<p>What is the value of supplemental application materials? It seem that both scholarships and honors college admission adhere quite strictly to gpa and test scores, so what does Pitt use the essay and recommendations for?</p>
<p>The application specifically states that essays and recommendations are used for scholarship purposes.</p>
<p>I think they are most useful when an applicant is borderline stats-wise for honors or scholarships.</p>
<p>Ok, so are the supplements only to bump up marginal stats, or can they make a scholarship impression on their own?</p>
<p>However, I have heard of a student receiving a scholarship before submitting the essay so if you have the stats that they want – you will get the scholarship.</p>
<p>I got into the Honors College and Pitt with no essay, 1 rec, 1310 SAT and 31 ACT, and 3.7 UW GPA.</p>
<p>When they say the essay is optional they actually mean it.</p>
<p>Some of my friends got into Pitt with no supplements but if you are looking for scholarship money I recommend you send supplements in.</p>