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5 Carnegie Mellon Essay Examples

What’s covered:, essay example #1 – computer science, essay example #2 – healthy self-definition, essay example #3 – future business major, essay example #4 – future international relations major.

• Essay Example # 5 – Politics
• Where to Get Your Carnegie Mellon Essay Edited

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a school with both impressive technical programs and outstanding creative programs. Because of the university’s multifaceted academic success and the tremendous opportunities students have after graduation, CMU is highly renowned and boasts a low acceptance rate.

In this post, we will go over essays real students have submitted to Carnegie Mellon. We will also share what each essay did well and where they could be improved to inspire your writing.   Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Carnegie Mellon essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Prompt: Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity, or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieving 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)

7:30 am… As I open my eyes, I look at the pinboard in front of my bed. Written in red block letters are two of the many goals of my life: “Make life better and more independent for the Visually impaired; Inspire kids to explore the field of STEM, making them the future problem solvers.”

9:00 am… Keeping these goals afresh in mind, I freshen up and get ready for the first class of the day, 16-385 Computer Vision, with Professor Ioannis Gkioulekas. As he explains the Applications of Neural Networks in Object identification, a light bulb sparks in my mind: I can modify the head contraption of SPECULUR to identify objects in peripheral vision and alert the wearer via an earpiece using Text to Speech (TTS). 

1:00 pm… After class, I find myself at the CI2CV Lab for Computer Vision, where I brainstorm ways to implement my idea successfully. Frustrated after repeatedly getting bugs in my algorithm, I am surrounded by problem-hungry tartans ready to collaborate with me in no time.

3:00 pm… After lunch, I head off to the Gates and Hillman complex to meet up with Gavin Deiss, an executive board member at Teknowledge, as we discuss ways to open teacher positions for high school students. I propose, “We can include students from AiGoLearning India and teach them a global coding curriculum.”

For me, a successful college learning experience at CMU comprises many things like exploring the unparalleled curriculum, innovative labs, and facilities. However, above all is the resource of people, including my fellow tartans and scholarly professors. The diverse experiences and unique backgrounds they bring cannot be found anywhere else; hence I want to assimilate all the insights I can gather from them, during my time at CMU.

What the Essay Did Well

If you are looking for a way to play with the structure of your essay, this is a great way to go! By describing their ideal day at CMU, we get to see this student’s interests, motivations, aspirations, and drive. Not only that, the essay flows nicely and effortlessly transitions to new ideas by jumping ahead in the schedule.

When students try to employ this schedule-style of an essay they often just discuss their class schedule and maybe an extracurricular activity. This is good, but this student goes above by starting the essay in their dorm and clearly showing us what motivates them with their sticky notes: “ Make life better and more independent for the Visually impaired; Inspire kids to explore the field of STEM, making them the future problem solvers.”  They also include them working at a lab outside of class, which is a nice bridge between their academic and extracurricular interests.

Although they only highlight three opportunities at CMU, the level of detail and elaboration for each one is infinitely more important than a long list of classes and clubs. When they discuss the class, the student incorporates key topics from the class and explains an original idea they develop as a result of being in class. Notice how that’s a bit different than simply name-dropping the course and professor? We also get told about them finding bugs in the algorithm (a common experience that humanizes the student) and we get snippets of a conversation they have at their meeting.

The structure this student chose serves this essay very well until the final paragraph. Breaking from the established pattern of following a daily schedule abruptly disturbs the flow of the essay and makes the ending more mundane than the preceding paragraphs. To fix this, the student should have kept the same style throughout their response.

They don’t need to tell us “ a successful college learning experience at CMU comprises many things like exploring the unparalleled curriculum, innovative labs, and facilities, ” because we saw that in each paragraph. The important aspect of their conclusion is the “ resource of people ,” as they say. This could have been highlighted in a paragraph like this:

“ 8:00pm… Squished between friends from my Biomedical Engineering class and my badminton club on the couch in the common room, I take in the diverse perspectives all coming together to settle the argument of East Coast versus West Coast once and for all. Where else but here would I be a part of such a colorful community?

11:30pm… I drift off to sleep, excited to do it all again tomorrow. “

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). (300 words)

I will never forget the feeling I had in Kindergarten when I received a failing grade because I couldn’t answer the question “where do you live?” It was a simple question, one that my classmates answered with ease. I was, however, struck by the recounting of my private home life. The 2009 recession left my family homeless and broke, living in the basement of a close friend. While we were fortunate to have somewhere to sleep, my family, especially me, internalized the negative sentiments from everyone we knew at the time. While my Kindergarten teacher didn’t mean any harm, the question reinforced my feeling of inferiority. No matter what I said, there were serious diminutions to my character: being honest about my homelessness or being dishonest about my own circumstances. I ultimately responded with the latter, saying “I don’t know.”

