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• Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay Prompts 2024-2025

Students applying to Carnegie Mellon University must complete the Common Application essay along with three required supplemental essays. All applicants are required to use the Common App to submit their applications.

Essay Prompts

Prompt: 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?

Word Limit: 300

Prompt: 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 ?

Prompt: 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).

Curious about what factors Carnegie Mellon values in applicants?

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Table of Contents

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4 Tips for Stand-Out Carnegie Mellon Essays

College Essays

Carnegie Mellon is ranked among the top 25 universities in the nation , so you'll need to have an impressive application—with stand-out essays, of course!—in order to get admitted. Applicants must submit a total of four Carnegie Mellon essays, three of which comprise the Carnegie Mellon supplement.

Keep reading to learn what the current Carnegie Mellon essay prompts are, what topics you could write about, and what qualities make for a great Carnegie Mellon essay.

Feature Image: Mathieu Thouvenin /Flickr

What Are the Carnegie Mellon Essay Prompts?

In addition to the personal statement you must write for the Common App (for which you get to select one out of seven possible prompts), Carnegie Mellon requires all applicants to submit three supplemental essays; these essays make up the Carnegie Mellon Supplement.

Applicants are not allowed to submit other supplemental materials with their applications, such as websites, artwork, or resumes. (Note that the only exception to this is if you're applying to a school that requires additional materials , such as the School of Architecture.)

Each essay may be up to 300 words long, making them a little shorter than your typical personal statement for college, which is usually around 500-600 words.

So what are the Carnegie Mellon essay prompts? Let's take a look:

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?

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?

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).

As you can see, each Carnegie Mellon essay you must write will focus on something different about yourself. Specifically, you must explain the following in your essays:

• For Essay 1, what you plan to major in and why
• For Essay 2, what you hope to get out of attending college
• For Essay 3, something you want to emphasize about yourself

How should you write each Carnegie Mellon essay? We give you specific tips next.

All Carnegie Mellon Essay Prompts, Analyzed

In this section, we'll go over the three Carnegie Mellon essay prompts in detail, giving you key tips so you can ensure your essays stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Carnegie Mellon Essay 1: Your Intended Major

Though it might look a little wordy, all this Carnegie Mellon essay prompt is really asking is, "Why this major?" More specifically, this prompt wants you to relate the intellectual path you've taken by explaining the experiences, people, and/or events that have led you to want to major in this particular field.

By far the most effective way to answer this prompt is to tell a compelling story about how you came to be interested in your intended major. Think about the most important moments from your life that showcase your love of what you want to study, and then write about those.

For example, say you plan to major in musical composition. You could start off by recounting the first time you tried to write a piece of music on your family's piano and how hard it was. However, you really enjoyed the process of creating something new. This prompted you to enroll in weekly piano lessons; you also continued to compose piano pieces in your spare time. As a sophomore, you decided to enter your school's talent show and ended up winning with a musical piece you'd composed.

While you don't need to stick to chronological order, using this organization ensures your essay is easy to follow and clearly illustrates how you progressed from someone who knew nothing about the field to someone now highly devoted to it.

In addition, be sure to focus on not only how you became interested in your major but also how this journey of discovering your passion has affected you and your goals. For example, perhaps you want to major in architecture because you hope to use your skills to encourage eco-friendly living and therefore combat the effects of climate change.

It's also a good idea to mention, explicitly or implicitly, how Carnegie Mellon will help you accomplish your goals in your intended field. You could talk briefly about a particular faculty member in your field whom you hope to work with, an expensive piece of equipment offered at Carnegie Mellon, or specific professional opportunities available to students.

Finally, be careful not to exaggerate. Don't say you suddenly developed an interest in literature after reading The Great Gatsby for English class if you actually loathed the book or had a passion for literature well before then.

It's OK if there wasn't one single moment in your life that made you realize this major was the right one for you. Instead of acting as though some particular incident was more significant than it actually was, just focus on the overall journey you took to get to the point you're at now—that is, the major you've chosen to pursue.

Carnegie Mellon Essay 2: Why You're Going to College

Going to college isn't just about getting your degree. That's part of it, of course—you'd feel pretty cheated if you got all the way through college only to find out that you weren't getting your degree—but learning new things and growing as a person are also really important.

In this essay, Carnegie Mellon wants to see you discuss how learning, not just having a degree, will represent your growth in college. That might feel a little intimidating since you haven't actually left for college yet, but you have two important things to draw on: experience in your prior education, and your hopes for the future.

When responding to this prompt, think less about the individual classes you'll take, what grades you'll get in them, or what essays you'll write. Think about the learning process, all the little things that go into your education beyond the grades and assignments. How do you learn? And beyond that, what did you learn?

Think about what having a "successful college experience" would look like for you. When you graduate, what knowledge and experience do you hope to have? What unique experiences will you have at Carnegie Mellon that will shape the person you ultimately want to become?

This is a time to be specific. Maybe you see yourself as belonging to a thriving intellectual community, and thought-provoking discussion is one of the ways that you learn best. You can look at what groups there are on campus, for example, and see which ones you'd like to join.

Joining re:verb might be a way that you connect with other people who love having thought-provoking discussions, or maybe you're drawn more toward MOSIAC to learn about concepts like intersectionality. You can identify groups that appeal to you in your specific niche, and mention them in your essay as places where you hope to find your intellectual community.

Of course, that's not the only way to go about it. The important thing you need to convey is that you have an interest not just in attaining your diploma, but in the experience of learning. How you do that is up to you—you can describe how you learn and how Carnegie Mellon will help enrich you as a person through their teaching methods, through being around other accomplished and intellectual individuals, or by naming specific clubs, groups, or classes you want to be part of.

Show Carnegie Mellon how you learn and how they'll contribute to your specific goals, and you'll be on the right track!

Carnegie Mellon Essay 3: Something Important About You

This essay prompt is the most open-ended of the three and a great opportunity to really dig into any important attributes of yourself that you feel you didn't get to write enough about or at all in other parts of your application.

Did you write about something in another essay, such as the one you wrote for the Common App, that you wish to talk about more here? Do you want to write about something that's important to you and that you haven't had a chance to elaborate on yet?

Your topics are pretty endless here —just make sure whatever you write about for this essay is revealing something important that you think the admissions committee should know about you.

This could be a specific personality trait —maybe you want to emphasize your leadership skills by talking about your role as team leader at the local youth club—or something about your life that's had a major impact on how you see yourself and your future.

Here are some topics you could write about (but don't feel limited by these suggestions!):

• A specific incident that holds importance for you, and what it taught you about your academic and/or professional interests, your goals, your personality, etc.
• Someone you know who has impacted you in a significant way, and how that person has specifically influenced your interests and/or goals
• An explanation for something that negatively impacted your grades or another part of your application —for example, perhaps you spent a lot of time taking care of a sick relative during your sophomore year of high school, which caused your grades to dip slightly
• A particular interest, passion, hobby, or skill you have, and what you've gained, either intellectually or emotionally, from it

Once again, don't try to write about what you think the CMU admissions committee wants to read—be honest about what's important to you and why. If you volunteered somewhere a few times but didn't enjoy it or gain anything valuable from it, do not write about it here!

Similarly, don't be afraid to focus on something seemingly mundane. Just be sure you're using the topic you choose—even if it's pretty commonplace—to ultimately reveal something important about you. So, no, it's probably not a good idea to write about how you spend hours on Instagram every day, since this hobby isn't really revealing anything significant about you, your goals, or your personal growth.

2 Real Carnegie Mellon Essay Examples + Analysis

In order to write a great Carnegie Mellon essay, it helps to see what kinds of essays actually got applicants accepted to this prestigious university. Here, we give you two real Carnegie Mellon essay examples we found online and explain what makes them successful.

Carnegie Mellon Essay Example 1

This first of the two Carnegie Mellon essay examples comes from the college essays website Essays That Worked . The essay is quite long— more than 650 words! —and was written in response to the following (old) supplemental Carnegie Mellon essay prompt:

And now here's the essay:

When I was younger, I faced a lot of negative emotions including anxiety and low self-esteem. For a long time, I felt alone and as if no one understood how I felt. My self confidence was at an all-time low when I started taking psychology. All of a sudden the negative emotions I was feeling started making sense. I was suddenly able to understand how people were wired and why others treated me a certain way. I in fact was able to feel empathy for my aggressors after understanding that those who treated me negatively often faced struggles of their own.

Most importantly, I felt as though something out there finally understood me. Because psychology offered insight into my own behavior and helped me to understand others, I was eventually able to overcome my insecurities. In the future, I would like to help others do the same. No matter where I end up, understanding why people behave a certain way and being more considerate and empathetic for others will only help me thrive. Mental health is a growing issue in our society. The world we live in is a confusing place filled with pain, but psychology provides a way to determine the cause of this suffering and how to change it. I never want anyone to feel the isolation and sorrow I felt when I was younger.

I want to help others become compassionate and unconditionally loving not just toward others, but to themselves. Even if I only make a small change in the world and affect just one person’s life, I would like to pursue that.

