Academics
Pittsburg State University in southeast Kansas is an 鈥渁ffordable鈥 smallish school 鈥渨ith a bigger university atmosphere.鈥 Career-oriented majors such as business and education are particularly strong. Electronics engineering technology and some other technology-related programs boast career placement rates of 100 percent. 鈥淪tudents love the small class sizes鈥 at PSU. They tell us that 鈥渢he classes challenge you enough to keep going to class but they aren鈥檛 too hard that you stay up all night studying and are overwhelmed with homework.鈥 Many professors are 鈥渧ery knowledgeable鈥 and 鈥渆njoy what they are doing.鈥 They are 鈥渁lways more than willing to help鈥 outside of class as well. However, 鈥渋t seems some teachers would rather be somewhere else.鈥 鈥淢y professors are awesome in the nursing department and the psychology department,鈥 reports a nursing major. 鈥淏ut over the years, I鈥檝e had some really not-so-awesome professors.鈥 The administration here 鈥渨orks fast and effectively if there is ever a problem鈥 and seems generally beloved.
Student Body
A lot of students come to Pitt State 鈥渇rom the Kansas City area.鈥 Many others come 鈥渇rom farms鈥 and rural hamlets around Kansas. 鈥淚 come from a town of 1,200 people so this is a big change for me,鈥 mentions a sophomore. Ethnic diversity isn鈥檛 much, though there are 鈥渜uite a few international students.鈥 There are many 鈥渙lder are wiser鈥 nontraditional students as well. The typical PSU student was 鈥渇amiliar with several students prior to enrollment鈥 and is 鈥渨rapped up in college life.鈥 That student is also 鈥渧ery friendly鈥 and pretty extroverted. 鈥淚f you aren鈥檛 social, this probably isn鈥檛 a great choice,鈥 advises a sophomore. 鈥淓veryone is outgoing here.鈥
Campus Life
Some students call Pitt State鈥檚 compact campus 鈥渂eautiful.鈥 Others say that it 鈥渃ould be prettier鈥 and note that some of the residence halls are as 鈥渙ld as dirt.鈥 Parking is a serious complaint as well. Students report 鈥渁 wide variety of activities鈥 on campus. 鈥淚 am amazed at the number of groups represented at Pitt considering the small overall population,鈥 says one senior. 鈥淢ost everyone fits in somewhere.鈥 There鈥檚 a smattering of Greek life. The bar scene isn鈥檛 bad and 鈥減artying鈥 is a pretty common pastime. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what night it is,鈥 promises a senior, 鈥測ou can find a party.鈥 鈥淧SU: out-drinking your school since 1903,鈥 states a first-year student. Sports of all kinds are also very popular, but the football team is a storied Division II powerhouse and it definitely dominates. In the fall, tailgating is reportedly 鈥渉uge鈥 and 鈥渇ootball is the biggest thing going.鈥 Off campus, the 鈥渟mall,鈥 鈥渞ural鈥 surrounding town is cheap and very safe but 鈥渢here isn鈥檛 a whole lot鈥 in the way of commercial activity. Kansas City is a reasonable drive for students looking for urban fare.
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