University of Pittsburgh

Personal Statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to communicate directly with the Admissions Committee. Applicants are welcome to submit anything that helps tell their story, being mindful and thoughtful about the quantity and quality of information shared. Share information not included elsewhere in your application.

A personal statement or the Common Application essay is required to be considered for scholarships or if applying test-optional. It may increase the likelihood that you are considered for guaranteed admission programs or given special consideration due to extenuating circumstances.

The personal statement can be submitted with your application. This can be the University of Pittsburgh Application or the Common Application - we do not prefer one over the other. If you have already completed the application, you may complete the personal statement here.

All international applicants are required to complete a Short Answer Question in lieu of a personal statement.

Fields marked with * are required.

You may upload a PDF containing your statement, or you may enter your statement directly on this form.

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University of Pittsburgh 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 

University of pittsburgh 2024-25 application essay question explanations.

The Requirements: 1 essay of 200-300 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball

Hello, future University of Pittsburgh grads. (We’re speaking it into existence!) The prompt below is only for applicants who wish to apply to Pitt Honors. Let’s dive in!

In lieu of an essay or personal statement, we ask interested applicants to answer a short answer question. The Admissions Committee reviews responses for quality rather than length. However, the most effective responses typically range from 200-300 words per question. Responses that are longer or shorter are acceptable. The question is required for Pitt Honors consideration.

Please select one of these questions., what is something you would like to see change in the world explain why..

The Admissions Committee wants to accept ambitious students who want to change the world for the better. So, if you could change anything in the world, what would it be? Take some time to brainstorm and write down anything that comes to mind. Maybe, if you had the power, you would make sure that no one in your city went to bed hungry. Why is this particular issue important to you? What steps would you take to enact this change? If, after reading this prompt, you immediately thought of something on the sillier side (flying cars! superpowers! robot dogs!), don’t be afraid to explore that topic and why it matters, too. As long as you are giving admissions better insight into who you are and what makes you tick, you’re on the right track. Let your imagination run wild and show the University of Pittsburgh admissions committee that you aren’t afraid to dream big.

If you had 10 minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your TED Talk be about?

We at CEA love this question because it’s a unique way of asking applicants the following questions: What do you care about and why? What’s important to you? What information do you wish other people had access to? Start by making a list of topics you could discuss or read about for hours. Maybe you’d like to use your TED Talk platform to speak about media literacy and how we can and should consider what we see online through the lens of the powers that dictate how and when we receive information. Perhaps you’d want to discuss AI art, plagiarism, and how it threatens human artists’ livelihoods. What keeps you up at night? What kind of positive effect do you want to have on the world? These are the questions you should be asking yourself when brainstorming for this prompt. Bonus points if you can speak to how a Pittsburgh education will prepare you to address this issue head-on in the future! 

What does it mean to be “educated”?

Since this question is for those applying to the honors college, we can assume that most applicants answering it are high-achievers in the traditional sense. But we all know that’s not the only type of education out there. Pitt is looking for a deeply considered, creatively written essay , so as we here at CEA so often recommend, grab a sheet of paper and start brainstorming! Which words, feelings, or characteristics do you associate with the word “educated?” Are there any people you can think of—people in your life, thought leaders, or even fictional characters—who don’t have a formal education but whom you would consider to be highly educated? What different kinds of education can you think of? In what ways are they different and in what ways are they fundamentally the same? Bonus points if you can describe how a Pitt degree would educate you in more than one way! 

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Writing a Personal Statement

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The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories: The general, comprehensive personal statement and the response to very specific questions:

pitt personal statement word count

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University of Pittsburgh | Pitt’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Personal statement essay.

If you have written a Common Application Personal Essay you are not expected to also submit a Personal Statement below. We will receive your Common App personal essay if completed.

Submission of either the optional personal statement or Common App personal essay is required for scholarship review, if applying without SAT or ACT scores, and may increase the likelihood that you are considered for guaranteed admission programs or given special consideration due to extenuating circumstances.

