How hard is it to get into carnegie mellon computer science

The Ivy Scholars guide to Carnegie Mellon University’s culture, admissions, and other essential information for prospective students and their families.

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mascot: Scotty the Scottie Dog

Type: Private Research Institution

Population: 14,000 (7,000 undergrads)

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About Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie-Mellon was founded in 1900 in Pittsburgh, PA by Andrew Carnegie and is a private non-profit research university. It merged with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research in 1967. The institution has a distinct interdisciplinary approach to research and education. Innovation through technology is a cornerstone of the university.

Carnegie Mellon Statistics

Year Founded: 1900

4 Year Graduation Rate: 72%

Gender Distribution: 50% male, 50% female

Acceptance Rate: 22%

Residency: 30% in state, 49% out of state, 11% international

Location Type: Urban

Schedule System: Semesters

Student/Faculty Ratio: 13:1

Average Class Size: 25

Demographics: 37% Other or unknown, 30% Caucasian, 30% Asian, 8% Hispanic, 5% Black

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National Rankings

US News Rankings:

• #7 Most Innovative Schools
• #12 Undergraduate Research
• #25 National Universities
• #29 Best Undergraduate Teaching
• #30 Best Value Schools

Independent Rankings:

• #1 Robotics Engineering Program per Grad School Hub
• #1 Best College Theatre per The Princeton Review
• #6 Computer Science Program per The Times of Higher Education
• #10 Best Career Placement per The Princeton Review
• #24 Best Value Colleges per The Princeton Review
• #25 National Colleges per The Times of Higher Education
• #37 National Colleges per Forbes

Carnegie Mellon Admissions Information

Application Deadlines:

• Early Decision: November 1st
• Regular Decision: January 4th
• Transfer: Varies depending on program

Notification Dates:

• Early Decision: December 15th
• Regular Decision: April 15th

Acceptance Rates:

• Early Decision: 21%
• Regular Decision: 17%
• Transfer: 7%

Average Applicant Pool: 38,000

Average Number of Applicants Accepted: 4,500

Average Number Enrolled: 1,300

Application Systems: Common App

Average GPA: 3.84 weighted

SAT Scores: 25th% – 1460, 75th% – 1560

ACT Scores: 25th% – 33, 75th% – 35

*Test mandatory. Writing sections optional.

Demonstrated Interest: Carnegie Mellon does not consider demonstrated interest.

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• Virtual Tour

Recommendation Letter Policies: They require two letters of recommendation: one from a high school counselor and one from a teacher. They will accept a third recommendation from a teacher or other recommender, but will require the committees to consider only two recommendations in the decision-making process.

Carnegie Mellon Essay Prompts:

• Common App Personal Statement (650 words)
• Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieve your ultimate goal. As you think ahead to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college experience? (300 words)
• Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time – what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study? (300 words)
• Consider your application as a whole. What do you personally want to emphasize about your application for the admission committee’s consideration? Highlight something that’s important to you or something you haven’t had a chance to share. Tell us, don’t show us (no websites please). (300 words)
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• Mellon Essay Writing Tips

Special Notes:

• When applying to Carnegie Mellon University, students must commit to one of the 7 specific academic schools; however, one does not need to declare a major until the second semester of sophomore year.
• Students applying to the School of Fine Arts are required to audition or submit a portfolio, depending on intended major.

Transfer:

• Transfer admissions are decided by college, students are only considered for the college they apply to.
• Students must have completed at least one full semester in order to be eligible to transfer.
• College and high school transcript are both required, as is a letter from a college instructor. Standardized test scores are required.
• Housing is not guaranteed for transfer students.

Carnegie Mellon Admission Strategy

Admissions Criteria:

The most important factors that admissions considers are: course rigor, extracurriculars, and test scores.

Factors which admissions considers important are: leadership, outside recognition, GPA, recommendations, and essays.

While interviews are optional, they are considered. 

For students applying to the College of Fine Arts, the portfolios or auditions they submit are one of the most important components of their application.

Athletic recruiting is considered, although athletes still have to meet the academic criteria in order to be admitted.

What is Carnegie Mellon Looking for?

The three factors which the school focuses on are school record, extracurricular involvement, and test scores. While they use a holistic review process for applications, these categories are the ones which the school examines first and most intensely. They want to ensure students are able to succeed academically, and they further appreciate data, which drives their reliance on test scores as a metric.