Here's why this Carnegie Mellon essay works so well:

• It has an honest, compelling narrative that flows well. This applicant begins by explaining how their feelings and experiences allowed them to form a connection to the field of psychology from a young age. This story is raw and honest, and it highlights the applicant's reasons for wanting to pursue psychology in an appropriate and relevant manner.
• It's extremely specific. The applicant uses concrete details to explain their background and why the psychology major is a perfect fit for their goals and interests. In addition, the essay connects the applicant’s present interest in psychology to how they hope to help others in the future, giving us a clear indication of why the applicant is so interested in psychology.

Carnegie Mellon Essay Example 2

This second Carnegie Mellon essay example also comes from the website Essays That Worked and, like the essay above, responds to a current Carnegie Mellon essay prompt .

It was written in response to Carnegie Mellon essay prompt number three:

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 max)

Here is the essay:

I recall entering the intimidating world of high school as an exorbitantly introverted, stereotypical Asian girl. My father urged me to assert myself and attempt new activities I wouldn’t have typically participated in. I didn’t want to be disappointed in twenty years by the things I didn’t attempt in high school, so I decided to pursue my long-time dream of becoming a cheerleader. I had always admired the optimism that cheerleaders had, and I was at a point in my life where I needed more positivity.

I faced obstacles trying to join the team. An Asian cheerleader? But Asians were supposed to be smart and cheerleaders were dumb! I broke racial stereotypes by becoming the first Asian cheerleader in my high school. When I made the squad, I was exposed to individuals which whom I did not ordinarily traverse paths. I stepped outside of my bubble and met girls who were extremely extroverted and seemed to be in a constant state of elation. They taught me how to spread positivity throughout my daily interactions and taught me to use optimism as a strength in facing the hurdles of life. These were qualities I would have never learned from a textbook.

My parents had possessed strong reservations about me joining and feared I would meet girls who weren’t motivated in academics. This was false. Many of the girls were brilliant and creative in ways my regular friend group wasn’t. All avenues of life met there on that team.

Cheerleading was the rain and sun that helped a small seed like me bloom into a flower. It delights me knowing that I gained social skills and made friends I never thought I could gain. Cheerleading has changed my perspective on life and joining that family is one of my greatest treasures.

• It's tightly focused. This essay centers on a struggle the applicant overcame, a topic that is made clear quickly and acts as the focal point throughout the essay. We learn that the applicant made a decision in high school--to become a cheerleader--that defied racial stereotypes and helped her grow as a person. The role that cheerleading played in the applicant’s personal growth remains the focus through the end of the essay.
• It goes into significant detail about a specific incident. In order to showcase the uniqueness of their experience and the impact it had on their identity, this applicant wrote a detailed description of what being a cheerleader was really like, beyond the stereotypes, and what they learned from that experience. This provides information about who the applicant is that can’t be conveyed through the other parts of their application.

4 Tips for a Great Carnegie Mellon Essay

As you now know, you'll need to write three essays for the Carnegie Mellon supplement. Here are some general tips to keep in mind as you begin to work on each Carnegie Mellon essay.

#1: Use Highly Specific Details

Don't rely on catch-all phrases to get your points across in your essays. Instead, try to think of real, concrete examples you can use.

Specific details will make each Carnegie Mellon essay you write (and your application as a whole!) stand apart from others; it also proves to the admissions committee that you know what kinds of opportunities are available to you at Carnegie Mellon.

#2: Avoid Exaggeration—Be Yourself!

Many students think they need to write about topics that sound "impressive," but this isn't actually what admissions committees want. What they really want is to learn more about who you are, what you sound like naturally (on paper, of course), and what you value in life.

This is why it's so important for you to clearly channel your voice in your writing. For example, it's OK to tell a joke or focus on a lighthearted topic if you would describe yourself as a comedian.

Just make sure that, no matter what kind of topic you choose or how you write, you're ultimately making a bigger, important point about yourself —one that ideally emphasizes essential facets of your personality, your experiences, and/or your ambitions.

#3: Don't Repeat Anything You've Written for Your Common App Essay

Carnegie Mellon requires all applicants to submit the Common App essay in addition to the three essays described above, so you'll want to ensure there's not too much overlap between them. While it's OK to elaborate on a specific topic or point that you briefly mentioned in another essay, don't end up writing about the same experience more than once.

The point of these essays is to showcase various aspects of your personality and life, and you won't succeed if all you're doing is repeating yourself in each Carnegie Mellon essay!

#4: Edit, Polish, and Proofread

Our final tip is to take a lot of time to edit, polish, and proofread each Carnegie Mellon essay you write. Look over each essay multiple times to catch typos and other technical errors, such as grammatical problems, and spelling mistakes.

You should also be on the lookout for the following problems:

• Any inconsistencies in style, tone, voice, tense, etc.
• Any areas that are unclear, vague, or awkwardly worded or placed
• Any irrelevant details or descriptions that don't add anything important

Once you've edited and changed your essays a few times, give them to someone you trust, such as a teacher, mentor, or parent, and have that person offer feedback on how you could improve your writing.

Here are some key questions to ask this person to think about as they edit your essay:

• Is the topic/theme effective and appropriate for a college essay?
• Does the essay sound as though you wrote it (and not someone else)? Does the voice sound like your authentic voice?
• Does the overall organization make sense? Is there a story, and does it flow well? Does the structure successfully get the main point across?
• Are the details specific and relevant?

With all these tips in mind, you should definitely be able to write a great Carnegie Mellon essay!

What's Next?

You'll need to use the Common App if you're applying to Carnegie Mellon. Get tips on how to write a great Common App essay with our expert guide.

Thinking of applying to other great schools like Princeton , Brown , or Columbia ? Then be sure to check out our guides to learn how you can write amazing essays for these schools' supplements.

Learn more about Carnegie Mellon's admission requirements by visiting its school page in our extensive database.

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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How to Ace the 2024-2025 Carnegie Mellon Essay Prompts

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Carnegie Mellon University is one of the nation’s top universities. With a 11% acceptance rate , CMU surely gets top applicants each year. If you want to rise above the rest, the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays are your chance.  Carnegie Mellon’s prompts touch on different aspects of your background, interests, and goals. They are a great way to show off more of your personality and enthusiasm for the school. Planning strong examples to weave throughout your essays is key to success.

We will walk you through each prompt and offer tips on how to craft stellar responses for each of the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays!

Also see:  How to write an essay about yourself

“ 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)

Say you are interested in Computer Science. Well, you would not be alone, given it is Carnegie Mellon’s top major. Fortunately, this question invites you to back up your chosen area of study with a reason that is distinctly yours. For example, you could discuss your obsession with Guitar Hero as a kid and thus how video games are made. This inspiration for why you want to study programming makes this response personal and unique. 

Note that this prompt says a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time. Talk about the origin of your interest, then trace the ways you have further cultivated it. What started as a Guitar Hero fascination then led you to take a summer coding bootcamp. Now, you spend hours viewing YouTube videos on game development. Whatever your major is, try to get to the core of what intellectually excites you about it and what sparked that curiosity. This will ensure your sincerity and voice shines through. You can close with your long-term aspiration in this field or conclude more specifically with how you plan to pursue this interest at CM. 

Questions to consider: 

• Is there a role model you look up to whose career you’d like to emulate? 
• Have you taken a class that piqued your interest in this major?  
• Are you drawn to a particular field of study because of the positive impact it can make in the world? 

“ 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)

This question can be tricky for some students because there are many directions to take your response. There is no one right answer for what you’d like to achieve in college and what constitutes a successful experience. After all, learning takes place both in and out of the classroom. Instead of being scared of this freedom, embrace it. Before writing, take a moment to really envision yourself in four years. How do you hope to grow personally and academically at Carnegie Mellon? If one goal does not dominate, make a list of all the things you want to achieve and find a way to summarize them into an overarching theme. 

One example could be how the prospect of meeting new people energizes you. You might discuss how you grew up in a small, southern town as an only child. Moving to Pittsburgh to live with peers of diverse backgrounds will be a big shift. Studying abroad could be another related wish for your time at CM. Talk about how these experiences will fulfill your ultimate goal of expanding your worldview. This avenue is a great way to discuss CM’s values and how you hope to align them with your own, as well.

Some students approach this question by discussing college as the key to unlock their dream profession. If you take this route, be sure you are not repeating information you discussed in prompt #1. You could go at it from a more abstract lens, like discovering how to engage both your creative and analytical sides. You could talk about an interesting major/minor combination, clubs you’d like to be involved in, or a research project you wish to explore. 

Questions to consider:  

• What would you change about your high school mindset? For example, do you want to do a better job taking risks, or make community service a weekly priority?
• In what ways will college enrich your character? 
• What academic benchmarks do you hope to meet? 

“ 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)

Similar to prompt #2, this response is incredibly open. You can choose to write literally anything about yourself here. Of all the prompts, this is perhaps the best way to differentiate your essays.  It is helpful to look over your application as a whole. What have you already shared with admissions, and what have you left out?

Is there something meaningful to you that you could only briefly mention in your activities section? For instance, you may have been in the improvisation club in high school. You could describe how you used to be incredibly shy, but this form of theater lets you discover a whole new witty side to yourself. It may have taught you humility and the value in stepping outside of your comfort zone. These are terrific qualities to take with you to CM. 