The personal statement is your opportunity to communicate directly with the Admissions Committee. Applicants are welcome to submit anything that helps tell their story, being mindful and thoughtful about the quantity and quality of information shared. Share information not included elsewhere in your application.

Select-A-Prompt Short Response

Please select one of these questions

What is something you would like to see change in the world? Explain why.

If you had 10 minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your TED Talk be about?

What does it mean to be “educated”?

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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Drafting a Strong Personal Statement

(Adapted from Dr. James Woodruff's Personal Statement Workshop; University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine)

Reflection and Gaining Perspective

A personal statement for application to a professional health school (or graduate program) is more than just a document for review by an admissions committee -- it is an opportunity for you to engage in meaningful introspection on your experiences with health care professions that have made you want to take the next step.

Drafting a personal statement provides you a valuable opportunity to use the writing process to reflect reflect and gain perspective on any of the activities that you have engaged in during your education, including research projects, clinical experience, patient interaction, and your coursework. This process of reflection and contextualization is an important one that is important as you continue your education and move into professional practice or whatever career you pursue -- enabling personal and professional growth by critical self-analyis and self-awareness.

By reflecting upon your experiences and putting them in the appropriate perspective, you will find yourself better able to answer the important questions that admissions committees will want to have answered:  Why do I want to pursue a career in a health field?  What is important to me in the work that I do?  How do I handle the interactions (e.g.: patient / doctor; stakeholder / service-provider) that I will encounter as a professional? How do I handle difficulties and adversity both professionally and personally?

Contextualizing Your Personal Statement

A personal statement for application to a program is not a document with a single purpose. While it is being read and evaluated by an admissions committee, it is also helping you give form to the ideas -- and questions, perhaps -- that you seek to address.

From the perspective of an admissions committee, it is a vital part of your application -- it provides an insight to your level of commitment, your career aspirations, and your ability to manifest your education and experience in a coherent and meaningful manner. While it is true that a personal statement might "weed out" undesireable candidates that are not a good fit for a particular program, it is better to view this as your opportunity to make a great first impression that helps set you apart from other candidates. With hundreds of applicants, programs need a way to put a face to the individuals they are selecting. A well-crafted and truly insightful personal statement not only give a program a chance to learn more about you as a candidate, but also provide an inroad to the meaningful dialgoues that will take place during your interview process.

For you, the applicant, the personal statement is a document to help you summarize and clarify your personal approach to a health career. In gathering your thoughts and reflecting upon your experiences, you may determine a specialty that you would like to pursue within the practice that you have chosen. In the event that you have already chosen one, the statement will give you a chance to refine your ideas about taking on a career in this field. In writing about what you have done and what you hope to do during your continuing education and career, you may gain more clarity on what you might need from a training program. Remember: a lot has changed in your life over the past few years -- solidifying your expectations and aspirations into a written statement is a chance for you to bring the next steps of your life into sharp focus.

The Nuts and Bolts of Your Personal Statement

For all our talk, to this point, of the nature of the personal statement, it's important to remember that it's not just abstraction and thought -- there are very specific expectations and guidelines for the writing that you will be doing. Here, we'll discuss a few of those.

For everything that a personal statement needs to be, there are some things that it shouldn't be. While you are using this statement to help set yourself apart from other candidates, it should not be a way to brag about your accomplishments or to leverage any connections that you might have made during your volunteer, clinical, or research experiences. It goes without saying that your pesonal statement should have a positive focus, and as such, any references to your experiences should be focused on what you learned and how it is informing your decision to pursue a health-related career, and not on any complaints or negative interactions that you may have had with patients or other care providers. Most importantly though, your personal statement is a crucial part of your presentation to an admissions committee -- so it is not something to be rushed, or completed without allowing the proper time for reflection, revision, and feedback from others.

