<p>The official stats for acceptance into the Honors College are: 1400 combined SAT (or 32 composite ACT) and a ranking within the top 5% of your high school graduating class. [url=<a href=“http://www.honorscollege.pitt.edu/about/eligibility.html]Eligibility[/url”>http://www.honorscollege.pitt.edu/about/eligibility.html]Eligibility[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re not going to get an acceptance to the Honors College. You can, however, contact the Honors College (by phone or make an appointment) and meet with someone to discuss why you feel that you should be granted honors status. Your stats are not too far off from the requirements, and I know that they do accept a few students who would otherwise be unqualified based on stats alone. You just need to convey to them that you are an extremely motivated student who thoroughly enjoys learning for learning’s sake, emphasize that your stats are somewhat close to their requirements, and also stress that you don’t think that your stats are reflective of your intellectual potential. A girl from my high school managed to gain honors status by this means.</p>
<p>Anyway, you should probably also note that there’s no real distinction between honors students and regular Pitt students. Sure, you can elect to live in Forbes (the honors dorm) during your freshman year or in Forbes-Craig apartments in your upperclassmen years, but many honors students at Pitt (myself included) live in the regular dorms. You can take honors classes, but anyone with a 3.25 at Pitt can enroll in honors classes. </p>
<p>Even if a phone call or meeting doesn’t secure you a spot in the Honors college, you will still be able to take honors classes. This will be possible by meeting with your academic advisor and letting him/her know that you’re interested in honors classes and have him/her reference your high school stats if necessary and then he/she will enroll you in the honors class of your choice. My best advice is to not let the lack of an honors status deter you from coming here.</p>