That day, I accepted the failing grade, and this moment became a stepping stone to a now valuable trait: healthy self-definition. Healthy self-definition relies on improving the objective truths of myself and fixing lacking characteristics into better ones. Lying to my Kindergarten teacher wasn’t healthy nor ethical to do, but the action of choosing who I wanted to be sparked the desire for healthy self-definition throughout high school. For example, I redefined myself from a dispassionate pianist to an authentic music producer. I used track and field to redefine my lack of athleticism growing up and eventually became a top-three sophomore 400-meter hurdler at my school. I had extreme social anxiety, so I used the Tech in Music Club to redefine my social ability and practice leadership and public speaking skills. In all weak aspects of my character and identity, I improved and continue to improve through these healthy redefinitions. Like Kindergarten me, I refuse to be defined by my circumstances.

This essay’s main strength is its content. At its core, this essay tells a beautiful story where a student transformed tragic circumstances into tremendous self-growth. That is exactly the kind of student that a university wants to admit!

The prompt here is very open-ended. From the point of view of admissions, it asks “what else do you want to tell us?” To a student, this can be read as “what additional information will help us get to know you and want you ?” This student identified their ability to see weaknesses as opportunities for improvement—which they label “healthy self-definition”—as something CMU would want, then used a specific anecdote to show that ability.

In addition to the content, this student followed a tried-and-true essay structure that allowed for an engaging, yet reflective essay. Opening with an anecdote, looking back on the experience, explaining the broader implications, and then tying the conclusion back to the anecdote is a simple, but effective, structure to use for your essay.

What Could Be Improved 

While the anecdote/reflection structure can facilitate an engaging essay, this student falls flat with their static writing. Essentially, the story is engaging, but the way the student writes it doesn’t do it justice. It’s repetitive, confusing, and a bit boring at times.

For example, in the first paragraph, the following phrases and sentences are all getting at the same idea and could be condensed into one concise sentence:

• “I was, however, struck by the recounting of my private home life.”
• “…my family, especially me, internalized the negative sentiments from everyone we knew at the time…”
• “…the question reinforced my feeling of inferiority…”

With regards to the second paragraph, the student introduces a value that they call “ healthy self-definition. ” When describing “ healthy self-definition, ” the student is simultaneously repetitive and unclear. The current writing requires too much energy on the part of the reader to parse through what is being said. If the student provided a concise definition of “healthy self-definition” before giving the examples from their life, this paragraph would work better. 

With some simple reorganization and more dynamic writing, the paragraph could be as follows:

“That’s when I established a personal value that I now call “healthy self-definition”—of course, it took about a decade for five-year-old me to figure out the name for my value. Healthy self-definition, at its core, means that I take time to identify my weaknesses, then redefine them as strengths. I acknowledge who I am, then find opportunities for improvement. 

I’m a dispassionate pianist, turned authentic music producer. I’m a struggling athlete, turned “top-three Cedar High hurdler.” I used to nervously linger at the back of club meetings, but now I run the very same meetings. No one could dare call me weak when I’m constantly redefining my weaknesses as strengths. Just like Kindergarten me, I will not be defined by my circumstances.”

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? (300 words)

In fifth grade, my mother arranged a business for me and some friends. We must support a local business and donate our profits towards a good cause. Three ten-year-old kids, with money borrowed from our parents, purchased handmade crafts and ornaments made by disabled workers to resell. I led the operation. Scheduled for several weekends at a public market square, the commerce commenced. Despite my excitement running my first ever business, as the night arrived and the market awoke from its peaceful slumber, surging stranger anxiety stumped me. With adults swamping the space, my body unconsciously cowered. Embarrassment overwhelmed me, and I stood only able to stare at passing customers with my lips sewn shut. After the first night, three kids on the verge of tears sold two knitted dolls. My mother, sensing a crumbling business as its workers became paralyzed by fear, advised me, “As a leader, your job is to accomplish your goals not by yourself, but with your team.” Though not the typical cheers, my mother’s words roused the leader from within me. Wiping away my tears, I reconvened the team and restrategized. We assigned responsibilities: attracting customers, advertising, and collecting payments. Writing out our sales pitches and practicing with each other, we reunited with the sight of profits. The second weekend started: to every corner of the streets, we asked every possible customer. Our efforts paid off. At the end of that night, we sold out. Next weekend, us businessmen along with our parents went shopping using our profits. Looking at the Barbie dolls, stuffed animals, and model cars neatly wrapped, I proudly dropped the Christmas gifts at the local children’s cancer hospital. My first business endeavor taught me a crucial purpose of entrepreneurship: the ability to strengthen networks of people and make positive social changes.

This essay prompt is the classic “Why This Major?” essay,   which asks you to detail your interest in the field and your professional goals. The writer elaborates on their motivation to pursue entrepreneurship through a fitting anecdote about their first time leading a business.

The author shares genuine reasons that make entrepreneurship exciting to them, such as developing leadership skills and making positive social change. These are authentic reasons for pursuing their major that stay away from the superficial motives for pursuing a major such as money or prestige.

Additionally, throughout this entire essay the writer keeps their audience captivated by employing strong use of imagery. It almost feels as if one is right in the middle of the market with the writer as they struggle to navigate the chaos of the market. The line “Embarrassment overwhelmed me, and I stood only able to stare at passing customers with my lips sewn shut” makes the reader feel just as anxious as the author is in the moment. And it feels even better to the reader when the author sells out the entire stock of crafts and ornaments the following night and donates the money to charity. 

