<p>I won a full-ride plus a travel/research grant to the University of Pittsburgh. (It’s called the Chancellor’s Scholarship.) I realize that Pitt doesn’t have quite the atmosphere of UChicago, etc. but the University is improving every year and the Honors College is quite intellectual. </p>
<p>Also, there is a lot of support if you wish to apply for Goldwater/Truman/Udall/etc. and success rates are comparable to “higher level” institutions (though I agree with idad…I dislike such terminology). Many times prejudice blinds us to the accomplishments of “lesser” universities.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, note this: </p>
<p>“*n both 2004 and 2005, of all universities, only Yale received as many combined scholarships as Pitt in all three competition categories [Goldwater, Truman, Udall] during that two year period–a total of 10 scholarships for each school.” [Pitt Chronicle]</p>
<p>Also: Pitt was one of only three public universities to have a Rhodes Scholar chosen for 2006.</p>
<p>And: a Pitt student was selected as a Marshall Scholar in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. </p>
<p>And despite all this, I am going to UChicago next year. I’m just too in love with the place. :-)</p>