Especially for High School Juniors
Thank you for considering Carnegie Mellon! We know that the college search process is not an easy one and that there is a great deal of pressure and anxiety inherent in the college admission process. We want to be sure that you see everything from an admission standpoint that is important to you as a high school junior. Good luck in your search!
We’ve featured existing sections on our site (like our Pre-College programs and Junior Visit Days) that we don’t think you should miss. You can do much to minimize the pressure by getting started early and setting a realistic timetable for getting tasks accomplished such as campus visits and completing applications.
› Our Site, Your Perspective
› Get to Know Yourself
› What Do We Want to See?
› How to Prepare
› Timeline for Preparation
Our Site, Your Perspective
Below we've highlighted pages on our site that we don’t think you should miss as a high school junior. Take a look around and discover Carnegie Mellon from your perspective. A link to this page is located at the bottom of every page in the site so you can return here easily.
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Get to Know Yourself
Before you get too caught up in the college application process, take some time to reflect and get to know yourself.
Take inventory of your talents and interests:
- What subjects in school do you enjoy the most? What talents and aptitudes are used in those courses?
- What are three achievements you are very proud of? What talents or abilities led to these achievements?
- What are your hobbies and interests outside of school? What talents and/or skills are used in them?
- Ask a friend or teacher to identify three things you do very well. Compare their answers with yours above
Look at yourself the way a college would:
- Examine the courses and activities you have chosen
- Review your grades and standardized test results
- Objectively assess your strengths and weaknesses
- Do you have any special talents?
- Have you held an office or received an award whether in or out of school?
- Have you attended any special educational programs during the year or in the summer?
- Have you completed the course requirements for the college program you intend to follow?
Taking the time to do these exercises will help reaffirm the potential majors you’re considering, help you prepare for writing your college essays and allow you to think about things that might come up during an admission interview. It will be time well spent!
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Getting a jump start on the college search and application process during your junior year will allow you to enjoy more of your senior year and make memories of your last year of high school.
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What Do We Want to See?
What are Colleges Looking for?
Remember that colleges are looking for a well-rounded student body, therefore well-rounded students. Start your research early and check with the schools you are potentially interested in applying to – What factors are considered in the admission process? What standardized tests are required? Is there a profile available as far as what a “typical” admission candidate looks like (test scores, GPA, activities, etc.)?
At Carnegie Mellon we take a holistic approach to the application review process. There are many factors that we consider. These factors could be divided up roughly into three areas: academic performance, standardized testing results and non-academic performance.
If you are applying for academic programs, your high school performance will be the main factor in our admission decision because it’s the most meaningful indication of your abilities. We pay close attention to your curriculum rigor, the grades you’ve earned and the work you’ve accomplished. We’re interested in seeing that you’ve challenged yourself within your secondary school. If you are applying for programs in the arts, your artistic performance will be either the main factor or a significant factor (depending on the program) in our admission decision.
Standardized test scores add to our knowledge of your ability, but we don’t make decisions simply on the basis of test scores. Your high school record and standardized test scores (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT with Writing and SAT Subject Tests) work together to make up the academic portion of your evaluation.
Your non-academic activities, including extracurricular accomplishments, part-time jobs or hobbies and community service also play a very important part of the admission process. We also consider leadership, motivation, out-of-class recognition, community and volunteer service and other experiences when making admission decisions.
Our students make Carnegie Mellon an exciting campus. The positive qualities and diverse experiences you bring with you will enrich our community. By looking at this non-academic information, we develop a sense of your personality, motivation and sense of responsibility.
Because we want to have a sense of who you are as a person, we look closely at the essay and personal statement you’re asked to write, your guidance counselor’s evaluation and your teacher’s recommendation.
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Carnegie Mellon Summer Programs
| Applying for Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Programs |
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If you will be applying to one of Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Programs application materials will be available by mid December. Applications are due May 1 (April 1 for international students) so be sure to allow ample time to gather the required materials and to allow your guidance counselor and/or teachers to write their letters of recommendation!
Required Documents for Applicants to Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Programs
If you will be applying to one of Carnegie Mellon’s summer programs, the following materials are required: application form (paper form or online application), application fee ($30), official high school transcript, standardized test scores (PSAT, SAT Reasoning Test, PLAN or ACT), letter or recommendation, activities resume, essay and drama or music resume if applicable.
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If you’re going to be a junior or senior in high school, consider spending six weeks in one of our six distinct Pre-College programs. You’ll have the opportunity to take college coursework, meet people from all over the country and have the time of your life!
When reviewing applications for our summer programs (Advanced Placement/Early Action and Pre-College Fine Arts Programs) we will be looking at a number of factors to enroll a qualified class. We will look at your high school performance, your most recent standardized test results, a letter of recommendation from your guidance counselor or two teachers, an activities resume and an essay. If you are applying to the Pre-College Drama Program you should submit a resume listing your experiences in theater. If you are applying to the Pre-College Music Program you should submit a statement describing your past musical training and a recent audio recording of a solo representative of your level of performance or scores of recent original compositions.
Interviews with a member of our admission staff are available in the spring for students who want to learn more about our summer programs. These informal interviews can also count as an admission interview if you decide to apply to Carnegie Mellon.