In a whole different vein, you could use this space to be vulnerable. Maybe remote learning was especially hard on you and resulted in a semester of lower grades. You could explain the obstacles you overcame and how it made you realize the importance of prioritizing mental health. This showcases your resiliency and informs admissions about an inconsistency on your transcript. 

The admissions team wants to know what makes you, you. They also are curious about your road to get to this point. So, anything is fair game. Trust your gut, and choose something that you feel is genuinely important to paint a whole picture of yourself and your experiences. 

• What have you been involved in that has shaped who you are today?
• Are there any red flags on your application that require explaining? 
• Do you have any unique hobbies or stand-out personality traits?

Final thoughts

After these deep dives, we hope you feel inspired to tackle each of the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays with ease. Use our tips to organize your responses, then get all your thoughts down. You can cut out the fluff and revise for grammar and writing quality later. Be genuine in sharing what matters to you, not what you think admissions want to hear. You are well on your way to crushing these essays!

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Additional resources

As you continue in your college application process, make sure to check back with us for other useful resources! We can help you decide how many schools to apply to , how to write a 500 word essay , and how to get a college application fee waiver . We’ll also help you decide whether you should send your ACT/SAT scores to test-optional schools. Good luck!

Other colleges to consider

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Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts & Advice

August 7, 2024

When applying to a school like Carnegie Mellon that only accepts 11% of applicants, it’s important to keep in mind that the other 89% of applicants will ultimately be denied admission. Many of these rejected individuals will have straight A’s in high school and/or SATs in the 1500s. Those applying to certain programs—computer science, for example—will face even more harrowing odds. We don’t bring up this harsh reality in an attempt to crush your dreams or deter you from applying. Rather, we want to impart to prospective CMU applicants the need to maximize every component of your application. The aim is to ultimately shine just a touch brighter than your well-qualified competition. This includes the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Carnegie Mellon University? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Carnegie Mellon: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

The three 300-word essays required by Carnegie Mellon give applicants the chance they need to separate themselves from the throngs of other extremely talented and deserving CMU hopefuls. Below are CMU’s supplemental prompts for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with tips about how to address each one.

Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essays – #1

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).

Here, CMU is asking you to share your story of how you became interested in your selected discipline. You can structure the narrative of this essay as a soup-to-nuts chronicle of your entire journey toward your discipline of interest. Contrarily, you could share one or two vignettes that illustrate your burgeoning passion for engineering, history, French, computer science, business, psychology, etc. As you begin the prewriting phase, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is your first strong memory relating to your future area of study?
• What fills you with wonder?
• What books have you read on the subject?
• Do you consume podcasts or documentaries related to your passions?
• Have certain online or print publications helped to fuel your interests?
• What subtopics of your prospective discipline most intrigue you?
• Did a teacher excite you about this topic or was it a parent/relative or outside mentor?
• How did you seek our subject-relevant opportunities outside of the high school classroom?

CMU Supplemental Essays – #2

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).

There’s a lot to unpack in this prompt before you even enter the brainstorming phase of the essay-writing process. First, they want to know a bit about your goals, which could be:

• Degree-oriented
• Career-focused
• A combination of two or all three of the previous options.

Given that CMU requires you to apply to a particular college within the larger university, you likely already have a reasonably strong notion of what discipline you hope to study. You’ll definitely want to share everything you already know about the degree you aim to earn. Additionally, you’ll want to discuss how that fits into your larger life plans.

Next, you’ll want to take note of the fact that “learning” is mentioned twice in this prompt, a solid indicator that CMU is sincerely interested in how you will take advantage of the unique learning opportunities available to you at their instruction. While not required, you should consider discussing items such as:

• CMU-specific academic programs , professors, or course offerings.
• Undergraduate research opportunities .
• Study abroad programs .
• The classroom environment at Carnegie Mellon— class size , laboratory settings, etc.
• Campus organizations that will help you continue your learning outside of the classroom.

In short, generic thoughts about how you envision engaging in the learning process throughout your collegiate experience are perfectly fine, but school-specific detail can take an essay from good to great.

CMU Supplemental Essays – #3

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).

After completing your main Common App essay and the first two CMU essays, is there anything that you have yet to share that is absolutely elemental to who you are as a person/student? Without the benefit of an in-person interview, it may feel like you never fully had a chance to connect intimately with a Carnegie Mellon admissions officer. You have a burning sense that you have not communicated the full you, your true essence, your je ne sais quoi, your…you get the idea. If you feel something important about yourself has yet to be communicated elsewhere in the application, then CMU Prompt #3 is the answer to your prayers.

Consider that the admissions reader is already familiar with your academic history, activities, and awards. What don’t they know, or, what could they understand on a deeper level? This could be a particular skill or talent, or something about your character or personality. This one is intentionally open-ended, so use this space to share your most cherished accomplishments or most winning attributes. The university itself is inviting you to “brag” here. We recommend obliging, by presenting the equivalent of a “closing argument” at the end of this admissions trial.

One example of what not to do would be to say, “I work as a camp counselor in the summer” if that was already listed in the Activities section. Another no-no is deciding that the admonition regarding linking to websites doesn’t apply to you, because, well…they simply have to see your art exhibit or performance on stage in Oklahoma! last year. We promise that it is better to take CMU at their word that they prefer that you describe it. This remains true no matter what “it” is.

How important are the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays?

CMU rates the essays as being an “important” factor in their evaluation process. The essays are listed alongside recommendations, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, and first-generation status. The only factors ranked above the essays as being “very important” are: GPA, the rigor of high school coursework, class rank, extracurricular activities, work experience, and volunteer work.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing-related resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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How to Write Carnegie Mellon University’s Essays 2018-2019

See our updated 2019-2020 guide here . 

With its application pool rising to record highs and an acceptance rate that keeps dropping (2017 saw a 10.8% acceptance rate spanning its seven colleges), Carnegie Mellon University is amongst the most selective institutions of higher education in this country. As the university becomes more selective, its supplemental essays provide an increasingly vital opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from the pack.

For the 2018-2019 admissions year, CMU has announced that it will be using three entirely new prompts. This is your chance to show them something they’ve never seen before! Below, we’ll go into detailed explanation of what the prompts are asking—with tips, hints, and examples provided to ensure that you stand out.

Want to learn what Carnegie Mellon University will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering Carnegie Mellon University needs to know.

Carnegie Mellon University Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt #1: “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).

What CMU has done here is take a standard question— why this major —and ask it in a manner that will make you answer it a certain way. While the typical ‘why this major’ prompt gives students the freedom to focus on the past or future (i.e. how you developed an interest or what you plan to do with the major), this version of the question is asking you to focus on the former.

A successful execution of this prompt will:

1) elaborate on the path that led you to choose your major and

2) show the adcom why you deserve to pursue this major at their school.

The latter doesn’t necessarily need to be explicit. If you can do part one while showing drive, curiosity and all those good things that adcoms love to see, consider part two completed as well. Let’s dive in.

There are essentially two methods for completing this prompt. The first is a narrative arc or anecdote. If there’s a moment where you said to yourself “this is going to be my major,” that could be a great story to tell! Perhaps you were in a robotics competition and after weeks of toiling, your robot finally moves. And that’s when you knew, you knew beyond a shadow of doubt, this was the path you needed to pursue.

Here’s what telling that story does. First, it shows tenacity—even after weeks of failure, you didn’t give up. Second, it shows innovation. And third, CMU just happens to be known for offering a robotics major, so even without being explicit, you just told the adcom exactly why you belong at CMU!

Stories are a great method for drawing in your reader and creating pathos. The trick, however, is to not get so caught up in the narration that you fill your 300 words without actually saying anything. If you’re going the anecdote route, ask yourself the following questions:

Did I answer the prompt?

Does the story I just told show why I’m passionate about the major I’ve chosen?

Have I showed that CMU is the right place for me?

Don’t say you want to pursue a major in underwater basket-weaving if CMU doesn’t offer that (just an example, but you get the idea).

Do mention, either briefly or implicitly, how CMU would allow you to continue pursuing and developing your passion.

If you can honestly answer yes to those questions, then you’re all set! Let’s move on to the second method of answering this prompt. I call it the brag sheet method.

You may not be able to fully answer the prompt with just one moment or story. That’s okay! Not everyone has that kind of story to tell. An alternative is to briefly list key moments, progressions, or accomplishments leading up to your decision. Here’s an example:

“From writing short stories as a seven year old to winning my first prose contest in high school, creative writing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.”

Unlike the narrative arc method, this example is neither a story nor a specific event. Instead, it shows how creative writing has been pivotal to my life for years. Though arguably less compelling than a story, this method has the bonus of demonstrating growth, long-term commitment, and development. Being that CMU is one of the only universities to offer a BA in creative writing, it also shows why I’m applying.

This same method will work if you choose to talk about who or what inspired you. However , this comes with a warning. If you choose to talk about a person or work that inspired you, ensure that you don’t only write about said person or work. If the adcom learns more about the Pulitzer prize winner whose work inspired you than they do about you and your work, reassess!

Prompt #2 “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)

This prompt is a gift. Within the confines of the word limit, the options are endless. This is your chance to show the adcom exactly what makes you so special. But don’t get bogged down by the possibilities! So how do you know what’s worth writing about?

