@BoroDad what was the original merit offer from Pitt?
@BoroDad very helpful references and feeling rellieved that two schools my daughter is planning to use as Cost Analysis are listed in both link as peer/associated with Pitt. Thanks!!!
@BoroDad is right on. Good information.
Thanks for all the helpful info everyone! I appreciate this group so much. A question:
mommdc wrote:
âThey are comparing net costs between schools, not merit or need based aid awarded.â
Do you all think they would consider increasing a merit award cost even if the net cost at a peer institution is only lower because of instate tuition/reciprocal tuition arrangements?
Our D did get some merit from our instate flagship, so weâd include that, but I guess Iâm not certain Pitt will really consider their net cost apples-to-apples with the net cost of instate flagships that start at a substantially lower COA for instate residents (with or without merit from the instate institution). I wonder the same about reciprocal tuition arrangements, e.g. Wisconsin and Minnesota residents get (essentially) reciprocal tuition at their cross-border flagships. Any sense of whether that sort of reciprocal tuition arrangement (resulting in effectively an instate COA for an out of state resident) would be seen by Pitt as an apples-to-apples with their COA - merit?
Great info Borodad, thanks! Does Pitt state that they consider whether the school being submitted for comparison is considered a peer? Absolutely makes 100% sense they would whether they state they do or not, just asking if formalize din their criteria. If so, I would think it would counsel in favor then of submitting a COA comparison from a peer rather than say from a small LAC, even if the net COA was lower at the LAC. (not that couldnât submit both, but if one or the otherâŠ)
Again, thanks everyone.
@JMS111 They did not confirm whether the schools submitted was a peer. They just said they were unable to increase.
@carachel2 $10k OOS. Pitt certainly works for us at that price but isnât the cheapest option. Our cheapest now is a plane ride away but a school we know very well where several cousins attended recently. So itâs a trade off. Very cheap at a good school we know with $30k merit but much farther awayâŠvs Pitt - an even better school especially for his major (in the health sciences) thatâs driving distance but with $10k merit. Then there are a number of more expensive options (no shortage of those) and one less expensive option pending.
@JMS11 The cost analysis worksheet will ask what your costs and aid are at the other schools and you would enter the numbers from that schoolâs financial aid award.
So if you get reciprocal tuition then that would be listed on the FA award, right?
Of course @pickledginger Good luck!
Which schools on your list will you submit?
@BoroDad, we wonât be submitting any schools for S18 because Pitt was extremely generous. Although we wonât be utilizing this process for S18, we have another kid who may well apply to Pitt in a couple of years and may not have the same high test scores as S18. Itâs good to have helpful information to use for our younger kid!
I was really discouraged because the Pitt site states the bar for merit scholarships is high, and so I wasnât expecting anything large (at most I was expecting perhaps a $5K) because I had a 32 ACT and my SATs were lower than what was on site as well. I also applied early in October and hadnât received anything till February so my hopes were quite low.
However, I am extremely grateful to Pitt because I was awarded a $10K OOS as well as a $7k Pitt Panther Grant.
I felt the need to share to any future applicants for you not to be discouraged, as I was, because of Pittâs high scholarship standards; anything can happen.
I really loved Pitt when I visited, and so it saddens me a bit to say I will likely not be enrolling there because one of my options is less expensive, and money plays a big role in deciding which college I will be attending. Nevertheless, I still hold Pitt in high regard and my best of luck to any current/future applicant!
Wowâone week turnaround on Pittâs Cost Analysis Sheet. Increased in state sonâs award from $5k to $10k per year.
Does anyone know if Pitt has NMF scholarships? There was nothing on the application to let me indicate that I was a semifinalist, but I am just curious if sending in a resume would increase my chances of merit aid 
@anxiouswreck I donât believe they participate in NMF scholarships.
Someone asked that question last year
Super Excited! Sonâs merit letter came yesterday
1470 SAT; 4.2 GPA; rank 9/334; 6 APs + a couple dual enrollment; Black Belt in karate; American Music Abroad participant; HOBY participant; in state, $5,000 per year.
PITT was the only place he appliedâŠwe are SO excited and very, very thankful!
Very grateful to have received the Helen Faison Scholarship: Full tuition & fees, room & board, $2k for study abroad or research. Selected for honors college & GAP for public health. Applied: Dec. 15.
@psudickinson Congrats on the cost analysis. Youâre the second person with an in-state increase from $5k to $10k.
for submitting a cost analysis do they just want the documents alone or is adding in a message/explanation a better route to go?
I would attach your documents to an email and give details.
@BoroDad Thanks! My son was really happy about the increased amount, and it kept Pitt in his final 3 choices. He has been offered full tuition at another large university, which is less selective than Pitt, and the other front-runner is a small LAC with a higher COA than Pitt.
@cklax68 My son sent Pittâs COA sheet and the offer from the other university with a fairly brief email in which he mentioned that he is registered for and looking forward to Pittâs Honors Day on 3/16/18.
Good luck to all!