<p>When can we start submitting applications?</p>
<p>As soon as possible!</p>
<p>the application has been available on line since July. i would recommend getting it in asap. i believe pitt works on a rolling admission basis. therefore, it may be a bit easier to gain admission if you apply earlier.</p>
<p>That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure.</p>
<p>Also - I noticed that there isn't a section on the application for extra-curriclulars! Is it hidden somewhere and I just can't find it, or do they just want us to submit a resume?</p>
<p>my s just submitted it via email. the admissions department doesn't seem to like when they get emails with attachments, so paste the resume directly into the area where you compose the email itself.</p>
<p>i would also recommend that you call admissions and try to get a admissions rep on the phone. if possible get the admissions rep email and email your resume directly to that person.</p>
<p>Whe we went out to visit in july, we had lunch with an admissions rep who was very nice. He told us, that in addition to stats, pther important criteria that the admissions department looks for is the level of interest that the prospective student has in the university.</p>
<p>this can be measured by a visit (or multiple visits) to the campus. they record all visits if you report in with the visitors center. Interest in pitt can also be measured by when you apply. students who apply early in the process clearly are sending pitt a message that they are very interested in the school. another way of showing interest is to establish contact with an admissions rep and email him/her every once in a while with some questions.</p>
<p>all schools have pushed up their admissions standards. But as the admissions rep at pitt told us, if they need to decide between a student who applied in july, has good stats (not great stats), visited the school and showed intersest vs. a student who applies later in the admissions cycle and has better stats, never visited etc, they would opt toward the first student.</p>
<p>applying early also gives the admissions department a chance to defer you (if you are on the bubble) and wait for additional grades etc, rather than turning you down right away.</p>
<p>it really depends on how much you want to go to pitt, if you think you can see yourself there over the next 4 years or so, then you should try to do all you can to maximize your chances of gaining admission. applying early in my view is the first step.</p>
<p>Thanks. But now I'm facing another dilemma...</p>
<p>I feel as though I already have a fairly strong chance (1340 SAT; a full resume with leadership and awards (in journalism), plenty of community service, a recreational sport, and work experience; a really original essay; and a decent GPA at a college prep private [around 3.4-3.5, but with a fairly rigorous load, and my school doesn't really weight]). </p>
<p>I plan on submitting my application this week. Would I be okay just skipping the recommendations, and having my application marked as complete as soon as I send it in? Or should I have them hold onto it for awhile longer so I can get a recommendation (which might take up to a few weeks...)?</p>
<p>I know the recommendation would make my decent GPA look better (my counselor can explain how I've coped with various hardships in my life, and can attest to my good attributes - hardworking, determined, etc.), but I don't want to do it if holding off on "complete" status will harm my chances.</p>
<p>(Sorry if these sound like stupid questions - I'm a first-generation college student, so I'm pretty lost right now).</p>
<p>no. i wouldn't wait. what i would do is send in the application, establish email contact or call the pitt admissions department and tell them you have applied, are really excited about possibly being able to go to pitt, but won't have your rec letters until mid september. </p>
<p>In your case, with that sat and gpa, rec letters shouldn't play a big part in the admissions decision. i say apply as early as you can. with rolling admissions, your chances of gaining admission are much better earlier in the process.</p>
<p>it would be a good idea to call admissions and get someone's name. then follow up with an email so they know you are really interested.</p>
<p>good luck</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>quick question, I took the SAT in may, not happy with my score. will retake in oct. should I send my app first or wait till the 2nd SAT score? if I send it first, they'd only look at my 1st score. but if I wait for the 2nd score, it'll be like end of october.</p>
<p>I think the end of October should be okay. My daughter applied in mid-November last year.</p>