Pitt Announces Test-optional Admissions Policy for Fall 2021 Dietrich School Applicants

Pitt’s largest undergraduate school is offering college-bound high school seniors an alternative to standardized testing as they face the college application process in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students applying for admission to any major in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences for the fall of 2021 will have the option to include or not include their SAT or ACT scores as part of the application submission.

Students who intend to submit an application without test scores must communicate it in writing pitt.admissions [at] pitt.edu (via email) to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid and provide alternative supporting materials to be included in the holistic review.

All applicants to the University of Pittsburgh receive a comprehensive individual review; admission is not based on a single factor. In the absence of SAT or ACT test scores, the committee will determine admissibility by relying more heavily on factors such as the strength of a student's academic coursework, their grade trends and senior year curriculum choices, their performance in advanced courses (i.e. honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, post-secondary coursework), short answer/essay questions, extracurricular activities and anything else that a student chooses to submit in order to demonstrate their academic potential.

“Students are the curators of their own life stories. As such, Dietrich School applicants are welcome to submit anything that helps tell their story—being mindful and thoughtful about the quantity and quality of information shared,” said Kellie Kane, University of Pittsburgh associate vice provost for enrollment and executive director of admissions.

In April, the University’s Bradford, Titusville, Greensburg and Johnstown campuses announced the launch of a pilot test-optional admissions policy for fall 2020 and fall 2021, in response to the constraints and pressures that students and school systems face as a result of the COVID-19 virus. Pitt is committed to helping students and families adjust to the realities of these challenging times and will continue to review and adjust policies accordingly. 

The fall 2021 application is expected to launch Aug. 1. Learn more about Pitt’s admissions process.