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How to Prepare
The College Search
The college search process can seem very daunting. So where do you start? And how do you narrow your choices to a list of schools that seem suitable to you? A good place to start is to ask yourself a few questions to determine what type of environment and experience you want. Some factors to consider include:
Location
Do you want to go to a college that is far away or close to home?
School Size
Would you enjoy a large school with thousands of students or a smaller school?
Academics
What kind of academic challenge do you want and are there programs available that suit your areas of interest?
Social/Recreational
What extracurricular interests do you have and are they available on campus?
Athletics
Do you want a school that offers competitive athletic programs or one that is less athletically focused?
As you may have already experienced, you will become inundated with mail from colleges and universities. The average high school student receives 80 pounds of mail from colleges alone! When you receive information from a school, take a few minutes and determine if it fits your preliminary criteria. Hold on to the brochures that may interest you and after you do more research, decide if it is worth your time to visit.
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It’s never too early to start the college search process! Gather information about the schools you’re considering and take inventory of your interests and talents.
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The Campus Visit
Once you compile a list of schools that seem to fit your needs, try to visit each school. The campus visit is a very important time for you to explore the offerings of the school first hand and get a “feel” for the campus – something that’s much easier to do in person as opposed to reading brochures or looking at a Web site.
Before going to campus, you may want to make a list of questions that you will want answered. Consider bringing a backpack and journal. A journal to write down your thoughts when they are fresh in mind and a backpack to hold your journal and any material you might pick up during your visit. Don’t be afraid to ask current undergraduates for their opinions. No one knows the campus environment better!
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If possible visit the schools you are seriously considering. A visit will allow you to get the “feel” for the campus. Ask yourself: Is this is someplace you could see yourself spending the next few years of your life? Are the current students the kind of people you want to be living with day in and day out for the next few years of your life? Are you comfortable here? Based on your initial impressions, could it be a good fit?
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Since the primary focus of college is the academics, it is a very important factor to explore when visiting. Check to see if you can meet with someone in the academic area(s) you’re considering and ask current students what their experiences have been like.
- Are academic assignments more creative than boring?
- Is there a cooperative or competitive environment in the classroom and are students encouraged to work together?
- How is technology incorporated into the classroom?
- What is the percentage of students participating in academics outside of the classroom or working with faculty member on research projects?
- Who is teaching the classes, faculty members or teaching assistants and what is the average class size?
Of course academics are important but everyone knows that what happens outside the classroom is an important part of the overall college experience. You may want to obtain a list of the organizations and clubs that exist to see if your interests are covered.
- What are the most popular activities with students?
- How easy is it to start a club?
- If the campus is Greek, what percentage of the students are affiliated with a sorority or fraternity? How do students who elect not to be Greek fit in?
- What is there to do off campus and in the surrounding areas? What is the transportation system like to these areas?
- Is the campus community politically/religiously affiliated?
We’re not going to deny it, food is important. Definitely schedule time to have a meal on campus and explore the dining options for yourself.
- At what hours are food services available?
- What options, in regards to meal plans, are available?
Your dorm room will be your home away from home for the next few years so it is important to investigate the options available at a university.
- Is housing guaranteed for four years?
- If so, what percent of students live on campus all four years?
- Are all dorms wired with the Internet?
- Do freshman and upper-class students live in the same dorms or are they separated?
- Are laundry facilities in the dorms?
When visiting a college campus, ask questions about the services available to students.
- What medical services are available to students?
- Are there computer labs open to students and what are the hours of the labs?
- Is safety an issue on campus?
- Are tutoring and counseling services available?
- If applicable, are services available for students with special needs?
Another determining factor of the college process is paying for your education. You will definitely want to ask questions about the financial aid process for the schools you visit.
- What financial aid forms are required?
- What percent of the freshman class receive aid and what is the average package?
- Is the school admissions process ‘need blind’? Meaning, we don’t admit students based on their families’ ability to pay for their education.
- Are scholarships awarded based on merit, financial need, or athletics?
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Timeline for Preparation
For Applicants to Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Programs
- Begin preparing your application materials well in advance of the deadline. Be sure to give your guidance counselor and/or teachers ample time to write their recommendation!
- Be sure to make copies of all the documents you submit in case something is mishandled or misplaced!
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Don’t wait until your senior year to complete all of your standardized tests! Take some during the spring of your junior year if you can. If you aren’t happy with your scores and would like to take the tests again, you’ll have plenty of time to do so during your senior year. (Check with the schools you’re interested in to see when the latest testing date that they will accept results from is.)
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For the College Search and Selection Process
- Throughout your junior year, continue to collect information from schools and research the ones you may be interested in visiting and ultimately applying to.
- Narrow your list down to those you are seriously considering and if possible, start visiting those schools during the spring of your junior year or the summer before your senior year.
- During the summer, find out what the application requirements are for the schools you’re interested in applying to. Make sure that you will meet all of the requirements (high school courses, standardized tests, etc.) and start working on your essays.
- During the fall of your senior year, be sure to stay on top of the application process! Begin preparing your application materials well in advance of the deadline. Be sure to give your counselor and teacher(s) ample time to write their letters of recommendation!
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