Pitt students rated some of the happiest

Pitt students not only rated the University’s health services as top-notch, but also gave… Pitt students not only rated the University’s health services as top-notch, but also gave their happiness and quality of life marks of approval.

The University of Pittsburgh placed 20th for happiest students and 17th for best quality of life in Princeton Review’s top 20 lists.

However, the ratings are down from last year when the University of Pittsburgh ranked second in both categories.

“I know I love it here,” sophomore Kate Bendig said.

The happiness poll is based on the simple question, “Overall, how happy are you?” But rating the quality of an entire college existence and summarizing one’s college life on campus? Well, that gets a bit more complicated.

Princeton Review spokesman David Soto explained that the company determines quality of life rating by compiling students’ answers to several survey questions, instead of relying on responses to a single question as it does for most of the other polls.

Students rate the beauty of their campus, their dorms and campus eateries; the convenience of getting around campus; interaction among different student groups, and the ease of dealing with administration, all on a set scale.

“The people are nice, the buildings are nice, and even the dorms are nice to live in,” sophomore Amanda Olsen said.

Princeton Review publicist Jeanne Krier praised Pitt, calling it a “great school and a great college town as well.”