As the essay progresses, it’s hard not to wonder what is going to happen next, and the story strings together very nicely, despite having a limited word count. By the end of the essay, the reader has a better understanding of why this student has chosen to pursue entrepreneurship, because they have shared an exciting lived experience that captures the ups and downs of a fast-paced, turbulent major.

All in all, this essay was well written and the author’s point came across well. However, a few items could be slightly improved, including a few syntax errors, poor transition statements and slight thematic inconsistency. 

The second sentence of this essay “We must support a local business and donate our profits towards a good cause” appears a bit out of place and may be better suited in quotes as the mother appears to be speaking these lines. Alternatively, the writer could have rephrased to something like “We were tasked with supporting a local business…”

Similarly, in the last sentence, the author says their motivation for pursuing entrepreneurship is the “ability to strengthen networks of people,” when it may have been more succinct and less clunky to say something along the lines of “the ability to bring people together.”

Another area of improvement for the essay comes in the middle, when the author’s mother “roused the leader” within them. The author could have expanded on why their mother’s words roused them to overcome the daunting obstacle, but instead missed the opportunity to explain why they felt inspired to continue selling ornaments at the marketplace. The author may have even suggested that by overcoming their challenges at the market, they would accomplish their ultimate goal of donating their profits to charity, highlighting their sense of altruism.

The final sentence even states that the author intends to pursue entrepreneurship to make a positive social impact. However, in a thematic sense, this idea is not consistently present throughout the essay. If the author were to include more details about their desire and motivation to donate their profits to charity throughout the essay, this point would have been much more understandable.

Finally, the essay is hard to follow because it’s only one paragraph. The flow would’ve been improved if the author broke the essay up into a few shorter paragraphs.

At 8 years old, I learned that Democrats were donkeys and Republicans were elephants. By 11, I had decided which one I wanted to be. By 14, I discovered I didn’t have to be an elephant or a donkey—the political world was not black and white, but instead multifaceted with many moving parts. As I explored programming through high school, I learned how politics and computer science could be intertwined to enact change exponentially. For the Congressional App Challenge, I developed the winning app, which allows parents to sustainably trade outgrown children’s clothing. Everything in this process, from surveying real families with this need to perfecting the front end design, showed me how coding could easily be geared toward social progress. 

Beyond programming, interning for a state non-profit encouraging Muslims to participate in politics showed me the real potential of computational politics. Big data analysis was a common skill I utilized when encouraging people to vote in the 2022 general election. What furthered my interest was attending a Kode With Klossy event in New York City: I not only spent the day workshopping with Swift and iOS app development, but also heard the stories of activist Sofia Ongele, a pioneer for young women in STEM. 

Discussing sanctions and China’s Uyghur Muslim crisis with U.S. Representative Jim McGovern was my first look into the workings of international conflict resolution. The power systems behind diplomacy became a point of fascination for me. Whether it was marching miles chanting “No Justice, No Peace” in June 2020 or debating as Elizabeth Warren in my ninth grade mock democratic primary, I have taken every stride to involve myself politically. Majoring in international relations and politics and minoring in science, technology and society at Carnegie Mellon is the next step in furthering my involvement.

This essay is another great example of the “Why This Major?” archetype. The author shares why the intersection of technology and politics is the perfect fit for her, through her unique experiences and background.

The introduction is a captivating one, which follows her evolving understanding of politics. Starting with a simplistic view of “Democrats as donkeys and Republicans as elephants” at a young age, the writer matures and recognizes the complexity of the political landscape as she enters high school. This progression implicitly showcases her thoughtfulness and willingness to challenge existing beliefs which are critical to any career in politics and international relations.

Additionally, the essay adeptly integrates the realms of computer science and politics. The author provides a unique combination of academic interests that most applicants would otherwise shy away from. The writer’s successful development of an app for the Congressional App Challenge exemplifies her ability to utilize coding for social progress. By mentioning the process of surveying real families and refining the front-end design, the writer illustrates her comprehensive approach and shows how coding can be harnessed as a tool for enacting positive social change.

Finally, the author provides more unique experiences that reveal her true passions for politics and technology. She references her experiences during the 2022 election and Kode With Klossy events which each relied on bringing together both her academic interests. In the final paragraph, the author provides even more evidence to her experience in the political realm which drive home the point about her interest in her major as well as show accomplishments in a specific area which are hard to come by for most students.

From initial impressions, this essay is great at providing sufficient evidence as to why this author is pursuing international relations and politics with a minor in technology. However, one suggestion for this author, and general advice for any applicant, is not to fall into the trap of simply recapitulating all of one’s resume in an essay. This author has unfortunately used most of the 300 word count to list out her experiences and qualifications, but misses out on key opportunities to expand upon how these experiences have shaped her perspective and developed her interests over time.

In general, there is a lack of reflection on the lessons learned from the various experiences mentioned. While the writer describes her involvement in protests, debates, and internships, there is limited discussion of the personal growth and insights gained from these activities. The author has experiences including “ winning the Congressional App Challenge, to marching miles chanting ‘No Justice, No Peace’ in June 2020 or debating as Elizabeth Warren in [her] ninth grade mock democratic primary,” which could all be powerful standalone experiences for a 300-word essay. Adding a reflective element to the essay would provide a deeper understanding of the writer’s development and demonstrate their ability to learn from their experiences.