Is there something you mentioned on your Common App that you feel the need to elaborate?  This should not be even remotely similar to the subject of your personal statement. Think of your essays as a portfolio; they should be complimentary without being redundant.   For example,  if your passions are science and wildlife, and your personal statement is about wildlife, make this prompt about science.

Is there something you haven’t been able to mention anywhere that you’re dying to mention?  Let your personality shine through. Whether your passion of choice is volunteering with animals, taking apart computers, or almost anything else, it can have a place in this prompt. However, it shouldn’t be so random that it doesn’t say anything about you as an applicant.

Here’s a good idea: “ I collect postcards from all over the world because I love learning about new cultures.”

See how this paints a picture of a student eager to learn and expand their horizons?

Now here’s a bad idea: “I like watching Netflix in my free time.”

Does that tell the adcom something that helps them envision a contributing member of the CMU community?

Neither of the above? Just write about something you love. If you have a topic that you could talk about for hours, then here’s your place. 

Note: this has to be entirely different than your answer for the previous prompt.

The scoop : use this as an opportunity to show your personality and your passion.

The caveat: don’t get overwhelmed by the possibilities. Narrow in on something pivotal to what makes you you, and make sure it still shows CMU why you’re a fit.

The ideal : if you have a story, accomplishment, or passion that shows you possess drive, an entrepreneurial spirit, or a similar embodiment of the CMU spirit, here’s the place to prove it.

What not to do: Don’t be redundant. If you’ve already said it in another CMU essay or in your personal statement, don’t say it again.

Prompt #3: “When we’re connected to others, we become better people,” said Carnegie Mellon University’s Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture. At Carnegie Mellon you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse community of scholars, artists and innovators. Given the students, faculty, staff and resources that have been available to you as a student, how have you collaborated with others, in or out of the classroom? Or, what lessons have you learned from working with others in the past, that might shape your experiences in the future? (300 words)

This prompt is clearly one CMU values highly. They give you an additional 50 words, provide an introduction for the prompt, and attach more than one question. Spoiler: they care a lot about your answer.

Let’s break down what this prompt is really asking because there are a lot of extra words.

• How have you demonstrated teamwork, be it in or out of the classroom?
• What did you gain from that experience?
• How will this experience impact your teamwork in the future?

The overarching goal for this essay is to prove to CMU that you deserve their “diverse community of scholars, artists, and innovators.” They’re proud of their network. Why do you deserve to be a part of it? If offered access, what do you have to offer to their collaborative environment? These are all implicit questions, meaning they may not outright ask them, but they secretly want them answered.

The only efficient way to ensure you account for all aspects of the prompt is to focus on one instance or example. Whether this is a long-term commitment (the teamwork you’ve encountered while playing football for the last four years) or one specific event (the time your group was falling behind on a school project, so you helped delegate roles to pull everyone together), the idea is the same. But don’t just start listing stuff.

Here’s the format your essay should follow (and for clarity’s sake, I’ll continue with the previous example):

The challenge : Regardless of whether you’re choosing the long-term or specific instance, your essay will be much stronger if you describe a challenge that had to be overcome. For example, you’ve been assigned to a group for a school project. The deadline is in a week, your group has communicated very little, and everyone seems to be inefficiently doing their own thing.

The solution: Solve your challenge using teamwork. Bonus: try to show leadership qualities!  You realize your group needs to work together, so you get everyone together and delegate roles to get things done. With everyone working on a role that caters to their unique talents, the project comes together.

The takeaway: What did you learn from the experience?  I learned that communication and teamwork allowed our finished product to be so much stronger than it otherwise would have been.

The future: How will you apply the takeaway to the future? Don’t be afraid to make it CMU specific! In fact, this is a great opportunity to throw in a few sentences of ‘why CMU.’

Example:  “CMU is constantly collaborating with leading companies, amongst them Sony and CH Robinson, to create results that would otherwise not be possible. In this environment, I would use my own talent for robotics and seek complimentary talents to push the limits of what I can achieve.”

The more specific you can be here, the better. Specific to you and specific to CMU.

Be aware that the above scenario is a very generic scenario. You will create a much stronger essay by using this space to share an example specific to you. Whether this is the time you entered a design competition with a group of friends or painted a city mural with your art club, just make sure it’s pretty specific to you! If it’s a situation that can apply to every high schooler in the world, definitely reassess.

So, there you have it! At the end of the day, you want your essays to answer the prompts in a way that screams ‘you.’ The more personality and you-ness in the essays, the better.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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August 1, 2024

Carnegie Mellon University Supplemental Essay Prompts: 2024-2025

Carnegie Mellon University has released its 2024-2025 admissions essay prompts for applicants to the Class of 2029 . CMU requires applicants to write three essays (in addition to The Common Application ’s Personal Statement). Each essay has a 300-word maximum. So, what are this year’s CMU essays? Let’s find out!

2024-2025 Carnegie Mellon Essay Topics and Questions

1. 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?

This essay prompt is a straight-up-the-middle Why Major question. CMU’s admissions committee wants to understand the origin of an applicant’s interest in their chosen area of study. It’s critical that students write their origin story in high school rather than as children. Admissions officers, after all, want to learn about how you think now — not as a middle-schooler or toddler.

Also, it would be ideal if the applicant’s activities reflect their interest in their chosen area of study so they present with a singular hook rather than well-roundedness.

2. 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?

CMU’s admissions committee wants to see that an applicant is eager for a challenge. They want to see that while a student has firm conviction, they also are malleable to change. After all, the beauty of a liberal arts education is exposure to a variety of disciplines and ways of thinking. As such, an anecdote that showcases how a student has learned something that has changed their lives — ideally but not necessarily connected to their hook as presented in their activity section — can be a great approach to this prompt.

3. 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).

Much like The Common Application’s Personal Statement, this essay prompt is a free-write. Students can write whatever it is they’d like. Applicants should just be sure not to be redundant — they shouldn’t repeat things they’ve written in previous essays. And they should be sure to highlight their intellectual curiosity. Too often, students write silly answers to vague essay prompts. That’s never the right approach.

This essay prompt is an opportunity to make it clear to admissions officers how a student thinks and how they hope to contribute to the world in their own small but meaningful way.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Carnegie Mellon Essays

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to CMU by submitting compelling essays that shine a strobe light on your hook, fill out Ivy Coach ’s free consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to outline our college admissions counseling services for seniors.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, carnegie mellon essay examples.

I'm feeling a bit stressed about writing my essays for Carnegie Mellon. Are there any resources where I can read successful CMU essays to get inspired and see what worked for other applicants? I just want some guidance on how to start my own essays and what admissions officers might be looking for.

I understand the need for inspiration and guidance while writing college essays. One helpful approach is to research and connect with successful CMU applicants, who can share their experiences and essays with you directly. You could try reaching out to people who attended or currently attend CMU via LinkedIn or social media, as they may be willing to share their essays with you and provide advice on the application process.

Another resource is CollegeVine, which offers a platform for sharing college essays and reviewing them. They have a section containing essays submitted by successful applicants, including those who were accepted by CMU. By creating an account, you'll have access to their essay storage and can read through examples that may inspire you. You can read a blog post about CMU essays here: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-carnegie-mellon-essays/

When working on your CMU essays, keep in mind the importance of showcasing your passion, demonstrated interests, and creative thinking. Admissions officers appreciate essays that provide insight into your personality, character, and personal growth.

As a tip, try to brainstorm and reflect on your personal experiences, focusing on unique aspects and demonstrating how you stand out from the crowd. Avoid cliché topics and focus on what makes you different. Authenticity really shines through in essays, which can leave a lasting impression on admissions officers.

Remember to revise and edit your essays thoroughly, and don't hesitate to seek feedback from teachers, counselors, or peers. Good luck with your essay writing!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Master's Programs Admissions

The admissions processes for our master's options vary. Students applying to the Master’s program in Computer Science must apply online.

MSCS Admissions

The Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) program uses the School of Computer Science online application for admissions. Students are admitted for the fall semester and cannot begin in the spring.

• The application opens September 4, 2024.
• Early Deadline: November 20, 2024 (3:00 PM EST)
• Final Deadline: December 11, 2024 (3:00 PM EST)
• If you submit your application by the early deadline, your recommenders continue to have access to submit recommendations until the December 11th deadline.

MSCS Application Process

 You must submit the following with your application.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE):  

GRE scores are required. 

GRE scores are waived for applicants who have graduated from, or are enrolled at, Carnegie Mellon University. 

The GRE at Home Test is not accepted unless the score date is between January 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021; or between August 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. If you are submitting at-home GRE scores, describe the circumstances which made that necessary in your Statement of Purpose.

TOEFL or IELTS Test:  

If you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and English is not a native language for you (native language is defined as spoken at home from birth), we are required to formally evaluate your English proficiency via one of these standardized tests: 

• TOEFL (preferred)

We do not accept the "TOEFL ITP Plus for China,” since speaking is not scored. Applicants currently in mainland China are encouraged to take the IELTS test. 

The Computer Science Department follows the Language Proficiency Policy set by the School of Computer Science and does not issue waivers for non-native English speakers.

