<p>October is fine. Just be really nice to that guidance counselor. She will appreciate it that you are getting things done early.</p>
<p>Are you a second language student or do you speak two languages?</p>
<p>MichaelGScarn: Do you plan to visit Pitt this summer? Did you get the brochure with all the summer visits/programs? On the back, it says you can apply for free plus bring a copy of your transcript, SAT/ACT to submit with application. Although it doesn’t say you have to forward an “official” copy (if you brought a copy); I would think they want an “official” transcript and SAT/ACT reports.</p>
<p>Yes, I would like to visit. The brochure says that they’ll waive the fee if I “apply while at the program.” What does that mean? this is probably a stupid question. Does that just mean they’ll give me paperwork when I visit and have me fill it out?</p>
<p>@MD Mom </p>
<p>Nope. My parents are immigrants but I only speak english.</p>
<p>Michael, we just visited last week. They did give out a paper application that you could fill out and return that day, but they also gave us a code to use when filing online. I think they said the code would be good until sometime in October.</p>
<p>I believe their application is still very simple. Yes, they give you the paper application and you can complete it there. My older DS filled it out at Alumni Hall and handed it in at the end of the program. We attached a copy of the essay to the appl. for scholarship consideration. </p>
<p>This was four years ago and we will be repeating the process for the younger DS. The difference was Pitt didn’t ask for a copy of the transcript or SAT/ACT scores back then so we will attach the copies to the appl. this go-around. Then have the official transcript/SAT scores sent when we get home. We are lucky that the guidance secretary will be working during the summer. She told us she will be able to process the transcript requests throughout the summer and she would like it sooner rather than later.</p>
<p>Great. Thanks a lot for the quick, helpful responses.</p>
<p>I hope you get the full tuition scholarship. DS loves Pitt and has never regretted choosing Pitt over the other schools :)</p>
<p>What is the political climate among the students like at Pitt? Do you notice the school as a whole leaning one way, or is it balanced?</p>
<p>President Obama spoke at CMU last week and when I asked my daughter whether she knew the president was there, she said no, but that she had seen lots of Obama shirts. I do not think the campus leans one way or the other. You will find like-minded students. This was at least the second time the president has been to Pittsburgh; the G-20 was there three years ago.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The UHC (location) is more of a common place for student to go hang out, study, have meetings for clubs, and talk to the advisors or UHC staff. The UHC (school) is really a conglomerate. It’s mostly just any UHC class, plus electives and other fun little things, like SHAC, the Student Honors Activity Council who throws a lot of events throughout the years for the kids. The BIGGEST perk of UHC is housing, and it’s a really good reason to not only be in UHC your freshman year but to be involved.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Most likely the UHC classes will be mostly UHC kids. They’re more difficult, more in depth classes on a variety of topics (Programming, Physics, Chem, History, etc.) that a non-UHC student might become overwhelmed in. But anyone can sign up to be in a UHC class, so I doubt that 100% of the UHC classes are 100% UHC students.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Depends on the major. UHC doesn’t do it’s own graduation unless you decide to get a BPhil through them (which is basically a thesis project, not it’s own degree).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Depends on the school. I know that Engineering has a RIDICULOUS amount of alumni money that they use for scholarships. I know nursing has similar alumni scholarships. Other than that, I don’t know if A&S has any A&S specific ones. I know they just got a huge donation of which part of the money is supposed to go to scholarships, but I don’t know how or if it actually will.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>To get scholarships from the UHC you have to be basically UHC eligible. That means 1400+ M+CR and top 5% of your class. You need to retake your SATs to get a higher score, as the UHC gives both half and full tuition, and full tuition generally takes an even HIGHER SAT than half (i.e. half may start at 1400-1450, full was rumored to start around 1500-1550 last year).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You’ll get in. Right now, no guarantee of scholarship.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The actually political climate is pretty tame (except for this year because it’s an election year). There are both Republic and Democratic clubs (and Libertarian, perhaps more) that hold pretty regular meetings with a good number of people. Election year tends to be a bit more liberal-leaning because Pittsburgh as a city tends to vote blue. I will say that 4 years ago when Obama won the presidency there was a huge (totally tame) riot in the streets with people cheering, running around, and generally being loud and happy until like 2-3am. </p>
<p>The only leaning we tend to have is towards social policy. For the most part, we have a REALLY good, strong, supportive LGBT community, and the Rainbow Alliance is a REALLY active club on campus.</p>
<p>Thank you, that’s good to know!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>They do. However, the donation from Dietrich that just renamed A&S was set up to ramp up over time. The donation is actually held in a trust, and is payed out at something around 5% a year into Pitt’s endowment, which itself only pays out about 5% a year. It isn’t going to make a noticeable difference at first, but down the road, it will really ramp up.</p>
<p>On political leanings - Ron Paul spoke on campus for his Pittsburgh stop this spring to a very large crowd including my ds.</p>
<p>Do i still have a shot at Pitt??? Gonna be a junior next year, and have a cumulative uw gpa of 3.23 and 3.4 w. I screwed up freshman year that is why and wanna keep upward trend going. 3.1 uw 3.25 w freshman year and 3.42 uw and 3.57 had all A’s except a B and a D in a history class I should have not take. Next year I did my scheduling right and if I repeat last year performance and work to my goal I could end up bringing my gpa cumulative after junior year to 3.38 uw 3.53 w if I get all A’s and 3B’s or 3.46 uw 3.6 w if i get all A’s and 1B. Regardless my goal is to keep close to a 4.0 junior year as possible. Also for my diagnostic sat score i had 380 writing, 500 math, and 430 in reading. I hired a tutor and we are working to improve that. Took another test today so who knows how i did on that diagnostic test. I plan on applying early to Pitt like August to late septemberish when time comes. Any advice and tips???</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is the first time I’ve had to do this, but…Pitthopeful you really need to stop asking us the SAME questions over and over! I know I’ve answered chancing questions for you at least 2 or 3 times, which is useless because, like you said, you still have all of junior year left. Myself and many others have already given you loads of advice: Try to do well in classes, don’t overload, really prepare for your SAT. What more do you want? Without completing your junior year we have NO WAY of chancing you. As I’ve stated before, PLEASE go take your SATs and finish Junior year before asking us to chance you.</p>
<p>If you want a guideline for Pitt Admissions, here is a composite data set (that I’ve definitely shown you before): <a href=“http://www.ir.pitt.edu/cds/documents/CDS2010-11PittsburghCampus.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ir.pitt.edu/cds/documents/CDS2010-11PittsburghCampus.pdf</a></p>
<p>Here’s something different. If a Pitt student takes a class outside of Pitt during the summer, does that grade apply to his GPA?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No. Grades only transfer if the class is taken at a branch campus, or at a Pitt-in-[location] study abroad program. You should make sure that Pitt accepts credits from whatever school you are taking the class at, though, as Pitt does not accept transfer credits from every school for every class.</p>
<p>Thanks, that makes sense. S is taking a chem class at UMBC this summer and it has already been approved for xfer.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Good! All he has to do to get the transfer is get a C or higher. Easy stuff :)</p>