@adkdad
I know that I will not receive merit aid, I was referring to need based financial aid. I didn’t know if Pitt considered people for this if they receive nothing from FAFSA.
So, you know teenagers? Well, we were discussing the situation on the way to dinner for my other daughter’s 16th b-day and I said, 'So I guess the calc at Pitt is incorrect. That said you should get between 6k and 8k in grants. Can you send me that email?"
She says, “It wasn’t an email.”
“Uh, what? You just told me a half hour ago that you got an email saying you weren’t getting any more finaid.”
“Um, it wasn’t an email it was on the website.”
“You mean my.pitt.edu?”
“Yeah.”
So, that’s were we are at. I’m not sure what she meant, but I will wait to see if I get real mail with information.
Sorry for any premature heart attacks and for the misinformation.
I agree with @adkdad that Pitt has room to improve and should be embarrassed about being so late with their financial aid notification. My S has received all his financial aid awards from the other 5 schools that he was accepted to attend. We are really just waiting to see if Pitt is offering any financial aid before he makes his final decision. Pitt did give him 10K Merit Scholarship but we are out of state so the tuition is higher.
@amandakayak, Your kids are very fortunate to have received such nice merit awards from Pit. Especially all 3 of them! Maybe Pitt wants more NJ kids to attend. Congrats!
@amandakayak could you comment on the engineering dorm vs. honors dorm decision. DD, incoming ChE trying to decide.
@chelsey123, You do need to complete a FAFSA in order to be reviewed for any need-based aid at Pitt. Does that answer your question?
-A Pitt Admissions Staffer
Chelsey, FAFSA is just an application that you have to complete in order to get access to financial aid. It gives you nothing. The EFC that it calculates tells your what you MINIMALLY have to pay before getting any financial aid at most schools because you can’t get a dime of federal aid until you pay your EFC. We are talking JUST FIn Aid here, not merit.
So what is your FAFSA EFC? That is what you will have to pay. If you subtract that number from Pitt’s COA, you get what your defined need is. Pitt does not guarantee to meet that need. Hardly any, if any school makes that guarantee. So you are likely going to be gapped. Whether you have need or not, you will be eligible to borrow $5500 in Direct loans as a freshman, and if you have need, some of that can be subsidized (usually would be in your fin aid package in such cases). IF your EFC is below the $5600 or so level, you automatically are eligible to get PELL Grants from the fed government, and again, Pitt would have that in your fin aid package.
Last year only 13% of the freshmen got full need met. On average, freshmen got 55% of need met.
So I find it interesting that my son received an email today from Pitt’s Financial Aid Office: “Commit to Pitt”… How can he commit when we still don’t know how much it costs?? Losing patience here.
@Spacecoastmom - My 3 have all gone Sutherland/UHC housing for freshman yr. I liked where it was, a bit removed from the noise downtown, bit of greenery around, good view (but those are reasons that would make me choose that dorm) and with kids who had multiple interests, maybe more academically focused? Dorm itself is pretty comfortable, spacious halls (I get claustrophobic in some dorms because the halls are so narrow), rooms themselves pretty clean, not a tight space. There were kids from engineering there to be sure, going through the same problem sets etc. but they were probably less than 20% of the overall population. I am just guessing. Regardless of where they decide to dorm, pls keep suggesting to your dd that forming study groups is really helpful - the work can be overwhelming to these really good students who never needed help, or needed to work in a group.
I agree with MomofJDJJ how can we commit when we are waiting for the financial aid information! I am getting annoyed with waiting.
I just went on the Pitt portal and my S’s financial aid information was posted. I was pleased with the offer so I forgive them for making us wait.
I too am frustrated. My DD got an email stating she was selected for verification. Well can she get a financial aide letter first before you start asking me for extra paperwork to complete!! I called finaide on Wed. They said letters will go out in mail and email since it is so late by end of this week or early next. Do they not realize that these kids need to make final decisions and my possibly loose housing for other schools if the decision is not made asap. I mean less than 1 month until decisions have to be made and no letters. This is so upsetting for me as a parent so I know how my DD is feeling.
Well just checked the online portal again for the millionth time and surprise it’s there!! Now time to do the numbers crunch!!
Thanks for the heads up on the online portal! Nothing new beyond the $5K scholarship we were aware of, but at least now we know.
@Phillymom5, did you correct the FAFSA by using the irs data retrieval tool, it will send over info right from your tax return to the FAFSA, that might be enough for verification? Or have they asked about specific documents?
I did not know about this info being on the online portal now, have to check it out. I thought we would get a letter first.
@mommdc Yes, they have sent info stating to use the irs retrieval tool, however I think I will still need to send in some paperwork. I guess for me, knowing that Pitt is her 1rst choice and they don’t guarantee full need is stressing me out. I would love for her to go to PItt, but I have to come up with $12k versus if she attends the University that I work for it would be free!
Pitt is one of the schools where you did not have to worry about losing a spot in the housing queue as they do everyone all together after May 1. Unlike it’s neighbor CMU, where you can end up in outer Siberia if you don’t get a housing deposit in ASAP.
As a follow up from Financial Aid:
For anyone waiting for financial aid information, we apologize for the delay. Enhancements to the process have resulted in technical challenges. Please contact our office at finaid@pitt.edu or 412-624-7488 if you have not received your package by Friday, April 10th.
-Pitt Admissions Staffer
Can someone describe exactly where on the portal to look? My student received a merit award a while back, but I don’t see it listed anywhere, so maybe I am looking in the wrong place? Still hoping for info on need based aid. Thanks!