2019-2020 Pittsburgh

[fortheangels]

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The other schools offering need based still gave like 50k more. I am so confused about how Pitt determined this!

Did anyone receive any grants or subsidized? Really interested to know if they offer anything other than unsubsidized or grad plus loans. I only got those two and I am really disappointed.

I think that just means you did not qualify for any aid. I think people who do qualify for aid get need based grants.

not that it makes things better but i think it's possible that how they calculate your eligibility isn't what's different between schools (at least not drastically), it's the school's availability of funds ('availability of funds' is one of the items they list under how awards are made). i got a very small need based scholarship for Pitt and a much larger one at a different school and that other school has a much larger endowment.

 

[2020NonTrad]

I have to add myself to the group that is getting no aid at all. I was expecting no aid, but still disappointed as I really loved Pitt.

 

[AgRosie]

Just curious, for people that had better aid offers from other schools, were those schools in-state hence cheaper tuition, or schools that gave merit scholarships, or schools that have better financial aid policies (for example, Cornell and Columbia are "debt-free")? Pitt's financial aid offer is the only one I received so I have no clue how generous the aid was compared to other schools. Thanks!

 

[SleazySalesMed]

Just curious, for people that had better aid offers from other schools, were those schools in-state hence cheaper tuition, or schools that gave merit scholarships, or schools that have better financial aid policies (for example, Cornell and Columbia are "debt-free")? Pitt's financial aid offer is the only one I received so I have no clue how generous the aid was compared to other schools. Thanks!

Aid is relative. After seeing a few, IMO anything less than 50% of tuition is low ball. Anything over tuition is them paying you to go there. Everything in between is where most offers I've seen fall. The COA over tuition is where your concern should be

 

[fortheangels]

Just curious, for people that had better aid offers from other schools, were those schools in-state hence cheaper tuition, or schools that gave merit scholarships, or schools that have better financial aid policies (for example, Cornell and Columbia are "debt-free")? Pitt's financial aid offer is the only one I received so I have no clue how generous the aid was compared to other schools. Thanks!

The only other aid I have received so far is strictly need based, not in state, and not “debt-free” - but i would says that school’s financial aid policy is still overall better than Pitt’s


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[deleted1009711]

Ok Ok Ok I know this is gonna sound like a messed up comment but...uhhh...

My chances of getting in off the WL just went up 😀

Pitt if you are listening: I WILL PAY the extra 20k-30k in tuition, just LET ME IN hahaha

 

[AgRosie]

Aid is relative. After seeing a few, IMO anything less than 50% of tuition is low ball. Anything over tuition is them paying you to go there. Everything in between is where most offers I've seen fall. The COA over tuition is where your concern should be

The only other aid I have received so far is strictly need based, not in state, and not “debt-free” - but i would says that school’s financial aid policy is still overall better than Pitt’s


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I see. Thank you guys for sharing this info! 🙂

 

[neuroresearchguy23]

Ok Ok Ok I know this is gonna sound like a messed up comment but...uhhh...

My chances of getting in off the WL just went up 😀

Pitt if you are listening: I WILL PAY the extra 20k-30k in tuition, just LET ME IN hahaha

Bro this was my exact thoughts. I feel so bad thinking it... but at like... ugh. lol.

 

[PreMed352]

I'm a prospective applicant for next cycle. Everything I had heard about Pitt is that they were pretty generous with need based aid. It's kinda hard to gauge whether the aid itself is low or if the expectation of aid was great in the people that are disappointed with their offers, I would be pretty psyched if the offer was say 50% of tuition. Is that what the offers have been (ball parking)? Or is it much lower than that percentage-wise?

 

[vrazzles]

My offer was quite a bit higher than 50% tuition.

 

[vrazzles]

So I've had a few people email me to ask about my EFC and 2018 income.

My EFC is 0 and I made around $3500 dollars in 2018 (Peace Corps)

Hopefully this helps people draw some conclusions about Pitt's financial aid process.

 

[Chromium Surfer]

So I've had a few people email me to ask about my EFC and 2018 income.

My EFC is 0 and I made around $3500 dollars in 2018 (Peace Corps)

Hopefully this helps people draw some conclusions about Pitt's financial aid process.

did you see your Parent EFC on the letter? I don’t see it anywhere

 

[vrazzles]

did you see your Parent EFC on the letter? I don’t see it anywhere

No, it wasn't in the letter. I know my EFC from my FAFSA aid report.

 

[PreMed352]

My offer was quite a bit higher than 50% tuition.

I really appreciate your quick response and being open to answering some of the follow up questions you have gotten. Congrats!

