Pitt part deux: Postbac students return to expand their education

Kameron Sanzo is getting her bachelor’s degree in English literature in just one calendar year.

Sanzo, who graduated with a degree in engineering from Pitt in 2011, is now back for round two as a second-degree student in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

“I thought to myself, I’m still pretty young, and I was fortunate to have had a scholarship the first time, so I figured maybe I’ll go back,” said Sanzo, 26.

Students pursuing a second degree through Pitt continue on their same transcript, according to the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, as well as adding to their previously established GPA. These students can apply up to 90 applicable general education credits to their  second degree, if they also complete a minimum of 30 new credits. 

Sanzo was originally interested in the sciences because she enjoyed “the speculative nature and learning about the world,” she said. After she graduated, Sanzo worked in the aerospace industry designing aircraft parts, but found herself missing an element of humanity. She decided to return to school to pursue a deeper education for herself.

This past May, Sanzo started back at Pitt. The application process as a second degree student posed no problems, according to Sanzo. All she had to do was fill out a form and pay a small fee. Since she already completed a degree at Pitt, most of Sanzo’s general education credits were already complete, so she plans to graduate this April with a bachelor of arts degree. 

Coming back to Pitt includes all the perks of being a student. Sanzo can ride Port Authority buses and access museums for free, just like all other undergraduates. She also has a print quota, the option of having a meal plan and access to Student Health. 

The majority of undergraduates at Pitt are between the ages of 18 and 24, but Sanzo has had no problems making friends. The only difference is she doesn’t really hang out with anyone from her classes, because she lives off-campus as a commuter.

Sanzo, unlike most of her peers who work as engineers at various companies like Rolls Royce and Westinghouse, doesn’t have a job. Sanzo, who goes to school full-time, said she has enough money that she saved up from working over the summer to cover her rent and groceries. However, this time around, she’s paying for her tuition with student loans. 

“It’s crazy. I didn’t appreciate, before I started working full-time, how much variability there is in my schedule. Every day is different,” said Sazno. “I have all this time to study and do other stuff.”

Sara Mercer, who graduated from Pitt in 1974 with a degree in philosophy, is also back to school again — but not to pursue a degree. 

Mercer has taken two classes, a history course on World War II and a geology course, in which she is currently enrolled, through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Pitt. 

Adults ages 50 and older can audit two undergraduate courses and take as many courses through the Osher program as they would like for an annual fee of $225, according to Jennifer Engel, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. By auditing a class, the student and professor agree on the level of participation required from the student. Currently, more than 1,100 members are enrolled in the Osher program, Engel said.

Mercer, who works as an estate lawyer in Pittsburgh, is trying to “slow down” her professional life but still keep her mind active.

“I’ve always loved school,” said Mercer. “It’s terrific to be able to come back and take stuff I didn’t take before, purely for pleasure.”

As part of her geology class this semester, Mercer leaves the office on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to attend a 50-minute lecture. She doesn’t have to go to recitation or take exams, but she said she does try to keep up with the reading.

Mercer said the biggest change from when she was an undergraduate student at Pitt is the price. For her, a semester of tuition only cost $900 for an in-state student, compared to the almost $17,000 it now costs. She also said students are required to participate more and that classes are taught on a wider variety of media, such as videos and PowerPoint presentations.

“In my geology class, we can print out the pictures and questions with space to write next to it,” said Mercer, who has access to the class CourseWeb page. “That wasn’t available back then, because computers were just getting started.”

Mercer said her experiences with Pitt’s current undergraduate students have been very pleasant, and she is enjoying being back at school.

“When you’re in college you’re so focused on what you’re studying, there’s no time to branch out,” said Mercer. “And once you graduate you’re so busy with life. Once you slow down, there’s time to investigate, and it’s fascinating.”