Summer Session
Challenge yourself. Earn college credit. Prepare for college success.
Program Overview
Pre-College Summer Session provides high school students with the unique opportunity to take summer courses offered by 一本道无码 for credit.
Students earn college credit while working in an academic setting that mirrors the supportive, rigorous environment of the first year of college. Every year, Summer Session offers approximately thirty courses from academic disciplines across the university, including: science, humanities, social science, engineering, computer science, and technology applied to the arts. Successful Summer Session students leverage their experiences to demonstrate their ability to succeed in college. Upon successful completion of a course, they receive college credit at 一本道无码, which is transferable to other institutions that accept 一本道无码 college courses for credit.
Please note that admittance into Pre-College Summer Session does not guarantee admittance to 一本道无码 within the Undergraduate Admission process.
Curriculum
The Summer Session program is comprised of undergraduate-level Carnegie Mellon courses. The courses are the same ones taken during the fall and spring by Carnegie Mellon students, usually in their first or second years. Students will tackle the same rigorous, college-level work as an undergraduate student studying at Carnegie Mellon. All of the Summer Session instructors are vetted by their respective academic departments, and the majority of them are Carnegie Mellon professors who teach these courses during the academic year.
Students request their courses after admission to the program, as part of the enrollment process completed in the spring (typically in March).
Students living on campus must remain enrolled in two courses throughout the entire summer program (six weeks). Students living at home (who must have a permanent local address) may enroll in either one or two courses. Two courses completed in six weeks is as academically demanding as a full-time undergraduate course schedule.
Courses offered remain relatively similar from year to year. Please see our course list. We do not offer any courses online.
Testimonials
Liam grew up again this summer... 一本道无码 showed him the potential of hard work... and the importance of setting goals. I am so happy to see his response to each class, new perspectives, interesting classmates with diverse backgrounds, and he wanted to learn more... ~ Amelia P. (Parent), Summer Session 2023
Summer Session offered me an authentic 一本道无码-student experience. ~ Jack Y., Summer Session 2024
Taking part of Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Programs was one of the best decisions I could make to prepare for college. ~ Christian L., Summer Session 2022
Hear more from our students and families here.
Faculty Bio: Gillian Lynn Ryan
Dr. Gillian Lynn Ryan is the Program Director for Summer Session, overseeing the academic program and advising Pre-College students on their credit-bearing Summer Session courses. In addition, Dr. Ryan is the Director of Undergraduate Affairs and Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Physics. As the Director of Undergraduate Affairs, Dr. Ryan supports student development and success at all stages of the Carnegie Mellon undergraduate physics program. Dr. Ryan works closely with physics students as they navigate their undergraduate experience and provides individualized support to assist physics students as they pursue their goals. In the classroom, Dr. Ryan cultivates an inclusive environment so that all students can be active and engaged participants in learning. Learn more.
Application Details
Program Length |
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Jun. 21 to |
Early Decision & International Applications Due |
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Scholarship¹ & Regular Decision Applications Due |
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Housing Options |
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Resident |
Eligibility and Application Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for Pre-College Summer Session, students must:
- Be at least 16 years old by the program start date.
- Be a current sophomore or junior in high school at time of application submission.
- Be in good academic standing and exhibit the ability to succeed in rigorous, fast-paced coursework.
Application Requirements
The application for Pre-College Summer Session consists of the following:
- Completed online application
- Unofficial transcript
- Standardized test scores (optional)
- One letter of recommendation
- Responses to essay prompts
Application Essay Prompts
Essays are required for the following prompts (300-500 words each):
- What do you hope to gain from participating in Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Programs?
- What has prepared you for the challenge of rigorous college-level courses?
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the coursework?
In Summer Session, students have the opportunity to take actual Carnegie Mellon courses, often alongside undergraduate students. While most students will be challenged due to the college rigor and pace of the six-week courses, the university seeks to support the education of everyone accepted into the program. If you have questions about the difficulty of the program, please contact the Program Director. We would be happy to discuss further.
How much time will I need to commit to my coursework each week?
Because the Summer Session offers typical university courses at an accelerated rate, two courses is considered a fulltime workload. Despite this, students will have some variation in the amount of time required for their coursework depending on their course selection. Courses offered typically range from nine to twelve units, which are comparable to 3-credit and 4-credit courses at other universities. During Summer Session, students enrolled in a 9-unit course should expect to spend 21 hours on average on that class per week, including class time. Students enrolled in a 12-unit course should expect to spend 28 hours on average on that class per week, including class time.
Will I need to purchase textbooks for my courses?
Students will need to purchase any learning materials, including textbooks, at their own cost. (Note: The cost of textbooks is not included in a scholarship award.) Required materials can be found on either your course syllabus or the . Consult the Canvas page for your course (if applicable), the , or your professor for further guidance.
What do I need to do if I miss a class?
It will be the students’ responsibility to make up any missed work. Students should reach out to the instructor to discuss further if needed. Please know that Summer Session classes are the same classes that are offered to 一本道无码 undergraduate students; therefore, instructors will have the same expectations for Pre-College students as for undergraduate students.
