About the Pre-College Program
The Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Program is a 6-week academic and residential experience for rising 11th and 12th graders (16-18 years old). There are 6 different academic programs to choose from (APEA, National High School Game Academy, Drama, Music, Architecture, Art & Design).
Pre-College is a shortened version of a first-semester of college. Students not only experience a real classroom and complete Carnegie Mellon coursework, they also get a glimpse of what it takes to interact with professors, classmates and a roommate at a level they may have not yet encountered.
Students who have participated in Pre-College return to high school with a much better sense of what they need to do in preparation for college or what college setting they may now either like or dislike. They may feel more confident about the college application process and going off to college.
While Pre-College is serious inside the classroom, and at times demanding, it is also a great social opportunity. Many classes meet on casual levels in the evenings, putting a fun spin on academics. There are weekend events organized for the students so they can explore the city in an exciting, but supervised atmosphere. Students have the opportunity to meet others from all over the country and the world. Bonds between classmates and roommates are typically strong and long lasting.
Students gain so much from their experience in Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College programs. They'll be challenged, but they'll also gain confidence from their new independence and will feel a sense of accomplishment having completed six weeks worth of real college-level coursework. We truly strive to make Carnegie Mellon "home" for the summer. Our sincere hope is that you find your summer college experience challenging and fun, exploring all that Carnegie Mellon and Pittsburgh have to offer.
Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Mission Statement
The Pre-College Program upholds the mission and values of Carnegie Mellon University while providing high school students with the opportunity during the summer to experience a collegiate atmosphere that will allow them to grow academically, culturally and socially.
The Pre-College Program provides a safe, comfortable and challenging environment in which students can explore their academic and artistic pursuits within the foundations of Carnegie Mellon's world-class academic programs.
The Pre-College Program also strives to foster growth in each student’s personal independence, global awareness and appreciation of diversity, as well as, to support their social, psychological and physical well-being.
Carnegie Mellon University
Consistently recognized as one of the premier research universities in the world, Carnegie Mellon has educated some of the most distinguished inventors and innovative leaders in the last century. We're about creating students who can view life through a wide variety of lenses and who leave here prepared to make an important and lasting impact on society.
Our students and professors study and learn together across a wide variety of disciplines - everything from engineering to English to art. Our unique ability to provide undergraduates with exposure to a broad spectrum of courses and experiences beyond their field of study is the reason why employers around the globe seek out our graduates. It's the reason why our graduates truly do go on to change the world.
Carnegie Mellon has one of the most technologically sophisticated campuses in the country with more than 10,000 computers, a high-speed network that links the entire campus, and opportunities to study and learn using technology in every college at the university.