<p>Other Real Extracurriculars:
Playing guitar
about 20 hours community service at a baseball camp
summer job at an organic foods market</p>
<p>Looking to go into the Nutrition/Exercise Sciences program. I plan on doing Cross Country and Track at the college level, and have already contacted the coach at Pitt. I think the only thing I have to work on is getting my GPA up to about a 3.2 UW. Any other suggestions about getting in or how to fit in better at University of Pittsburgh???</p>
<p>Are you being recruited for track? I think that Division 1 athletic ability along with being hispanic will overcome your mediocre gpa to get into the Oakland campus. If for some reason it doesn’t, you can always attend a branch campus and transfer to oakland later.</p>
<p>It doesn’t appear that your intended major is available at branch campuses. Maybe if you have declared your intention for this major, you will have to go to Oakland simply because it is the only place it is available. Is admission to this major very competitive?</p>
<p>And finally, no, I don’t think your senior course load will matter so much once you are accepted, just as long as you pass with respectable grades. (I am assuming the 2 AP’s, 1 Honors and 3 electives are only the first semester.) Certainly it would be best to get A’s your first semester and bring up that gpa! Good luck!</p>
<p>It is a somewhat competative major. And I don’t think they would accept him into main campus simply because that’s the only place that the major is offered. I don’t think your courseload will be a factor. You have a lot going for you, but as you know, large schools like Pitt are very number-driven. Get that GPA up next year.</p>
<p>Pat is right, big schools are very numbers driven. I wonder if you feel that you did the best you could on your SAT’s? If you could make a substantial improvement, you might be able to submit a score from next fall that would help you.</p>
<p>I know you are a guy and might not get this, but I always think of admissions at large schools sort of like the back of a panyhose package! There is a grid with height vs weight (SAT vs GPA) and if you are in the magic shaded area, you are a fit (accepted!) High numbers in one can compensate for low numbers in the other. Well, it sort of makes sense to me! ;)</p>
<p>Haha, I understand what you mean, lkf725. And you’re right. If you can significantly improve your SAT, you won’t have to get your GPA up as high. But even if he gets his SAT up to 2100, I still think he needs at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA.</p>
<p>I think you are right, Pat. Except for being a minority with some degree of athletic ability, there is really nothing outstanding. Sports seems to be the only real EC (I don’t think a summer job and a few hours of community service will help much.) El cuerpo, unless that coach is willing to go to bat for you (LOL, but wrong sport, I know!) you will need to do the best you can to improve your gpa and maybe even your sat numbers. I think it is quite possible to get your gpa to a 3.0 or better.</p>
<p>Also, some students do much better on the ACT than the SAT. My D sent her ACT scores and ended up with merit $$. The ACT does not count incorrect answers against you, so you’re not contemplating “should I/shouldn’t I” take a guess as you would on the SAT. A high ACT might help El cuerpo.</p>
<p>I will probably end up being recruited for cross country, as I am a consistenet competitor at the state level. Although running is important to me (its really a life style, not a sport) education will come first in college.
Although the exact major “title” isn’t available on main campus, there are several majors that are exactly the same,but with different titles taught all over Pitt (which is why it is a top choice).
I’m actually getting my SAT scores tomorrow and looking for 1900-2000. I think my ACT was a good effort. Based on my practice tests, I could probably have gotten a 29 or 30, but I’m very happy with the 28. I know that my GPA is bad right now, but its really because of 1 high level class that I can’t drop and consistently get D’s in. Its just a dumb situation. I plan on raising my GPA to 3.2 UW by the time I apply.</p>
<p>Yeah I’ll be honest, I don’t have a lot of EC’s, but I am really passionate about everything that I’m involved in (running, work, and guitar). I didn’t post it before but I also donate my hair to “Lockes of Love” (for kids with cancer). I’ll most likely end up writing my essay about my life and running. </p>
<p>How many reccomendations should I get?</p>
<p>(I’m getting 1 from the most experienced and respected teacher in my high school, probably one from my coach, and still looking for another)</p>
<p>Well, you seem to know what you need to do, El Cuerpo. Two letters should be enough, unless you want to get one from another teacher or from someone from the baseball camp you worked at. Let us know your score tomorrow! A 3.2 unweighted GPA and a 1950 SAT along with a couple good letters of rec should be enough to get you in, especially if they want you for track.</p>
<p>I think two letters should be enough, but I guess one from an employer or volunteer coordinator would be a nice additon IF they really know you and will write you a genuine recommendation. I wouldn’t ask if they will likely say only that you worked there once and did a fine job. A bland rec might actually be detrimental and you could be better off with just the two outstanding and personal recs from your teacher and coach.</p>
<p>Good luck, and keep us posted on you progress! :)</p>