As we've discussed, there are several key questions to be answered by your personal statement: who you are as an individual, why you have chosen the specialty that you want to pursue (if you have selected one at this point), what your career goals are, and what you need to succeed. Here are some questions that you might ask yourself, in reflecting on your answers to these questions:

Who are you? ⦁    What experiences made you want to pursue a health-related profession? ⦁    What about these experiences -- and the people that you encountered during them -- made a difference to you, and how? ⦁    How has this affected your future plans (i.e.: not just your choice of program, but your long-term career goals)?

Why this specialty / discipline? ⦁    Was there a specific event or events that triggered your decision to pursue a particular specialty? ⦁    Are there powerful role models for you in your chosen specialty? ⦁    Is there something specifically that attracts you to the area in which you want to specialize? Patient population? Research, teaching, or leadership opportunities? A way to make a meaningful contribution in an area of interest?

What are your career goals? ⦁    In what venue do you plan to apply your education? ⦁    Do you plan to pursue activities beyond professional practice (e.g.: mentorship, teaching, etc.)? ⦁    What are your personal motives for these choices?

What do you need to succeed? ⦁    What would maximize your learning? ⦁    What would maximize your professional and personal happiness?

These questions will give you a starting point for mapping out your personal statement. As you work through these, you may identify a way to structure these responses in ways that present natural transitions or in a complementary manner. Outlining your thoughts and planning what you will write can be every bit as important as the writing itself -- as this process allows you to identify those points that are most important to you and merit strong emphasis, as well as those thoughts that may need further development or that can be omitted.

You will need to be mindful of any restrictions that you may have for your personal statement, particularly with regard to word or page count. Using the questions above as a guideline, you would probably want to keep your statement focused largely (~80 percent) on the "Who" and "Why" of what you have to say, and streamline the "What" portion of your response to the remainder. It is important to remember that if your application and statement are well-received, you will probably have a chance to explore the specifics of those "What" questions during your interview -- so structure your statement accordingly.

As you write, remember the conventions for personal statements. They are biographic, by nature, and should thus be written in first-person style. It needs to be expository about you as a person, but focused and concrete when discussing the specifics of your experiences. Above all, you need to ensure that your tone does not come across as arrogant, brash, or in any way that suggests you might be difficult to work with.

As an example of how tone can make a large difference in how your message is received, compare the following sets of statements:

⦁    Performing this procedure was very easy for me. versus ⦁    Performing this procedure affirmed my understanding of the process.

⦁    My time as a hospice volunteer has made me sure that I want to be a doctor. versus ⦁    My experiences as a hospice volunteer have given me valuable perspective on the challenges of patient-caregiver interactions.

⦁    I know that medical school can be difficult, but I am prepared for the struggles that come with it versus ⦁    To me, the challenges of medical school represent an opportunity for growth as a person and as a professional.

Once you have a draft, and you have reviewed it for grammar and content, you should ensure that the tone and voice of your writing are what you would like them to be. Reading and re-reading your own writing with a critical eye can help you pick up on things that you might not have noticed when you were initially drafting and were more focused on structuring your ideas and giving them substance. Pay special attention to how each portion of your statement supports the larger presentation of yourself that you are trying to make.

Finally, you will want to make sure that someone else reads and provides response to what you have written. While friends and family members can help with this, it is strongly recommended that you get input from a professional -- whether it be a health professions advisor, academic mentor, or even your university's writing center. Perspective is important when writing, and letting others share their insight can help you refine or improve an area of your statement that you might not have realized was in need of improvement.

In Conclusion

Writing a personal statement for admission to a professional school or graduate program is just one part of a very large and challenging process. Compared to much of the writing you may have done as an undergraduate, it may seem small by comparison. While it alone will not get you into the program of your dreams, it will oftentimes be a deciding factor on whether or not you get an interview with an admissions committee. Keeping a focus on the entire process of drafting a personal statement -- reflection and thought, planning, writing, revision, and incorporating feedback -- can help a program understand why you're the right candidate.