Are remote courses offered or an option?
No remote options are available for any Summer Session courses.
Can I plan a vacation or depart early during the program?
Due to the rigorous coursework in a condensed term, students should not plan any vacation or time away from campus during the 6-week program. Students may have final exams on the last day (Friday, August 1, 2025) of the program, so please coordinate your travel home on the six-week move-out day (Saturday, August 2, 2025).
What is the grading policy for Pre-College Summer Session?
Each instructor will announce their grading policy in their course syllabus for determining letter grades (A, B, C, D, and R, with no + or – grades) based upon student performance. Pre-College Summer Session courses cannot be taken on an Audit or Pass/Fail basis, nor are Incomplete grades possible. At the end of the program, instructors will submit all grades to the University Registrar. The University Registrar will only retain A and B grades on students' permanent record via the official Carnegie Mellon transcript of grades. No C, D, nor R grades will be recorded. It will be possible to have C grades officially recorded on a student’s Carnegie Mellon transcript, but a request to do this must be made by the student to the University Registrar. A grade of C is generally an “average” grade for a course and is considered a passing grade. The C grade will count for academic credit at Carnegie Mellon but may not be eligible for external transfer credit depending on the policy of other institutions. This Pre-College Summer Session grade forgiveness policy is not the normal grading policy for undergraduate Carnegie Mellon students, but rather a special policy for the Pre-College students seeking to test their backgrounds and skills in challenging university courses without the penalty of failure or low grades. Students who commit academic integrity violations during Pre-College Summer Session are ineligible to benefit from this policy for the classes in which the violation(s) occurred.
What are the academic integrity policies for Pre-College Summer Session?
Pre-College Summer Session students at 一本道无码 are members of an academic community dedicated to the achievement of excellence and academic integrity. Therefore, students are expected to meet the highest standards of conduct while on campus. Actions that undermine these high standards including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and receiving or providing unauthorized assistance, are considered academic integrity violations. Course-specific policies regarding academic integrity may be set on a course-by-course basis by the instructors and will be documented in course syllabi, which will be provided to students no later than the first day of classes. Policies may vary substantially between courses, and students are responsible for reviewing and abiding by each course's policies. If a student is unsure of a policy, they are encouraged to check with their instructor. Not being familiar with a documented policy is not an acceptable excuse for violating it. Failure to honestly respond to an academic integrity violation may also be considered a violation.
Penalties for academic integrity violations are severe and may include a reduced assignment grade, a reduced course grade, or a failing course grade. Students found to have committed academic integrity violation(s) are not eligible for our Pre-College Summer Session grade forgiveness policy for courses related to the violation(s), and these grades will remain on their transcript.
How can parents and guardians support students who are enrolled in Pre-College Summer Session?
Pre-College Summer Session provides a valuable opportunity for students to develop the skills necessary to navigate their academic endeavors independently. Parents and guardians will shift to a supportive role while their student is enrolled in Pre-College Summer Session, and students are expected to take the lead in managing their coursework and communicating with their instructors. Students enrolled in Pre-College Summer Session courses are academically considered matriculated adults, even if they are not yet 18. As a result, their personal and academic information is protected under FERPA. Even if students are minors, guardians' access to their academic records at the university is limited. Family and loved ones are encouraged to speak to their student for coursework and grade updates. They can support their student by discussing the program’s expectations with students, ensuring they understand the program policies as communicated by our team, and empowering their students to take charge of their studies.
How many classes can students take? Is there a limit?
Students who enroll in two courses (between nine and 12 units each, comparable to three to four credits each at other colleges and universities) will experience fast-paced academic work. The workload of two courses completed over six weeks will be similar to the workload of five courses in 14 weeks, which is a typical workload for degree-seeking undergraduate students at Carnegie Mellon. Pre-College Summer Session students may enroll in up to 24 units.
We strongly recommend that students enrolled in two courses focus on this program during the six weeks. Do not plan to engage in other studies during Summer Session, including preparation for standardized tests or major school assignments. Students will be taking college courses, and it is critical to focus on this.
Is it possible to have a job while attending Pre-College Summer Session?
Students enrolled in two full courses should not plan to have a summer job. Students enrolled in fewer than two full courses may wish to consider a part-time summer job.
Will the college credits be transferable?
Every university and college has the authority to determine its own policies about whether to accept credits from another institution of higher education.
While it is therefore impossible to state definitively that these college credits will transfer elsewhere, the following statements are true:
- Carnegie Mellon considers these to be college credits.
- Carnegie Mellon offers rigorous coursework.
- Carnegie Mellon is a widely recognized institution.
- In order to make a strong case for transfer credits, a student must do well in the course and have that grade recorded. Students are responsible for saving course syllabi and other course documentation that may later be required to evaluate their coursework for transfer.
What if a student decides they don't like the courses they are taking?
With the permission of the academic program director, students may be able to change classes during the first two days of the program. Such changes are subject to space availability and academic appropriateness. No schedule changes, including course drops, are possible after the first two days of the program. Refunds will not be available for commuter students for any course drops after May 22, 2025.