Everything freshmen at Pitt should now know
And if you don’t, we got you
Going to college is a huge change – everyone can agree to that. New bed, new environment, new people, and worst of all a whole new bathroom that you have to share with strangers. There are also new things to learn including time management, how to sit in a desk for longer than 50 minutes at a time, and where not to eat.
There are some rules at Pitt that are not explicitly told to you and you must figure out on your own. For some, these things are figured out quickly (probably with the help of upperclassmen). For some, they leave Pitt not even knowing. Luckily for you all, I’m here to share some of these well-kept secrets with you.
You can actually use your swipes in market
It’s a typical misconception to believe that your meal swipes can only be used to enter Market Central. In reality, they can be used in the back corner of Market To Go, where you can get an entree, two sides, and a small water bottle for one swipe.
Your dining dollars do, in fact, carry over
Many a student will argue that neither dining dollars or meal swipes will carry over or get them mixed up. The truth is, in fact, that dining dollars that carry over.
There’s a gym in the William Pitt Union that is far better than the Towers gym
WPU? Gym? Where?! There is a pretty nice gym on the third floor on the Union. It has ellipticals, treadmills, bikes, dumbbells, mats, and space. It’s quite a step up from Towers gym, if you ask anyone.
You should get a PNC card
Banking is always a lovely problem. There are pretty much zero other banks around here, so PNC is your guy. I never got a PNC card, so to withdraw money I have to go to Rite Aid and buy something. That can be a drag, so I suggest getting a PNC card if you want to make your life easier, and withdraw cash without a $3 fee.
No matter how much tuition goes up, the Market food will never get better
Since the university would rather fund unused TVs than nutrition, we get the short end of the stick with food. Better get used to plastic pizza and maggot-filled pasta. The good news is, Market To Go has nutritious, packaged food.
The good thing is, students can actually work at Market!
Though it may not be the healthiest, at least it can get you the money to head over to IGA. Students can work at Market with benefits including free meals during shifts, weekly paycheck and a flexible schedule along with competitive wages (according to Pitt Dining Services website). Interested? Apply here.
Almost anything on campus counts for OCC credit
If you’re invited to a Glee Club concert on Sunday afternoon and you have nothing else to do, go! Almost anything that happens on campus that is sponsored by the university counts for the OCC credit. In case you don’t know what OCC means, its the Out of the Classroom Curriculum.
The people who work at Common Grounds are the nicest
I shamelessly have a frequent “Coffee Frequence Card,” and it’s because the women who work there are the sweetest. They remember my name, remember my order, and if I forgot to bring my card, they’ll give me an extra punch on my card the next time I’m there. If you want quality service, head over to Towers lobby.
The people who work at Market To Go are also the nicest
If you can’t find something you want, you can request it (if you’re super friendly with the employees) and someone will go check and see if they have it. If not, they will order it for the next shipment. Try it out before you tell me that Market To Go is shit.
Have any more Pitt hacks? Tell us! Contact Erica Spaeth at [email protected].