Post Pitt Acceptance

[locitamd]

Just curious if anyone has received mail from Pitt after having sent back the student info sheet. I know other schools have sent Financial Aid info and contract confirmation, but I haven't gotten anything from Pitt. Has anybody gotten anything from them?

Thanks.

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[buffy]

I think they said to expect more mail in April. I haven't heard anything yet.

 

[Drako]

I have yet to hear anything from PittMed either. I am very anxious to get things going as it is 99% that I will matriculate there. Just to make sure, all you need to send in at the moment is the applicant data sheet right? I know, I have read the letters for the 10th times and still I am nervous about making an idiotic mistake. Are you guys pretty sure you are going to attend PittMed?

 

[Jonny-5]

Hey Hey Hey!

Yes, all we need to send back at this point is the green "applicant data" form. Deposit checks will be accepted AFTER May 16th.

I also am ~95% positive that I will matriculate to Pitt Med. My student interviewer told me that the second look weekend is May 4-6, but I haven't heard anything official yet. Anyone going?

I have been excited for weeks now and am anxious to start looking for housing, etc.

Take care!

Jonny

 

[SuperGrover]

I too have only sent in the applicant data form, but with much pleasure and excitement! I was so happy to hear of my acceptance, and I particularly enjoyed the personal touches in the letter as well. For me, the individual care taken in the letters confirmed the sense of humanism (towards students and patients alike) I felt at the school when I visited.

Does anyone know what happens during the 2nd-look weekend in May? And is it just for students, or is it an opportunity to visit the school with significant others and/or families?

I also wonder what you all think about the financial aid forms we're supposed to be filling out (pdf's available online). Has anyone got any idea how to answer the question about projected expenses for the coming year? I have not one clue how much my future, currently-imaginary books will cost, for example! Just curious if anyone else is scratching their heads!?

 

[Jonny-5]

Hey SuperGrover,

I know how you feel. Being from out of state, I have no idea what kind of expenses there will be living in the burgh not to mention books, supplies etc. I found this estimated budget for Pitt Med on their website:

Estimated Cost of Attendance
2002-2003

Tuition (PA Resident)
$21,100

Fees
$500

Health Insurance
$1,394

Books & Supplies
$2,000

Rent/Food/Personal/Transportation Expenses
$12,724

Total Estimated Cost
$40,159

Tuition (Non-PA Resident)
$32,542

I think that the estimate for "living expenses" (ie rent/food/personal/transportation) might be a bit low for the whole year. I think they are basing their budget on a 9-10 month year for MSI, however. Still, rent in the area varies widely, ranging from ~$350 to $1000+/month for a 1 bedroom.

 

[Dr. Kermit]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Jonny-5:
•
Rent/Food/Personal/Transportation Expenses
$12,724

I think that the estimate for "living expenses" (ie rent/food/personal/transportation) might be a bit low for the whole year. I think they are basing their budget on a 9-10 month year for MSI, however. Still, rent in the area varies widely, ranging from ~$350 to $1000+/month for a 1 bedroom.•••••I will not be attending Pitt, but I'm from the area in work near the med school. Housing and food in Pittsburgh is relatively cheap compared to other areas. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a nice area like Shadyside or Squirrel Hill will cost you around $500/month. That's a nice and spacely place. If you want a doorman, AC facilities and parking, you'll pay at most $700. If you leave in these areas, the best form of transportation will be the bus. The bus is free with your Pitt ID. (Read, any time of the day, completely free!) Food is cheap here. The grocery stores are Giant Eagle, Foodland, and Shop 'n Save. All of the stores offer discount cards. I usually spend $35-50/week for groceries and that includes everything you need to eat for more than a week.

If you need any other advice about the area or cost of living, let me know. You can link up to the classifed ads for Pittsburgh by typing "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" into Google. That is the local newspaper.

 

[Dr. Kermit]

Also, there is no sales tax on food or clothing in the state of PA. You guys/gals can shop your heart out!

