Point Park University is definitely a unique campus. The diversity of the students and faculty create a wonderful atmosphere full of educational opportunities, support and friendship. After just one semester here, I can say I know I have made the right choice choosing Point Park. I can also say I know its quirks that set the university apart from other colleges.
1. People say "Oh, cool," when you announce where you go to school, but really they have no idea what you're talking about.
Duquesne and University of Pittsburgh are the main Pittsburgh colleges everyone is familiar with. Universities such as Point Park, Carlow or Bradford are under appreciated.
2. You're on a first name basis with most of your professors.
Class sizes are similar to a traditional high school classroom with only 20 to 30 students. Professors can get to know and personally help their students in class. The classroom is an education yet laid-back setting at Point Park.
3. You can't go anywhere without seeing someone you know.
Most would think this is quite the contrary given Point Park in located in highly populated and always busy downtown Pittsburgh. However, on such a small campus, it is difficult to go to the dining hall, Point Café, gym or Village Park without running in to someone you know.
4. You leave for class 20 minutes early to ensure an elevator ride in West Penn or Lawrence Hall.
The lines wrap through the lobbies in these buildings with students reluctant to take the stairs. When you finally get an elevator, it's like a game on Tetris attempting to fit as many people as possible.
5. When you do miss the elevator, you've fallen victim to taking the stairs up 6+ flights of stairs.
With classes back to back and only ten minutes in between, it can be difficult to catch an elevator to make it to class on time. Thus, you begin your climb up what feels like Mount Everest. You finally make it to class, and you are forced to quiet your heavy breathing so the kid next to you doesn't think you are going to keel over.
6. "Where's the sixth floor?"
This is a common question to newcomers and students who do not often flock to Thayer Hall. There is no button in the elevators to get off on the sixth floor. One must either get off on the fifth floor and climb up to the sixth or get off on the seventh floor and climb down.
7. "Hug a Hound" is the most exciting email in our inbox. (Besides "Cancelled Class")
For all the dog lovers missing their furry friends from home, and for stressed out college kids everywhere, Hug a Hound is a fantastic event. Everyone loves to squeeze a cute, fluffy puppy.
8. Dance attire is commonly seen around campus.
Dancers will walk in to class sweaty and still in their leotards and costumes, but no one will bat an eye because that's a norm at Point Park, considering it is an acclaimed university for dancing.
9. Friends from other universities are jealous of your Fridays off.
Of course, not everyone has no classes on Fridays, but a lot of students regularly have three day weekends. An extra day to de-stress and catch up on homework, or your favorite Netflix series, is much appreciated at Point Park.
10. You get super ballsy crossing the Boulevard of the Allies.
Whether you're running late to class or simply too impatient to wait for the walk sign to appear, sometimes you just have to eyeball it up in either direction and go for it. The mindset of a college kid is, "Go ahead, hit me. You'll pay my tuition," anyways.