UPitt questions please help

Stats: 3.7 UW 4.2 W SAT 1560. planning for UPitt pre med Virtual year challenges, have a C+ in non science course. great upward trend in jr year.

  • Even with rolling admissions and possibly submitting by end of August, do I have a chance with UPitt? Is hons ruled out?
  • I have lot of good research exp. and given the common app word limit, how can I highlight it? Is there an option to upload resume or share a url of linkedin, any suggestions here that have worked pls. share how
  • If main campus is the preference in application, is there any chance that they would map to the other campuses in case due to GPA?
  • I was advised to use common app essay wisely and not mention about reasons for any grades or GPA, is it ok to just share the grades and not explain any hurdles or upward trend?
  • Is every common app that is a great essay written like a story about an individual? Any suggestions on how to fit in good achievements or research there?

Please advise as although holistic process is mentioned, am worried about if stats will cut off the filter by any chance. Thank you

You’ll get in. Main campus.

Honors - not sure but note that at Pitt you don’t need to be in Honors to take Honors classes.

You have a 3.7/4.2. There’s nothing to explain about grades.

Your common app essay should answer the prompt and define something about yourself. Why the yellow fuzz on a tennis ball fascinates you. A local student that got into Yale wrote about the exhilaration of waiting for papa john’s pizza. Or about your love of tea or coffee etc.

Pitt isn’t a reach for you. Not a match. It’s a likely. Relax. Have fun with your essay. Your grades are your grades. Nothing to ‘excuse’. Very solid. Mean you afford Pitt? Good luck.

Correct. Sounds like you have nothing to explain for your grades.

Your personal statement should not be a rehash of your activities. It should be about you, and a story that shows your character, passion, development, etc. Basically something that lets the reader get to know you. Your goal doesn’t have to be a ‘great’ essay, aim for solid and descriptive. Show the reader who you are with examples and details. Don’t just tell them, for example, don’t say “I’m funny”, or “responsible” or “dedicated” or whatever…show with examples.

Have you read sample essays? Look at college essay guy’s website (also has free brainstorming exercises). Tufts, Hamilton, and JHU all have ‘essays that worked’ from past students on their websites.

You can describe your research in more detail in the additional info section. Maybe a paragraph or two, probably not another 650 words. I wouldn’t put in any links.

You can upload a resume to all schools that allow it. Sometimes that’s in the app, sometimes that’s later in the portal, after you apply.

Set a goal to get your Pitt app completed and submitted by the end of the month. I would call it a likely provided you submit it sooner rather than later. I’m less sure about honors. Is Pitt affordable?

I just want to emphasize that this is an opportunity for YOU to realize there is more of value to you, indeed more that is special about you, than just a bundle of achievements. Even though I don’t know you, I know this is true, because it is true of everyone. You just haven’t told me yet what is special about you that is not some sort of grade or achievement.

And something like that is what a holistic review admissions officer is going to be thinking too. They have your transcript, they have your activities and awards, all that is fine so far–but what else is special about you? There is definitely something, indeed definitely many things, but they are not going to know that yet either. Because you haven’t told them yet.

So your essay is an opportunity for you to do that. And again, I know, and that AO knows, there are thing about you that are truly special. But you have to tell them! You have to SHOW them! Give them what they actually need, which is a real insight into who you are, what makes you special, that isn’t some sort of grade or achievement or any other such thing that any high-achieving HS student will have.

Thank you all for your kind responses. This forum is really helpful, TIA to all your time.

Just to clarify, my unweighted GPA is 3.7 and weighted GPA is 4.2, high on research and voluntary service, good patient facing shadowing.

