chance worried senior with bad test scores?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pittsburgh
1

<p>Hi, i am debating apply to Pitt, but cannot decide because of my low test scores. I want to attend school in a big city, and i really want a school with good ways to get involved and with good sports programs. Pitt seems like a good fit for me, but i worried i won't get in because of my test scores.</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>GPA- UW-3.55
School doesnt weight</p>

<p>Course load: 4 AP's, 1 honors ( school only offers 2) 3 years of French ( school only offers 3 years) 3 years of advanced science ( skipped freshman science) and 4 years of math ( pre calc is highest level)</p>

<p>Test scores- act 21 :( worst part of my application, and i hate that i did so horribly. I am taking the SAT in January so hopefully i have better luck with that.</p>

<p>EC'S 3 years of tennis- 2 years of varsity- 2 trips to the district tournament- 1 year captain-play year round outside of school.</p>

<p>2 years national honor society- 1 year officer</p>

<p>3 years leadership ( very involved with the school)</p>

<p>Over 100 hours community service</p>

<p>exchange program in France ( Only 12 days long, but wrote a very good essay about it that i will be sending.)</p>

<p>have been with the same small group ( religious group) for about 7 years. We are very close and do a lot of things together, including many service projects and other community orientated things.</p>

<p>Senior year classes : AP Lit, AP World History, Pre Calc, French 3, TA ( work with elementary school kids) leadership, ceramics.</p>

<p>Do i have a chance at being admitted to Pitt? Also can anyone comment on life at Pitt, in terms of student involvement, student life, dorm life, classes? any information?</p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

2

<p>Pitt looks at every admission, so the only way to know for sure is to actually apply. That said, your ACT is in the bottom 12% of those that got in, so you would help yourself by getting that up. Still, apparently some students got in with similar scores. Your GPA should be fine.</p>

<p>Part of it will depend on your residency. Pitt actually likes out-of-state students and recruits geographic diversity, so the farther away from Pittsburgh, probably the better. Pitt has recently suggest that it is interested increasing the number of out-of-state students that it recruits, which is already around 30%, so if you are out-of-state, that may be a bonus.</p>

<p>Pitt is very urban, I think if you like cities, you’d love Pitt. There are tons of things to do. The university makes a major point of trying to get students involved with what goes on around the city with its things like its [url=&lt;a href=“PITT ARTS | Student Affairs”&gt;http://www.pittarts.pitt.edu/]PittArts</a> program<a href=“discounted%20tickets,%20etc”>/url</a>, free museum admissions, free public transportation. The school itself is also located adjacent to a large, wooded city park and next to the city’s major museums. And as far as sports, it is like any other university with major sports program and football and basketball are a big part of student life, although the city itself is obsessed with its pro teams. As far as Pitt tennis, there is no men’s varsity team (although there is a men’s club team), but the women’s varsity team is not exceptionally strong, so depending on your skill level, there might be walk on opportunities. You should contact the coaching staff if you are interested in more information.</p>

3

<p>I think you should definitely take the SAT at least once, i took it 3 times to get my math score to be where I wanted it, but all 3 of my scores were much better than my ACT score. some people are just better at one test than the other. I think with higher test scores you can definitely get in, good luck!</p>

4

<p>Thank you guys for your replies! I hope to increase my scores in the January SAT, but my concern was, if PITT offers rolling admissions would my scores be received in time to make a difference on my application? I plan on submitting my application this weekend, and my recommendations should be there in the next 2 weeks. </p>

<p>Also I am an out of state student, I am from Washington. I have a very good Essay about my France trip and my recommendations are good as well. I hope to get my scores up to increase my chances. What would you say i would need on the SAT to increase my chances of acceptance?</p>

5

<p>Also how are academics at Pitt? From some reviews I’ve read ( i don’t know what information should be taken seriously) Some people have had bad experiences within different environments? Can anyone tell me the good and bad of academics? and the good programs and the bad programs ( if any)</p>

6

<p>Sorry but i have one last question! When is too late to apply to Pitt? I was just informed that my Transcripts won’t be sent until we return from break ( January 3rd). Meaning my application wont be complete until then. Is this too late? It wont be reviewed until January. I am not overly worried about scholarships, because with my stats i don’t feel like i would be getting much anyways. I just want to get accepted. The more I look at this school, the more i start to love it.</p>

<p>Sorry that this is all so long, but thanks!</p>

7

<p>I don’t know exactly how to compare ACt and SAt scores but i’d say try to get a 1800 at least, your other stats and ecs and everything look really good so i don’t think you have to aim too high.
academically I think pitt is really underrated. It’s a big school with a lot of classes and professors so obviously you’re gonna get stuck with some not so great professors and not so challenging classes sometimes but if you check out your professors online or ask people about classes/professors before registering for courses you can avoid that. pitt has some really highly ranked programs, like nursing, and in general i’d say academics are good.
and you should be fine if you send in your app now. when you email them your ECs you might wanna mention that your school won’t send transcripts till january and that you’ll be sending SAT scores too.</p>

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<p>Thank you Chocolate! Are you a current pitt student?</p>

9

<p>I know that Pitt students are on vacation and dorms don;t reopen until January 4th. Maybe admissions closed until then also? If so then it;s a non issue.</p>

<p>But anyway - apply as soon as you can - you’ll never know until you try.</p>

10

<p>Okay thank you Donna Mom! I am going call the admissions office Monday morning and see if they are open, and then ask my questions</p>

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<p>anyone else information about Pitt? Anything?</p>

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<p>yea i’m a current student</p>

13

<p>honestly, with an ACT score of 21 Pitt is a super-reach for you. Have you considered Temple University in Philadelphia? you’d have a better chance there.</p>

14

<p>Yeah i considered Temple, but i have already submitted my application to Pitt, and have already applied to too many schools.I am sending in my January SAT scores so hopefully they are an improvement.</p>

15

<p>Can anyone give me some suggestions that i can do to my application that MIGHT make it more appealing? To help make up for my below average test scores? I am sending two recommendations , one from a French teacher who i had for 3 years and went on my exchange program with, and i think it will be good, and another from my History teacher that i had for 2 years ( 1 AP class) and I was a TA for. I also am sending in the optional essay. Is there anything else i can do?</p>

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<p>send an activities resume if you have not already done that. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks rocknroll, i will get on that. Do i just email it to the admissions office?</p>

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<p>yes but don’t send as an attachment, cut and paste to the body of the email, they won’t open attachments</p>