Please refer to details on the  SCS Frequently Asked Questions  page and in the  Graduate Application Instructions .

Transcripts : A PDF of your most recent transcript from each college and/or university you attended, even if no degree was granted.

Resume/CV : Please submit in PDF format.

Statement of Purpose : Provide a concise one- or two-page essay describing your primary research interests, related experiences and objective in pursuing a Masters in computer science.

Three letters of recommendation: At least two letters should be from faculty or recent employers.

• Early application deadline fee $80 per program.
• Application fee after November 29 , $100 per program.

We expect all applicants to submit payment with their online application. However, we do waive the required fee under certain circumstances. Fees for application to a limited number of our programs can be waived for participants in certain programs. In addition, if you are unable to pay the application fee, SCS will consider a fee waiver request.

Visit the  SCS Fee Waivers  page.

To apply to the Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) program please use the School of Computer Science Online Application . Students are admitted for the fall semester and cannot begin in the spring. 

For more on the application process, please refer to the  SCS Online Graduate Application Instructions .

For general questions about applying to master's degree programs in the School of Computer Science contact:  https://www.cs.cmu.edu/about-scs/contact

Scholarships and financial assistance to the Master of Science Program are not offered by the program at this time.

General financial information is available via the following resources:

Graduate Tuition and Fees: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/graduate/scs.html

Carnegie Mellon Graduate Student Financial Aid: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/financial-aid/graduate/index.html

Fifth Year M.S. Admissions

The program has the following admissions deadlines for students starting the MS in Spring or Summer 2024, or Fall 2024:

• Application deadline for the Spring entry is  Friday, October 18, 2024
• Decisions will be announced  Friday, November 8, 2024
• Application deadline for Summer or Fall entry  is  Wednesday, January 22, 2025
• Decisions will be announced  Friday, February 14, 2025

5th Year M.S. Application Process

he Fifth Year Master’s Program is open only to undergraduate students in the School of Computer science completing a B.S. or major in Computer Science. Students must provide:

• A 1-2 page curriculum vitae.
• A letter of recommendation from your academic sponsor.
• Students from the Qatar campus who have not yet identified an advisor can instead have a letter of recommendation from any faculty member familiar with their research. 
• A second letter of recommendation. This letter can come from another faculty member or possibly and outside source (eg., supervisor from a summer internship).
• A short description of your career goals.
• An overview of your research experience and how it prepared you for this program.
• A description of the research you plan to undertake if accepted into the Fifth Year Master’s Program
• Students who are working towards a BS in AI from CMU should also include a short paragraph describing how they will satisfy the additional breadth requirements
• A Carnegie Mellon transcript. An unofficial copy of your transcript is acceptable.
• Completed  application  and  advisor  form.

There is no application fee to apply for the Fifth Year Master's Program

Complete the  application  and  advisor  form and provide the items indicated above.

Once completed deliver all required components — including forms, letters of recommendation, CV, etc. — to:

Tracy Farbacher, 7117 Gates Center for Computer Science

Or email competed PDF documents to Tracy at:  [email protected] .

You can also mail them to:

School of Computer Science Carnegie Mellon University c/o Tracy Farbacher / 5th Year 7117 Gates Center for Computer Science 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213

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Machine Learning - CMU

Master's in machine learning.

The master's application is intended for applicants who are not currently at Carnegie Mellon University.

The curriculum for the Master's in Machine Learning requires 6 core courses, 3 electives, and a practicum.

Refer to the Machine Learning Master's Curriculum for full information.

Typical Schedule

A typical schedule for a student in the program might be:

• Fall semester, year 1: 10-701 or 10-715 Intro to Machine Learning + 36-700 or 36-705 Statistics + 1 elective course.
• Spring semester, year 1: 2 core courses + 1 elective course.
• Summer semester, year 1: Practicum (internship or research related to Machine Learning).
• Fall semester, year 2: 10-718 Machine Learning in Practice + 1 core course + 1 elective course.

As the schedule shows, the MS in Machine Learning can be completed in three semesters by a motivated and well-prepared student. However, some students finish in four semesters, spending the additional time on either research or filling in gaps in their undergraduate training.

The MS in Machine Learning program does not provide any financial support for this program and the student must pay tuition, student fees, and living expenses on their own.

Please see the  financial information webpage  for costs.

The Machine Learning Department uses the  School of Computer Science (SCS) Graduate Online Application . You may apply for multiple programs at Carnegie Mellon and the Machine Learning Department's MS Admissions Committee will consider your application independently.

Applications are accepted only once a year. All students begin the program in August, having applied the previous December.

For application information, including application deadlines, please refer to the  SCS Master's Admissions  page and  SCS Master's Admissions FAQ .

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the prerequisites do i need an undergraduate degree in computer science what test scores do i need.

We welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science is not required.

Incoming students must have a strong background in computer science, including a solid understanding of complexity theory and good programming skills, as well as a good background in mathematics. Specifically, the first-year courses assume at least one year of college-level probability and statistics, as well as matrix algebra and multivariate calculus.

For our introductory ML course, there's a self-assessment test [PDF]  which will give you some idea about the background we expect students to have (for the MS you're looking at the "modest requirements"). Generally, you need to have some reasonable programming skills, with experience in Matlab/R/scipy-numpy especially helpful, and Java and Python being more useful than C, and a solid math background, especially in probability/statistics, linear algebra, and matrix and tensor calculus.

The average scores of accepted applicants for Fall 2023 were as follows:

Undergraduate Overall GPA: 3.9 / 4.0 or 9.7 / 10.0.

GRE Quantitative:  169 (94th percentile) GRE Verbal: 162 (86th percentile) GRE Analytical Writing: 4.3 (65th percentile)

There was significant variation in all of these scores, and they are only a small portion of applicants' qualifications. We do take people with a range of backgrounds for the MS.

For information about our selectivity rate and other statistics, please refer to the comparison PDF of all master's programs offered by the School of Computer Science .

Are GRE scores required in 2024?

Yes, the GRE General Test will once again be required for applications to the Master's in Machine Learning programs.

We do not require or expect applicants to take a GRE Subject Test.

Is it possible to complete the degree online?

No; at this time, we are not offering online or distance-learning classes. You must be physically present in Pittsburgh and able to attend classes on-campus to complete the program.

Is it possible to complete the degree part-time?

Yes, you can study part-time as long as you are able to attend the classes.

International students should be aware that student visas require that students complete the program full-time and finish the program by the end of their 3rd semester (in December).

Is it possible to apply or begin the program in Spring?

Can i transfer in from another university or from another program at cmu.

No; you may not simply transfer into our program. You must submit an application and be accepted into the program, following the same application procedure as other applicants. Furthermore, the Machine Learning program does not accept transfer credit from other universities, although in certain situations a specific course requirement may be waived and an additional elective may be taken in its place.

Current CMU undergraduates may be able to apply for the  5th-Year Master's , which begins immediately after they have completed their bachelor's.

I already have a master's degree. Can I still apply?

How does the master's in machine learning compare with other programs at cmu.

Carnegie Mellon has compiled a comparison of its  Master's Programs in Data Science .

The School of Computer Science has also compiled a  comparison of all master's programs offered by SCS , including a PDF comparing program outcomes, average applicant scores, and selectivity rates.

Is this a STEM program?

Where are your graduates working, when should i apply when will i hear back.

For questions about the Machine Learning Master's Program that have not been answered on our webpages, please contact the Master's Programs Admissions Coordinator, Laura Winter. You can email her at any time at [email protected]  .

Information Networking Institute

College of engineering.

Curriculum and Courses

Through flexible, interdisciplinary curricula and study options, ini students can customize their program experience to fit their career aspirations..

All INI degree programs allow you to: 

• Gain foundational knowledge through c ore courses in Systems, Networking, and Business and Policy, along with degree-specific core courses. 
• Expand and personalize your education with electives from departments and colleges across the university, such as INI, Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), School of Computer Science (SCS), Engineering & Public Policy (EPP), Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) or Integrated Innovation Institute (III), and/or approved courses in the Heinz College or Tepper School.
• Select a study option that best suits your needs and goals:   Join us for our 3-semester standard study option OR select the advanced study option for 4-semesters. Advanced students will focus in depth on either a research thesis, development-based project or area of concentration.
• Course Lists
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Course Search and Descriptions

Specialized pathways.

• Cyber Ops Certificate
• Cyber Forensics and Incident Response Track

Degree Programs

Explore the curriculum* for each of the ini's degree programs, m.s. in information networking (msin).

• AY 2024-25 Starts: MS36 Curriculum
• AY 2023-24 Starts: MS35 Curriculum
• AY 2022-23 Starts: MS34 Curriculum
• AY 2021-22 Starts: MS33 Curriculum

M.S. in Information Security (MSIS)

M.s. in artificial intelligence engineering - information security (msaie-is), m.s. in information technology-information security (msit-is), m.s. in mobile & iot engineering (msmite), study options, choose from one of two study options within your ini degree , 3 semesters, 4 semesters, breakdown of degree requirements by study option:.

*Advanced Studies Options:  Students will focus in depth on either a research thesis, development-based project or area of concentration (depending on their degree).