 

[locitamd]

Hey Everyone,
Thanks for answering the post, I think this is the first time I'm starting to get excited about next year; for some reason this thread is making it feel alot more real than the large envelope they sent.

One other quick question though, anybody know if out-of-staters qualify for in-state tuition after the first year? I boo-boo'd big time in that I've been living in PA for two years now, but I didn't establish residency, thinking I would return to my home state for school. Argh, hindsight is 20/20.

Excited to meet you all in person sometime soon...

 

[Jonny-5]

Seems like you might be eligible. Check this out:

<a href="http://www.pitt.edu/HOME/PP/policies/09/09-05-04.html" target="_blank">Residency Reclassification</a>

 

[locitamd]

Jonny-5: This is great! Thanks so much for the help...

 

[Drako]

With regards to the financial aid application forms, I modified the forms for my own use with form-fields added into the form. This makes filling it out on the computer much easier as all you have to do is use the TAB key between field and type in your answers. After done, PRINT and you have your form all filled out, all neat and nice.

So...if anyone needs the modified forms, let me know and I will send them to you, ready to be filled at your computer. Contact me at [email protected]. You must put "PittMed FinAid Forms request" into the subject line in order for your mail to get through to my inbox. I have so much spam mail that if the email address is not in my address box, the email will not get to my inbox. But there is a filter made specifically for this task so that your request gets through.

Again, in subject line please put: PittMed FinAid Forms request

I am also having a hard time filling out the estimate cost of attendance budgets for the year. The sample guideline published on the web is only marginally helpful because the items on the forms are a little more detailed and they are broken down into more distinct categories. Thanks Dr. Kermit for the information the Dr. posted above. I will attempt to call the financial aid office. If I learn anything useful, I will post it here later on this week.

This is exciting for me too as PittMed is one of my top choices.

Also, I am going to the second look week just because I want to see the city again.

Cheers,

Drako

 

[SuperGrover]

Sorry to persist with the financial aid questions, but does anyone out there know what to do with the Stafford Loan Request form? Specifically, are we supposed to enter an amount even though we haven't yet gotten an aid package from the school?

I'm confused!

Thanks up front to anyone who knows anything.

 

[yunfat]

congrats to all of you on your acceptances!

hey locitamd, regarding your question about changing to in-state status after your first year, I don't think you can do that... when I asked my student interviewer (who was also a non-PA resident) about this, she said she tried but couldn't... apparently, you have to be WORKING full-time for at least a year to qualify

yeah, some state schools like Maryland and Colorada will let you do that after your first year... but i guess not all of them though!

 

[Drako]

SuperGrover, I don't have an official answer for you. However, I personally wrote down the maximum amount of dollars that I could request. I believe that if you find you have more money than you need when classes start, you could always return the money. At least, this was true during my undergraduate years.

To everyone else: I called the financial aid office and asked for the out-of-state total cost figure and was given this number: $49,942.00. I was not given any other information that might have helped with filling out all the other required/estimated figures. However, I did not ask because my estimated figure came very close to the amount stated above so I figured my numbers are reasonable enough.

 

[SuperGrover]

Thanks very much, Drako! Your comments were helpful!

Do these numbers feel frighteningly surreal to anyone else? I know it's part of the process, and of course we all expect it if we've thought realistically about medical education and all, but doesn't it feel odd to sign your name next to such large numbers? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

I just keep trying to remember how excited I am to be on this path, and how much I *want* to be doing this...it keeps me grounded a bit, and distracts me from the monetary sting.

 

[Drako]

One way to think about it is to consider it an investment, which is always a risky business no matter how large or small the risk. Given that it is an investment, where is the money better invested than in yourself?

Personally, I no longer feel intimidated by the amount of money. I am only concerned now with whether or not I will have adequate financial backing to completely focus upon my studies during medical school and not get distracted by the problems that come from the lack of fund. This is to me of much more importance than worrying about the cost of attending. I am not saying that money should not matter, but it is merely a mean to an end.

That is how I feel now.

Cheers,

Drako