<p>I recently got deferred from Pitt's main campus and I am really sweating about my changes of getting admitted. My combined best SAT is 1760 (CR:600; Math:570). My gpa is about 3.7 [4.0 scale]. I take multiple AP courses (English, World, U.S) and honors courses (Chem II, Physics II, etc.). I'm an honor student, but never really applied for the National Honor Society
I'm also involved in extracurriculars. I'm varsity football player, I do Track & Field, and am in the Key Club. I've already handed in my Deferred Decision Essay and am biting my nails at this point. I'm a white male in a small school not too far from Philadelphia. I know you guys probably get this all the time, but I'd really appreciate some feedback because Pitts my no. 1 choice... THANKS!!
Oh, and I applied to the School of Arts and Sciences for Biology.</p>
<p>I also got deferred from Pitt? We have about the same stats and I am also a football player not in honors society! I called and they told me my SATS were borderline and they sort of recommended taking the ACTs.The officer did say I was at the top of the list whatever that means, but I am an out of state student (NY). One of my friends made a good point that they could be holding out to review all of the instate kids because Pitt is a state school. I also applied to the School of Arts and Sciences but for Biochem. Best of luck and are you out of state by chance?</p>
<p>A lot of people say that it sometimes helps to switch your major to deferred. Bio/BioChem are difficult and popular majors for students entering Pitt, especially those hoping to be premed. But, just based on your applications, the admissions committee might have doubts about both of you succeeding in that course path, especially given your SAT scores (Pitt really looks for a minimum 600 Math, 600 Writing).</p>
<p>Another thing to do is send in your semester grades: have you been taking difficult classes? The problem is the kind of classes you have been taking. jzambo: you’re a potential bio student, but all your APs are in the humanities! That doesn’t make sense to an admissions counselor-- why wouldn’t you take AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Calc or AP Physics? Sometime to show your strong science/math ability. </p>
<p>And like MiggShreds had recommended, it might be a good idea to take the ACT (although I don’t know how much time you have at this point) to see if you would score better than you did on your SAT.</p>
<p>I just want to say that I think it’s really okay if you took a lot of humanities classes but want to be a bio major…I took a lot of science classes (like AP Chem and AP Bio) because ever since 9th grade I thought I wanted to do science and be a doctor one day. But then I took these classes (which weren’t till junior/senior year) and realized from them that I don’t like science as much as I enjoy English or my other languages that I’ve been taking for 4 years in school. So, I put down on my applications that I want to be an English major because I changed my mind.</p>
<p>Just because you change your mind but your academic “focus” seems to be different isn’t bad. We are young and are expected to change our minds–it doesn’t mean we are “unfocused” “unorganized” or “disoriented” students. You grow older and learn FROM the AP classes that you take to learn WHAT you are actually interested in after taking those classes.</p>
<p>I understand what you are saying about my AP classes being all humanities. I did sign on for AP Bio however, since I come from a small suburban school, not enough people were interested to run the class this year…bummer. I’m hoping my multiple Hon. Physics and Chem classes could give me SOME credibility to my major. I really do have an appreciation for different aspects of academics because I think it give me insight into other topics…if that makes any sense. But I don’t think that should take anything away from my credibility in the sciences.</p>
<p>I actually did contact the school via email asking if it would help my chances if I would change my major to ‘undecided’ since Biology is such a competitive program. However, they told me the ‘undecided’ major is also housed in the School of Arts and Humanities, so it wouldn’t help me at all. Actually they told me that an over-the-phone interview might be a good idea and i’ll probably give them a buzz in the next couple days. I’m not trying to stalk them, but I want them to know I’m very interested.</p>
<p>Oh and I am an in-state student. Allentown, PA. Just outside of Philly.</p>
<p>Did you submit a counselor recommendation? If I’m remembering correctly, that’s where we asked our counselor to explain our curriculum. For instance, Calculus BC is in the course catalog, but hasn’t had enough students to be taught in recent years. Our science curriculum requires Bio I, Chem I, and Physics I. AP Bio, Chem, and Phys are Bio II, Chem II, and Phys II, respectively, so there are not a lot of kids with multiple AP sciences. As long as you took the most challenging curriculum available to you, you would ideally not be penalized.</p>
<p>Yes I did. But I’m not certain if she acknowledged that in the recommendation. That’s a good point, I’ll definitely ask her about that.</p>
<p>Since when is Allentown “just outside Philly”? That’s a surprise to 800,000 of us that live in the Lehigh Valley metro area. Its nice to have Philly and NYC within 90 minutes, but I’d kind of like to keep them there!</p>
<p>Ha what can I say…I’m a city guy at heart. Not that I dont like the L.V., its just a little too dull sometimes.</p>
<p>Heyy man I ended up getting in, I interviewed last week hadn’t even submitted the midterm grades yet!</p>
<p>Dude that’s awesome! I also interviewed several days ago. He wasn’t too flattering about my scores either, but seeing that you got in with practically identical stats as me gives me a lot of hope. Enjoy the next stress-free couple of months haha. Hopefully I can say the same for myself soon enough.</p>