Internship as elective:  An internship as an elective is allowed in the Standard or Advanced study options for domestic and CPT-eligible international students. Please pay attention to this detail if you are interested in an internship to select the right start term and/or study option. If you choose to complete an internship as an elective, you will be required to register for a three-unit internship course as an elective and pay additional tuition.

• Students who start in Fall:   International students in a Standard or Advanced study option may be eligible for CPT in their first summer and may add an internship towards elective.
• Students who start in Spring:   International students in a Standard study option are not eligible for CPT in their first summer. International students in an Advanced study option may be CPT-eligible in their second summer and can add an internship towards elective.

Students admitted prior to Fall 2023 had the following additional study options :

Depending on your study option, you may have additional requirements. See curriculum pages above for more details.

Table Notes Acronyms:

Degree-Specific Core & Restricted Electives Course  Lists

Please note:   Course numbers and titles may change. If you notice such changes, please notify the INI Academic and Student Services Team ( [email protected] ) prior to enrolling in those courses.

Download the PDF for a list of MSIN degree-specific core courses.

Download the PDF for a list of MSIS degree-specific core courses.

Download the PDF for a list of MSAIE-IS degree-specific core courses.

Download the PDF for a list of the MSIT-IS degree-specific core (MS34) and restricted elective (MS35) courses.

Download the PDF for a list of the MSMITE degree-specific core (MS34) and restricted elective (MS35) courses.

OVERLAPPING AND COURSE SEQUENCING LIST

Download the PDF for a list of courses with overlapping content .

Download the PDF course sequence list.

If you are uncertain whether the courses you plan to take for degree requirements contain overlapping material, it is your responsibility to check with your faculty advisor and get clarification prior to enrolling.

Heinz Courses for Electives

Download the PDF for a list of Heinz College courses vetted and approved by INI faculty as accepted for INI program requirements. 

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How to apply.

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 3

Carnegie Mellon University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 3 short essays of 300 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s):   Why ,  Short Answer

How to Write Compelling Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Supplemental Essays

Admissions wants to know about “your passions, goals, aspirations, and experiences to gain a deeper understanding of who you are…beyond a list of accomplishments.” In these three supplemental essays, they’re asking what drives you, what you’re looking for in a school, and what you feel is missing from the rest of your application. All of these prompts focus on your passions, so try to think of specific moments, ideas, or experiences that have shaped you. As with all admissions essays, you will want to infuse your response with details that will differentiate you from other applicants. Keep reading for more CMU application essay tips!

Carnegie Mellon Essay Prompt Breakdowns

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.

So many factors go into shaping your educational experience: course selection, professors, classmates, campus culture, even the city where you’ll live. Think through how each of these will affect you and jot down some examples of what you’re looking for in each. Do you value a professor who is accessible via office hours? Do you focus well in a stadium-seating lecture hall? Are you excited to start a small study group for your Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances  literature course? Additionally, do some research on their website and show them that you value what they specifically have to offer. Give them a peek into how you learn and help them visualize you as a thriving student in their community.

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?

This prompt sounds simple enough: describe what you want to study and why you like it so much so that you’re willing to dedicate four years of your life to it (at the very least). While you might be tempted to get technical or poetic in your response, your reader will expect you to connect your intended major with some prior experience and/or passion. In other words, tell a story. Lucky for you, we would have advised you to start with an anecdote anyway. The most personal, memorable essays spring from concrete descriptions of your lived experience. What excites you and why? When was the last time you got drawn down a Reddit rabbit hole – and what was the topic? While you don’t need to drill to the origin of your interest in a given topic, try to zero in on some formative experience: the best TED Talk you ever watched, the first time you spoke to your new friend in ASL, that one time when you shadowed an EMT and saw what it’s like to help people in need! Your story should showcase your unique connection to your chosen course of study. And don’t forget: CMU asks what passion OR inspiration led you to choose this area of study. You can also talk about a particularly powerful book you read or a life-changing experience that set you on this path. Just make sure to use details to bring your story to life.

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).

This prompt is a kind of free for all opportunity. Much like Common App’s prompt #7 , CMU is giving you free reign to write about any topic under the sun. If you’re overwhelmed by all the potential possibilities, don’t fret. Instead take a breath and ask yourself: What doesn’t admissions know about me yet? What do I wish I’d had more space to write about on my resume or activity list? If you’ve written a supplemental essay for another school about a particularly rewarding activity, this is an excellent place to tweak and recycle that essay. Almost any essay that you have already written in response to supplemental essay prompts for other schools will be applicable here, as long as it doesn’t address what you want to study or how you work with others. If you haven’t already drafted any others supplemental essays that would fit here, feel free to seek inspiration in the prompts for other schools (ideally the ones on your list). Worst case scenario, revisit your personal statement brainstorming notes and think about the topics that you almost wrote about. Can you write about any of those memories or stories in 200 words?

Common Mistakes to Avoid in CMU Essays

We have been reading Carnegie Mellon University essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are repeating the prompt in your essay (don’t waste your words), trying to sound like an academic (admissions wants to hear your authentic voice!), and using cliches (they’re ineffective and—let’s face it—lazy).

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for Carnegie Mellon Essays

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for the CMU supplements for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to these essays, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. Our Advisors accommodate each student’s scheduling needs to virtually brainstorm, draft, and revise winning essays. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful Carnegie Mellon University supplemental essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances . 

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We're here to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Carnegie Mellon requires applicants to submit three (3) essays.

As with all supplemental essays, the admissions committee at Carnegie Mellon University is hoping to learn more about you. With these questions, specifically, CMU is curious to learn more about your goals, aspirations, and what’s important to you. In order to give your application an edge, you’ll want to be as thoughtful and specific as possible to show admissions that you’ve done your research, developed a plan, and are ready to contribute to their campus community and beyond. 

In order to make your Carnegie Mellon essays stand out, we recommend giving yourself plenty of time to brainstorm , reflect on your aspirations, and piece together cohesive narratives that reveal new information about who you are and what you hope to accomplish without relying on common cliches.

Each CMU essay should be 300 words maximum.

"[My son] was accepted at Carnegie Mellon. Yay and thank you!!! He earned a 4-year ROTC scholarship, too!!"

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Apply now to the MISM program

Review the information below to successfully submit your MISM application

Information Systems Management (MISM) Application Process

The Master of Information Systems Management (MISM) program has multiple, specialized academic pathways emphasizing multidisciplinary thinking, teamwork, and leadership through experiential learning and co-curricular programming. Some pathways have different application requirements, so it is important for you to review the information below regarding the application deadline and requirements before you begin your online application.

If you’re looking for MISM program overview, including information regarding curriculum, experiential learning, scholarships and financial aid, or career outcomes, please visit the MISM main page.

MISM Program Page

Before you begin your online application, please carefully review the information below.

MISM is a STEM-designated degree program. Students enrolled in the program are eligible for 24-month OPT STEM extension. For more information, visit the Office of International Education’s website .

APPLICATION DEADLINES

We have two application deadlines for the August 2025 starting date for our full-time master’s programs. Please select the deadline that meets your needs.

Priority Deadline: December 2, 2024

Submit your application form and required supporting materials by the priority deadline to receive a decision by the end of January. The required supporting materials are two (2) recommendations, official transcript/evaluation report for your bachelor's degree, and official test scores (if applicable). Review the application checklist below for more details. Applicants who are currently pursuing their bachelor’s degree are encouraged to apply by the regular deadline (see below) so your fall (or seventh) semester grades are included on your official transcript/evaluation report.

Regular Deadline: January 10, 2025

The regular deadline is best for applicants who have not yet completed their bachelor’s degree, or for those who do not need an earlier decision from us. Applicants who apply by the regular deadline can expect to receive a decision by the end of March. The required supporting materials required to make your application file “complete” can arrive after you submit your application and after the regular deadline. The required supporting materials are two (2) recommendations, official transcript/evaluation report for your bachelor's degree, and official test scores (if applicable). Review the application checklist below for more details. We will continue to accept applications after the regular deadline as long as space remains in the incoming class. Access to competitive fellowships may be limited after the regular deadline.

How to Submit Your Application

Regardless of your chosen deadline, you will complete these steps to submit your application:

• Answer required questions within the online application form
• Upload required essay and résumé
• Register each recommender's name and email address
• Enter test date and registration number for any required standardized test(s)

Applications are reviewed after all required materials have been received.

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Before you begin the online application process, please carefully review the list of application requirements and admission criteria for the Master of Information Systems Management (MISM) program.

The Admissions Committee takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications, and we will complete the review of your application after we have received all of your application materials.

You must submit a completed application form via our online application system to be considered for admission to Heinz College. Heinz College does not charge an application fee.

Apply Online Now

All applicants who have completed (or will complete) their Bachelor’s degree in the United States must have an official transcript of their undergraduate studies submitted directly to Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College by their undergraduate university. All applicants who have completed (or will complete) their Bachelor’s degree outside the United States must have a course-by-course transcript evaluation report submitted directly to Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College via an approved transcript evaluation service. All applicants must earn a Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution (or its equivalent) prior to the date they would begin their studies at Heinz College. If you have not completed your Bachelor's degree by the time you submit your application for admission to Heinz College, you may be admitted on the condition that you submit your final, official transcript, including your date of graduation, prior to the start of your first semester at Heinz College. 

