2009-2010 University of Pittsburgh Application Thread

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brooklynblunder said:
i dont think the interviews had any positive weight whatsoever unless one or both of your interviewers recommended rejection

the schools mission was to sell it self from the morning to the end. talking to the students made me realize that they have done a decent job steering people away from Penn and other places. and they just used it as a day to impress those people. i dont mind that all, it makes a ton of sense for the school to do it, and the school is just impressive 🙂
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I think you're right in a way. The fact that they interview ~1000 people and accept around 30% including off the WL seems to corroborate that.
 
brooklynblunder said:
i dont think the interviews had any positive weight whatsoever unless one or both of your interviewers recommended rejection

the schools mission was to sell it self from the morning to the end. talking to the students made me realize that they have done a decent job steering people away from Penn and other places. and they just used it as a day to impress those people. i dont mind that all, it makes a ton of sense for the school to do it, and the school is just impressive 🙂
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I have a very hard time believing that is the case. Think about cost for a moment. Interviews and interview days cost lots of money. They are paying for everything from the folders we get to the lunches we eat to the time for the people who speak with us and interview us. The faculty interviewers, for example, are very well paid individuals who are setting aside 1-2 hours every interview day to interview us. They probably aren't explicitly paid to interview, but while they're interviewing, they're not doing what they're explicitly paid to do.

If the interview could only affect people negatively they would probably interview a much smaller number of people...probably enough to cover their typical acceptances and then maybe 10-25% more.

It's certainly possible that the interview isn't weighted very heavily, but I don't think it having no positive effect makes sense looking at the numbers.
 
Latetotheparty said:
I have a very hard time believing that is the case. Think about cost for a moment. Interviews and interview days cost lots of money. They are paying for everything from the folders we get to the lunches we eat to the time for the people who speak with us and interview us. The faculty interviewers, for example, are very well paid individuals who are setting aside 1-2 hours every interview day to interview us. They probably aren't explicitly paid to interview, but while they're interviewing, they're not doing what they're explicitly paid to do.

If the interview could only affect people negatively they would probably interview a much smaller number of people...probably enough to cover their typical acceptances and then maybe 10-25% more.

It's certainly possible that the interview isn't weighted very heavily, but I don't think it having no positive effect makes sense looking at the numbers.
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Also if that is the case that would mean some people are going to be automatically rejected no matter how the interview day goes. Why invite them in the first place if the interview can't help them but only hurt them?
 
Since this question always comes up at the beginning of October...


Let it be known that UPitt factors in interviews as one (smaller) component of the entire app while making admissions decisions.
 
TaylorMDhopeful said:
Thanx w2e! I appreciate it, this has made my month! I see you are really cleaning up this cycle...haha, im just trying to be like you.
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😎...haha j/k. You are totally blazing your own trail :bow:. Good luck!! Do it for Tech!
 
BBender716 said:
Since this question always comes up at the beginning of October...


Let it be known that UPitt factors in interviews as one (smaller) component of the entire app while making admissions decisions.
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how do u know that pitt takes the interviews as a smaller componenet? where is your source of information. Does anyone have any data in terms of how many they waitlist and how many they come off it into acceptance , besides 1/3 of their class being from the waitlist? Also I have seen very little posts about decisions that people have had lately? have the adcoms slowed decision makeing down? Any one else rejected, WLed, or accepted lately????
 
Fulfilnadream said:
how do u know that pitt takes the interviews as a smaller componenet? where is your source of information. Does anyone have any data in terms of how many they waitlist and how many they come off it into acceptance , besides 1/3 of their class being from the waitlist? Also I have seen very little posts about decisions that people have had lately? have the adcoms slowed decision makeing down? Any one else rejected, WLed, or accepted lately????
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I'm still in "Under Review" limbo.
 
Latetotheparty said:
I'm still in "Under Review" limbo.
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Same. It's a little frustrating since people from our interview day have already received their decisions. I keep checking my status page like every hour. I wasn't expecting a decision this soon anyway, but knowing it might come any second is making waiting a lot harder than it was before. Let me know when you hear something. Maybe I'll slow down my checking intervals.
 
Fulfilnadream said:
how do u know that pitt takes the interviews as a smaller componenet? where is your source of information. Does anyone have any data in terms of how many they waitlist and how many they come off it into acceptance , besides 1/3 of their class being from the waitlist? Also I have seen very little posts about decisions that people have had lately? have the adcoms slowed decision makeing down? Any one else rejected, WLed, or accepted lately????
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Just saying from what others have been experiencing on this thread, myself as well.