  • If am looking for pre-med, should I be applying to Ditrich school of arts and sciences or swanson engineering or any others? My interest is in biology majorly. Is there any pros in going undeclared?
  • How can we show demonstrated interest in the college and does it help in admissions? I have visited the college in person in spring.
  • I might be a NMSC semi finalist, will there be any opportunity to mention it later , in interest of any scholarships or aids?
  • Can you submit recommendation letters (more than one?) Is it suggested ( Supplemental Application Documents | University of Pittsburgh )

Thanks again

You should apply for the major you want. As long as you do the pre med pre reqs (and get advising), you can major in underwater basket weaving -ok, they don’t offer that - but anything.

If you’re not interested in engineering or don’t want a life of advanced math upon advanced math, than engineering isn’t for you.

Your GPA and MCAT will be what matters along with the other things like shadowing. Not - that you majored in engineering vs. bio vs. journalism vs. sociology.

Pitt is public and will not care about demonstrated interest. They do note it’s important but I don’t believe that (not of a public) And again, you’re going to get in. They note it’s important - but I’m not buying it. But join an admission session online or in person and take a tour.- then you’ve demonstrated interest. And apply early.

If you become a NMF, then you open the door to a slew of other possibilities at other places. It does not appear that Pitt has awards for NMF.

  • You are asking a question and then you put the link - so you have the answer. Unless you have some sort of extenuating circumstance (and very few people would), then no. They say so.

They want to learn about you.

The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid does not seek out Letters of Recommendation . We find greater value in hearing from you in your own words on your Personal Statement or your Common App Essay.

I think you’re overcomplicating this a bit.

You really are over thinking this. Getting into Pitt is not that hard for someone with your stats. Both my kids went to Pitt and nether had an uw GPA as high as yours.

If you want to major in biology you should apply to Dietrich.

Dietrich is the normal option for pre-med track students. Almost all (all?) of the pre-med prereq courses are in Dietrich, most (not all) pre-med students choose a major that overlaps, and Dietrich has well-established advising for pre-med students.

I note Dietrich has a lot of different Bio/Biochem majors, and related majors like Neuroscience:

This is inaccurate. Pitt cares about demonstrated interest. I saw a presentation online made by their admissions office to guidance counselors. They look for a visit. Also, there is no reason to doubt the CDS.

Other public schools also value demonstrated interest (William and Mary is a strong example).

It is inaccurate and misleading to say that public schools do not value interest. Additionally, Pitt is state-related, not public. PA students get a discount, but no bump in admissions.

Both my kids got in. No visit. One did a session and got a free code. Public schools or state supported generally don’t track. W&M wants an interview - ie interest. That’s different.

I did note to op that is noted as important in the CDS. And I did suggest they attend a session, in person or online.

But I personally don’t think it matters. U of Arizona rates it important too. I guess the 13% not admitted didn’t make an effort. Until recently, Pitt had high admit rates.

As I noted I’m not buying that public schools are tracking it but I did instruct the OP to sign up for a session. So I acted perfectly fine imho.

I’ve seen it said here that Pitt considers an early application to demonstrate interest. My kid was accepted last year with honors and max merit, and he didn’t visit or do anything special to demonstrate interest, apart from applying early. FWIW, the OP in this thread has significantly higher SAT than my kid.

Yes they are clear on how to position yourself for merit. Apply early - not crazy early but early. And in the old days a 33 ACT was suggested. Not anymore.

I don’t know if this is definitive, but the standard advice at our HS, which regularly sends several kids to Pitt (and more are admitted), is to make sure to stop by and see them at the college fair, fill out an interest card, and then apply early(ish).

So I guess that is demonstrated interest, but not like a ton. And as far as I can tell, from that point forward there is no yield protection or such.

Not only for Pitt, but also for any college you are considering, look at their “common data set” (just google common data set + college name ) and read their past admission stats.

Many large schools do not look at the essay, recommendation letters, EC and your demonstrated interest (unless you are applying for a competitive major). Most do recalculate your GPA.

Don’t stress a lot.

BTW, did you attend Pitt admissions information sessions?

Are the honors prompts for this year UPitt application not available to view u til you click yes for Honors option on the application?