How to submit your official transcript or course-by-course evaluation report

We are committed to reducing barriers and increasing access for all applicants. We assess applicants holistically and take into consideration many factors, including quantitative background and experience.

Applicants are REQUIRED to submit GRE/GMAT scores or applicants can qualify for a waiver of the GRE/GMAT requirement by submitting one (1) or more of the following:

• Evidence of Prior Quantitative Coursework - At a minimum, applicants can demonstrate their preparedness by having earned an “A” or higher in a college-level, credit-bearing, Calculus class and Statistics class. Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) Calculus and Statistics will satisfy this requirement if the course(s) appears on the undergraduate transcript as college credit.  Only classes listed on the official undergraduate transcript or other official transcript(s) will be considered.
• Undergraduate transcript from Carnegie Mellon University – Applicants who have completed (or will complete) their undergraduate degree at Carnegie Mellon University are eligible for a waiver of the GRE/GMAT requirement.

The admissions committee reserves the right to require GRE/GMAT scores be submitted (prior to completing their review of the application) if the applicant’s coursework does not meet the minimum standard for enrollment. 

Prospective MISM and MISM-BIDA students are NOT ELIGIBLE for waiver of the GRE/ GMAT requirement based on their work experience. 

If you are going to submit scores, click here for detailed information on submitting your standardized test scores.

If your native language (mother tongue) is  not  English, you are required to submit an official score report from the TOEFL , IELTS , or the Duolingo English Test .  The only exceptions are for:

• students who have worked or studied for five or more years in Australia, Botswana, Canada, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, and/or Zambia.
• students who studied for 4 years of their undergrad education in the United States and earned their bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited US school (students are encouraged to provide unofficial copies of the English Language Proficiency exam they used when they applied to their undergraduate institution as part of their application to Heinz College).

Students who are required to submit test scores must have scores reported directly to Heinz College by the testing service . When required, we strongly recommend that you take the exam at least one month prior to the application deadline. 

How to submit English proficiency exam results

You are required to have two (2) recommendation forms submitted on your behalf. Recommendations should be provided by employers, supervisors, professors, or others who are able to comment on your professional and educational goals and potential. At least one (1) of your recommenders should know you in a professional setting (full-time employment, internship, part-time employment, research, non-academic extracurricular activity, etc.). You may opt to have up to three (3) recommendations submitted in support of your application.

Please note: recommendations from friends, family members or acquaintances, and other sources not able to evaluate applicants on an academic or professional basis, will not be accepted.

Letters of recommendation must be written in or translated into English.  Your recommendations must be submitted electronically through the online application system  by your recommenders .  We do not accept recommendations submitted on paper.

How to submit your recommendations

You are required to upload your résumé to the application system. Please submit a one- or two-page summary of your education skills, accomplishments, employment experiences, and volunteer experiences. The résumé  MUST  be current and include all part-time and full-time work experience, the dates of when the employment began and ended, and a brief description of your responsibilities under the title of the position. Click here for an example of a résumé.

Please consider using the "Optional Essay" to address the reason for any "gap" in your résumé, if applicable.

Your résumé should contain only true information and your own,  original  content. If you include a quote or text written by any other person or published in any printed or online format, you must surround the copied text in quotation marks (") and indicate the original source of the text. Information reported on your résumé is subject to verification. The Heinz College Office of Admissions utilizes several methods to identify plagiarized and falsified content in uploaded documents.  Submission of false or plagiarized material as part of the application for admission may result in automatic denial of admission to any degree program.

You are required to upload the required essay to the application system.

Your essay should address the following 3 questions. We recommend that your total essay length should be 700 words minimum (up to 1100 words suggested maximum). Please give each section of your essay the appropriate heading for each question.

• Career Goals:  What are your career goals after completing graduate school? (Recommended response length: 150-300 words)
• Prior Experience:  How have your prior experiences (professional, academic, and/or personal) prepared you for graduate study and informed your career goals? (Recommended response length: 400-500 words)
• Why Heinz College:  How will attending this degree program at Heinz College help you achieve your career goals? (Recommended response length: 150-300 words)

Your essay should contain only true information and your own,  original  content. You should not use artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, to write any portion of your essay. If you include a quote or text written by any other person or published in any printed or online format, you must surround the copied text in quotation marks (") and indicate the original source of the text. Information reported on your résumé is subject to verification. The Heinz College Office of Admissions utilizes several methods to identify plagiarized, AI-generated, and falsified content in uploaded documents.  Submission of false, plagiarized or AI-generated material as part of the application for admission may result in automatic denial of admission to any degree program .

You may choose to submit an essay in which you comment on any item(s) in your application that you consider worthy of further explanation. We are mostly interested in having you address any gaps in your professional experience, or anything you would consider a weakness that could have an impact on your admission status.   Please limit optional essays to no more than 250 words.

The completion of a short video interview is extremely important for applicants to the MISM program, especially individuals unable to visit campus prior to the application deadline or those who are non-native English speakers. More than 95% of admitted MISM applicants completed a video assessment.

You will receive an email invitation to complete the video interview after you submit your online application and after we receive your official undergraduate transcript (or course-by-course evaluation report).

How and when to complete the video interview

Heinz College is committed to ensuring the integrity of our admissions process and the reputation of our educational programs. We also want to protect and enhance the value of the degrees that we confer. As an enrolling student, you will be required to successfully complete a verification process of your admission application materials. The verification process will be completed by an outside, independent contractor hired by Heinz College and Carnegie Mellon University.

The purpose of this background check is to protect all stakeholders of the program (students, faculty, staff, and alumni) from those who would falsify their backgrounds to gain an unfair advantage in the admissions process. We believe that this verification will support our efforts to ensure integrity throughout the program. Upon admission, you will receive more details about this process from the Office of Admissions.

Pathways with Additional Application Requirements

Mism 12-month pathway.

At least three years of work experience is required to be accepted into the MISM 12-Month Pathway.

Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA) Pathway

The MISM-BIDA Pathway requires that you have a background in these three required coursework areas: programming, database, and statistics.

MISM-BIDA requires that you have a background in these three required coursework areas: programming, database, and statistics. See the "Prerequisite Coursework Information" section below for detailed information.

Exchange Students

Click here for more information on the Exchange Program application requirements.

Applying to an Accelerated Master's Program as an Undergraduate Student

Heinz College and Allegheny College offer an Accelerated Master's Program to qualified Allegheny College undergraduate students. The program, structured as three years at Allegheny College followed by three semesters at Heinz College, results in students receiving both a bachelor's and a master's degree in less time than is normally required.

ELIGIBILITY

The program is designed for Allegheny College students who have completed their junior year.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Students can   apply online  for free in the fall of their junior year for admission at the start of their senior year. As an Accelerated Master's applicant, you are required to submit the application materials and meet the admission criteria required of all MISM or MISM-BIDA applicants (depending on which pathway you choose), detailed above in the   "Application Checklist"   section.

TUITION AND FEES

Students will pay tuition and fees to Allegheny College from their freshman through junior years. They will pay tuition and fees to Carnegie Mellon for their graduate program for three semesters beyond the completion of their junior year. Allegheny College students also will be responsible for paying a maintenance fee to Allegheny College while enrolled at Carnegie Mellon in their senior year.

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES

Students will receive both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees upon completion of their graduate program at Carnegie Mellon. Allegheny College will count units taken during the master’s program toward the student’s bachelor’s degree according to its policies and procedures. Carnegie Mellon will forward to Allegheny College transcripts and other necessary information on student academic performance.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Allegheny College students will be eligible for scholarship support from Allegheny College for their freshman through junior years. They will be eligible for scholarship support from the Heinz College for the length of their graduate program, and can apply to any and all Heinz College   scholarship funds   for which they are eligible (based on program and the individual scholarship fund’s specific requirements).

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

Each year, Heinz College will admit a maximum of five qualified Allegheny College students to the MISM program.

PREREQUISITES

For detailed prerequisite information and course descriptions for both the MISM and MISM-BIDA programs, respectively, please see the "Prerequisite Coursework Information" section below.

Heinz College and Bethany College offer an Accelerated Master's Program to qualified Bethany College undergraduate students. The program, structured as three years at Bethany College followed by three   semesters at Heinz College, results in students receiving both a bachelor's and a master's degree in less time than is normally required.

The program is designed for Bethany College students who have completed their junior year.

Students will pay tuition and fees to Bethany College from their freshman through junior years. They will pay tuition and fees to Carnegie Mellon for their graduate program for four semesters beyond the completion of their junior year. Bethany College students also will be responsible for paying a maintenance fee to Bethany College while enrolled at Carnegie Mellon in their senior year.

Students will receive both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees upon completion of their graduate program at Carnegie Mellon. Bethany College will count units taken during the master’s program toward the student’s bachelor’s degree according to its policies and procedures. Carnegie Mellon will forward to Bethany College transcripts and other necessary information on student academic performance.

Bethany College students will be eligible for scholarship support from Bethany College for their freshman through junior years. They will be eligible for scholarship support from the Heinz College for the length of their graduate program, and can apply to any and all Heinz College   scholarship funds   for which they are eligible (based on program and the individual scholarship fund’s specific requirements).

