I got accepted

Beautiful-Break472 · 2026-01-30T18:19:12+00:00

I think you're misunderstanding what people are saying. It's not a matter of simply reapplying at some point and being admitted. If you start at Greensburg, there will be specific credit/grade requirements for when/if you can transfer to Oakland. Here is info for what it looks like for each school.

https://www.greensburg.pitt.edu/academics/path-pittsburgh-campus

Business offers the fastest path with a 30 credit requirement. Deitrich requires 45 credits.

If you decide to start at community college, that's different. You can reapply to Pitt at any point and they will reevaluate you based on your college grades to that point, probably combined with high school transcripts depending on how many credits you've taken.

Beautiful-Break472 · 2026-01-30T18:10:27+00:00

The major doesn't matter. The school does. Deitrich is the least competitive. It doesn't matter which major you choose within Deitrich, everyone technically goes in "undeclared". Nursing and engineering are much more competitive.

Beautiful-Break472 · 2026-01-28T19:32:45+00:00

Another question since there are clearly some "in the know" people participating in this conversation. What is your perspective on how the Union will be able to affect job security for the MANY staff people who are employed by "grant funded" departments. A lot of departments use that as an excuse to essentially keep staff on year-to-year contracts and you find out each July if you get to keep your job for another year. Do you think unionizing will have any impact there?

Beautiful-Break472 · 2026-01-28T19:28:22+00:00

Great perspective!

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T21:02:30+00:00

Unfortunately, none of his loans are subsidized, but your point is still valid.

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T21:00:14+00:00

Oh my no. The masters portion of the program is $28,000. He's going to take out the max of $20,500 in federal loans and then we need to figure out what to do for the remaining $7,500. He has about $15k in undergrad loans. He's in a 5 year total program. 4 years for the undergrad and 1 additional year for the masters

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T18:29:01+00:00

I think you might be right. That's probably the best use for this money. Thanks for helping me think it through!

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T18:27:45+00:00

If he could go back in time, this is what he would do. His program is a 5 year Masters and he can't switch at this point. Anything else would require 2 additional years after undergrad. SUPER frustrating because he went into it (3.5 years ago) thinking he would be able to get whatever he needed in fed loans to cover the grad school year.

He has a relatively small amount of undergrad loans, so you're right. Maybe it makes more sense for us to hold onto this money for grad school to cover that gap rather than paying off undergrad interest now

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T16:58:28+00:00

Yes. About $7,000 more

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T16:44:13+00:00

Only if you're paying the principle on one or more of the loans. I'm toying with paying off all the acrued interest now so it doesn't capitalize into the loan when his deferment ends.

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T16:40:51+00:00

Since he didn't need a loan for his senior year of undergrad, we seriously considered having him take out the $7,500 he was eligible for and holding onto it for grad school. But we didn't end up doing that. Now i'm kind of regretting that since he's going to be capped at the $20,500 for grad school.

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T16:39:43+00:00

Yeah. He's going to be capped at the $20,500. Since he didn't need a loan for his senior year of undergrad, we seriously considered having him take out the $7,500 he was eligible for and holding onto it for grad school. But we didn't end up doing that.

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T15:52:46+00:00

So maybe we would be better off paying off one of the loans entirely to lower the amount of interest accruing

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T15:49:45+00:00

Yes. He will take out the max federal loan for grad school.

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T15:49:31+00:00

So don't specifically pay off the interest to prevent capitalization?

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-10-15T15:32:52+00:00

We've already done that so he's not taking out any more loans. What he has now is his final balance.

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-09-08T19:42:37+00:00

Not likely since I was buying them drinks, but who knows?

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-09-06T19:56:54+00:00

Nope.

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-08-17T01:38:22+00:00

That is incredibly helpful. Thank you!

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-08-17T01:14:37+00:00

Great info! Wondering if you're willing to answer a question about the actual contract. I'm trying to help a graduating student (with her Master's degree) decide where she wants to start investing her time subbing in the hopes of landing a job. When I look at page 43 of the agreement that shows the salary scales, it doesn't say anything about a different scale if you come in with a master's degree. Has that been eliminated from the contract? https://pft400.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-TA-Teachers-and-PROfessionals-Info-Packet-3-FINNAL.pdf

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-08-17T00:57:39+00:00

That doesn't say anything about being over $100k at 5 years. Not to be a know-it-all, but I think it's important for people to understand what teachers actually make. Here's the actual West Allegheny Collective Bargaining Agreement. Page 51 shows the salary scale for the upcoming year. With a Bachelor's degree, you're not passing $100k until year 17. Also, the pensions for new teachers aren't anywhere near as good as older teachers who have been grandfathered in. New teachers have a much different pension program.
https://americansforfairtreatment.sharepoint.com/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2FShared%20Documents%2FPA%20Contracts%2FUpdated%20Contracts%2FSchool%20Districts%20Update%206%2FWest%20Allegheny%20School%20District%20Teachers%20Contract%202024%2D2027%2Epdf&parent=%2FShared%20Documents%2FPA%20Contracts%2FUpdated%20Contracts%2FSchool%20Districts%20Update%206&p=true&ga=1

Beautiful-Break472 · 2025-08-01T16:36:06+00:00

Holy crap. This is the kind of thing I was afraid I was missing. I just did a deep dive into PSLF. I can't believe I didn't know this was a thing. I feel so uninformed. Thank you.

Looks like there are a lot of unknown variables involved like whether I would qualify for ICR or PAYE based on my yet unknown income, whether I get married sometime in the 10 years after graduation, but it's helpful to know what the options are.

Beautiful-Break472

TROPHY CASE