I had literally my two best interviews at UPitt. My student and I got along great and he was good friends with my student host who we talked about a lot and how I played racquetball with him. My faculty interviewer was laughing hysterically and ended the conversation with "that was the most fun and interesting interview I've had so far this year!"

So by no means am I bragging about my interviews because I still got WLed. It just means that maybe it's less of a component because I had a sub-UPitt mean MCAT.
 
So I interviewed on the 28th of September. Has anyone been waitlisted/accepted/rejected who interviewed on this date or after???
 
BBender716 said:
Just saying from what others have been experiencing on this thread, myself as well.

I had literally my two best interviews at UPitt. My student and I got along great and he was good friends with my student host who we talked about a lot and how I played racquetball with him. My faculty interviewer was laughing hysterically and ended the conversation with "that was the most fun and interesting interview I've had so far this year!"

So by no means am I bragging about my interviews because I still got WLed. It just means that maybe it's less of a component because I had a sub-UPitt mean MCAT.
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i totally understand. i had my best interview here too ... i think it has to do with the fact that they interview over a thousand people.
 
did anyone else receive a letter in snail mail after you submitted the primary inviting you to fill out the secondary? just wondering
 
Remember, even if you have an awesome interview, you still have OTHER people to compete against who also might have awesome interviews.

And speaking as someone who came from the WL: it sucks to be on the list, but there is a large amount of movement!
 
If I remember correctly from last year's Pitt thread, reading it sometime in October I believe, they had just released a lot of decisions and the vast majority were waitlists. Someone, a current student I think, remarked that Pitt had actually accepted too many people the previous year (entering class of 2008) and were thus playing it safe with a very increased use of the waitlist.

My memory isn't the best though, so this could be just a dream I had.
 
Fulfilnadream said:
how do u know that pitt takes the interviews as a smaller componenet? where is your source of information. Does anyone have any data in terms of how many they waitlist and how many they come off it into acceptance , besides 1/3 of their class being from the waitlist? Also I have seen very little posts about decisions that people have had lately? have the adcoms slowed decision makeing down? Any one else rejected, WLed, or accepted lately????
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They say something to this effect when you interview there.
 
Steeler7588 said:
If I remember correctly from last year's Pitt thread, reading it sometime in October I believe, they had just released a lot of decisions and the vast majority were waitlists. Someone, a current student I think, remarked that Pitt had actually accepted too many people the previous year (entering class of 2008) and were thus playing it safe with a very increased use of the waitlist.

My memory isn't the best though, so this could be just a dream I had.
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No, that's right...I read through last year's thread and they seemed to build a massive WL, which started moving toward the beginning of March and continued through May.
 
Contrarian said:
haha. Did you have trouble finding a place to live in such a short time frame? Were there still spots open in the dorm?
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Darragh wasn't an option, but there were plenty of options in Oak Hill (kind of sketch, ok if you are a dude, wouldn't want my sister living here) and Squirrel Hill (A+!) and Shadyside (A).
 
Chuck's Right Foot said:
Darragh wasn't an option, but there were plenty of options in Oak Hill (kind of sketch, ok if you are a dude, wouldn't want my sister living here) and Squirrel Hill (A+!) and Shadyside (A).
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were the other options within walking distance or do you drive/take a bus?
 
Contrarian said:
were the other options within walking distance or do you drive/take a bus?
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The bus system is good, and those areas probably give a better lifestyle. I walk to school but am not too near (15 minute walk to 5th/Forbes) major bus lines.

There are plenty of options for location near school though. If you decide to come here, second look will help.,
 
w8ting2exhale said:
😎...haha j/k. You are totally blazing your own trail :bow:. Good luck!! Do it for Tech!
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Haha, thanks, good luck to you too, maybe i'll meet ya at a second look 🙂. I bet we crossed paths before. Lol, yea Go Technites! If Principal McCaskill could see us now, haha.
 
Does anyone know if there is truth to the rumor that if you don't get an invite within 2 weeks of submitting, your application was rejected?
 
van wilder said:
Cooool, thanks...I think it's been almost 2 months for me, but I guess no news is good news.
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Especially since there was that massive slew of post-secondary rejections last week. That was menacing. So I'd be optimistic if I'd survived that.
 
i just received my official notice in the mail from pitt.

"this year, the admissions committee has decided to initially accept fewer applicants out right and instead will accept a larger portion from our wait list. in the spring, the committee will certainly be giving your application further consideration and begin offering admission to the applicants on the wait list. we will continue to update you as the year progresses"

i guess a wait list decision is not too bad after all (?)
 
Accepted via status update sometime between noon and 3 p.m, 11/9.
 
Waitlisted. Interviewed 10/14. Even given the lower outright acceptance rate and the higher rate from the waitlist, I'm bummed.
 