<p>Unless the people posting on this board work for the admissions department at Pitt, the opinions offered are guesses; thus I’ll offer mine.</p>
<p>I don’t know a lot about your high school (insofar as how rigorous it is deemed to be when compared to others). But not for the GPA concerns, I think many here should think that you are a lock at Pitt - Oakland. Your high SAT’s demonstrate that you are very bright. If the sole question is whether one perceives you as being a malingerer in school re: high grades. Nonetheless, I think it is better that you are closer to 3.0 than say 2.5 or less.</p>
<p>I absolutely believe you will get in. I think the thought with many is that but not for the top GPA’s or SAT’s, a school like Pitt won’t be interested. However, the balance or extracurriculars and desire to challenge yourself with some honors/AP’s should be seen as a positive.</p>
<p>Unfortunely, some tend to think that the the majority of minorities on a campus like Pitt get there through non-academnic talents. I disagree. While most accepted probably have a 3.0+ GPA, it would be my guess that 20 to 25% don’t but have other strengths similar to you. If and when you apply, make sure, among other things, you write a good essay. That should hopefully be the capper on your getting in. Keep pressing along during your senior year (try not to let your GPA slip much beyond where it is) and you should be fine. Perhaps within the next year, you can provide another post as to what happened. You can compare your results against the predictions of others. Good luck.</p>
<p>dovetron, I do not believe that any of us work for the admissions department at Pitt. But I have had a lot of experience with Pitt over the last eight or so years, and I have to respectfully disagree with you. Yes, good letters of reccomendation/esssays/being an underrepresented minority will definately help, but the school itself says the two most important factors are GPA and SAT. His SATs are average for Pitt, so that really won’t offset the low GPA. However, I don’t know if/how much numbers change for athletes.</p>
<p>Im not exactly sure what your experience is and how your comments (not limited to you though) will prove to be the realty for El Cuerpo. You respectfully disagreed with me which is fine. However, I dont know if you disagreed with only part or everything I had to offer. One of my comments was, in part, most accepted probably have a 3.0+ GPA; thus I too agree with the general tenor of your remarks that most Pitt students get in with a very high GPA during high school (I dont think his SAT is a problem at all). However I maintain there are still a remnant percentage of students with a GPA below 3.0 that get in to the extent that they are well rounded in many other places; thus not crucifying them on what some may perceive as a singular deficiency by not reaching a presumed yet undefined grade threshold. I personally think that El Cuerpos description of himself describes a well rounded person and thus if he applies, I think that will generate an acceptance letter. </p>
<p>But enough of my opinion. Let me, if I can, offer the comments contained within a recent e-mail I received from a student at Pitt. Without identifying who the student is and why I wrote to them (Pitt admissions officers may be reading this), I would state that they not only are performing extremely well there but are very familiar with the background of many Pitt students since they have personal relationships with them. This is what they had to say:</p>
<p>From my personal experience, I don’t think that the criteria on any university’s website is completely set in stone. I have met many people who have been accepted into Pitt and other schools who did not meet all of the criteria advertised by the University. I would advise you to really focus on the essay part of your application and give the admissions officers a chance to have a deeper view into who you are. Extracurricular activities also give you an advantage in the admissions process. If you haven’t been active in high school, I would advise joining some organizations during the fall. Universities love to see that you are well-rounded, both personally and academically. </p>
<p>Personally, I would not focus too much on the criteria set by a university. There is so much more involved in the admissions process. If there is a school that you want to go to, apply and see what happens. I wouldn’t let a set of admissions criteria discourage you from applying to a particular school. A few years ago, my good friend was accepted in the University of Virginia with only a 1050 on the SAT. Also, I know someone else who was not accepted into Pitt but appealed to the University and was eventually admitted to the school.</p>
<p>While I appreciate your opinion, my only point is that I dont think El Cuerpos situation is currently gloom, doom and despair regarding admission to Pitt. Obviously, I cant guarantee it but I certainly think that his many strengths outweigh his perceived sole deficiency to generate an acceptance letter. Differing opinions notwithstanding, only time will tell.</p>
<p>dovetron, the main phrase that I disagree with you on is “I absolutely believe you will get in.” I never said his chances were “gloom, doom and despair,” nor was I commenting on him as a person. I was just pointing out what he needed to improve on. And I know many people who have EXCEEDED the the average criteria for admissions and have been rejected. Nobody is saying they knoe exactly what a person needs to get in. But why would you argue with me when I say he should improve his GPA? I never told him not to apply to Pitt, only that his chance for admission would increase with a higher GPA. How can you argue that?</p>