For example, the author could remove a few activities from her essay and  expand upon the experience of winning the Congressional App Challenge, discussing her thought process and emotions during the development of the app, or the impact it had based on feedback from families.  Here’s an example of an excerpt that would’ve made this section stronger:

“I decided to use the app for myself to clear out the bags of my younger brother’s baby clothes in the basement. A young immigrant mother responded to my post, saying that she hadn’t been able to afford properly-fitting baby clothes for her toddler son. A week after she picked up the bags, the mother returned with her giggly son in his ‘new’ clothing. The mother was full of gratitude, and I was just as grateful for this experience as it showed me the direct impact coding could have on improving real lives and making social progress.”

By incorporating specific examples and adding reflective elements, the essay would become more compelling, allowing the reader to better understand the writer’s experiences and their personal growth. These adjustments would enhance the overall quality of the essay and provide a vivid and engaging narrative.

Essay Example #5 – Politics

At Carnegie Mellon, I see myself defining a college experience in which I can widen my career goals in politics and learn from real-world experiences. D.C. is where I hope to work following college, as there is no place better than our capitol to explore the inner workings of decision-making in government. Through CMU’s Washington Semester Program (WSP), I aim to intern with a member of Congress to expand my understanding of the legislative process and gain experience in the nation’s center of politics. This orientation into Washington and chance to meet leaders and alumni at top think tanks would allow me to connect with all the working parts of public policy, encapsulating everything I wish to take from college. 

Immersing myself in the relevant and multifaceted courses at the Institute of Politics and Strategy is how I plan to take my learning to the next step at CMU. Electives like “Implementing Public Policy: From Good Idea to Reality” and “In the News” intrigue me; they tie in law and journalism with politics, contextualizing it in a realistic and applicable sphere. 

I hope to conduct research to delve deeper into what I’m passionate about and ripen my goal of effecting change. Under esteemed criminologist and public policy expert Professor Daniel Nagin, I see an opportunity to conduct actionable research on race and incarceration. I want to discuss the disparities in Pennsylvania’s fast growing prison populations itself and develop my paper “Slavery is Flourishing Under the U.S. Prison System.”

Expanding my learning doesn’t end with academics, however. I am eager to explore the diverse community at CMU, and start a cultural literary magazine for all students to share their lived experiences about their heritage through art, writing, and overall self-expression.

This prompt is basically the “ Why This College? ” essay presented in a different way. The goals of the prompt are the same, however: it’s asking you what makes CMU the perfect school for you, and how you will make the most of its resources to have a successful education.

This student clearly has an interest in politics, detailing specifics such as their hopes to pursue an internship, undertake course work, and do research to further their education. They show that they’ve done their research on why CMU is a fit for them, by mentioning unique resources at the college.

Furthermore, the author does a great job of providing additional information as to why they would like to pursue the activities they’ve researched. They explain how CMU’s WSP will teach them about the legislative process, how their classes will tie in law and journalism, and how their research will deepen their understanding of race and incarceration. Providing this level of detail helps admissions officers understand what this student values and is hoping to learn through their education at CMU.

Writing-wise, the student also makes sure to use varied sentence structure and smooth transitions, making the essay easy to read.

The objective of this essay is two-fold: 1) what do you hope to accomplish in your undergraduate degree program, and 2) how CMU is uniquely equipped to help you realize your goals.

The essay does a great job in answering question #1, but could do more to address the latter. We know why the student is interested in the resources they mention, but we don’t know how those things will help them reach their overarching academic and career goals. 

In fact, we don’t even know what those overarching goals are: does this student want to become a political journalist, politician, or something else? It’s okay if you’re undecided, but you should at least share some potential options, rather than simply saying that you’re interested in a broad field (like “politics”), which feels unfocused.

The student should also move the section about CMU’s program in D.C. to later in the essay, as having it right at the beginning makes it seem like they’re more interested in spending time in D.C. than on CMU’s campus in Pittsburgh.

Additionally, the final paragraph, about the student’s hope to start a cultural literary magazine,  feels unrelated to the rest of the essay, which is focused on their political interests. If they wanted to include this detail, they should’ve introduced it earlier, to give themselves time to connect it to their other ideas.

Where to Get Your Carnegie Mellon Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Carnegie Mellon essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Carnegie Mellon University Supplemental Essays 2023-24

Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essays 2023-24

Carnegie Mellon University is renowned for its unwavering commitment to academic excellence, especially in engineering and computer science . As one of the nation’s top universities, CMU demands rock-solid applications, which means well-crafted Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays. While a 4.0 GPA is impressive, CMU supplemental essays will truly differentiate the most competitive applicants. So, to maximize your admissions chances, you want highly refined Carnegie Mellon essays, and we’ll help you get started.

