Academics
Undergrads tell us that The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown "is about having a good college experience at a small campus while growing as a student and person." The school offers "an excellent undergraduate campus to explore scientific fields," as well as engineering and education programs that "have a high success rate." Academics focus on practical experience in most disciplines; as one student explains, "My professors have all worked in the field that they are teaching," which not only "adds validity to what they are teaching," but also means that "they can help students get internships and the experience that they need." Profs here "are generally very accessible," but their teaching can be "hit or miss." One student explains, "Some professors at UPJ are sensational, but others can be total bores. The academic experience in Johnstown is what you make of it. If you want to get the most out of it, you can." Those who succeed in doing so insist that UPJ offers "a small school feel with a big university name" that translates into "a very positive employment rate for graduating students."
Student Body
UPJ undergrads are "hardworking, fun-loving individuals looking to make a difference on campus on way or another." They are "generally from western Pennsylvania," either "from the Pittsburgh or Johnstown-Somerset area," with many "who live nearby in small towns." The school is predominantly Caucasian "so ethnically, it's not very diverse," but this is something that the school is "working on." Additionally, "Many students here are engineering majors," so some find that the school also lacks diversity in terms of areas of interest. One student observes that "The typical student is a walking advertisement for Hollister. It is very preppy here. There aren't a lot of artsy, goth, or other types of people." That said, the atypical students here "fit in by banding in groups in which they recognize and celebrate each others' uniqueness."
Campus Life
The weekends can get pretty boring sometimes at UPJ because "there isn't much to do in Johnstown" and "a lot of students go home on the weekends." As one student observes, "It's a rural atmosphere, so the social life reflects that. It's like choosing between living in the city and living in a small town. UPJ is the small-town choice. The safe and pleasant atmosphere compensates for the lack of nightlife." One perk of the location is that "We get a lot of snow, so many students enjoy going to local ski resorts or sled riding on campus." Students tell us that "there are parties every weekend," but "Although there is a majority of students who like to drink alcohol and party, it is easy to find other students that are not interested in those activities. Just because you don't drink, doesn't mean that you're not going to have any friends here." "The movies and bowling" are "always popular places for students" and it's "hard to go to either location without seeing another group of students from the university."
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