The school wants driven and motivated students, who are intelligent, passionate, and creative. Their school is very specialized, and students should have a good idea of what they want to study, and which school will fit them best. Applications are considered based on which school the student applies to, and judged accordingly. 

The different schools have very different acceptance rates, and the College of Fine Arts further subdivides students by school within it, making school selection very important. It is also very difficult to change schools after admittance, although taking a secondary major in another school is possible. 

The school’s strategic plan emphasizes an increase in diversity in the student body, and and increased focus on interdisciplinary studies. The school is launching both funding and recruitment initiatives to support these goals. Students interested in an interdisciplinary approach will stand out.

Carnegie Mellon Strategy:

The most important part of admissions for Carnegie Mellon is determining which of the schools you are best suited for, and which one makes the most sense to apply to. Because admission is decided by school, a good candidate for one is not necessarily a good candidate for another. Your strengths as a student should line up with those of the school and major you are applying for. Two of the supplemental essays also address this point and these should reflect what admissions officers see in your transcript and activities list.

It is quite difficult to change between schools after you have been accepted, so make sure you are applying to the school which best corresponds to your interests. The school has a STEM focus overall, so the schools studying the humanities and social sciences are significantly easier to gain acceptance to. If you wish to major in one of these fields, you should consider Carnegie-Mellon. An exception is business students, as students may take a second major in business, even if they have been admitted to another school. This is difficult, but may be worth it if your candidacy positions you better for humanities or social sciences than business.

Applying Early Decision will boost your chances of admission slightly, although the criteria are not relaxed, there is merely a smaller pool of candidates relative to the number of slots. The school also tries to keep admissions rates consistent between ED and RD, though the ED acceptance rate often does end up being higher.

Since the school values test scores so highly, retaking the test is a good idea if your scores are lower than the average. Don’t sweat over ten points, but if you believe you can make reasonable gains for the effort you invest, then retaking standardized tests is the simplest way to boost your chances of admission.

Carnegie Mellon Academics

Schools:

• College of Engineering 17% acceptance rate
• College of Fine Arts acceptance rates vary by program
• Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences 24% acceptance rate
• Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy 26% acceptance rate
• Mellon College of Science 18% acceptance rate
• School of Computer Science 7% acceptance rate
• Tepper School of Business 19% acceptance rate
• It is very difficult to change schools, or even to change majors.

Core Requirements:

• Core requirements vary by school, each requiring something different.
• Engineering, Dietrich, Tepper, Mellon, and Computer Science all have different requirements, which must be fulfilled in order to graduate.

Courses of Study: 

• 80 Majors 
• Option to double major where you will receive a degree from two schools; your home school and secondary major.
• Popular majors include Computer Science, Kinesiology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Mechanical Engineering, and Psychology.
• 90 Minors
• Course Catalog

AP Credit Policies:

• Carnegie Mellon awards credit for scores of 4 or 5 on most AP exams and scores of 6 or 7 on IB higher-level exams.
• Comprehensive AP Credit Information

Special Programs

Honors Programs:

• Carnegie Mellon Humanities Scholars Program: a four year interdisciplinary honors program.
• Quantitative Social Science Scholars Program
• Senior Honors Program

Research Availability:

• 70% of undergraduates participate in research during their enrollment.
• The Undergraduate Research Office has information about the various grants, summer fellowships and presentation awards which are available to undergraduates.

Study Abroad: 

• Study Abroad Options

Business Options: 

• The Undergraduate Business School prides itself on integrating business with technology and analytics. There is only one major, and students in other colleges may take an additional major in business.
• There are eight concentrations for students to choose from within the major.
• Business Advising

Pre-Med Options:

• Carnegie Mellon does not offer a pre-Med major, but it offers a Health Professions Program that guides you all four years in preparation for a medical career.  

Pre-Law Options:

• Pre-Law Program
• Pre-Law Society

Computer Science Options: 

• The School of Computer Science has an undergraduate program, with 4 majors available. Students not in the school may take an additional major in CS, but this is competitive and space is not guaranteed.
• There are a number of concentrations available to students in the department.
• Undergraduate research is encouraged in the program.

Additional Specialty Programs: 

• Interdisciplinary Programs 
• BXA Intercollege Degree Programs
• Computer Science and Arts (B.C.S.A.)
• Computational Biology (B.S. in Computational Biology)
• Computational Finance (B.S.C.F.)
• Economics (B.S. or B.A. in Economics)
• Health Professions Program (HPP)
• Human Computer Interaction (HCI) (secondary major)
• Humanities and Arts (B.H.A.)
• Humanities Scholars Program
• Integrative Design, Arts and Technology Network: IDeATe (minors and concentrations)
• Music and Technology
• Science and Arts (B.S.A.)