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Sorry to hear that you guys, I'll keep you company on the waitlist 🙁
 
scary waitlist forming. I am rooting for you guys to get into some of your other schools....
 
You can also add my name to the list of people whose interviews seemed like they went very well but still got waitlisted. The student interview was very friendly and engaging, and the faculty interviewer told me, and I quote, "I suspect you'll be accepted here" as we were parting ways. (As a note, I know this is to be taken with a shaker of salt, but I still took it as a good sign)

🙁😕
 
BBender716 said:
Thanks, Contrarian. 🙂
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hey, I'm just being selfish...there needs to be room on the waitlist for me! Even superstars can't seem to get accepted outright.

But seriously, I'd be happy to get on the WL here. Judging from last year's thread, it doesn't seem like a bad position to be in. Kind of like making the "2nd cut," as it were.
 
ek1099 said:
"this year, the admissions committee has decided to initially accept fewer applicants out right and instead will accept a larger portion from our wait list. in the spring, the committee will certainly be giving your application further consideration and begin offering admission to the applicants on the wait list. we will continue to update you as the year progresses"
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[FONT=verdana, geneva, helvetica]From you have I been absent in the spring
When proud-pied April, dress’d in all his trim,
Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing,
That heavy Saturn laugh’d and leap’d with him.
Yet nor the lays of birds, nor the sweet smell
Of different flowers in odour and in hue,
Could make me any summer’s story tell,
Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew:
Nor did I wonder at the lily’s white,
Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;
They were but sweet, but figures of delight,
Drawn after you, you pattern of all those.
Yet seem’d it winter still, and you away,
As with your shadow I with these did play..

Is anyone else puzzled by this strategy? I think Bbender or Rockaction said something similar a while back, but with a family and a working wife, I am not sure when "in the spring" is? And I'm not sure if and when I do hear back from Pitt, if I will be able to go. :shrug:

I am truly grateful that I am in wonderful company on the waitlist. Truly, truly honored. But on the slim chance I am offered a spot "in the spring" I may be too late in the game. For sure, it will be bittersweet. For now is the winter of our discontent, my friends...
 
vc7777 said:
[FONT=verdana, geneva, helvetica]From you have I been absent in the spring
When proud-pied April, dress'd in all his trim,
Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing,
That heavy Saturn laugh'd and leap'd with him.
Yet nor the lays of birds, nor the sweet smell
Of different flowers in odour and in hue,
Could make me any summer's story tell,
Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew:
Nor did I wonder at the lily's white,
Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;
They were but sweet, but figures of delight,
Drawn after you, you pattern of all those.
Yet seem'd it winter still, and you away,
As with your shadow I with these did play..

Is anyone else puzzled by this strategy? I think Bbender or Rockaction said something similar a while back, but with a family and a working wife, I am not sure when "in the spring" is? And I'm not sure if and when I do hear back from Pitt, if I will be able to go. :shrug:

I am truly grateful that I am in wonderful company on the waitlist. Truly, truly honored. But on the slim chance I am offered a spot "in the spring" I may be too late in the game. For sure, it will be bittersweet. For now is the winter of our discontent, my friends...
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The fear is that they will over-enroll again. Apparently a couple years back they accepted too many people outright and actually wound up over-enrolling :smack:

By the way VC, I'm in a similar situation. I don't have a family, but my fiancee will be a music education grad. and needs to get certified in the state where she'll be working in and find a job. If I don't hear from Pitt until late spring, I don't know if the move will be possible. 🙁
 
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Maybe this waitlist action is Pitt's way of slowly switching from being a rolling school to a mostly non-rolling school, without actually doing it outright. As Pitt climbs the rankings and more and more people realize what an amazing school it is, maybe this is their way of making sure they accept only the best candidates once they've completed all the interviews and reviews of applications.

Just a thought, since it seems like the "top" schools tend to be non-rolling and not accept anyone until March (which is really annoying, btw!!!).

I'm with a few of you guys in that if I don't hear back from Pitt until the spring, it might be too late. My fiance is going to be applying for post-docs in whatever city I decide to attend school in, so I need to decide sooner rather than later.
 
Waitlisted as well. Does anyone know if it's a true waitlist, where no one gets accepted off of it until after May 15? Or is it more like a post-interview hold, where they might start accepting people towards the end of interview season when they've got a better idea of where you stand in relation to the rest of the pool?
 
Bbon said:
Waitlisted as well. Does anyone know if it's a true waitlist, where no one gets accepted off of it until after May 15? Or is it more like a post-interview hold, where they might start accepting people towards the end of interview season when they've got a better idea of where you stand in relation to the rest of the pool?
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From what these waitlist letters say (and I got mine today too whoopee!) it appears they're going to hit up the waitlist around March-April.

