Hello! I’m stressing out so much while deciding which colleges to apply to. My intended major is nursing, and I’ve fallen in love with Pitt’s program and the overall setting of the school. But the cost of attendance (I’m an out of state student from VA) is completely unaffordable without significant aid. Are my stats good enough for a diversity scholarship?
1460 SAT
4.3 W GPA / 3.9 UW GPA
Biracial
ECs related to the health care field and multiculturalism
School doesn’t rank
6 APs + Dual Enrollment in a Health Science class
Thank you for any input! Pitt would be a dream, but I know I have to consider reality too
Please keep in mind, these are not scholarship thresholds or guidelines - just the qualifications of students who were eligible for our diversity scholarships in the past.
If you have more questions about scholarships/affording your Pitt education, you are also welcome to call our office. One of our Enrollment Service Managers would be happy to talk to you: 412-624-7488.
@Sophley, That is a great question. Our diversity scholarships are specially endowed for black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Native American/Pacific Islander students. However, we automatically consider all students for our institutional scholarships, so you will certainly still be reviewed for scholarships: https://oafa.pitt.edu/financialaid/academic-scholarships/
That review is holistic, we look for your academic achievements, but we also take into account the experiences that shape your life and your ambitions as a student and scholar. If there is anything you would like to share that you think would be relevant to the Scholarship Committee, weave it into your Short Answer Question responses. The Short Answer Question responses are not the sole factor for scholarship consideration, but it is an important way for the committee to get to know you and it is a key part of the holistic review process.
And while the diversity scholarships you asked about are very specialized, Pitt as a community defines diversity much more broadly and we are focused on ensuring the campus community is inclusive to people of every ability, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ethnicity. We provide resources to promote diversity and inclusion and to support all of our students.
I hope that helps clarify. And if you have any questions about diversity and inclusion at Pitt, questions about our scholarship, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact our office and speak with one of our Enrollment Service Managers. We will be happy to assist you! 412-624-7488.
@hailtopitt1787 My apologies for not understanding your response. Please provide clarification. So a high performing student with a physical disability will be considered for admission to round out your student body, but the diversity scholarship is only available to students with a different skin color?
So if you have two kids with a 4.0 and high SAT scores, a kid in a wheelchair or missing limb or whatever will not be considered for a diversity scholarship. How is that student NOT the picture of diversity…inside and out? Physically disabled kids are underrepresented on college campuses and in the workplace and yet most have the intellectual capacity to succeed. They face significant challenges and discrimination, even if independent. About 12% of the population has a significant physical impairment, making them a smaller Minority than blacks or Hispanics.
Not to get on a platform here, but diversity on campus should enrich the lives of all students by exposing them to different cultures and backgrounds and promoting tolerance and respect. You identify diversity scholarship candidates based on race and skin color. Was this scholarship endowed in the 60s or 70s? Very disappointing! And Pitt’s response is to have my kid sum it up in a short answer response.
With all due respect, it sounds like your “specialized” scholarship doesn’t really promote true diversity on campus nor does it reward high stat students who come from other underrepresented populations. Your diversity scholarship page on the website does not stipulate upfront that the student must be black, Hispanic, or Native American. But you list all other requirements. Why?
On a side note to any student who fits this scholarship’s requirements: I do not intend to imply that you are not deserving of a scholarship. I’m sure you’ve worked very hard to get to Pitt and you should wear that hard work with a badge of honor. I just want Pitt to rethink whether they want cosmetic diversity or true inclusiveness.
@Sophley While I agree with you, I think you’re going after the wrong person here. @hailtopitt1787 is an Admissions staffer, not a Financial Aid director with the authority to determine criteria for scholarships. Letters to the FA leadership will be a lot more effective than an attack on someone who is not in a position to make a change.
BTW, when I was in the military, we were taught that anytime you had to use the term “with all due respect”, you were about to say something disrespectful. That phrase changes nothing.
@Sophley, Would you please send a letter/e-mail to our office, addressed to the Scholarship Committee? They will be happy to have a dialogue with you about your concerns.