 

[qom0013]

So is the consensus that Pitt will not match other schools' financial aid packages? I got a 50% tuition scholarship from another school, but it was based on both need and merit. I received a small amount of need-based aid from Pitt (less than 1/5th of what I got from the other school). Is it worth attempting to negotiate?

 

[BeingForItself]

So is the consensus that Pitt will not match other schools' financial aid packages? I got a 50% tuition scholarship from another school, but it was based on both need and merit. I received a small amount of need-based aid from Pitt (less than 1/5th of what I got from the other school). Is it worth attempting to negotiate?

From this point on I feel like the worst that could happen is Pitt simply telling you that they don't negotiate

 

[SleazySalesMed]

If the school ranking is comparable, include the award letter in your negotiation

 

[happybday1972]

When do we think the next round of WL movement will happen?

 

[neuroresearchguy23]

Either in the next week or so or after April 30 when people need to choose just one school. In my head, I'm telling myself that it's gonna be closer to April 30th so that I'm not too anxious/frustrated with the wait. But it def could be sooner.

 

[yennefer]

I thought it was going to be today/tomorrow, but we'll see! The waiting is the hardest part about this whole process. Hope you guys are staying sane and safe during all the stuff going on!

 

[deleted1009711]

I wonder why they wouldn't just wait until April 30th. Because as much as people complain about their fin-aid, or have better options, they won't usually just dump an "A" until it is forcefully taken from them lol

 

[storyofpcr]

Which apartments in Shadyside (or around Pittsburgh in general) do the off campus med students mostly live at? I've been looking around online and just curious what are the popular choices.

Hey, a current student here - I would strongly suggest living in Shadyside. Most of the med students and tons of other grad students live there. Try to be close to a bus line that gets you to Scaife Hall (check google maps for that). There are tons of apartments on Fifth Ave that put you on the 71B or 71D or on Centre Ave for 75 or 71C (remember public transport is free for Pitt students!). Lawrenceville and Bloomfield are great places but I don't suggest living there because it will be a real hassle to get to school, especially when you have 8 am classes.
Look on craigslist for apartment postings, even rental companies post there. Pittsburgh is a bit more old school with finding rentals, as in the websites are not super up to date. Some rental companies I suggest are Mozart Management, Kamin Realty, Lobos Management, and Walnut Capital.
Pitt will make a Facebook page in a month or so for students who committed and within that page you can easily find roommates!

 

[storyofpcr]

Hi guys. I am new to SDN I will be applying in 2021. I was just wondering if my stats were okay to apply to Pitt?
cGPA: 3.75
sGPA: 3.6
MCAT: 520
Extracurricular activities: 2 internships, 1 year of research (9 months wet lab, 4 months Human trafficking research), will be doing another year of research during gap year
Clinical Experience: worked in a health clinic as a referral specialist (scheduling patient appointments and served as the Membership Director for the internship program). Almost 80 hours of shadowing. Almost 200 hours of volunteering in pediatric hospital. Almost 100 hours volunteering in local and on campus food pantry.
Served as a students instructor for biology for 2 years
Leadership positions: 3 exec board positions for 3 students organizations and membership director for clinic's intern program.
Little concerned because my last two years of college weren't that great bc I had family issues, so I received a B- in biochemistry and microbe. In the fall semester of my senior year, I took a class and got a C+ (it was not one of the science prerequisites). I will be retaking this class at a different higher ranked university (this school is closer to where I live). But my final semester, got all As. But I worked by butt off for the MCAT. Is it okay to have some bumps in the grades? Should I consider a post bac?

Yes definitely apply to Pitt! They value research and a compelling story. I was a similar applicant, with a higher MCAT and a "lower" GPA and got in. I also have classmates who are similar. Basically, Pitt is one of the few T20 schools willing to take a chance on people and does a more holistic review of applicants.

 

[neuroresearchguy23]

I wonder if Pitt will wait till April 30th for everyone to pick one school or pick from the waitlist as others withdraw.. hmmmm.

 

[Frnxa]

Has anyone had any luck contacting the admissions office? I’ve been sending them emails with zero response... 🙁

 

[neuroresearchguy23]

I sent an update last week and I asked a question which they replied to. But it is early in the day and I'm sure they get tons of emails.. they'll respond soon!

 

[BeingForItself]

Has anyone had any luck contacting the admissions office? I’ve been sending them emails with zero response... 🙁

I sent them a one-page PDF update and they updated my file pretty quickly. Maybe call if they continue to not respond to emails?

 

[Frnxa]

I sent them a one-page PDF update and they updated my file pretty quickly. Maybe call if they continue to not respond to emails?

