Admission & Carnegie Mellon Terms
Admission ID
After you submit an application to Carnegie Mellon, you will receive a randomly generated number with your applicant receipt letter known as your Admission ID. This number will allow you to track the progress of your application with our online tracking system, “Where am I in the Process?”
Advanced Placement (AP)
Tests used for students to gain college credit for subjects studied in high school. At Carnegie Mellon, advanced placement and credit may be granted for scores of four and five on the AP examinations.
Area Program
The admission staff will travel to various cities across the country in the fall to present a multi-media presentation in a large group setting, often held in ballrooms at hotels.
Booth
Part of our annual Spring Carnival (see below) celebration. Student organizations build elaborate one or two-story structures with a design and game in accordance with the overall Carnival theme. They’re displayed on the midway for all Carnival-goers to enjoy.
Buggy
Part of our annual Spring Carnival (see below) celebration. Student organizations participate in a fierce competition of high tech soapbox racers. Teams compete in a five-person relay race around Flagstaff Hill in neighboring Schenley Park. Drivers steer the buggy through the free roll portion of the race and buggies can hit speeds of up to 35 miles per hour!
Celebration of Diversity (COD) Weekend
Held in conjunction with two of our Sleeping Bag Weekends (see below), these weekends incorporate additional activities on Saturday for those prospective students who have an interest in diversity issues on campus. Bus transportation is available from select cities.
Common Application
Created to simplify the application process to schools around the country. Carnegie Mellon uses this application exclusively.
Common Application Supplement
A supplemental application form that must be submitted before your Common Application will be processed.
The Cut
Carnegie Mellon’s central lawn. You will often see pick up games of soccer, volleyball or Ultimate Frisbee on the Cut as well as students studying and accessing the wireless network with their laptops.
Deferral
It is not a denial of admission nor is it placing your application on a wait list. If you apply under one of the Early Decision plans and are deferred, you will be added to the Regular Decision applicant pool.
Early Admission
An opportunity for qualified high school juniors to apply early to Carnegie Mellon University. This process is ideal for mature, responsible juniors who have exhausted the courses offered at their high schools.
Early Decision
Application plan ideal for students for whom Carnegie Mellon is their first choice. It is designed to let you know of our admission decision early in your senior year (by mid-January at the latest). If you are accepted to Carnegie Mellon under early decision, we expect you to enroll. If you apply through early decision, we encourage you to submit applications to other schools. However, you must agree to withdraw these applications when notified of Early Decision acceptance and financial aid granted at Carnegie Mellon.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
The EFC is the amount the Federal government determines a family can contribute over a nine-month period through direct contribution from income, drawing down on assets and borrowing.
Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
Federally sponsored employment program directed to students with financial need; increases the number of part-time jobs available on campus to needy students by subsidizing the wages paid for eligible jobs; earnings generally range from $950 to $2,500 per academic year.
Federal Pell Grant
Federal grant program provides funds for undergraduate students who have a minimal expected family contribution as determined by the Department of Education.
Federal Perkins Loan
A low-interest loan of 5%; loan funds provided to Carnegie Mellon by the federal government for distribution to students with exceptional financial need (especially students with a large amount of need not met by grants).
Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
A subsidized low-interest, long-term federal loan program designed to assist both undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled at least half time; awarded on the basis of financial need only.
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Low-interest, long-term federal loan program designed to assist both undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled at least half time and who do not qualify in whole, or in part for the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan, you are required to pay the interest that accumulates on the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan every three months while you are in school.
Federal Methodology
A formula used by the federal government to determine your family’s eligibility for federal financial assistance programs. The FAFSA is the primary source of information.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Funds provided to Carnegie Mellon by the federal government for distribution to students with exceptional financial need.
The Fence
Painting the Fence is a long-standing campus tradition. Anyone can paint the Fence to promote an upcoming event to the campus community or wish a friend a happy birthday. Strict tradition dictates that the Fence must be painted between midnight and sunrise using only paintbrushes. The Fence was in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “most painted object in the world” and it’s estimated that there are four inches of paint on it!
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Form processed by the U.S. Department of Education to provide colleges and universities with an estimate of a family’s ability to contribute over time toward educational expenses.
Financial Aid Package
Combination of different types of financial resources; typically consists of scholarship/grant aid, loans and federal work-study employment.
Federal Parent Loan (PLUS)
A federally insured loan made by private lenders to parents of undergraduate students who need funds above the amount received from other financial aid sources; borrowers do not have to show financial need; applicants must have a good credit history.
High School Visit
The admission staff will travel to various cities across the country in the fall and visit a number of high schools. Group sizes will vary from school to school, but this is an informal meeting and a chance to learn more about Carnegie Mellon and get all of your questions answered.
Hometown Interview
The admission staff will travel to various cities across the country in the fall and conduct one-on-one meetings with prospective students in their hometowns. If you can’t make it to campus for an interview, consider doing a hometown interview.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Carnegie Mellon recognizes this as the most rigorous curriculum high school students can take. Advanced standing and/or credit in various fields may be granted for scores of six or seven on the higher-level examinations.
Kiltie
True to our Scottish roots, the marching band is known as the Kiltie Band and members dress in full Scottish regalia for all home football games.
Lifetime Learning Tax Credit
A tax credit available to individuals who file a federal tax return and owe federal taxes. This means the amount of the credit is subtracted directly from a family’s actual tax liability rather than reducing taxable income like a tax deduction does.
Need-Blind Admission
The practice of reviewing students for admission into a college or university without regard to their families’ financial circumstances.
Hope Scholarship (Taxpayer Relief Act)
Actually a tax credit and not a scholarship. Tax credits are subtracted directly from the federal tax a family owes, rather than reducing taxable income like a tax deduction does.
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Grant Program
State sponsored program that provides grants for full-time undergraduate students who are Pennsylvania residents and demonstrate financial need.
Regular Decision
This is the most common way to apply to Carnegie Mellon University. Students will be notified of a decision from the Office of Admission in writing between mid-March and mid-April.
Sleeping Bag Weekend (SBW)
During four weekends in the fall and winter, high school seniors can visit campus from Sunday – Monday and live like a Carnegie Mellon student for the day. Panels, tours and other activities are available on Sunday, on Sunday night prospective students spend the night in university housing with a current student and on Monday they have a chance to attend classes.
Spring Carnival
Dating back to 1920, our annual Spring Carnival celebration is complete with carnival rides, games, food and entertainment. Aside from a midway complete with carnival rides, food and entertainment ranging from stand-up comedians to bands, the two main components to Carnival are Booth and Buggy (see above).
State Grants
Vary depending on the state in which you live; high school counselors and state higher education agencies can provide details.
Student Aid Report (SAR)
Usually received within four weeks of mailing the FAFSA, the SAR is the student’s official notification of the expected family contribution.
Tartan
Carnegie Mellon’s nickname in athletics. No, it’s not a fierce warrior from the Scottish Highlands, it’s actually a twilled woolen fabric with a plaid design. But it’s the fiercest piece of plaid this side of the Scottish Highlands!
Wait List
We cannot accept all of the qualified students who apply to Carnegie Mellon. If students are placed on the wait list, they are capable of doing the work here, but due to the competitive admission process we were not able to offer them a place in the class. If you are placed on the wait list and want to remain on the wait list for consideration for any spots that may become available, you must send the wait list reply slip back to the Office of Admission. We encourage students to communicate their continued interest in Carnegie Mellon and to send us any additional information (grades, activities, honors, etc.) that were not part of their original application materials.