Here’s a quick rundown of Carnegie Mellon. CMU’s cutting-edge academic offerings and vibrant extracurricular opportunities draw many aspiring students every year for every discipline. Where is Carnegie Mellon? It’s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , and is among the top schools in the state. As one of America’s premier private research institutions, Carnegie Mellon annually attracts a diverse cohort of exceptional minds—including you. 

This article will review the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays and their place among the Carnegie Mellon requirements. We’ll decode the Carnegie Mellon essay prompts and outline the Carnegie Mellon admissions requirements. We’ll also guide you through writing your CMU supplemental essays by offering strategies and tips for your Carnegie Mellon essays. Together, we will learn how to craft impactful Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays. Let’s get started. 

CMU Supplemental Essays: Quick Facts

Carnegie mellon supplemental essays: quick facts.

• Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate: According to U.S. News , the acceptance rate is 14%, which classifies Carnegie Mellon University as most selective.
• 1 Personal Statement
• 3 essays  (< 300 words each)
• Carnegie Mellon University Admissions Application: Carnegie Mellon University only accepts Common Application . Therefore, students must complete their Carnegie Mellon application using the Common Application.
• Early Decision I: November 1st
• Regular Decision for Schools of Drama and Music: December 1st
• Early Decision II: January 3rd
• Regular Decision: January 3rd

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.

Does Carnegie Mellon require supplemental essays?

Yes, the Carnegie Mellon requirements include supplemental essays. In addition to your Common Application personal statement, Carnegie Mellon University requires applicants to respond to three Carnegie Mellon essay prompts. These Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays should be under 300 words and will explore your academic interests, learning process, and personal interests.

It’s important to note that the Common Application personal statement is not covered further in this article. However, CollegeAdvisor.com has several resources for writing knockout Common Application and Coalition Application essays, including several successful examples . We also have an article that takes a deep dive into the 2023–2024 Common App essay prompts. Take a look around our site for more about personal statements and more.

With a word count of 300 words or less, these Carnegie Mellon essay prompts require a concise response. Therefore, applicants must craft brief, impactful CMU supplemental essays that positively impact the Carnegie Mellon admissions team . In the following sections, we’ll discuss the Carnegie Mellon essay prompts and how to approach the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays.

What are the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays?

As shared in the previous section, Carnegie Mellon University requires the Common Application personal statement and three CMU supplemental essays. Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays respond to three distinct Carnegie Mellon essay prompts. Each of these Carnegie Mellon essay prompts asks a different question, and each essay will also reveal more about you.

Here are the Carnegie Mellon essay prompts for 2023–2024:

As you can see, the Carnegie Mellon essay prompts all ask very different questions. The Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays should give the admissions committee insight into you as a future CMU student. So, why are you interested in CMU as a place to explore your passions and fulfill your goals? Moreover, will you uphold CMU’s legacy on campus and after graduation?

Next, we’ll look more closely at how to approach each of these Carnegie Mellon essay prompts. Remember that it’s advisable to brainstorm several ideas for each prompt, even if you already know what to write. You never know when you may come up with even better essay ideas for your CMU supplemental essays.

Carnegie Mellon Essay Prompts #1

As shared in the previous section, the first of the three Carnegie Mellon essay prompts asks:

Carnegie Mellon Essay Prompt #1

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.

Among the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays, this asks most directly about applicants’ interest in Carnegie Mellon. Strong CMU supplemental essays for this prompt should balance the applicant’s goals for college with the university’s offerings. The essay should also show the applicant has done their research and knows how CMU can uniquely support them in their college journey.

How to write this Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay

The first of the three Carnegie Mellon essay prompts asks students to reflect on what they consider a successful college experience. In response to this Carnegie Mellon essay, it’s important to note that the college experience is multifaceted, so there are many different ways to define “success.” For this Carnegie Mellon essay, it is essential to understand what a successful college experience looks like for you.

Some types of success that you may want to consider in your response are: 

Academic Excellence

You may hope for close relationships with professors through office hours and small class sizes. What kind of academic environment can you thrive in, and how can CMU offer that?

Broadened Horizons

CMU has myriad opportunities to expand your learning beyond lectures, from extracurricular groups to study abroad programs. How do you envision these mind-opening experiences as part of your years at CMU?

Skill Development

Many students also hone skills relevant to your future career through internships, research projects, or extracurricular activities. Are there any offerings at Carnegie Mellon that will help you foster useful skills?

Personal Growth

For most, college is a time for self-discovery and personal development. This could mean joining groups relevant to your cultural identity or background, participating in mentorship, or even doing community service.

An illustrious school like CMU is an ideal place to build meaningful relationships with peers, professors, and mentors. Think of your future career and ways you may start building a network while still a student.

Of course, you don’t have to include every one of these points, and you can choose your own. The key is to think about what excites you about college—large lecture hall classes? Robotics research? Slacklining with the outdoors club? Jot down the most important or interesting prospects and research CMU to see if they can offer that.

Successful Carnegie Mellon essays for this prompt should be specific about what the applicant considers a “successful college experience.” In addition, they should clearly state ways that CMU is an ideal environment, mentioning offerings like specific programs and groups. Ultimately, your essay should leave the reader understanding what you want out of college and how CMU can provide it.

