Supplemental Information — Freshman Applicants

The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid practices a rolling admission policy for domestic applicants. Once your required information has been received, your file will be considered complete and will go before committee. Consequently, if you plan to submit supplemental information, we strongly recommend that you make every effort to submit this information at the same time as your application. For any supplemental information you are submitting, please print your full name (and middle initial) on the top of every page of all materials you submit as part of your application. Do not use staples.

If you want your application review to be based on more than just your high school record and SAT/ACT scores, we recommend that you submit any supplemental information that you feel will help the committee get to know you better. The committee is looking for students who are well-rounded both in and out of the classroom. By sharing some things about yourself and participating actively in the admissions process, you can enhance your chances of a favorable review.

1. Personal Essay. The Personal Essay is optional. However, you should definitely submit a personal essay
   if you want:
   • scholarship consideration
   • guaranteed admission to graduate/professional school
   • special consideration in the review process due to extenuating circumstances affecting a term or
     so of grades
   • the committee to review more than just your high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores
   
   If you decide to complete the optional essay question, you can choose one of the topics suggested
   below or select a topic that reflects something about you and your interests. Just attach the
   extra pages to your application and be sure to note your name and social security number at the
   top, or if you want to send it separately, just e-mail it to oafa@pitt.edu. Please cut and paste your
   essay into the body of your e-mail as we do not open attachments to protect against viruses.
   
   A. Write about something of particular interest to you—whether that be creative, fantastic, scientific,
   ethical, personal, political, etc.
   
   B. If you are interested in the arts or feel you have a special skill or talent, tell us what you do and/or
   enclose photos or slides of your work. Likewise, if you’re involved in sports, student activities,
   community service, or work, or if a particular person has influenced your life, tell us about it. Note
   any special awards you’ve received or leadership roles you’ve played.
   
   C. Imagine you’re on the Admissions or Scholarship Committee. Tell us something about yourself that
   isn’t apparent from your academic records—something that will give us insight about you as an
   individual and might help in the committee’s decision.
   
   D. How has cultural diversity, or the lack of it, impacted your life so far? What is your view or opinion of
   how diversity fits into your education? or,
   
   The University of Pittsburgh is an institution rich in cultural and ethnic diversity. In what ways do you think
   this would be of benefit to you as a young, developing adult, and in what ways can you contribute to this?
   
   E. Elaborate on one or more extracurricular activities. Please share experiences and participation in
   organizations, whether affiliated with or outside of school, that you feel will help the committee to know
   you better. This could include sports, the arts, social services, work, or other activities. A description of
   your experiences and how they have affected you as an individual is more helpful to the committee than
   a list. Include years of involvement, nature of position, any leadership roles, and/or title, if applicable.
   
   F. Some factors that may be taken into consideration in the admissions review are listed below. If any
   of the following pertain to you, you may wish to address the issue in your essay or as an addendum to
   your essay. You are: not a native speaker of English; first generation in the family going to college;
   coming from a single parent home; home schooled; an early graduate (graduating from high
   school in three years) or early applicant (i.e., planning to skip the senior year of high school).
   
   G. If you have experienced special challenges or adversities that you feel should be taken into
   consideration, please let the committee know.
   
   H. Have you had an international or travel experience that has affected you? Describe it.



2. Letter(s) of recommendation. Likewise, while not required, letter(s) of recommendation from a person
   or people who know you well can help us get to know you better.