I’m a currently a highschool sophomore from Alaska, and I’m very interested in Pitt.
I was wondering if someone could tell me my chances of getting into Pitt nursing
Currently, I’m in the top 12% of my class with a 3.8 gpa. For the next two years of highschool I’m planning to take many ib classes, including biology and chemistry. Along with that, I’m going to try to take all the recommended classes for Pitt nursing (genetics, anatomy & physiology, a computer class, etc.). Im going to also become a CNA at a career high school near mine and take some medical related classes there also.
I’m going to be playing varsity volleyball in the fall at my school, volunteer at the hospital, join student government, and maybe NHS. I also heard that living out of state gives you an advantage, plus I intend on applying as soon as I can my senior year.
Please let me know your thoughts and please tell me if there’s anything else that I can do to increase my chances! Thank you so much.!
Don’t forget to take the required number of math courses, including statistics if offered. The average SAT (CR+M) for nursing is 1321. Try to aim for that or better. You seem to be doing great so far. Good luck!
After next year, I will have taken 4 math courses (algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, ib math studies), do you think I should take pre calc my senior year also?
I’m planning on taking statistics too.
I’m not a Pitt parent. But I am an IB mom. How are you going to take both IB Biology HL and IB Chemistry HL AND Anatomy and Physiology AND the CNA classes and genetics all in the next two years? I think your schedule may need a good review by your guidance counselor. At my daughters school there would be no room for that on your schedule. You have to take an IB fine arts elective; TOK, etc. IB Math studies is very similar to AP statistics. You should call the Pitt school of nursing and get some guidance on your math selections. To give you a good idea of what a jr. year schedule looks like:
IB Biology HL (this continues to senior year…the HL classes are two years)
IB German HL (you will have to also have four full years of a foreign language)
IB Math studies (SL) (this has been a great stats course for her and not crazy challenging, she will take calculus next year instead of math studies)
IB English HL (two years)
IB Film Studies HL (two years)
IB TOK
AP Econ
PE (she still needed a credit)
IB is great and my daughter has enjoyed it. But it seems like all of the major major writing assignments will hit you all at once. The first semester was very doable and she seemed to even have more time on her hands but this spring has hit like a brick! Your spring will almost be impossible if you are playing spring club volleyball? You should make every effort to make sure you can succeed in IB since your grades/GPA will most likely figure very much into your Pitt admission decision. You will have a huge major extended essay due early fall of your senior year. Maybe you could do your volunteer work more in the summer?
All of those classes PLUS a varsity sport are going to be crazy demanding. Set your schedule up to be rigorous, but also allow yourself time to succeed and enjoy a little of your life!
Very helpful advice from @carachel2, you also want to aim to get a higher class rank than 12% if you want to get merit.
I would focus on IB classes that are required and get the best GPA and class rank possible in that curriculum.
CNA training could be done in summer, also volunteering. You need to think carefully about a sport and if you would have time with all your other commitments.
Anatomy and Genetics you will take later in college, if you have time in schedule ok, but if not just focus on biology, chemistry and physics for now.
Thanks @mommdc …and I forgot something that is VERY important to most of your college admissions and specifically towards any possible merit aid @ Pitt: SAT or ACT scores.
PLEASE leave yourself some time the summer before your junior year to take both the SAT and the ACT…either practice tests at home or a testing center. Then decide which test suits you best and leave yourself time to prep for that test. Ideally you need to be done after the spring or summer of your Jr year at the latest.
The test prep forum is FULL of posts from exhausted juniors who have a full IB or AP load, varsity sport and say they have zero time to prepare properly for these tests. You may be one of those amazing kids who shows up and aces those tests, but you may be one who really needs to take the time. Don’t make the mistake of overloading your summer and your schedule in general. It could be worth literally thousands and thousands of dollars.
So back off your schedule to allow yourself time to breathe and really do well in the classes you are taking and keep a solid GPA AND test prep. Showing interest in medical/nursing related career topics is great, but getting your CNA is a lot and probably not necessary. Maybe just volunteer a few hours a week at a nursing home this summer while you also test prep? Or take Anatomy and Physiology online at a local junior college, volunteer a few hours and then set a 1-2 hr a day test prep schedule.
You’re getting some really great advice here! I would, however, swap out physics for anatomy/physiology if you don’t have room for both. Even though you will take anatomy in college, it seems that students that take it in HS will have an easier time with it in college. If there’s a chance that you think you might go the PT route rather than nursing, then keep physics.
Thanks everyone for the feedback! I really, really appreciate it! I’ve truly wanted to go to Pitt my whole life, so I just really want to make sure that I get in.
For ib, I think you thought I meant getting the full ib diploma, which isn’t my plan. At my school ib classes are basically just ap’s. I’ve decided to not get the full diploma because I want to fit the recommended classes in for nursing.
I’m going to do ib biology HL (two years) then just ib chemistry SL (one year/my senior year). Also higher level English.
And genetics is a semester class, so I’ll be able to find room for it along with the other recommended classes.
I talk to my guidance counselor almost every week about my classes, so far I’m on the right track.!
I know it seems like a lot, but I would do anything to get into Pitt.
Thanks again for the feedback, everyone!
Please keep it coming, I really appreciate it!!
This year, the application opened up at the end of August. I imagine that it would be a similar timeframe.
The SAT average for nursing is higher than the overall average. Check the Common Data Set for Pitt for the latest averages for the school.
I should note that this year’s application allowed you to self report your transcript and did not require extracurricular activities or letters of recommendation. There were 3 optional short answer questions. It was very streamlined and the turnaround time was only a few weeks.
In addition to the advice you are getting here, I would encourage you to visit Campus or get in touch with one of our admissions counselors. They can give you some guidance/advice on the admissions process here at Pitt.
You can find the visit schedule and contact info on our admissions website: oafa.pitt.edu.
@RyanG1207, yes you are right, I saw in the nursing requirements it said three years of science, but if physics is not specifically required I agree, for a nursing major taking A&P in HS is a good idea.
How does self reporting your transcript work? I haven’t heard too much about that.
I visited Pitt last November. I went to an information session and took a tour. I’m going to visit again this September. Next time I really want to tour the nursing school.
@jenn214, The Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR) is meant to replace your transcript. It is optional, students are still free to have their guidance counselor send us a transcript in lieu of filling the SRAR out. But, if you’d rather not go through the process of sending a transcript or would like to submit your app with that information already there, SRAR is an option for you. Basically, you will just need to fill out the SRAR yourself in our application. The information you enter in the SRAR should look just like it looks on your transcript. Once students enroll at Pitt, we do request their final official high school transcript (whether they submit a SRAR or not).
Instead of overcrowding this forum with my anxiety ridden posts, I’m going to just keep adding here.
For my junior year schedule, I came up with this,
Anatomy & physiology
IB biology (HL)
IB humanities/classical lit (HL)
IB US history (HL)
AP psychology/(AK history second semester)
IB chemistry (SL)
AP statistics
I found a way to fit all of the classes that I want to take together so it’ll allow me to still do the CNA program senior year.
Since I have last posted my class rank has moved up, and a few of the kids ahead of me are going to a different school next year (!!!). I still have 2 weeks left of school, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to finish with all A’s.
I’ve also joined student government and key club, and I’ll also be attending The Bridge at Pitt this summer.
How do you guys think my schedule looks for next year?
Am I on the right track?