If you are interested in honors but looking to apply as soon, is it better to apply for altogether after spending time to write the honors essay? Or submit common app and apply for honors later? Which is a better option if in the end looking for admission and honors too , in interest of rolling admission timelines? Thank you!

Hello any reply on this please, it looks like you have the option to click yes for honors when you submit the Common App. Is it better to also apply for honors along with Common App given the rolling admissions and earlier is better? asking in interest of time for essays and appreciate any help.

Apply as soon as possible and then apply for the Honors after the regular app is submitted. You can either use the Pitt App (upload essay and resume) or Common App (with essay and activities). Use whatever format you prefer.

The most important thing is to apply early with essay. (S24 also submitted resume) In the acceptance letter for S24 they stated that "Students submitting a completed application for admission, along with their personal statement or Common Application essay, by December 1, are automatically reviewed for merit scholarships.

If I have more than 10 good activities to report, is it better to continue with Common App I started and then upload the supplemental document of activities list/resume? Or do it through the UPitt Application Portal? What is the best way to show your activities of like up to 16/18 when applying to UPitt?

If I am looking to major in pre med, is it better to chose that as major in the main campus? Or I can choose another major and then seek a change later after admission as a possibility?

Appreciate any response as soon.

Try to pick the best 10 activities if doing Common App. Supplemental resume in addition to common app is really not necessary.

Or if using the Pitt App, a one page resume. (Should not be more than one page for a high school student).

S24 had no volunteering, no leadership. He had some work experience, a few passion projects and a few clubs.

The key is applying early.

4 posts were split to a new thread: Chance UPITT

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pitt personal statement word count

A Great Pitt Honors College Essay Example

What’s covered:, essay example – changing the world , where to get your pitt essay edited.

The University of Pittsburgh is a large public university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is known for its great academics. The David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt offers even more opportunities to a select group of talented students. Given the highly selective nature of the Pitt Honors College, you need to have strong essays to help your application stand out and gain admission. In this post, we’ll share a real essay a student submitted to the University of Pittsburgh Honors College, and outline its strengths and areas of improvement. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Pitt essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Prompt: If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? Explain why and how you would change it. (No word count given)

While growing up, I was constantly reminded about my health. When I would rant about my trivial problems, my mother would respond with: “the most important thing is you are healthy.” As a young and naive child, this response irritated me. I never understood the blessing of good health until I was diagnosed with migraines. Every month I was met with throbbing headaches that made me lose all sensation and control of my body.

On one New Year’s Eve, I went to visit family friends with my father and sister. The flashing lights on the television and little sleep triggered a migraine attack. Without my mother present, everyone was unfamiliar with my frightening symptoms. Out of panic, they decided to call an ambulance. That one simple call and visit resulted in a one-year battle with our insurance company. For months on end, my mother argued against the unfair and hurtful statements the insurance listed as reasons for their refusal of payment. These endless calls brought about extreme stress and frustration, but we did not have the means to pay. There was no other option but to keep on fighting.

This was my first memorable experience with healthcare and its failures. From that day forward, I associated care with payment. I became worried about affording medical treatment at an early age. And so, if I had the power to change the world, I would make healthcare more affordable. Every individual deserves to be treated without the worry of a costly bill.

While I realize that affordable healthcare is a point of debate in our nation, I maintain my stance that it is a human right. I also understand that it will take years to put into place, but this does not discourage me. I can help start the change. With Pitt Honors, I will be exposed to interactive research, a matched mentor, and personalized co-curricular activities. I will be able to become a skilled nurse with critical thinking abilities. With the development of leadership skills, I plan to make a difference. Whether it be taking a high position role at a no-cost clinic or shaping healthcare reforms, I know Pitt Honors College will help me achieve my dream. Whether it be taking a high position role at a no-cost clinic or shaping healthcare reforms, I plan to make a difference.

