<p>It seems admissions and/or merit-based aid percentages are better for Pitt by applying early.</p>
<p>What is the exact definition of "applying early"? Does the whole application have to be COMPLETED (in terms of test scores, transcrips received, rec letters received) before it can be considered "early"?</p>
<p>My daughter's school hasn't started yet, and they don't even start sending transcripts until mid-to-late September. If my daughter "applies" to Pitt today, will this help her any way? Or, is it pointless since the app won't be finalized until they receive the last piece anyway?</p>
<p>The application won’t be considered until it is complete. It doesn’t help nor hurt you to send in some materials now rather than later. If she has all her materials in by mid to late September that would be still be considered early.</p>
<p>I have the same problem woods, although my daughter is a junior ( school starts next week) so she won’t be applying until next year. I can’t help but feel as though she will be at a disadvantage because her transcripts and letters won’t be sent in until the end of September at the earliest. She will have to march herself into guidance on the first day of school and ask them to send everything ASAP. The app and test scores can be sent over the summer.</p>
<p>The school gives out unofficial transcripts a few times each year. Can students mail in a copy of their unofficial transcript at the end of junior year with a note stating that when school begins the official one will be mailed along with the LOR?</p>
<p>@twogirls: I am going to call the admissions office regarding your idea of mailing the unofficial transcript. I somehow doubt they would start looking at the app until it’s officially complete. At least you have one year to convince your daughter’s school district to accommodate her desire to apply over the summer.</p>
<p>My DS applied 9/25/10, received acceptance 10/11/10 and scholarship offer 11/8/10, which I considered to be early at the time. I think that by early, we’d all agree the earlier the better, so as soon as you can get your guidance department to cooperate with transcripts etc. Also for recommendations, if you can get your daughter to get recommendation letters before school ends junior year, you are that much farther ahead.</p>
<p>I’m always promoting Pitt to people I speak with in our area (upstate NY) as it’s a great school, gives generous merit dollars, and you know way before most other schools if you are accepted, and what merit dollars you will get. It’s nice to have a “bird in the hand” while you are going through the process with other schools!</p>
<p>My daughter applied “early” in that she sent her application and ACT scores in by the end of July, but knew her LOR and transcript would not be sent out before mid-September, based on what others in my district told me. However, I will tell you that in our district (northern NJ), and I would think in most districts, the guidance department has to have some summer hours, working on schedules, new students transferring in, etc. We took a ride up to the guidance office in mid-August and while we weren’t not welcomed with open arms by the secretary who works 3-4 days per week in the summer, we were able to get her to get the transcript, and LOR’s out by August 20. We just pushed it, as my daughter is interested in an early assurance program and we explained it to the head of guidance, via e-mail, who checks his e-mail frequently over the summer. My daughter also contacted her teacher’s who were doing the recs, via e-mail, and very nicely asked them to upload everything as she wanted to get them out. There was no issue with that, and instead of guidance sending out thru Naviance, they actually hand-mailed everything, which Pitt acknowledged receiving about a week later. We are, however, still waiting for a response. But a really think if you just go there and ask, they will send everything out. I actually think it’s much easier to do for them in August, than the first two weeks of September when they’re dealing with schedule changes and all the other senior transcript requests. Good luck.</p>
<p>@PharmDmom - thanks for your thoughts. We too are from NJ where guidance keeps minimal summer hours. My son applied to Pitt in mid-August (sent app and test scores) and it is quite frustrating that his application completion is being held up by our school. Guidance won’t send out his transcript until the School Profile (for our high school) is completed - which won’t be for another couple of weeks (no idea why!). And teachers don’t write the LORs over the summer; they typically start working on them in Sept. They also prefer to go through the school’s LOR submission process (which is through Naviance). So all these factors means my son will likely have to wait til the end of September for his Pitt app to be complete. I am concerned that puts him at a disadvantage with all the other apps coming in early for rolling admission. Nothing more we can do for moment.</p>
<p>Last year, DS applied during a summer visit. All he sent was his test scores, transcript and an essay. He did not send in any LOR’s (it wasn’t required) or resume of ECs. He was accepted and received the full tuition scholarship. It did help that his HS guidance office sent his official transcript during the summer.</p>