you’ve already learned.”
Gaby Papillo, a third-year molecular biology student, also encourages her students to attend office hours.
“(Teaching) can be really hard, and you don’t have to do it alone,” Papillo said. “Even if you don’t have any questions, going to office hours can be really helpful because other people might ask questions you didn’t even know you had.”
Hartnett believes that there are many study spaces on the Pitt campus where students can get their work done.
“Since Hillman is still under construction, my tip is to explore the buildings on campus,” Hartnett said. “Pitt has a lot of study nooks that you would never find on campus. (The) Cathedral is full of study spaces, or the (William Pitt Union). Those are my favorites.”
Restaurants around campus include popular chains like Starbucks, Chipotle, and McDonalds. There are also many popular local businesses like Divvy Coffee and Buns, the Colombian Spot, and Bao. Hartnett recommends that students try out different restaurants near campus to find their favorite restaurant.
“Oakland is great for eating between classes,” Hartnett said. “El Jefe’s and Roots are my go-to places – there’s definitely a lot of good Asian food in Oakland too. Between Forbes and Fifth, you’re sure to find something you like.”
Puglisi said that the students PittEats App and plan accordingly when ordering food at a campus restaurant.
“Download the Pitt Eats app so you can order food in advance from the restaurants in the Pitt buildings,” Puglisi said. “There’s a really long wait at a lot of these places, so it’s helpful to order an hour in advance. The food dollars on your meal plan go quickly. Be careful not to spend all of your dollars in the first week.”
Papillo said her favorite places to eat near campus are Roots, Stack’d and the Colombian Spot. She especially likes the Colombian Spot because she likes several things on the menu.
“I’ll take one of the bowls (at the Colombian Spot),” Papillo said. “I love their plantains, and one of my roommates over the summer has had their empanadas several times and really liked them.”
Puglisi’s favorite neighborhood in the city is Shadyside because of its great restaurants and shopping. Shadyside is also an easily accessible part of the city for Pitt students, as the main access points are further down Fifth Avenue.
“I love going to Shadyside, which is just a few bus stops from campus,” Puglisi said. “There are so many really good restaurants there, like Noodlehead and Urban Tap. There are also a lot of stores where you can buy things for your dorm.”
Living in the dorms can sometimes be an adjustment from the comforts of home. However, Papillo said that living in the dorms can be enjoyable, even if you don’t get along with everyone.
“You don’t have to be best friends with everyone on your floor to enjoy your stay,” Papillo said. “It’s also better to talk to your roommate about the little things before they turn into something big.”
One piece of advice Puglisi would give students is to get out of the dorm every day.
“It’s amazing how much more motivated you feel when you leave your dorm every day,” Puglisi said. “It’s so much easier to study outside of the dorm, and (think of) how much time you save when you don’t have to go there between classes.”
Hartnett believes there are many opportunities on campus for students to take a break from studying – “even little things like attending local workshops and art trips or the farmers market.”
“If you have nothing to do and you’re bored, there’s definitely another way to do something that’s fun and allows you to meet new people,” Hartnett said.
