@Kaos2015 Pitt’s insistence on top 5% rank for merit does result in some kids (often in-state) “gaming” the system to ensure a higher class rank, which in turn assures merit eligibility. Fortunately many (most?) other schools do not operate in that stats vacuum, as your D’s other merit results show. I think it’s short-sighted, but each school is free to make its own rules about how merit is distributed.
I hope your D’s other options are at least as appealing to her as Pitt.