<p>I heard that the "magic number" for merit is 1450, but i dont know if this is true. I only have a 1350 but i am OOS with many extracurriculars (2 part time jobs, volunteering 60+ hours a year, etc), 6 APs, and run track at national level (if that even has an impact). UW Gpa is 3.86 and W is 4.40. Rank is probably in the top 10%. Would i be to get $10,000 a yr?</p>
<p>Hey! I thought I wouldn’t be receiving financial aid either because I didn’t have 1450 but I received merit aid anyways. Your 1350 is a little bit higher than what I got. I was also OOS with extracurriculars, 5 APs, and varsity sports. And my GPA was 3.96/4. My school didn’t do weighted GPA. You’re much more likely to receive Fin Aid if you’re from a state that’s underrepresented at Pitt (in my case, Massachusetts). If I may ask what state are you from?</p>
<p>Im from MD</p>
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<p>Your SAT is technically below the UHC eligible value (needs to be 1400) but it’s so close that I think they’ll probably let it slide. Plus you have a high GPA and a rigorous courseload to help back it up.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Maryland is one of the more common states for students to apply from. I’d say apply early with a full application (SHOW that you did other things outside of school, have a variety of interests, but have a strong background in whatever you want to major in) and I think you have a shot at SOME money.</p>
<p>Over the past 5 years, the competitiveness of the full tuition scholarships have increased. Five years ago, to be considered for the scholarship: SAT score was 1350 and now it is around 1450. There will be students who don’t have the 1450 score receiving scholarships but they may have a “hook” you don’t have (URM, from Alaska etc.). All you can do is put forward the best application you can.</p>
<p>In regards to scholarship consideration, does Pitt prefer one test over the other (SAT vs ACT)? My daughter only got a 1420 on the SAT which is obviously not quite 1450 but she got a 34 on the ACT.</p>
<p>Send both as Pitt superscores. We noticed it when DS went to PittStart – his cumulative score was much higher (they had combined the highest score from the SAT and ACT). Don’t know if they will use it for the scholarships but it would not hurt.</p>
<p>Definitely send both. The 34 on the ACT is very impressive and above the UHC minimum (as is the SAT, but like you said, it’s below 1450)</p>
<p>My son was accepted to Swanson SOE last year with a 1590/1600. He did not get a full scholarship- so nothing is guaranteed. He had SAT subject tests in the same range (800 Physics, 790 math). My advice is apply early. Past years posters have shown that the number and $ amount of scholarships awarded goes down drastically each month a student applies after Sept./ October. My son loves Pitt and we are happy with the scholarship he received. he had a very strong first year and happily retained his scholarship. H2P</p>
<p>/\ sophpittmom: Thanks for that insight. Since we are OoS, I told my daughter she needs to get a scholarship to bring it down to in-state tuition, hopefully more since we need to figure in travel expences. She really wants to go there so we’re keeping our fingers crossed! Glad to her your son likes the SOE program.</p>
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<p>Depending on where in Maryland you are from, Pitt will offer a coach shuttle service for the major breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break) that will take the kids from campus to Fredericksburg for $100 round trip. Well worth it in my opinion, I used it all 3 years of undergrad that I did not have my car with me. I only flew home one other time (not a major break) and Southwest had a direct Pittsburgh - Baltimore flight for about $120 round trip.</p>
<p>Yes, the shuttles home during the breaks are great. DS took it to the Montgomery Mall – the pick-up/drop-off is in the parking lot next to the gas station opposite Macy’s. </p>
<p>He also flew home via United to Dulles. We started to go with the flights when he needed to be back or leave Pitt earlier/later than the shuttle schedule. Frankly it was easier to get to Dulles versus the beltway traffic to Montgomery Mall.</p>
<p>Trackie34 , the magic number is also UW GPA with highest course load. SAT can be little lesser but I know 4 students, oos who got full tuition with UW gpa . 3.9 and Above last year. All of them had ACT above 32.</p>
<p>We are from NC, not MD so I doubt they provide shuttle service that far (8.5 hours) - I think trackie34 is from MD. </p>
<p>/\ Jrkiyer - that sounds very hopeful for us… glad to hear those stats.</p>
<p>Just a quick clarification/correction on the shuttle. I believe you mean the shuttle goes to Frederick, MD. Fredericksburg is in VA. :)</p>
<p>Just remember, there seems to be a sliding scale for the full tuition scholarship awards so you may have stats way above the minimum and not get a scholarship (see post #9) or you will hear of students with stats way below the minimum get full tuition scholarships. It all depends on what Pitt is looking for and what “hook” these students have. Good luck!!! And I heard the new dorm is awesome!!!</p>
<p>Here the link for buses:
[University</a> of Pittsburgh - Buses & Shuttles](<a href=“http://www.pc.pitt.edu/transportation/buses_thanksgiving.php]University”>http://www.pc.pitt.edu/transportation/buses_thanksgiving.php)</p>
<p>Frederick MD is the farthest south…but that makes it a lot closer than going to Pittsburgh to pick your student up 
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<p>it’s a wonderful service as my DS takes it back and forth to Rochester NY. We only have to drive 20 minutes to pick him up.</p>
<p>The Washington, DC stop is at the Montgomery Mall (exit 1 on I270 right off the I495 beltway). This is as south as it gets on the buses (Frederick is further north in Maryland).</p>
<p>Ah yes sorry about that! I haven’t taken the bus in a while and got Frederick and Fredericksburg mixed up. But yeah, the stop is at the mall, which was way more convenient for my parents than getting me from Pittsburgh or flying me in.</p>
<p>MTNest, The criteria for full scholarships is both SAT scores and class rank. My son was offered $5000 but not the full scholarship with a 1550/1600 SAT. With his permission, I called and spoke to the admissions office and they informed me that in addition to the SAT score, they require top 2-3% of class. In his case where they don’t rank, they estimated him to be top 4 or 5% because they had 20 scores/GPAs higher than his from his high school of 500 and they want to allocate the full scholarships to as many as possible and not have them overly concentrated in certain schools.</p>