Is the office still open with the whole virus situation? I need a form signed by the dean and it is somewhat time sensitive

 

[BeingForItself]

Is the office still open with the whole virus situation? I need a form signed by the dean and it is somewhat time sensitive

They must've been open in late March because they uploaded my documents to my application then. I'm not sure about now

 

[AgRosie]

Is the office still open with the whole virus situation? I need a form signed by the dean and it is somewhat time sensitive

This is what they said in an email on 3/17
"Our department is operational during the current COVID-19 situation but will be closed to in-person visits. We encourage students and visitors to call or email the admissions or financial aid mailbox during this time. Messages are being returned as soon as possible (no later than 24/48 business hours) based on the availability of our staff."

I'm guessing they are still open. Maybe give them a call if it has been more than 48 hours?

 

[Just Call Me Doc]

Scaife Hall is closed and the staff are working remotely (since about 3/19). They should respond to email but sure things are a little chaotic with the current situation and may be taking longer than normal. Most likely no on will answer if you call (not sure if they can forward their phone lines). I may be wrong and you can try but wouldn't hold your breath.

 

[yennefer]

Really? How do u know that?

 

[deleted1009711]

I talked to someone who got off the WL about two weeks ago. So there must have been a small wave of movement

Darn. Whelp, thanks for posting so I wouldn't be on edge this whole week!

I can't see why they wouldn't have movement on the week following the 15th, and most importantly following the "moment of destiny" following April 30th.

 

[hopefulv3]

When yall sent the update letter, did they reply? If so was it a dean or the front office?

 

[Chromium Surfer]

When yall sent the update letter, did they reply? If so was it a dean or the front office?

I did not get a reply but when I checked the portal later on I noticed that the letter was updated to my file.

 

[See_Diff_Run]

I did not get a reply but when I checked the portal later on I noticed that the letter was updated to my file.

+1

 

[malmed1025]

When yall sent the update letter, did they reply? If so was it a dean or the front office?

I did get replies for mine! I think it may be random depending on who is on there

 

[deleted1009711]

I did get replies for mine! I think it may be random depending on who is on there

I got no reply for my first, and a reply from the dean for my second! But both got uploaded.

What if this is all a code, and they are trying to tell us something?

And I still don't have a "committee decision" date!

As we start heading towards the 15th and 30th, I think a fresh round of neurotic hypothesizing is due 😀

 

[neuroresearchguy23]

I support this idea.


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[unluckyadhessiveness]

Spoke to an adcom member earlier in the week, I was told they will be pulling some people off the WL mid-April

 

[deleted996731]

Spoke to an adcom member earlier in the week, I was told they will be pulling some people off the WL mid-April

Sorry but I think you might be in the wrong place. This thread is only meant for off the hinge conspiracy theories.

 

[neuroresearchguy23]

Try something like, “I saw 4 people wearing Pitt hoodies outside my window while it was exactly 69 degrees, the same temp it was in Scaife Hall during my interview, so I think that’s a sign we’ll hear back in 6.9 days”.


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[BeingForItself]

What if waitlist chances are connected to whether we got complete emails or not?!

 

[hopefulv3]

What if waitlist chances are connected to whether we got complete emails or not?!

What complete emails lol?

 

[deleted1009711]

Spoke to an adcom member earlier in the week, I was told they will be pulling some people off the WL mid-April

On a serious note, only mid April? Will there be another early May, or will that basically be it?

So I know when to call this long adventure a wrap haha

 

[See_Diff_Run]

Puts tinfoil hat on:

COVID-19 has been seen by some as the end all of sorts. The end of Pitts cycle will be on 5/19 because there are 5 letter in COVID followed be a 19. between now and then somewhere in the range of 5 and 13 candidates will be chosen because there are 5 letters in UPSOM and the address of UPSOM (3550 Terrace St.) has a sum of 13 and the postal code (15213) has a sum of 12 and 13>12. I wish these values could be additive so 30 more people could be given an A but I don't make the rules.

This is clearly infallible evidence. I will not be taking questions. Thank you.

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

Puts tinfoil hat on:

COVID-19 has been seen by some as the end all of sorts. The end of Pitts cycle will be on 5/19 because there are 5 letter in COVID followed be a 19. between now and then somewhere in the range of 5 and 13 candidates will be chosen because there are 5 letters in UPSOM and the address of UPSOM (3550 Terrace St.) has a sum of 13 and the postal code (15213) has a sum of 12 and 13>12. I wish these values could be additive so 30 more people could be given an A but I don't make the rules.

This is clearly infallible evidence. I will not be taking questions. Thank you.

I think this is one of the top conspiracy theories we've had so far 🤔

 

[haha2020]

There has been more movement!!

 

[happybday1972]

There has been more movement!!

someone you know got in?

 

[rishy97]

Just got accepted!!!!!!