Carnegie Mellon Why Major Essay

Like many selective colleges, the second of the three Carnegie Mellon essay prompts ask students to complete the “why major” essay as part of their application process. For this Carnegie Mellon essay, the prompt asks:

Carnegie Mellon Essay Prompt # 2

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.

Out of the three Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays, this question may appear the simplest, but don’t be mistaken. Writing this essay can be challenging because you only have 300 words to convey your passion. Especially for students who are laser-focused on their intended major, this can be a sizable challenge to write.

It’s important to note that students actually enter Carnegie Mellon undecided. In fact, students can’t even declare a major until the end of their first year. Therefore, you aren’t bound by the topic you write about in this essay. Right now, you may already be planning the layout of your desk at NASA—and maybe you end up majoring in biology. This essay is about your academic passion right now; nobody will scrutinize it if you change disciplines in college. 

Some students face a different hurdle: they don’t know what area of study they’re most passionate about. You may even be applying undeclared to one of CMU’s schools—a wide range of fields are available. Again, these Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays play no role in the major you ultimately declare. In light of that, you can brainstorm several topics that interest you and why. Don’t hesitate to make outlines or even quick and dirty drafts to narrow down your topic.

Approaching this Why Major Essay

Among the three Carnegie Mellon essay prompts, this asks most specifically about your intellectual interests. Therefore, a good Carnegie Mellon essay for this essay should accomplish three key things.

1. Identify Your Interest

Identify the academic area or major that genuinely resonates with you. You may state this directly, or it may be built in to the next section.

2. Share Your Background

Provide context to how you developed your passion for that particular interest, demonstrating enthusiasm for the field. This section should be the longest because you want to share as much information about yourself as possible. Therefore, share stories, anecdotes, or experiences illustrating your passion for the major. Furthermore, be sure to include any relevant experience that you already have in the field. Do you have internships, research projects, extracurricular activities, or coursework that have informed your decision? Be sure to mention them and explain how these experiences have shaped your understanding of the field.

3. Connect to Carnegie

Connect your passion and academic interest to Carnegie Mellon’s academic programs and opportunities. Share why the chance to study at Carnegie Mellon captivates you—whether it’s a unique curriculum, esteemed faculty, or research initiatives. Highlight how Carnegie’s programs align with your academic aspirations and why CMU is the ideal place to foster intellectual growth. 

Considering you only have 300 words to tackle this Carnegie Mellon essay, every word counts. So, avoid general statements and focus on specifics that showcase your deep interest and preparedness for the chosen academic areas. Be specific about your interest, your experience, and how CMU can meet your academic needs.

Additionally, be mindful of mentioning the same thing twice. If you mentioned a research initiative in the first Carnegie Mellon essay, do you need to bring it up here? That’s not to say your application will be automatically rejected if you name drop it again, but think carefully. Use your words wisely—if you could better use those words to talk about yourself and your passion, do so. The Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays don’t give any room for wasted words.

By following this advice, your Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays will certainly captivate Carnegie’s admissions committee. 

CMU Supplemental Essay #3 – Highlight Something

The final Carnegie Mellon supplemental essay allows you to highlight something about yourself that wasn’t previously mentioned in your application materials. The last of the three Carnegie Mellon essay prompts asks:

Carnegie Mellon Essay 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)..

While possible Carnegie Mellon essays here are endless, it’s important to consider the overall impression of your CMU supplemental essays . That is to say, Carnegie Mellon essays for this prompt should contribute to the applicant’s personal narrative . How are you trying to present yourself to the admissions committee? Within that, what aspects are missing from your Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays? Questions like these can help you choose your topic, but they can be difficult to answer.

Therefore, in the next section, we will help you decide what to showcase in this Carnegie Mellon supplemental essay.

Choosing what to showcase in this Carnegie Mellon essay

When approaching this Carnegie Mellon supplemental essay, think about it like this; your admissions decision may be riding on these 300 words. This might be the keystone that completes the admissions officer’s understanding of you as a potential CMU student. Ideally, these Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays provide critical information that rounds out a picture of their writers.

So think about who you are and how you want the admissions committee to understand you. Reread your other two CMU supplemental essays, personal statement, and extracurricular activities section. What is something you haven’t already shared that would take you over the top in the eyes of the admissions committee? 

Here are some things you may want to consider: 

Hobby or Extracurricular Activity Experience

While Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays allow you to highlight your academic interests, sometimes, your academic interests don’t align with your hobbies. Therefore, this could be a great space for a particular hobby or extracurricular experience you couldn’t highlight anywhere else. Common topics like sports or community service should be considered carefully, but most importantly, you should write with enthusiasm. 

Cultural or Diversity Perspectives

Considering the recent affirmative action ruling , some students from marginalized groups may not be able to state their ethnic background on the Common App. This includes how their ethnicity may have affected their livelihood. Therefore, you can use this Carnegie Mellon essay to discuss your cultural background, experiences, or perspectives. There are endless ways to approach this, like how your experiences will enrich your time as a community member at CMU.

