October 27, 2025
Ishaan Tilva, a first-year computer science major from Columbia, MD, participated in SCI UBelong, SCI's second annual high school-to-college summer bridge program, this past August. The program invites first-year students like Tilva to move in early to Pitt's main campus, and provides an opportunity to build community, gain confidence, and develop a sense of belonging ahead of the fall term.
"It gave me a head start in adjusting to campus and meeting people, including one of my best friends. It also removed the stress of move-in day since I was the first student on my floor," Tilva noted.
According to Tilva, the week-long program was supplemented by workshops focusing on academic preparation and professional development.
"I learned about resources I may not have discovered otherwise and built relationships with staff I know I can turn to for support," Tilva said. With a focus on career development, SCI UBelong provided students with the opportunity to connect with SCI alumni, which Tilva found particularly inspiring.
"[Connecting with alumni] showed me where I could be in a just a few years and gave me the chance to learn more from their career experiences," Tilva said.
Tilva's attention was grabbed by SCI UBelong's emphasis on elective field trips and social opportunities.
"The bus and boat tours gave me a broader sense of Pittsburgh as an out-of-state student," Tilva noted. Since becoming more familiar with the area, Tilva is eager to take advantage of the campus's easy accessibility and to branch out into other neighborhoods beyond Oakland.
The accessibility and convenience of Pitt's urban setting is what initially attracted Tilva to the University. After being impressed by the supportive community within SCI, the computer science (CS) program's growth, and the robust career and internship resources offered to undergraduate students, Tilva accepted his offer of admission.
Tilva's passion for CS sparked after learning to code when he was about eight years old. His skills were further sharpened in high school when he completed the Computer Programming Academy which included courses like Advanced Topics in CS G/T, Advanced Object-Oriented Programming G/T, and AP Computer Science A.
After arriving on campus, Tilva plans to double major in finance, a passion he has been pursuing adjacent to his studies in computer science.
"I see my CS major as an opportunity to sharpen my analytical and problem-solving skills," he said.
Following graduation, Tilva will seek to build on a strong technical foundation by pursuing a career in consulting, combining computer science with business. In the meantime, Tilva is eager to join extracurriculars that supplement his coursework in both concentrations by joining Panther Equity, the University's undergraduate student-run investment fund, and continuing to explore new opportunities offered by SCI and Pitt at large.