Carnegie Mellon University, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a well-known private research institution. Originally established in 1900 as the Carnegie Technical Schools by Andrew Carnegie, it later became the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1912, offering four-year degree programs.
The university’s popularity has grown significantly in recent years, with over 33,707, high-achieving students applying for admission to the Class of 2027. However, only 11% of applicants were accepted. Most successful candidates possessed exemplary academic records and SAT scores of 1500 or higher. While the university’s selectivity has always been high, it has reached unprecedented levels. In the 1980s, the acceptance rate ranged from 42-46%, with an average SAT score just above 1200. By the year 2000, applications had soared to over 14,000 per cycle, resulting in an acceptance rate of 36%.
Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon’s application process can be somewhat complex, varying in difficulty depending on the specific undergraduate college or program within the university. To provide you with comprehensive information regarding Carnegie Mellon University’s acceptance rate, admission requirements, evaluation process, and more, please continue reading this article.
Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate For Class Of 2027
In 2023, Carnegie Mellon University experienced a remarkable increase in the number of applicants, reaching a historical high of individuals. This surge in applications led to an intensified competition for admission, resulting in an acceptance rate of only 11% which represents the university’s most selective admit rate ever recorded. Also, it is worth noting that a record-breaking 45% of the students who received admission offers decided to enroll at Carnegie Mellon University.
What is Carnegie Mellon’s SAT, ACT, class rank, and GPA Requirement?
The SAT scores for students enrolled in the Class of 2026 had a mid-50% range of 1500-1560, while the ACT scores ranged from 34-35. Among this group, 51% submitted SAT scores and 20% included ACT scores with their applications. It is noteworthy that an impressive 90% of the freshmen in the 2022-23 class were ranked in the top 10% of their high school class, and nearly all, 99.5%, were in the top quartile. The average unweighted GPA was 3.9, with 50% of students earning a perfect 4.0.
How Does Carnegie Mellon Evaluate Applicants?
In the admissions process at Carnegie Mellon, there are six factors that are considered “very important”. These factors include the rigor of your secondary school record, class rank, GPA, involvement in extracurricular activities, experience with volunteer work, and experience with paid work. Essays, recommendations, first-generation status, legacy status, character/personal qualities, race/ethnicity, and talent/ability are deemed “important” by the admissions committee.
Simply filling up all ten spaces on the Common App Activity List will not impress Carnegie Mellon; they are looking for genuine excellence in one or more activities. For instance, they value accomplishments such as placing in a prestigious international science or mathematics competition, co-authoring original research, developing an app, or using skills to assist a charitable institution.
CMU Required Application Materials for Undergraduate Admission
- Common Application
- $75 Application Fee*
- Official High School Transcript**
- Please review our Academic Requirements.
- Standardized Testing Scores (If English is not your native language, this includes the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test).
- Secondary School Counselor Evaluation
- Teacher Recommendation
- Common Application Essay
- Common Application Writing Supplement.
Tips for Applying to Carnegie Mellon
If you are considering applying to Carnegie Mellon alongside the over 32,000 other hopeful applicants for the upcoming admissions cycle, here are some important points to keep in mind.
- Firstly, Carnegie Mellon does not conduct any in-person or alumni interviews for incoming freshmen. Therefore, one of the primary ways for admissions officers to get to know you personally is through the two required recommendations, one from your counselor and another from a teacher. Though optional, you have the opportunity to include a third letter of recommendation.
- Carnegie Mellon does not officially consider “demonstrated interest,” meaning your evaluation will not be influenced by factors like visiting the campus (except during non-pandemic times), reaching out to an admissions officer, or similar actions. However, given the school’s relatively lower yield rate compared to other elite institutions, it can still be beneficial to engage with an admissions officer by asking questions, attending virtual sessions, or interacting with the school on social media.
- Keep in mind that if you wish to apply to multiple colleges, you will need to fill out separate applications and submit additional application fees. However, Carnegie Mellon does allow you to select a second-choice school within a single application. Lastly, make sure to allocate enough time and effort to complete the three 300-word supplemental essays required by Carnegie Mellon.
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