Chances at Merit Aid

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pittsburgh
1

<p>I got into the honors college, but frankly, I'm super-lucky...that said, do I have a decent chance at a small merit scholarship? (the lower end of the chancellor's nominee scholarships...like, 2k a year)</p>

<p>Here are my stats</p>

<p>Race - White
Religion - Jewish
State Residency - Pennsylvania</p>

<p>9th Grade
Non Western Cultures H - B
Biology H - B
English IH - A
Geometry H - B
Spanish IIH - B</p>

<p>10th Grade
Western Civilization H - B
Chemistry H - B
English IIH - A
Algebra IIH - A
Spanish IIIH - B</p>

<p>11th Grade
AP US History - B
Physics H - C
English IIIH - B
Precalculus H - B
Spanish IVH - A
AP Statistics - B </p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.20
Weighted GPA: 4.12</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Secretary of Philosophy Club</p>

<p>1st Trombonist in concert band, jazz band, symphonic wind orchestra, brass quintet, + 3rd Trombone district XI band in 10th grade, 1st Trombone district XI band and 2nd Trombone District XI orchestra, and 2nd Trombone region VI band in 11th grade (my little music hook, I suppose).</p>

<p>After-school tutoring to elementary school students.</p>

<p>Varsity Golf Team</p>

<p>SAT:
2180 (680 Reading, 710 Math, 790 Writing - 12 Essay)</p>

<p>SAT II:
760 US History
740 Math IIC
690 Literature</p>

<p>AP:
Statistics - 5
US History - 5</p>

<p>College Coursework:
I participated in the U of Penn pre-college program this summer. Took screenwriting, got an A, 3 credits...</p>

<p>Extra Information:
My high school does not rank as it is highly competitive. Probably my test scores (and the fact that my school does not rank) got me in. I'm definitely not in the top 5%...top 20% probably.</p>

2

<p>Anyone, anyone?</p>

3

<p>I would have responded, but I really don't know your chances at money. I can tell you that my son had 4.0 uw/4.6w, good test scores, 4 year varsity letterman, All-state musician, many EC awards, employment, etc, and he got only a small scholarship. Some students I know who had lesser credentials got more scholarship money, so I don't know what they are looking for. It can't hurt to try though!</p>

4

<p>I don't think they are necessarily looking at extracurriculars. I got full tuition before I sent in my essays/extracurricular list. </p>

<p>In my opinion, they give you the scholarship based on really high SAT scores and class rank.</p>

5

<p>Maybe National Merit mention helps?</p>

6

<p>you probably will not get any money at all, im sorry to say. they dont give $$ to instate at all really unless you get full tuition or chancellors from the honors college, which you have a small (yet still a chance!) for..did you recieve the invitation to apply to that?</p>

<p>i hope im wrong about what i said though, and good luck!</p>

7

<p>They give partial merit scholarships to instate applicants. For sure.</p>

8

<p>I didn't get any invitations...just to "wait in the mail for possible merit aid" (w/my acceptance to honors CAS)...does that mean I won't get anything?</p>

9

<p>Um sorry to break it to you dude, but your chances are prolly on the slimmer end for scholarship. I'm instate and I was ranked 2 out of 550 in my class and all my other stats were uo there and I received nada in the scholarship department, but needless to say I love it here.</p>

10

<p>Ya, in order to be eligble for merit you have to have a 1450 minimum SAT score and be in the top 5% of your class.</p>

11

<p>What if I have a 1530 SAT and am in the top 10% of my class? Will I qualify for merit aid?</p>

12

<p>That depends- I think you may get lucky! Make a phone call and speak to someone.</p>

13

<p>Eh, thats fine..I didn't expect much anyway. I'm just happy to have gotten in to honors!</p>

14

<p>if it helps to give an idea, i have a full tuition scholarship with a 35 act/ 1460 sat and a 4.0 uw GPA which included 10 ap classes.</p>

15

<p>I'm not sure about the 1450 min. I had 1420 and got a chancellor's nominee scholarship (full tuition)</p>

16

<p>My son was accepted to the Engineering School in October. His acceptance letter at that time did not mention eligibility for Honors College or a merit scholarship. (He had not yet submitted his essay- perhaps that had a bearing on things.) Today he received a letter stating he was awarded a $10,000 a year scholarship (Chancellors Nominee Scholarship) and was eligible to apply for the Chancellors Scholarship (full tuition, room and board etc). He also was told in today's letter that he was eligible to participate in the Honors College and more information would be coming in a separate letter. I am not sure what minimum threshold Pitt uses but his SAT is 1410 and his class rank is in the second decile of his class in a very competitive out of state public high school. (His high school only gives out decile rankings. He probably ranks in the top 12% but there is no way for Pitt to know that based on the transcript his school sent.) So, I tend to think there is some leeway in the criteria Pitt uses in choosing students for merit scholarships and Honors College.</p>

17

<p>Yes, I do think that you're correct. The school is supposedly considering all aspects of a student's application, the "holistic" process... So, if you're a very good student, there's hope - but there seems to be a lot of competition this year, in my opinion.... And, we don't know what the budget is for merit aid.</p>

18

<p>Since they are a rolling school applying early greatly increases someone's chances. Also, the engineering school does give out small merit scholarships as well.</p>

19

<p>Yay! I got just what I predicted. Lowest end of Chancellor's Nominee ($2,000 per year renewable).</p>

20

<p>Congratulations HeavenWood! And best of luck with your Chancellor's application. The essay is everything from what I hear (at least for getting picked to go on for the interview; then the interview is probably everything).</p>