What the Essay Did Well

Something that makes this essay strong is how it takes time to tell a story and build an understanding for the author before we even learn what they would change about the world. The essay begins by introducing the idea of health, but because we aren’t told what they want to change yet, we are compelled to keep reading. Then, the anecdote helps us appreciate the personal connection this student has to affordable healthcare. They take the time to fully flesh out the context needed to answer the why aspect of the prompt, while at the same time building suspense for the what .

Additionally, this student went above and beyond the prompt by connecting it back to Pitt. They weren’t explicitly asked to discuss how an education from the Pitt Honors Program would help them change the world, but by including this paragraph it demonstrates genuine interest in the school. If an essay can prove that you can only accomplish your goals — especially such impressive ones like changing the world — by taking advantage of unique opportunities at that specific school, then admissions officers might feel they are denying you the chance to reach your full potential by not accepting you.

What Could Be Improved

The area that could use the most improvement in this essay is the last paragraph dedicated to Pitt. Although it’s great that this student took the extra step to include how attending the Honors College will allow them to achieve their goals, the paragraph is a bit vague. To improve it, there should be more specific details, about classes, programs, professors, etc, to show that they have done their research and think taking advantage of these offerings are the only way to change the world. 

For example, the essay says, “With the development of leadership skills, I plan to make a difference.” This sentence would be far stronger if the student mentioned a specific club or volunteer program they want to be a part of and how emerging as a leader in that experience would help them become a leader in the medical field. Or, they mention the Honors College will expose them to research and match them with a mentor, but they don’t elaborate on this. 

The entire paragraph could have just been dedicated to one specific professor whose research aligns with affordable healthcare and what this student hopes to learn from them. Having a more focused and detailed approach to why you want to attend a college will always make for a stronger essay than briefly touching on general opportunities offered at most schools. 

Do you want feedback on your Pitt essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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COMMENTS

  1. Personal Statement

    The personal statement can be submitted with your application to apply to Pitt. This can be the University of Pittsburgh Application or the Common Application-we accept both and do not prefer one over the other. If you have already completed the application, you may complete the personal statement online.

  2. Personal Statement

    A personal statement or the Common Application essay is required to be considered for scholarships or if applying test-optional. It may increase the likelihood that you are considered for guaranteed admission programs or given special consideration due to extenuating circumstances. The personal statement can be submitted with your application.

  3. 2024-25 University of Pittsburgh Supplemental Essay Guide

    The prompt below is only for applicants who wish to apply to Pitt Honors. Let's dive in! In lieu of an essay or personal statement, we ask interested applicants to answer a short answer question. The Admissions Committee reviews responses for quality rather than length. However, the most effective responses typically range from 200-300 words ...

  4. 2 Great University of Pittsburgh Essay Examples

    Example 1 - Personal Statement for Pitt ... Finally, while this prompt doesn't have a hard word count, this essay is over double the suggested length. As frustrating as word counts can be to navigate, they exist for a reason, as admissions officers have thousands of applications to evaluate and thus don't have the time to read a novel for ...

  5. How to Write the University of Pittsburgh Essays 2023-2024

    The University of Pittsburgh, or Pitt, is a public research university just a few miles east of downtown Pittsburgh. With a campus encompassing 132 acres, Pitt enrolls almost 20,000 undergraduates, and is composed of 17 different undergraduate and graduate schools. Pitt is moderately selective and is consistently ranked as one of the top public ...

  6. Admissions

    Step 1: Making a Plan. Review due dates and requirements. Before you start typing anything, familiarize yourself with the application and application process. Carefully read each writing prompt. Note the deadlines and instructions, so that there are no surprises later.

  7. First-Year Student

    Pay your $55 application fee. Submit your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) Completing the SRAR is easy-just fill it out to match your transcript exactly. The SRAR is required of all first-year applicants, with the exception of international students. Submit your Official SAT or ACT results (if applicable) We will take your highest ACT ...