<p>If I may jump back in here, I would like to say that in recent years, the students I know who applied with less than a 3.0 gpa were admitted to branch campuses but not to Oakland. Are some kids with <3.0 in Oakland? Sure. Are some kids with >3.0 at branch campuses? Of course. I know someone who applied to a very competitive major (pharmacy) with a 3.5-ish and good SAT’s and was not admitted until after being rejected three times!</p>
<p>Pat is right. Better numbers can only help. Soft factors are probably considered, but good numbers are most important (unless we are talking athletic recruitment, and even then, I think it matters what sport you are talking about). </p>
<p>In the common data set, you can see that Pitt considers GPA, class rank and rigor of secondary school to be “very important” and standardized test scores to be “important”. 43% of students were in the top 10% of their graduating class while 80% were in the top quarter. The 75th percentile verbal and math scores were 660. Essays, work, volunteerism, recommendations and talent are listed as “considered”.</p>
<p>I think you have to believe what Pitt says it wants and take a realistic look at what they have done in the past. IMO, it would be foolish to randomly say that you are not going to focus on criteria set by the university. The facts speak for themselves.</p>
<p>Wow . I was merely posting my opinion yet you seem to have taken my remarks personally. If I offended you, Im sorry. I never said you used the words "gloom, doom and despair; I authored that description. For the record, my statement to El, “I absolutely believe you will get in” was an opinion; similar to yours that he needs to raise his GPA. Quite honestly, Im not even sure why you wish to debate this because as previously mentioned, I too think that increasing his GPA will enhance (but not guarantee) his chances for admission. The question I raised was whether his resume when considered in totality would generate an admission. Obviously students with records enhanced in all areas make great candidates. You may not currently see El as a great candidate (better than good perhaps) but that doesnt mean he wont be admitted. If nothing else, I would hope that he doesn’t slack during his senior year and attempts to improve his GPA. I think performing at a high level would be the motivation of any student that cares; regardless of what their GPA is.</p>
<p>I would agree with you that there are many people that have exceeded the profiled criterion for acceptance and have been rejected so as you can see, we agree on a lot of points that Im not sure you would be quick to mention. Pitt admittedly is a very good school but is not as selective as others (their selectivity rate for this past year was 56% out of over 18,000 applicants). While not always (like in Els case), there is usually a parallel between a students GPA and SAT score. Pitt reports that their 25 to 75% SAT percentile for this past year was 1160-1340. Thus, while 75 percent of the admitted students scored within this range or higher, 25 percent of those admitted scored under 1160. Of the 3400+ students that enrolled, around 850 students had scores less than 1160. That is a sizable number and Im sure all of these were not on athletic scholarships (no disrespect to any on such scholarships with higher scores). How far under 1160 were they, who knows but Im sure these students were either very well rounded or had unique skills which resulted in their being there. The problem is I think many would rather see a plastic bubble environment wherein a larger segment of these students get rejected so that those with higher scores could get in the bubble. I maintain that schools like diversity (not limited to race) and would rather have such a community than 15000 identical students with 2000 SAT scores and 3.8 GPAs. I dont think, however, diversity at Pitt, means they will open its doors anyone thus resulting in the majority of its accepted student body to have grades of 2.9 or less.</p>
<p>If you go back to my original post, I stated that I wasnt sure how rigorous Els high school was thought to be. I say that because a students work ethic at one school generating a 2.9 might be say a 3.6 elsewhere. I dont think a reasonable person would doubt that and Im sure admissions officers who know the landscape take this into account as well. </p>
<p>The last post I thought was very good and I do agree with the sentiments of it.</p>
<p>My school is a large public high school that is known for its “minority population”. Although it carries a reputation as an “immigrant” school, there is a sizeable population of great students here. My GPA is reflective on taking a good number of honors/AP courses, and getting average grades in them (B’s). </p>
<p>UUUuuuuhhhh…I also have a confession to make…</p>
<p>I kind of lied about my SAT scores, because I wanted to post this out quickly… and I just guestimated my score off of what I thought I got on the MAY test that I just took…</p>
<p>I got my scores back and they are actually pretty close to my guess… my REAL scores are:</p>
<p>Sorry about that, but I figured I would get a better response if I included an SAT score… If you’ve read this far, I want to say thanks for not getting mad… anyway… Does this effect my chances of getting accepted to Pitt at all? </p>
Good luck!</p>