I am planning to apply to Pitt through their own application, and I noticed that it does not have the sections to list your extracurriculars or awards. Would using the Pitt application be of any disadvantage as opposed to using the common aplication?
In the CDS for the Pittsburg campus (Common Data Set | Office of Institutional Research), Rigor, GPA, and test scores are considered Very Important for admissions, application essay is considered Important, while extracurriculars and Talent/Ability are Considered. So not including ECs may not have a strong effect, if you have top stats.
However, if your ECs are strong, and your stats are not that strong, you should likely apply using common ap, unless you think that you will be applying to a very large number of colleges.
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When you refer to “application essay” does that include both the personal statement in the Common App and any other supplemental essays?
Yes, I think that they mean the personal statement in the common app. If I am not mistaken, it is not required for admissions, unless one is taking the test-optional route, but it is required to be considered for scholarships and for Honors College.
Pitt has the simplest process but also the most confusing application. How did they manage that? I am helping my kid with it now. The Honors College is a separate application from the main application in the Common App and requires an essay with a different prompt (may be different if applying directly through them??).
We too wondered about the essay part - but it is apparently needed for scholarships.
I too am navigating the Pitt Honors application right now. If your kid is applying to Pitt through the Common APP, there should be a tab with a text box attached to write the honors essay. I don’t think there is a separate application from the Common APP.
Thanks! You’re correct - it’s just an extra step, not an entire app. My kid wasnt sure he wanted to apply to honors right away because he just wanted to do an easy app with no extra essay. There is also an option to do the honors app later from their own web site.
Historically, Pitt only looked at grades, test scores and short answer question essays. They did NOT look at EC lists or personal statements. If you wanted them to know about your ECs you had to include it in your short anwer question essays.
However, with the move to test optional last year, they allowed you to submit your personal essay, ECs and recommendation letters. Whatever would help them evaluate your app in the absense of test scores. This year it looks like they are requiring the personal statement and ECs. I don’t see anything about short answer questions.
I don’t think the essay or the ECs are required unless one is test optional (which I am not, although I will submit my essays and resume eventually).