How to Maximize Your ChathamU Summer Visit Day
Chatham offers a wide array of summer visiting opportunities like Visit Days and Open Houses to get you acquainted with campus in a fun group setting. If you’d prefer a more one-on-one visit, you can also register for an individual campus visit online. However you plan to visit campus this summer, we’ve outlined some tips and strategies to maximize your summer visit below, including some helpful prior-to-arrival hints and easily accessible Pittsburgh spots.
Before You Visit
A student explores Chatham’s Art & Design Center
Refresh your memory on Chatham’s mission and values
Check out our university’s values to see how long-standing traditions of women’s leadership, sustainability, and community engagement have evolved since our founding as the Pennsylvania Female College in 1869.
Look into student perspectives
Catch a glimpse of student life through the eyes of student media outlets like the Communiqué newspaper or take a deep dive right here on Pulse@ChathamU. Familiarize yourself with on-campus happenings by reaching out to club leaders and Chatham’s Student Government. If you’re curious what it’s like to be a student athlete at Chatham, visit gochathamcougars.com.
Brainstorm questions
Visualize your ideal Chatham experience, and think about what elements would be most important to you and your academic success. Whether you want to know more about research centers, university values, or faculty profiles, Chatham’s website can help you explore it all and get staff contact information before you visit in-person. Don’t sweat it—you’ll get a full itinerary for Summer Visit Day—but if you have questions about specific programs or campus opportunities, jot them down!
Connect with your admission counselor before you meet them
Have a question and don’t know who to ask? Your admissions counselor is ready to advise you over email as you plan your visit. They can help you with important admissions decisions and deadlines or simply point you in the right direction.
Learn about the local community
Take this opportunity to plan a visit to the ‘Burgh or learn about the surrounding Shadyside and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods that Chatham’s main campus is nestled in. Historic neighborhoods like those comprising the Hill District—which was the focus of 10 notable plays by August Wilson—are just a bus ride away. Chatham’s historic ties to Pittsburgh and the city’s cultural presence are not to be missed!
What to Expect on the Day of
Students gathering on our Shadyside Campus
Our Summer Visit Days are designed to get you acquainted with campus and see what’s possible for you at ChathamU. Expect to be on campus from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and to enjoy a delicious catered lunch. You’ll have the opportunity to tour our Shadyside Campus, exploring learning spaces, campus hubs, residence halls, and more. You’ll also have the chance to tour our Eden Hall Campus and Chatham Eastside if you’re interested. Plan to meet with your personal admission counselor who will help tailor the Chatham application and admission experience to fit your needs.
If you’re curious about financial aid and scholarships, you’ll get to sit in on a financial aid information session, and if you want to explore extracurriculars, internships, and life outside the classroom, join us for student life and career development information sessions. You’ll meet Chatham faculty members, current students, and other key stakeholders on campus. Questions? Concerns? Curiosities? Today is your day to ask and explore!
What to Do While You’re in Pittsburgh
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
If you want to maximize your day in Pittsburgh post-Summer Visit Day, you’re in luck. Chatham is minutes away from bustling city spots in Shadyside, East Liberty, Squirrel Hill, and Oakland. If you want to get some culture, check out the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History which are both minutes away in Oakland. If you want to immerse yourself in exotic flowers and plants, head to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, also in Oakland.
But…you might also want to try some delicious food and do some shopping. If that’s the case, we recommend Bakery Square in East Liberty, Walnut Street in Shadyside, and the intersection of Murray and Forbes in Squirrel Hill (both streets boast shopping and dining). And if you’re stressed about parking, don’t fret: all of these great spots are in walking distance from Chatham. 😍
First-year students attend New Student Orientation
What to Do After Your Summer Visit Day Ends
While your visit is still fresh in your mind, follow campus clubs and the Office of Student Affairs (@chathamustudentaffairs) on Instagram to stay in the loop about summer and fall updates. You can also follow our university-wide accounts on Twitter and Instagram (@chathamu).
Be sure to keep an eye out for important admissions and financial aid deadlines. Throughout the summer, think of your admission counselor as your liaison to the university, and be sure to touch base periodically to make sure you’re on the right track to completing your application and submitting supplemental materials. Best of luck on your college search, prospective Coug—we hope to see you at a New Student Orientation someday soon!
However you visit this summer, we look forward to meeting you! Explore all admissions events here.