That SUCKS.

I'm practically going to be committing to another school at that point...one that outright accepted me. Pitt, why you gotta be this way? I can't jump ship on another school at the last minute if you grace me with a last-minute acceptance. I wish they would toss some acceptances to waitlisters in December-January...I think that sounds fair. Give us time to get our ducks in a row.

I'm also one of these guys that is trying to think ahead as far as commitments with my significant other...it's really really helpful to know in advance what my options are.

Oh well Pitt. I'll just have to play this one like a rejection at this point. At least I and many of the rest of you have other acceptances...then again, if I didn't I'd be begging and begging Pitt with a letter of intent with a basket of fruit and candy.
 
The "waitlist everybody" plan that Pitt seems to be using strikes me as bizarre. From reading this thread, it sounds like there are a lot of people who are unwilling to languish on Pitt's waitlist when they have other outright acceptances. This strategy seems like an excellent way to drive away your best applicants since they are less likely to put up with hanging out in purgatory.
 
I completely agree with the above posters. Putting the majority of applicants on a waitlist is a surefire way of deterring awesome applicants. I also have a SO who needs to transfer jobs and will not wait until the last minute to jeopardize my relationship. It is a shame considering how much I enjoyed my visit at Pittsburgh. Hopefully some adcoms will read this thread and start lobbying for some early waitlist movement, but that is probably just wishful thinking. 🙄
 
JonSwan said:
This strategy seems like an excellent way to drive away your best applicants since they are less likely to put up with hanging out in purgatory.
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I understand where you guys are coming from but I'd have to disagree. Someone read through last year's thread and said the waitlist movement started up pretty heavily beginning in March - many top schools (Harvard, Penn, Yale, Columbia, Duke) don't admit a single person until March and it isn't a deterrent to their applicant pools. Pitt is following the same gameplan they did last year (after over-enrolling for the class of 2012) and the class of 2013 is probably their most competitive class ever, so it doesn't appear that it hurt them at all.
 
Steeler7588 said:
I understand where you guys are coming from but I'd have to disagree. Someone read through last year's thread and said the waitlist movement started up pretty heavily beginning in March - many top schools (Harvard, Penn, Yale, Columbia, Duke) don't admit a single person until March and it isn't a deterrent to their applicant pools. Pitt is following the same gameplan they did last year (after over-enrolling for the class of 2012) and the class of 2013 is probably their most competitive class ever, so it doesn't appear that it hurt them at all.
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It depends on what you consider "hurting" them. It seems to me that the biggest complaint amongst those of us who might have to wait until March is that we have a spouse, finance, etc. and therefore cannot wait. That means that Pitt is likely losing some of this dimension of diversity in their class. Based on the fact that they have a secondary essay dedicated to diversity, I would consider that to be an important thing to them.

As for Harvard, Penn, Yale, Columbia, Duke, etc., a large part of the reason I did not apply to those schools is because I did not want to wait until March to find out, so I do not understand how you can claim that is not a deterrent. It doesn't stop them from lots of great applicants, but it does deter some (not that I consider myself a "great applicant" anyways).
 
lrkoehle said:
It seems to me that the biggest complaint amongst those of us who might have to wait until March is that we have a spouse, finance, etc. and therefore cannot wait... It doesn't stop them from lots of great applicants, but it does deter some (not that I consider myself a "great applicant" anyways).
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You're right, most of the people who have posted criticism have significant others that they have to consider when picking schools. I apologize. I guess I just got caught up in the wording of one post that this will drive away "the best applicants".

And you seem like a phenomenal applicant - I'm not sure when the Arizona schools get back to you, but I would bet serious money that you get in. Good luck with the rest of your cycle.
 
I don't think the huge waitlist is smart. A number of applicants apply to Pittsburgh because it's a great school that you can be admitted to early (they were my first interview invite). If you get in around October/November, you can turn down interviews at other schools. It saves time, stress and money.

On that note, let's be honest here - you don't really get a sense of a school until you visit and interview. I've found that I liked schools more than Pitt that I didn't expect and liked Pitt more than "better ranked" schools. I got a few more interview invites since last week, and I might've turned them down had Pitt given me a straight acceptance (I'm being hypothetical here, not presumptuous). I'm exhausted of interviews and running low on cash. But I'm going because they're still good schools and I don't have an acceptance yet. If Pitt's really interested in me, now those schools stand a chance of being stacked above Pitt on my list...

Edit: Let's not forget, higher ranked schools are not the only ones that stand a chance at stealing away great applicants.
 
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