To my knowledge, 24% of accepted students get merit, not 24% of enrolled students. For the majority of colleges, the pool of accepted students is more qualified than the pool of enrolled students.
I also applied to a lot of places! I wrote 20 essays this fall, but I think it will be worth it. The scholarship from Alabama certainly tempted me, but as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I probably shouldn’t attend. Luckily I was offered similar scholarships from slightly better schools.
I’m also Jewish and didn’t realize that Pitt has a good Jewish life! Thanks for letting me know
I want my parents to be able to retire too, so I’ve made it my mission to find the cheapest school that is still somewhat decent lol. And to be honest, career success relies more on the person and not what college they went to. I wish you and your kids good luck! Happy Holidays!
I don’t mean to pry, but what sort of short list have you made for respectable colleges that are affordable. I am from CA, so my parents want me stay in CA, but I have been looking at Pitt more closely since my scholarship. I applied to Rutgers, which I really like, but do you know any other east coast schools similar to them? Just wondering
My son mentioned that some students who he’s met in the Facebook Pitt Class of 2025 group have also recently received a notebook from Pitt in the mail. He hasn’t received one and he’s pretty bummed! He was accepted in October and already committed. He attended the Accepted Students Day online earlier this month. Any idea if all accepted students are eventually getting the notebook in the mail?
It’s a plain notebook and sheet of stickers and I’m sure your kid will receive them soon. USPS has been slow lately with priority mail takes more than a week than 2 days as promised.
For people who received a merit award, how were you alerted - via portal (psmobile), email or mail? And about how long after being accepted? Thanks for the info!
If you are looking for affordability (and it may be late to apply), SUNY schools (Binghamton and Stony Brook are most known but many are good), UCONN, UVT, UNH, URI - I think Maryland isn’t good merit wise. Also, Miami of Ohio (midwest) is a good one and Ohio U (not as good) but good merit. Good luck.
I imagine at a big state school, evendown South, you will find your group. My son doesn’t like football or parties, yet he is (after a struggle) doing well in year two at Bama. He chose it for engineering over Purdue - mainly because the dorms were so nice. Guess what - hated living in the dorm. This year, it’s much better.
Personally, I’m a pedigree guy - but honestly, unless you’re working in consulting, etc. if you go to Alabama or Florida (much higher ranked), few companies are taking that into account. Ultimately, you can go to a school not high on your list and have a great experience. Or go to your top choice and have it be miserable.
Pitt shares a Hillel with the city - so Carnegie Mellon. I think it’s 8% Jewish. Haven’t been to Pitt but it’s a city school. Everyone I talk to tells me how “awesome” the Alabama campus is - and yes it ranks high in many studies. btw - HUGE Jewish life at Alabama. Hillel says 600 kids. The school’s Hillel says 1000 kids. Doesn’t mean you need to partake - my son doesn’t. But it’s nice to know you won’t face discomfort.
As a parent, while I love pedigree, I’m glad my first child (and hopefully my second), won’t make me work 20 more years. In the end, I think you can find a positive spot at either place. Good luck.
The merit award letter came in through snail mail about 2 weeks after my D was accepted. The information was also on the portal for a while, under the Financials → View Financial Aid section. However, it isn’t there anymore. My D is hanging on tight to her merit letter now saying that they can’t take it away from her, LOL!
The fact that it wasn’t on the FinAid portal is encouraging to me, thank you, HonorHopeful! My S21 received his buttons almost three weeks ago, the email acceptance video on Dec. 11, and… nothing in the snail mail, despite my mental efforts to make it manifest, lol. Likely holiday delays, I guess… Just wish we could know about merit. Sigh.
@covcoll we are in the same boat! Buttons received 12/2 and email on 12/11. Anxiously awaiting notification of merit! I’m guessing there won’t be any progress this week. Let’s hope for some action in early 2021
NJ parent of a Pitt Sophomore here.
Pitt beats Rutgers in atmosphere, opportunities, college town, Pittsburgh is a clean, safe urban campus. New Brunswick is just depressing.
Pitt campus is beautiful, well maintained.
Pitt administration is good, it it’s a well run school, Rutgers is known as “screw U”
Pitt campus is walkable, green, pretty.
Rutgers has a major bus system to get to classes, sprawling campus.
Size of Pitt is more manageable. Has a smaller school feel, less competitive for undergrad research.
Hail to Pitt IMO
My D also likes Pitt and did not even bother to apply to Rutgers and NJIT. I want her to apply to NJIT for potential full tuition scholarship, but let her decided to apply or not apply to the list of colleges that we proposed and researched.
UMD is also a good school but the the surrounding area is a bit run-down.
I applied on November 15 to Dietrich and buttons haven’t changed. Is this a normal amount of time to wait or should I be concerned? OOS, 4.0 UW GPA, 33 ACT composite, 35 ACT superscore (not sure if many schools even superscore ACT)
Make sure you’re looking under admissions on the Pitt PS Mobile App… That’s where I saw them change, with no info anywhere else. But I think everything is on hold for this week, at least… Hang in there!
OK, so I got a USPS one page acceptance letter and a one-page info sheet today. Does this mean no merit? Likely… But if so, are there other scholarships doled out later, or is this the whole shebang? Thanks, Happy New Year!
