<p>OP: I think your SAT scores are fine for Pitt. Overall, I’d say your application seems pretty solid: your grades are decent, you’ve taken a rigorous courseload, and it sounds like you’re involved in sports, and presumably extracurriculars.</p>
<p>This is just my opinion, so take it for what you will, but I honestly don’t think that teacher recs are all that important for regular admission to Pitt’s School of Arts & Sciences provided that your application is otherwise sound. I do not think that a lack of recs will be a deal-breaker.</p>
<p>That being said, since it’s so early in the application season, time is on your side. If you were posting this at the beginning of December and had not yet asked anyone to write letters on your behalf, I’d tell you to apply yesterday without recs. But because you’ve got time to play with, I’d go ahead and get the recs because you will not be at any kind of disadvantage time-wise and sending in optional materials like recs and the essay show Pitt that you’re genuinely interested in attending and you’re not just applying on a whim. My recommendation is to finish the application and write the optional essay this summer and then wait until the first week of school to ask potential LOR writers for recs. Be advised that it will probably take them a few weeks to write the letters, but that shouldn’t be a problem because it will still be early in the application process.</p>
<p>As far as who to ask for recs: ask individuals who know you well and who you feel confident will write strong letters about your academic abilities and/or your character (character is important, too). If you think that the people you have in mind meet these criteria, then use them. As long as the letters reflect positively on you and laud your abilities and/or traits, I’d say you’re set.</p>
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I disagree with this. Your scores are within Pitt’s range of accepted scores for the School of Arts and Sciences. If you’re not aiming for conditional acceptance to Pitt’s pharm school (more on that here: <a href=“http://www.bulletins.pitt.edu/undergrad/35-pharmacy.htm[/url]”>http://www.bulletins.pitt.edu/undergrad/35-pharmacy.htm</a>), you do not need to worry about your SAT score. The major/interest you indicate on your application for the School of Arts & Sciences holds no weight in terms of admissions decisions unless you qualify for one of the conditional admission programs. What this means is that whether you apply to the School of Arts & Sciences as a pre-pharm student or as a Studio Arts major, your SAT score will be evaluated in the same way. It’s true that as a pre-pharm major, you’ll need to have strong science and analytical skills. However, these skills need not be innate (and I’m definitely not implying that you, the OP, lack these skills); they can be easily developed through practice. If you feel like your incoming science background is a little shoddy, don’t worry – just put in the time and effort to learn the material well and you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>There is NO reason for you to be discouraged; I think you’ve got a great chance of being admitted!</p>