Hey! My name is Eddie, and I am a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh pursuing a B.S. in Physics & Astronomy, a minor in French, and a certificate in Quantum Computing. I am also the President of the League of Legends club here at Pitt! Going to a SchoolScoops tour really influenced my decision to go to Pitt, because it really is such a beautiful and historic campus. I hope to share my experience in this lifechanging and dream-fostering environment with everyone to see if it's the right fit! Hail to Pitt!

Hometown

Girard, PA, USA

Major(s)

Astrophysics

Minor(s)

French, Quantum Computing Certificate

Clubs, organizations & involvement

President of League of Legends at Pitt

Describe your college experience

My freshman dorm, Irvis Hall, was an incredibly inclusive place with a lot of kind, like-minded individuals. I had a really easy time making friends here despite knowing next-to-nobody, and I felt like more than just a student, but a member of a broader community and vision here at Pitt. I was able to join the clubs for which I have interest in, and I made friendships and bonds which are immeasurably important to me now. My classes were great, and my important​/​difficult lectures had small class sizes which allowed me to ask any questions I would want and form a more personal bond with my professors. My classes truly were difficult, though, and in the beginning I struggled with the courseload and the work-life balance. However, through study-sessions with my peers and a lot of time thinking about it, I was able to strike a balance that works for me. My next year will be the busiest it has ever been, though, with many hard classes and the presidency of the League of Legends club to manage. I am more excited for this year than anything!

Tip for future students

My biggest takeaway from my time here is that if you put yourself out there, you will meet your lifelong friends. Even just at the dining hall on welcome week, just introducing yourself and asking about the other person. Grabbing their social medias. Having fun. You really get back all of the effort that you put in. This applies academically, too. The professors want you to succeed. They want to form bonds with students who go above-and-beyond. They want you to come to office hours if you're confused, or email them with questions. The professors are here because they are passionate about their work, not because they have to be here. The classes may be hard, and the grading may be unforgiving, but you have all the tools to succeed that you need if you look for them. I will be very willing to help each and every one of you find the resources you need! Another really important thing to understand is your meal plan. Freshmen are required to get a meal plan, and they differ slightly as per which you decide, but here are some general tips. The two Pitt-Official dining halls are The Perch and The Eatery, located at the top of cardiac hill and near the towers, respectively. In my opinion, The Perch is superior, but more physically difficult to get to due to the hill. You may, once a day, swap out one of your meals (called a mealswap) for a more "luxury" approved restaurant. The approved ones include Chick-Fil-A, Steel City Kitchen, Edamame, Einstein Bros, etc. It's really important to take full advantage of these free meals and personalize your dining experience. As much as dining hall food is honestly pretty good (compared to high school, for sure), restaurants do outclass it. There are also so many restaurants on campus which are not meal-swappable which are absolutely delicious, my favorite being Atarashi!

Favorite class

My favorite class was my Honors Physics 2: Electromagnetism (course id PHYS 0476) with Dave Nero, for every reason imaginable. For context, the precursor to this class was PHYS 0475, Honors Physics 1, with the same professor, and I spent that time adapting to my professor's teaching style and forging connections with friends. 99% of the Honors Physics 1 class made it to Honors Physics 2, and by that time I was really close friends with a few of the students and honestly just loved the content of the course. The professor was a great guy, I got to build a homemade radio project, and I worked on all of the (albeit excruciating) homework sets with my close friends. Truly a great experience!

Career goals

My primary goal is to be a researcher in the Astrophysics space. I want to follow the research of Dr. Evan Schneider here at Pitt, who primarily focuses on computer applications and simulations centered around the universe. I wish to continue this research in understanding our Universe, as so many of the valued innovations have come out of the Physics Department. From barcodes to the understanding of the world around us, Physics truly gives so much to the world and scientific community, and I wish to be another piece and hopefully a star in that. Alternatively, if I don't land a research job, I would be okay with working in the private industry. Rocket Science, or honestly anything at all in the astrophysics space.

Ideal way to spend a free night

There are so many ideal nights, so let me run you through a few. Firstly, just spending time with my friends, doing just about anything. From skateboarding to playing League with my club to just getting food, spending time with people I care about will always be number one on my list. There are a surplus of activities to do in-and-around Pitt, and it always feels fresh. Secondly, I personally really enjoy the peacefulness and tranquility of a walk at night. My go-to place is the Cathedral of Learning, because of the beautiful lights, especially after a Pitt Sports victory. After any Pitt team wins, the Cathedral shoots a picturesque beam of light into the sky. It's really a sight to behold. Lastly, and this may not exactly seem ideal to some, but honestly just studying. Especially with friends, tying into my first ideal night, spending time with people doing work is so much more relaxing than stressing over deadlines in your dorm room. Me and my friends default to studying at Benedum Hall, usually in the Einstein Bros. Bagels restaurant utilizing our daily mealswap!

High school or secondary school

Girard High School: Girard, PA, USA

Previous college

N​/​A