Programs for High Schoolers:

• The Gelfand Center coordinates programs offered by faculty, students, and staff to high school students in the Pittsburgh area, both in the summer and during the academic year.
• The Pre-College Summer Session is a 6-week course of study open to talented high school students where they can take courses for college credit.
• National High School Game Academy (NHSGA) offers talented high school students the chance to learn skills and best practices used at a modern game company over a 6-week session.

Student Life at Carnegie Mellon

School Motto: My heart is in the work.

Mission and Values:

• Mission: To create a transformative educational experience for students focused on deep disciplinary knowledge; problem solving; leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills; and personal health and well-being.
• Values: Dedication, Impact, Collaboration, Creativity, Empathy & Compassion, Inclusion, Integrity & Sustainability.
• Additional Information
• Student Testimonials (Niche, Students Review, Edu Opinions)

House System:

Carnegie Mellon offers a variety of housing options including residence halls, apartments, suite-style housing and full houses. Some residences are designated for first-year students, some are primarily upperclassmen, and others are a mix of students.

Housing Statistics:

• 99% of freshmen live on campus
• 60% of undergraduates live in on-campus housing for the entirety of their stay

Campus & Surrounding Area:  

The 140 acre campus is surrounded by many neighborhoods giving it an impression of a suburban region, however it is only 3 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. A large grassy area called “the Cut” forms the backbone of campus. The campus has plenty of green space for students.

• Carnegie Museum of Natural History
• Pittsburgh Zoo
• Carnegie Museum of Art
• National Aviary
• Andy Warhol Museum
• Carnegie Science Center
• Pittsburgh Cultural District
• Safety Information (Carnegie Mellon, College Factual)
• Virtual Tours

Transportation:

• Campus Shuttle System
• Port Authority Bus and Rail System
• Parking Information

Traditions:

• Their Alma Mater is a bigger deal to them then most schools and is sung at many important events including commencement ceremonies, convocations and swearing in of new presidents to name a few.
• The Fence lies in the middle of the campus, and once held the Guinness book of world records for being the most painted object. 
• In April, the biggest event of the year is Spring Carnival. Students have a four day weekend and participate in many activities to include the Buggy Races.
• The MoBot Competition has students build autonomous robotic vehicles and race them.
• Playfair happens during orientation week and is structured to help first-years bond with fellow students through a number of games and mini competitions.

Student-Run Organizations: 

• Organization Database 394 organizations
• Sample Organizations (Animal Welfare Club, Carnegie Mellon Rocket Command club, Figure Skating Club)

Sports:

• DIII Athletics – Conference UAA (Women’s soccer & tennis, Men’s Cross Country)
• Intramural Sports
• Club Sports
• Main Rival: Case Western Reserve University & Washington University, St. Louis

Greek Life: 

Fraternities and sororities have a long, rich tradition with roughly 18% of undergraduates participating in 23 active Greek Chapters.

Nightlife:

• HeyEvent helps students find concerts, art exhibitions and more events.
• Pittsburgh City Paper every week lists the top things to do.
• Meetup is a link to find people with similar interests.
• 4 multiplex theatres all in reach of campus.
• Best of the ‘Burgh famous burgers and Conflict Kitchen affiliated with Carnegie Mellon.
• Professional sports teams and inclines abound in Pittsburgh.
• School sporting events and greek parties are a mainstay of campus culture.

Financial Information

Fun Facts

• Booth is another annual tradition where student organizations build 10’ by 10’ booths to raise money for a local charity.
• John Forbes Nash, the man which A Beautiful Mind is based on, was a 1948 graduate of Carnegie Mellon. Mathematical genius majored in Chemical Engineering. 
• Silly Putty was discovered by Earl Warrick in the 1940s during a research fellowship.
• One of the first universities to give a degree in Robotics, as well as one of the first Computer Science Departments.
• Pop art sensation Andy Warhol graduated from Carnegie-Mellon.
• The inventor of Java studied there. 
• Many films were shot on their campus, including The Dark Knight Rises. 
• The musicals Pippin and Godspell were first conceived by Stephen Schwartz as student musicals while he was studying there.

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