  8. Application Prep for Graduate Studies: How to write a PhD Personal

    The university may set a limit on the word count, but if not, your personal statement should ideally be no longer than one side of A4. Be concise and make every word count. ... 200 William Pitt Union 3959 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 412-383-4473 [email protected].

  9. Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules and Pitfalls

    WRITING THE PERSONAL STATEMENT: TOP 10 PITFALLS. Do not use the same personal statement for each application. Generic statements are often obvious. Do not preach to your reader. You can express opinions, but do not come across as fanatical or extreme. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is…". "This question asks me to discuss…".

  10. PDF Personal Statement Requirements

    Personal Statement Requirements. All applicants are required to submit a personal statement. The statement must be organized into one section for each question below. Each section should be 1000 words or less: Research Experience and Publications (required) Describe your research experience outside of class work.

  11. How to Write the University of Pittsburgh Essays 2020-2021

    Check out the 2021-2022 Pitt essay guide. The University of Pittsburgh, or Pitt, is a public research university just a few miles east of downtown Pittsburgh. With a campus encompassing 132 acres, Pitt enrolls almost 20,000 undergraduates, and is composed of 17 different undergraduate and graduate schools. Pitt has an acceptance rate of 59% ...

  12. Tips for writing a strong Pitt personal statement?

    When writing a strong personal statement for the University of Pittsburgh, consider the following tips to ensure it stands out: 1. Know your audience: Admissions officers at Pitt want to see a deep understanding of your interests and values, so focus on showcasing who you are as an individual. They appreciate students who have a clear sense of ...

  13. Writing a Personal Statement

    The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories: The general, comprehensive personal statement and the response to very specific questions: ... 200 William Pitt Union; 412-383-4473; Open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Drop-In Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-3: ...

  14. University of Pittsburgh

    750 Words. If you have written a Common Application Personal Essay you are not expected to also submit a Personal Statement below. We will receive your Common App personal essay if completed. Submission of either the optional personal statement or Common App personal essay is required for scholarship review, if applying without SAT or ACT ...

  15. Drafting a Strong Personal Statement

    You will need to be mindful of any restrictions that you may have for your personal statement, particularly with regard to word or page count. Using the questions above as a guideline, you would probably want to keep your statement focused largely (~80 percent) on the "Who" and "Why" of what you have to say, and streamline the "What" portion of ...

  16. UPitt questions please help

    UPitt questions please help. Colleges and Universities A-ZUniversity of Pittsburgh. Madd123 August 17, 2023, 4:48am 1. Stats: 3.7 UW 4.2 W SAT 1560. planning for UPitt pre med Virtual year challenges, have a C+ in non science course. great upward trend in jr year. Even with rolling admissions and possibly submitting by end of August, do I have ...

  17. How to Get Into University of Pittsburgh: Admissions Stats + Tips

    If you're an international applicant, you'll need to write a 250-word short essay instead of a personal statement. Additionally, applicants to Pitt Honors will be required to write a separate short essay. Pitt wants students to use their essay as a means of communicating in a personal and direct way with the admissions committee.

  18. How Long Should Your Personal Statement Be?

    How Long Should a Personal Statement Be? The simple answer is, for the Common App main statement, 650 words max; for the Coalition App, 500-650; for the UC PIQ s, 350 max. The better answer is … a little more complex. Hence the quotes around "right" in the intro. For each of the above, you don't have to use every single available word.

  19. A Great Pitt Honors College Essay Example

    The area that could use the most improvement in this essay is the last paragraph dedicated to Pitt. Although it's great that this student took the extra step to include how attending the Honors College will allow them to achieve their goals, the paragraph is a bit vague. To improve it, there should be more specific details, about classes ...

  20. Personal Statement Format + Examples

    Fortunately, colleges and application systems usually give you specific personal statement word counts. The Common Application and Coalition Application, which are the most prevalent applications, will give you a word count of 650 words for your main personal statement, but will usually give a smaller word count for school-specific supplemental ...