AI Scholars (AIS), a CS Pathways initiative, is a four-week immersive experience on the CMU campus for rising high school seniors. This fully funded, merit-based program brings students together from around the country to explore artificial intelligence with Carnegie Mellon faculty, staff, and researchers who are leaders in the field. As a fully funded program, AI Scholars program costs are covered by CS Pathways through generous support from foundations, corporations, sponsors, and donors. Covered costs include tuition, housing, meal plans, and program-related field trips and special events. Travel assistance may be requested by families for whom transportation costs to and from CMU would provide a significant barrier to attendance.
As an AI Scholar, you will engage in college-level courses, as well as weekly college prep and readiness seminars focused on college admissions, financial aid, social emotional wellbeing, and more. You'll develop meaningful connections with peers and mentors while being fully immersed in the college experience. A core value of CS Pathways and the AI Scholars program is building an inclusive, anti-racist environment. You will be expected to uphold this value and to participate in discussions about equity in STEM and beyond.
AI Scholars utilizes a holistic application review and admissions process, looking at the full application and selecting program participants based on a combination of factors. Because the program is a fully funded, merit-based program for participants, demonstration of financial need is one of these factors. There is no option for participants to pay out of pocket tuition fees for this program, and documentation of financial need is required for application submission.
Location(s)
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Schedule
- June 21st - July 25th, 2025
Cost/Compensation
- Free
Eligibility Requirements
- Be at least 16 years old by the program start date.
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Students who are registered with DACA are also eligible.
- Be a junior in high school at time of application submission.
- Demonstrate financial need.
Deadline
- March 1st, 2025
Application or Entry Requirements
- Online application
- Unofficial high school transcript
- Standardized test scores (optional)
- Responses to essay prompts:
- What do you hope to gain from participating in Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs? (300-500 words)
- In addition, applicants are required to respond to two additional essay prompts that will be provided in the online application.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation:
- One counselor recommendation (written by a school counselor or community-based organization advisor)
- One teacher recommendation (written by a teacher in a STEM field).
Notifications of Decisions
- April 4th, 2025
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
Have other questions?
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university was founded in 1900 by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who donated a significant portion of his wealth towards the establishment of the institution, and is known for emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach to education. CMU has consistently been ranked as one of the top research universities in the United States, particularly in the fields of computer science, engineering, and the arts. Carnegie Mellon is also well known for its robotics research, with the university's Robotics Institute being one of the largest and most respected in the world.
