@njdad70 we are from NJ as well! Pitt is where he wants to be so pretty sure he’ll be heading there in the Fall!! What about yours??
HatTrickE88 - Pitt is definitely one of his top choices. We are waiting to hear from some other schools in terms of aid. And Rutgers and TCNJ are in-state options too. Any other schools your son is considering?
@njdad70 He had a long list, NYU, Northeastern, etc…but he has just always loved Pitt. So, it looks like that’s where he’s headed. NJ options are always good but he wants to get away from this area completely for a nice change. We’ll see though!!
Yes my son also applied to mostly out of state schools, including Northeastern. I think he really like Pitt though, and I’m sure that will be high on his list when he chooses. Amazing how many NJ kids want to leave the state for college!
^ I’ve got 3 who left NJ to go to Pitt.
@njdad --most kids dream of leaving their home state for new adventures. It’s just usually not affordable. There are not too many schools that offer need based aid to students from out-of-state. Those of you who received sound like you are very thankful! Congrats!
@njdad70 keep me posted! Going to any of the days for admitted students to visit? @amandakayak well, that is a good sign!! They all liked it??? This is my oldest child so we are first timers!! (And a little freaked out!)
@amandakayak Wow! 3 kids who all chose Pitt! Sounds like a ringing endorsement. Any specific reason why they chose Pitt over other schools?
@HatTrickE88 I will. We are going to either late March or first date in April for admitted students day. We already went to Pitt once in November and we both liked it. I’m looking forward to going back to see the upper campus and do the tour of Pittsburgh so my son can see other stuff to do in the city.
@carachel2 I’m extremely grateful for the aid. Believe it or not, it makes a big difference, especially over 4 years. Pitt is the only school that has given us need based aid so far. Other have given him merit scholarships, but only loans for financial aid.
We received the Panther Pride for $11,000 and $7k in student loans and work study $2k. We’re OOS.
We are also attending the World of possibilities event at the end of February where a bus will pick us up at a Pitt designated place and Pitt is putting us up in a hotel as well.
@perch1024 @meganewarren @njdad70 - we are also OOS (NY) and my daughter got 2,360 Pitt Panther award - is this need based aid? do you know how it is calculated? I am super surprised that we would qualify for need based - is it based on EFC (I have a son at IU) - Pitt is my daughters #1 choice and we visited last week so 7k would make the decision alot easier. thanks for any info
Yes, I would think that the need based Panther Pride grant depends on EFC/unmet need after accounting for all other merit or federal/state grant aid.
@pmcnyc after looking into it I found that it is need based aid, which is based on EFC. The fact that you have a son also in school might have to do with why Pitt wanted to give you something.
@HatTrickE88 @njdad70 Yes, son graduated Pitt with BS ChemE in '11, dd will graduate this year with BioE major, Chem and Korean minor (go figure) and next dd is a current BioE soph. All have been very happy, involved in various and different groups/clubs/activities (they are pretty different kids). I was very nervous going into this whole college decision because like most of you, I didn’t have $200k saved up for each of my kids (lol). Soooooo, did alot of comparison shopping…state schools, private schools - ratings, ranks, NIH funding stats. Feel free to message me, I have been nothing but happy with what each one has received in terms of work/fun balance, opportunities post grad, research opportunities. Glad to help answer any concerns that anyone has.
@pmcnyc yes it’s need based. I have no idea how we qualified but I’m grateful. With sons merit award and the 5500 loan he can take, our EFC is more than the amount left over. I can only assume we qualified due to having another college student
COA- EFC- merit or grant aid = unmet need
a subsidized loan of up to $3,500 is also need-based aid, and federal work study.
@njdad70 We’re going in early April for the admitted students day for kids into the school of arts and sciences. Looking forward to it.
@amandakayak That’s wonderful!! It’s nice to know all three of your Pitt students were/are happy. Back when my son was in the middle school band we went on a trip to Pittsburgh and my son loved it there. It’s a great area for college! I agree, we have looked at other schools but it definitely seems like you get more bang for your buck at Pitt!
@HatTrickE88 my ds was in the marching band at Pitt, and one of the band frats all 4 hrs. was section leader his senior yr. also did the spring semester concert band one year. that was on his “must-have” list which drew us to Pitt to begin with.