Personal Challenges or Growth

Some successful Carnegie Mellon essays share a personal challenge and the growth that resulted from facing it. Instead of focusing solely on hardship, delve into the specific experiences and emotions you encountered during these challenges. What did you learn, and how did facing—not necessarily overcoming—this challenge shape you? Furthermore, maintain a positive and forward-looking tone, demonstrating resilience and a capacity for self-improvement. 

Is Carnegie Mellon hard to get into?

You’re probably aware that Carnegie Mellon University is renowned for its challenging admissions process. With an acceptance rate of approximately 14%, it can be quite difficult to secure a spot. While meeting the academic Carnegie Mellon requirements is important, your application is much more than a place to flaunt good grades.

Remember that your application’s strength lies within overall excellence, which includes well-crafted CMU supplemental essays. These Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays can be what puts you over the edge. Your CMU supplemental essays allow you to showcase your unique qualities, experiences and your fit with CMU’s values and academic programs. While it’s undeniably competitive, admissions at Carnegie Mellon is not insurmountable. Well-rounded and thoughtful Carnegie Mellon essays can be what sets you apart and ultimately tips the scales in your favor.

Does Carnegie Mellon care about essays?

Yes, yes, yes. Admissions officers greatly value Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays because they offer direct insight into an applicant’s capabilities. In Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays, hopeful students speak directly to admissions staff about what they’ve done and what they’ll do at CMU. Essays are also a useful means to expand the admission criteria for prospective students, providing a more complete picture than scores alone.

As a test-optional institution for those applying for fall 2024, Carnegie Mellon University also acknowledges the limitations of standardized test scores. A student’s potential, abilities, and compatibility with the university’s community cannot be fully captured by a standardized test. Consequently, for students without test scores, other Carnegie Mellon admissions requirements like transcripts, recommendations , and, most notably, CMU supplemental essays are more heavily weighed. However, that’s not to say that applicants are forbidden from sending test scores—if your standardized test scores are competitive, submit them.

Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays empower applicants to illuminate their distinctive perspectives, life experiences, and personal attributes. Through the CMU supplemental essays, applicants can provide a deeper look into their character, intellectual curiosity, and alignment with Carnegie Mellon’s core values. Therefore, the university gains a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of each applicant by meticulously reviewing CMU supplemental essays.

How do I make my Carnegie Mellon essays stand out?

Considering the importance of the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays, getting your CMU supplemental essays to stand out is incredibly important. So, here are some suggestions to help your Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays stand out to the admissions team.

Using Authenticity and Personal Voice in Your Carnegie Mellon Essays

Ensure your Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays reflect your true self. Use your Carnegie Mellon essays to share personal anecdotes and experiences that have influenced your values, passions, and goals. Avoid generic responses and instead focus on the unique aspects of your journey. Even if you feel that your experiences are common, make them yours.

Research and Understanding of Carnegie Mellon University

Take the time to research Carnegie Mellon University’s values, mission, and academic programs thoroughly. Anyone can answer, “Where is Carnegie Mellon?”, but you should be able to outline several CMU offerings that interest you. Gain a deep understanding of the university’s majors, academic offerings, campus culture, and initiatives. Incorporate this knowledge into your Carnegie Mellon essays to demonstrate your genuine interest and alignment with Carnegie Mellon.

Have an Engaging Writing Style in Your Carnegie Mellon Essays

Make your Carnegie Mellon essays engaging and captivating through strong storytelling . Capture the reader’s attention with powerful imagery and thoughtful language. Maintain a compelling narrative flow that keeps the reader hooked from the introduction to the conclusion. Avoid cliches and other common pitfalls —try to find your particular writing voice and let it shine through.

Proofread and Refine Your Carnegie Mellon Essays

Pay careful attention to proofreading and editing your CMU essays. Ensure correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Verify the clarity and coherence of your ideas. Given the limited word count, you should also choose every word wisely and eliminate redundancy. You may ask a trusted friend or mentor to read your Carnegie Mellon essays and give you feedback.

By utilizing these strategies while writing your Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays, you can create standout Carnegie Mellon essays that showcase your unique qualities and potential. Remember, CMU supplemental essays are your opportunity to convince the admissions committee that you’re an ideal fit for Carnegie Mellon University.

CMU Supplemental Essays – Final Thoughts

Carnegie Mellon University boasts a reputation for academic excellence and a highly competitive admissions process. To secure admission to Carnegie Mellon, it’s crucial to recognize the paramount importance of the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays. Indeed, all aspects of the Carnegie Mellon application, from extracurriculars to recommendation letters , are important. However, in Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays, you can directly tell admissions officers who you are and why CMU is the place for you.

CMU supplemental essays are your chance to stand out and capture the admissions committee’s attention. Your Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays are a crucial component of your application and will significantly impact your admission chances. Therefore, it’s essential to approach your Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays strategically. Craft your CMU supplemental essays thoughtfully and use them to convey your unique qualities and potential contributions to the Carnegie Mellon community.

Ultimately, your Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays allow you to shine and convince the admissions committee that you’re an ideal fit. Use these tips to write impressive CMU supplemental essays and put your Carnegie Mellon application over the top. Are you now ready to apply ? We hope so. Good luck!