Click here for detailed information on the MISM Accelerated Master's Program for Carnegie Mellon University undergraduate students.

Click here for detailed information on the MISM-BIDA Accelerated Master's Program for Carnegie Mellon University undergraduate students.

Click here for detailed information on the MISM Accelerated Master's Program for Chatham University undergraduate students.

Click here for detailed information on the MISM-BIDA Accelerated Master's Program for Chatham University undergraduate students.

Heinz College and Singapore Management University (SMU) offer an Accelerated Master's Program to qualified “Fast-Track” undergraduate students. The program, structured as three years as SMU students followed by three semesters at Heinz College, results in students receiving both a bachelor's and a master's degree in less time than is normally required.

The program is designed for SMU Fast Track students who have completed their junior year.

Students can apply online for free in the fall of their junior year for admission at the start of their senior year. As a Fast Track applicant, you are required to submit the application materials and meet the admission criteria required of all MISM and MISM-BIDA applicants, detailed above in the "Application Checklist" section.

Students will receive both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees upon completion of their graduate program at Carnegie Mellon. SMU will count units taken during the master’s program toward the student’s bachelor’s degree according to its policies and procedures. Carnegie Mellon will forward to SMU transcripts and other necessary information on student academic performance.

Prerequisite Coursework Information

You may want to consider enrolling in prerequisite coursework prior to applying for admission.

If you have not previously completed a college-level class in object-oriented programming (OOP), we encourage you to enroll in a class before you apply for admission in order to strengthen your profile. Completing the OOP course (with a grade of B or higher) is a great way to show the Admissions Committee that you are proactively preparing for the MISM program and fulfilling the prerequisites for enrollment . Please see below for more details regarding the OOP prerequisite in addition to a list of pre-approved OOP classes.

If you have not previously completed a college-level class in probability/statistics, you may want to enroll in a course before or during the admission process.  Enrolling in a probability/ statistics class before you apply for admission in order to strengthen your profile. Completing the probability/ statistics class course (with a grade of B or higher) is a great way to show the Admissions Committee that you are proactively preparing for graduate school and fulfilling the prerequisites for enrollment .  Please see below for more details regarding the  probability/ statistics prerequisite in addition to a pre-approved probability/ statistics class.

If you are applying specifically to the MISM-BIDA pathway and you have not previously completed college-level database class, we encourage you to enroll in a database class before you apply for admission in order to strengthen your profile. Completing the database course (with a grade of B or higher) is a great way to show the Admissions Committee that you are proactively preparing for graduate school and fulfilling the prerequisites for enrollment . Please see below for more details regarding the database prerequisite in addition to a list of pre-approved database classes.

Heinz College does not prefer any specific institution at which you should complete your prerequisite coursework. Courses offered through Coursera or other MOOC platforms do not meet the prerequisite coursework requirements for admission to Heinz College.

Our faculty and staff are here to help you review courses you are considering. If you have any questions regarding admission and enrollment prerequisites, please contact the Office of Admissions via email at [email protected] , or give us a call at 412-268-2164.

All enrolling students in the MISM program must meet the basic object-oriented programming (OOP) coursework requirement by completing a college-level OOP course with a grade of B or higher . To ensure this requirement is met by each enrolling student, the Admissions Committee will look for proof of each applicant's applied technical background/experience listed on the transcript(s) submitted to the Office of Admissions. Specific examples of applied skills include:

• independently write programs in approved languages (Java, C++)
• compile, de-bug and execute programs

If the committee determines that an applicant's hands-on technical background does not meet the faculty's requirement for the MISM program, the student may be required to complete an object-oriented programming course prior to enrollment in the program. This condition will be included in the offer of admission and will require that you take a pre-approved course at an accredited university and achieve a grade of B or better in the course. Students offered admission with the condition of successfully completing an object-oriented programming course prior to enrollment should contact the Office of Admissions to verify that the course you have selected meets the faculty's standards.

 Please note the following:

• Java is the preferred programming language (other programming language accepted is C++)
• Must be a college-/ university-level course at an accredited institution
• Must be for credit and a grade
• The course may be taken on-campus or online 

Courses that do not grant credit and a grade will not fulfill this requirement, even if you receive a certificate of completion for the course.

 If you are prospective student who wishes to complete the prerequisite programming courses for admission to Heinz College,  please consider the following "Pre-Approved Java Programming Courses" (listed in the section below) as you look for suitable classes .

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO EXTENSION

At UC San Diego Extension, the following two classes have been pre-approved as prerequisite programming courses for admission to Heinz College:

Java Programming I: Fundamental Java Concepts (Course # CSE-40479)

Note that this class lists a prerequisite course, but some students have been successful without the formal prerequisite course if they have previously studied programming on their own.

Java Programming II: Core Java Programming (Course # CSE-40480)

We prefer that you take this class, because it covers “exceptions handling," and it also covers deeper-level topics that will better prepare you for the MISM program. UCSD Extension CSE-40479 (or similar experience) is listed as a prerequisite for this class.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY EXTENSION

At UC Berkeley Extension, the following class has been pre-approved as a prerequisite programming course for admission to Heinz College:

Java: Discovering Its Power (Course # EL ENG X436.2)

Note that prerequisite courses are listed for this class, but some students have been successful without the formal prerequisite courses if they previously studied Java (or C++) on their own. (C++ is similar to Java.)

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ EXTENSION

At UCSC Extension, the following class has been pre-approved as a prerequisite programming course for admission to Heinz College:

Java Programming I (Course # CMPR.X412)

Includes a module on learning to code with Generative AI . Note that no prerequisite is listed. Search the page for the course number (CMPR.X412) and click on the course number to view all upcoming sections.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY

At Boston University, the following class has been pre-approved as a prerequisite programming course for admission to Heinz College:

MET CS 520 Information Structures with Java

Note that this class has a prerequisite, which MUST be waived per the instructor’s consent. In order to waive the prerequisite, please email the instructor who is teaching the course that semester (BU provides you that email address) with any previous technology or programming skills. If the professor grants you a waiver, please forward that waiver to [email protected] . The team at BU will manually register you as a non-degree seeking student.

Please note: Because of the prerequisite requirement, you cannot register for this course online. It must be registered for manually after gaining the prerequisite waiver. 

HARVARD EXTENSION SCHOOL

At Harvard Extension School, the following two classes have been pre-approved as prerequisite programming courses for admission to Heinz College. Note that Java I is a prerequisite to Java II and is intended for students with no previous programming background.

CSCI E-10A Introduction to Computer Science Using Java I

Note that this class is generally offered during the Fall Semester.

CSCI E-10B Introduction to Computer Science Using Java II

Note that this class is generally offered during the Spring Semester. This course lists a prerequisite, but some students have been successful without the formal prerequisite course if they possess the equivalent experience in a high-level programming language such as C, C++, or Java.

 PARKLAND COLLEGE

At Parkland College, the following class has been pre-approved as a prerequisite programming course for admission to Heinz College:

CSC 140 Computer Science I (Java)

 FOOTHILL COLLEGE

At Foothill College, the following class has been pre-approved as a prerequisite programming course for admission to Heinz College:

C S 1A Object-Oriented Programming Methodologies in Java

C S 2A Object-Oriented Programming Methodologies in C++

Excelsior College

At Excelsior College, the following class has been pre-approved as a prerequisite programming course for admission to Heinz College:

IT210 Object Oriented Programming

Note that you may enroll in the 8 or 15 week sections. Both section types offer the same content, with the 8-week long courses covering the material at a faster pace.

Carnegie Mellon University ( Current CMU Students Only )

At Carnegie Mellon University, the following classes have been pre-approved as a prerequisite programming course for admission to Heinz College:

17-214: Principles of Software Construction: Objects, Design, and Concurrency

15-121: Introduction to Data Structures

Note that prerequisite courses may be required and students should consult with their advisor prior to registering for the course.

All enrolling students in the MISM program must meet the basic statistics coursework requirement by completing a college-level statistics course with a grade of B or higher. When choosing an appropriate college-level course to take, you may choose a course designed for students with very little or no background in statistics. Course topics should include probability and probability tables, conditional probability, Bayes' Rule, random variables and expected value, and the basics of normal distribution and hypothesis testing. At the conclusion of the course, students should have the basic tools for analyzing data and outcomes involving probabilistic circumstances.

The course should be taken for credit and students need to earn a grade of B or higher. Completing the course before submitting their application allows students to include the transcript as part of their application packet.

All enrolling students in the MISM-BIDA track must meet the basic database coursework requirement by completing a college-level database course with a grade of B or higher . The course should cover relational database design and an introduction to database programming.

The classes below have been pre-approved by the faculty to satisfy the Database prerequisite for enrollment.

• DBDA.X415: Relational Database Design and SQL Programming, offered online through UCSC Extension Click here for details
• COM SCI X 414.51: Relational Database Management, offered online through UCLA Extension Click here for details
• MET CS 669: Database Design & Implementation for Business, offered online through Boston University Click here for details
• COMPSCI X409.1: Introduction to Databases, offered online through UC Berkeley Extension Click here for details

Frequently Asked Questions

Didn't find what you were looking for on this page? Check out our Admissions Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information on any of the topics or processes outlined above.