Students, families and young adults in Pittsburgh can work with a Blackburn mentor by video. Our team is based in Los Angeles, and clients in Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Fox Chapel, Sewickley, Mt. Lebanon and across Allegheny County meet one dedicated mentor online every week, scheduled in Eastern time. Pittsburgh’s large student population means much of our work here is with college students and recent graduates.
A city of campuses, hospitals and labs
Pittsburgh’s economy has shifted from steel to what locals call “eds and meds”: colleges, universities and health care, along with a growing technology and robotics sector. The Oakland neighborhood alone is home to tens of thousands of students. Many of them are far from home, in demanding programs, in a city they did not grow up in.
What college students here come to us for
- Getting organized in a program where the workload jumps sharply after the first year.
- Rebuilding after a rough semester, or after academic probation.
- Deciding whether a major still fits.
- Lining up research positions, internships and a first job.
- Building routines outside class: sleep, exercise, meals and friendships.
Mentors are not tutors and do not teach course content. They help the student manage time and priorities and follow through, and with the student’s permission they can keep parents informed.
Parents of a Pittsburgh student who live far away
If your son or daughter is studying in Pittsburgh and you live elsewhere, it can be hard to know how things are really going until grades arrive. A mentor meets the student weekly by video and, with permission, shares progress updates with the family. That gives parents a clearer picture without having to check in constantly themselves.
High school students and local families
Pittsburgh-area families, in the city and suburbs alike, have strong public high schools and a set of established independent schools. Parents tend to reach out when a student has lost motivation, is buried in a heavy course load, or is approaching senior year without a plan. The parent joins the intro call, helps agree goals and receives regular updates.
Young adults who stay after graduation
Pittsburgh has a reputation as an affordable city with a lot going for it, and many graduates stay rather than leave for a bigger, more expensive market. That choice brings its own questions: which job to take, how to build a life outside the campus bubble, how to manage a first real salary. A mentor helps turn those questions into a weekly plan. Our page on the first job after college covers many of the early steps. Others come to us after a few years in a first role, wanting a change and unsure where to start.
Hills, bridges, winters and video sessions
Pittsburgh is a city of hills, rivers and tunnels, and getting across town can take longer than the distance suggests, especially in winter. Gray skies and snow are part of the season from late fall into March. Video sessions sidestep all of it: a student can meet a mentor from a dorm room, a library or home.
Pittsburgh is three hours ahead of Los Angeles. A 6 pm session in Pittsburgh is 3 pm for the mentor, and late evening slots are available for students whose days fill up with labs and classes. Students can also book shorter 30 minute sessions several times a week during exam periods, when a quick plan and a check-in matter more than a long conversation.
Where a mentor fits
A mentor is a consistent, practical guide, not a therapist, tutor or admissions counselor. College students usually start with mentoring for college students; recent graduates with young adult mentoring. Read how sessions work on our online mentoring page.
Related
- Online mentoring in Philadelphia
- Study habits for college
- Helping a struggling college student
- How mentoring works
- Online Mentoring in Cleveland
- Online Mentoring in Columbus, Ohio
Common questions
Do you work with students at Pittsburgh colleges whose families live elsewhere?
Yes. The student meets the mentor by video, and with the student’s permission the mentor shares progress with parents wherever they live.
Do mentors tutor engineering or science courses?
No. Mentors are not tutors. They help with planning, time management and follow-through, and can coordinate with tutors or campus resources.
What time are sessions for a Pittsburgh student?
Sessions are scheduled in Eastern time, including evenings, which suits students with packed daytime schedules.
Get started
Want to talk about a student or young adult in Pittsburgh? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.