The University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg

Date: Jul 26 2011
Major: Psychology (This Major's Salary over time)
Some background, okay… I graduated in spring of 11' with a bachelor of science in psychology. I spent all four years here.

Good about the school: The faculty is generally very competent and friendly. There are always a few exceptions, but, within the psychology department I did not encounter any professor who wasn't helpful, available, or passionate about teaching. The career services department is extremely helpful and willing to meet with anyone to discuss career or further education goals. I can't comment on dorm life because I didn't live in the dorms. The quality of education is average. I can only compare it to the things I have heard from peers at other universities. The connection you can make to the main (Oakland) campus is substantial. I was able to secure a research position by taking credits through the main campus while still enrolled at the Greensburg campus. After two years, anyone can apply to a program at the main campus (many students do this in pharmacy, engineering, etc…)

Now the bad: The horrendous academic advising department. They are not knowledgeable about the majors offered at Greensburg or the Oakland campus. They force you to come with your own class list of what you want to take the next semester, and will only give you help if you have one prepared. You will be assigned a faculty advisor as a junior (mine was an english professor… please note my major). Social life is what you make of it. Sure, there aren't many things to do in Greensburg, but, there are a few decent bars and sports bars in the area, and, Pittsburgh is less than an hour away. Extracurriculars and intramural sports are lacking and badly organized.

To summarize, the school is what you make of it. Most likely, the people that are complaining and rating it poorly are students who didn't take advantage of it's resources, did not make connections to the Oakland campus, did not attend class and therefore received poor grades, or had a pre-conceived notion of what college life was going to be like there, among other things.