<p>I'm a Junior in high school right now, so when should I apply, if I want to be competitive? Would summer be too early (I don't know much about the rolling application process, and I know there's no deadline, so..)? Or do most students apply in November? What about September/October? </p>
<p>Also, on the website it says they suggest SAT/ACTs be completed in January. I'll be taking the SATs for the first time this January, but what if I want to take them again?</p>
<p>Also, do I need to take the ACTs, or is it not required? If not, is it still recommended to take them?</p>
<p>Are you talking about for admission purposes or to have the best chance for merit scholarships? If it’s the latter, I have a data point for you since my son was admitted with a full-tuition scholarship and invited to compete for the Chancellor’s Scholarship.</p>
<p>Do you have experience with the format of the SAT (have you taken the PSAT) or the ACT (have you taken the Explore or PLAN)? If PSAT, take the SAT early in the spring of junior year. Make sure to prepare for it. Then, take the ACT after you’ve had some opportunity to prepare for it. They’re different tests and require different preparation. When you get both test results back, compare them to see if one or the other is “your” test. Take the first available administration of “your” test fall of your senior year (this will be well before January). </p>
<p>Pitt superscores and even combines SAT and ACT, so you have three sets of scores to use to make your best case. Pitt is looking at Math and Critical Reading for SAT or Math and English for ACT. My son nearly maxed out math and science in his first ACT, then he shifted focus to English and reading and nearly maxed them out in his second ACT.</p>
<p>You’ll want to apply early, but September or October should be fine.</p>
<p>They start accepting applications during the summer. DS applied during one of the Pitt’s scheduled sessions. The application was free and it was simple to complete. He did have an essay available to submit with the application (they say it is required for scholarship consideration). His SAT/ACT score and transcript was submitted later. DS was awarded with the full tuition scholarship and the engineering scholarship. Three years later, he is still loving his time at Pitt :)</p>
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<p>If you apply in the summer, the application fee is waived, and you are a much more competitive applicant than applying later on. I would also agree that you have a much better chance of getting a high amount of merit aid the earlier you apply. The only thing is that you do need to have a complete application (Transcript, essay, recs, etc.) which may be hard to do in the summer (particularly the transcript). With that said, applying very early in the school year (late August/early September) should be fine.</p>
<p>Definitely take your SATs/ACTs. You just need your scores by the time you apply (I think it takes a month to get them?) since Pitt is rolling, the suggestion of taking the SAT by January is for seniors, as a junior you are definitely okay!</p>