<p>State schools want OOS students since they pay more than instate students. There have been many threads on CC about this.</p>
<p>Scholarships: Pitt want students with high stats to increase their standing on the rankings so it isn’t surprising that there is a cut off on the scores. I would agree that students with less than the normal required stats are usually URM or have a specific hook that Pitt wants.</p>
<p>LauraG, you’re from Hawaii, so maybe Pitt’s more interested in you.</p>
<p>I hope some of you potential applicants aren’t misunderstanding this… the 1400/1450 score is for MERIT scholarship money. You’ll still be able to get money based on your financial needs… when I was applying to schools last summer, I realized most schools don’t throw around nearly as much as Pitt does based only on test scores. You really shouldn’t be so shocked by the cutoff when you realize how many kids are applying with scores of higher than 1400. Full tuition merit scholarships are very very hard to find at a school with academics as great as Pitt’s</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure LauraG said in a previous post that she wasn’t eligible for need-based aid. Pitt is offering her travel money for her to visit, so I assume that Pitt is very interested in her. I’m just guessing it’s because she’s from Hawaii. I think the colleges like to say that all 50 states are represented, but maybe Laura has other credentials. She should definitely apply, even though her SATs are below 1400.</p>
<p>In general, though, need-based aid from OOS publics is going to be pretty inadequate and require loans to meet the gap.</p>
<p>Perhaps her hook is Hawaii??? Just apply and see what happens – did they waive their application fee?? They aren’t covering the airfare – just hotel cost and a stipend – right? Airfare from Hawaii is not cheap and I am assuming you are not going to be making multiple trips to the mainland to check out colleges. You don’t need to visit until you know what they are going to give you.</p>
<p>For those applicants questioning why they shouldn’t/won’t get more merit aid/scholarship $$. You might think that since PITT is “just” a state school then of course they would fawn all over you. Bottom line is that PITT is a highly respected public university and they court/want students with high scores and a fairly well rounded package to supplement those scores. You may as well get used to the fact that there are many high achieving students out there looking at PITT and of course, other schools. It’s a really big pond you are in now, it’s not just your high school any more.</p>
<p>
Really? Does Pitt commit to meeting 100% of it’s students “needs”? How much of Pitt’s need based aid is given in the form of scholarships and grants, and how much is actually Federal loans that have nothing to do with Pitt’s generosity?</p>
<p>I don’t believe Pitt guarantees “full financial need” so there will be a gap. Most state schools do not meet the full financial need – UVA is one of the few but it is very competitive especially for OOS students. Once again, it is important to have a “financial safety” in your choice of schools. </p>
<p>[Colleges</a> That Claim to Meet the Full Financial Needs of Students - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/paying-for-college/2010/02/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-the-full-financial-needs-of-students.html?s_cid=related-links:TOP]Colleges”>http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/paying-for-college/2010/02/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-the-full-financial-needs-of-students.html?s_cid=related-links:TOP)</p>
<p>Actually my number one school is a public school that’s ranked significantly HIGHER than Pitt in my major - business, and I’m almost guaranteed full tuition there. The latest rankings I saw putt Pitt at 77, while this one was ranked at 24. Sooo it just doesn’t seem like a great idea to apply to this school that I’m not even all that interested in and probably wouldn’t be able to afford to go anyways.</p>
<p>Well then you should apply to your number one school and not worry about whether you will get any money at Pitt since you should get full tuition at your number one school :)</p>
<p>@LauraG2011
Wow, if with a 1370 SAT you’re almost guaranteed full tuition at a school that’s ranked even higher than Pitt, then go for it, it’s a no brainer. That would be extremely generous considering how strong the competition for merit dollars has been this past year. Plus, frankly, flying from Hawaii to Pittsburgh presumably twice a year will pose some serious logistical challenges. We live in Seattle and due to a lack of direct flights getting from here to Pittsburgh is a 9-hour affair. Flying from Hawaii to Seattle would add another 6 1/2 hours… I think your best bet would be schools on the West Coast.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>…although off the top of my head I can’t really think of any that would be that generous, unless you’re URM and/or have something amazing other than scores in your application.</p>
<p>What is URM?</p>
<p>URM stands for under-represented minority.</p>
<p>Lol no, I’m not an under represented minority, I’m just all around awesome 
Hahahah I was interested in finding out more about Pittsburgh because of the letter the sent me, they were only ranked 5 on my list because I barely knew anything about them, which was why I was posting this :)</p>
<p>…sooo are you going to say which highly ranked business school is offering you full tuition or?</p>
<p>Arizona State University or the University of Central Florida?</p>
<p>Arizona State W.P. Carey School. If you go on their website they have all the rankings and stuff, it’s pretty cool. And because legally I have residency there even though I live in Hawaii, it’s not that expensive to begin with, and everybody with my stats have gotten full tuition soooo yeah :)</p>
<p>But I’m still looking for other options to apply too, it looksl ike Pitt has promise everybody seems to love it, but the money thing is a big deal to me because I’m paying for college all by myself and I wouldn’t qualify for need based aid =/</p>
<p>dont party too much. If I remember correctly AZST is the #1 party school</p>
<p>From a post on a different forum earlier today:</p>
<p>The Princeton Review used student responses concerning alcohol and drug use, hours spent studying and the popularity of Greek life to compile a list of the top 20 party schools. They are:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>University of Georgia</p></li>
<li><p>Ohio University, Athens</p></li>
<li><p>Pennsylvania State University</p></li>
<li><p>West Virginia University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Mississippi</p></li>
<li><p>The University of Texas, Austin</p></li>
<li><p>University of Florida</p></li>
<li><p>University of California, Santa Barbara</p></li>
<li><p>University of Iowa</p></li>
<li><p>DePauw University</p></li>
<li><p>Florida State University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Wisconsin, Madison</p></li>
<li><p>University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa</p></li>
<li><p>Sewanee – The University of the South</p></li>
<li><p>Indiana University, Bloomington</p></li>
<li><p>University of Colorado, Boulder</p></li>
<li><p>University of Missouri</p></li>
<li><p>University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign</p></li>
<li><p>University of Maryland, College Park</p></li>
<li><p>Michigan State University</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Source: The Princeton Review, 2011 edition.</p>