<p>A friend of mine got a "Pitt Prestige" application claiming a two week notice, a waiver of the essay, and top priority access etc. Overall it seems way too good to be true, and my friend is an amazing person, but it struck me as odd that the information came without solicitation of any kind and with her <em>slightly</em> below Pitt norm test scores. Researching it, I found the website that hosted the online application, and became a Pitt Prestige applicant myself! (With a 3 minute google search, no prior contact, and no revealing of my scores). This all strikes me as really odd, does anyone know anything about this?</p>
<p>I too would like to know what this is all about…I haven’t sent them any information about myself, and yet they send me this extremely inviting deal. What’s the catch? I want to get into the Guaranteed Med School program, but the site details of the program claim that an essay is almost required for admission into the med school. I’m thinking of calling them on Monday to find out</p>
<p>I got one of the Pitt Prestige letters/invitations yesterday also.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, call them and ask. This is the first year, I have heard about the Prestige application. For scholarships and the guaranteed medical school, I would follow what is stated on the website – if they say an essay is required – send it in. I believe you have to be invited to apply for the guaranteed med. school program – someone who has been through the process would know more. I do know it is super competitive and requires you to maintain a very high GPA to stay in the program once you are selected.</p>
<p>In extension of your post, can you answer my question? For anyone who has completed the app, did you print out the information for your guidance counselor? Was the “yes” or “no” box checked where it said that you will not read your teacher’s recs? My post is here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pittsburgh/1419889-important-application-question.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pittsburgh/1419889-important-application-question.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>If you hope to receive a scholarship, I would ignore this application and send in an essay, teacher recommendations, and extra curriculars/resume. If you are applying to schools on the Common App then you will already have this all done anyways.</p>
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<p>You sound like a serious BS/MD applicant, and hence my reply. Selection for GAP invitation is mostly a numbers based screening to identify serious contenders (akin to HPME pre-app if you know of it). The actual application stage involves multiple medicine-oriented essays, and a chance to highlight passion and exposure to medicine. Selected GAP applicants then go through the interview stage before final selections are made. Lot of gates here…</p>
<p>You probably know that the typical serious BS/MD aspirant has high stats (GPA>3.75, SAT>2200 or ACT>32), and will have no trouble getting admitted to Pre-Med or Bio-Med/Engg without the optionals (Essays, LoRs, etc). Explore if they will let you augment the no-fee Pitt-Prestige app, with an email/fax of your essay (say from common app) and resume/activity-sheet with medical ECs.</p>
<p>I spoke with the Admissions folks at Pitt about the Pitt Prestige application. U Pitt purchased a list of prospective students from the college board, with selection criteria based on GPA, SAT/ACT scores etc. UPitt sent out the Pitt Prestige application to this pre-selected group. Apparently, though, the normal selection process still applies, so you’re not more likely to get in through this application process than you would be if you applied through normal channels. It’s just an expedited process.</p>
<p>Well, it is legitimate. I filled out a Pitt Prestige application on 11/22, my decision was made on 11/29, and I received my acceptance today. However, like mictedgin said, I feel like I killed my chances at getting scholarship money by using it since I only had to send in the essentials (transcript, SAT scores) to be admitted. If you want the best chance at getting merit money, I would use the regular app so you can send in essays and letters of reccomendation. But nonetheless the pitt prestige app and the two week notification is true.</p>
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<p>You can still send in the additional information for scholarships (essays, rec letters, resume of activities). Just contact OAFA and ask to be considered for a scholarship and that you want to send in additional info. Once they get it, they should give your application to the scholarship committee. Acceptances and scholarships are not decided at the same time and are not decided by the same committee. You still have time- the deadline for turning in that information is Jan. 15 I believe.</p>