@twogirls 1490 SAT isn’t in the ballpark for full tuition at Pitt. I’m thinking this year it would get maybe 10K/year in tuition…maybe even less. With OOS tuition at nearly $30,000year it’s a long way from where the OP wants to be.
OP, you would need to aim for a 1540-1550 or higher. Go check out the Pitt merit threads from this year and see how you compare.
I guess at one point Pitt was a given with merit awards but it’s most definitely not a sure thing anymore. Much more competitive and much more competitive. Just because you qualify at their minimum level does not automatically make it a given–it’s not automatic like at UA.
From what a lot of us this year have learned, if you have good stats and are really really searching for the elusive “full-ride” then you need to be “in it to win it.” Apply to schools that do give large full-ride competitive merit scholarships and then write the heck out of those essays. You should spend a LOT of time honing your essay skills and really put in the time to do them right. Best of luck!