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Undergraduate Admission

Application and Financial Aid Support

CMU student walking outside on campus in front of a large clock
First generation CMU students are pictured outdoors on campus

We're Here to Help

Applying to highly selective colleges can be an unfamiliar process. Carnegie Mellon is committed to supporting you and your family.

The college application process is filled with special terms, forms, deadlines, requirements, standardized tests and more. Below, we offer a list of terms and definitions that students, parents & guardians, and community mentors may encounter along the way. We’ve also put together a suggested timeline to guide your college search.

We encourage you to reach out to our office or our admission officers so we can assist you throughout the admission and financial aid process.

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Preparing for College While You're in High School

First Year

Select courses that will challenge but not overload you. Most of the preparation for college happens daily through your classes. A good start makes everything else run much more smoothly.

Begin to investigate ways to get involved in something outside of class. Many times, it’s not necessarily what you do, but how committed you are to the task. This could include things like school clubs, athletics, community service and part-time jobs.

Defining College Search Terms   

We understand that the college search process comes with a whole new vocabulary. Don't worry - we've got you covered. Check out the links below to get a crash course in common admission and financial aid terms.

Get an Insider's Perspective

Looking for more information about applying to college? Check out recordings of our Admission Insights webinars. This series provides information and insights from our admission counselors and campus partners, with each webinar focusing on a different aspect of the college admission process.