This article was written by senior advisor Ashley Hollins . Still looking for additional information, check out this CollegeAdvisor article on Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays from 2021-2022 . Are you looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. Our team will discuss your profile during your meeting and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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How to Write the Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essays

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 11/15/23

Find out how to write stellar CMU essays in this complete guide, including tips, FAQs, and examples!

Carnegie Mellon University is an internationally recognized educational institution in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since CMU is competitive, many applicants look for ways to stand out in their application. That’s where the CMU supplemental essays can come in handy.

The Carnegie Mellon supplementals are crucial to your application and provide an opportunity to showcase your personality, interests, and experiences. However, writing these essays can be daunting, especially if you're unsure what the university is looking for. 

We’ll walk you through the process of writing the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays. We’ve included expert tips, examples, and FAQs to help get you started on your CMU supplemental essays and help you write something unforgettable. Let’s get started!

Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

So, what are the Carnegie Mellon essay prompts? Let’s discuss! First of all, let’s talk about volume. In total, there are four CMU essay prompts. However, only three are required, while the fourth is optional. 

Although writing multiple essays can be intimidating, think of the positives. For one, you have many more chances to stand out as a candidate . Writing multiple essays also allows you to demonstrate various facets of your personality and experiences you may not have been able to share in your application. 

Here are the Carnegie Mellon supplemental essay prompts : 

“ 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)”

“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)”

“ 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)”

Prompt #4 (Optional)

“ When it comes to deciding whether to submit standardized test scores, occasionally applicants want us to better understand the individual context of their decision. If you’d like to take advantage of this opportunity, please share any information about your decision here. This is an optional question for those who may want to provide additional context for consideration. (150 words)”

Have any of these prompts sparked your inspiration? If not, no problem! Read on to learn how to answer the Carnegie Mellon essay prompts with examples. 

How to Write Each Essay Prompt for Carnegie Mellon

Here’s how to write each of the Carnegie Mellon essays. For each prompt, we’ve included an analysis of what the prompt is asking and tips on how to answer. 

How to Write Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #1 : The first Carnegie Mellon essay prompt asks you to explain your choice of major in three hundred words or less. In other words, this is considered a “why this major” essay, a common question in the college application process. 

Let’s go over some tips on how to handle this prompt.

• Choose One Anecdote : It’s not uncommon for students to have many reasons for choosing a major. “My parents did this, I like the subject, I want to learn more,” etc. However, you should choose to narrow in on your strongest anecdote before writing this essay to formulate one strong story around a timeline of events. 
• Create a Timeline : Before you start writing, create a timeline of events to help guide you. In the beginning, share when you first became interested in your major. The middle should tell the story of how your interest became a serious commitment, and you can end your essay by sharing your goals. 
• Write Now, Trim Later : Shorter essays may seem easier. However, it may be more challenging to get your point across in fewer words. So, focus on the writing first, then trim the fat. Ensure each sentence helps to tell your story and that every word serves a purpose. 

How to Write Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay #2 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #2 : With this essay prompt, CMU is trying to understand what you hope to take with you from your education. A successful college experience is subjective, so there’s no correct answer. Ultimately, this is the place to outline what you intend to achieve during your college years and after. 

Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Speak From the Heart : Answer this earnest question honestly. Talk about your future goals, your passions, and how you intend to contribute to your chosen field. Consider what goes through your mind when you picture your graduation day. What are you proud of? What will you do next? 
• Tie In Your Past, If Applicable : Opening this essay with an anecdote about your past that ties into what a successful college experience means to you can be impactful. You should only do this if it applies to your situation and ties into why you’re applying to college and your future goals.
• Talk About the School : This shouldn’t be the main focus of your essay, but in general, colleges love it when you’ve done your research and know about the clubs and programs they offer. To answer this prompt well, you should get familiar with what you’d like to participate in. 

How to Write Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay #3 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #3 : The third CMU essay prompt is an excellent place to pop in one more achievement you’re really proud of or haven’t been able to share yet. Consider what you’ve shared so far and if there’s anything else you’d like to tell the admissions committee. Many applicants use this space to write about an extracurricular interest.

Use these tips to help you approach your essay: 

• Find Your Subject : There are various directions you could take here. You may choose to frame this as an adversity essay, where you tell the story of a challenge you overcame to achieve something. If you want to highlight a particular skill, you can write an extracurricular essay to delve into your passions . 
• Make Sure Your Topic Is Relevant : With a broad prompt like this one, it can be easy to get lost. It’s important to stay on track and add value to your application. If you write about something you’ve briefly touched on in your application, ensure your story isn’t repetitive . 
• Be Authentic : It’s important that you write about something you genuinely care about. Don’t tailor your responses according to what you think the school wants to hear. 

How to Write Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay #4 + Analysis and Tips

For the optional fourth prompt, you need to first figure out if you should write this optional essay at all. This prompt targets students who have chosen not to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you have chosen not to submit scores, you should absolutely explain your decision through this essay. If not, there’s no need to write the essay.

Examples of Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essays That Worked

If you still have no idea where to start with your Carnegie Mellon essays, don’t worry. Take a look at some of these examples, written by real, admitted students, to give you inspiration! 

Sample Essay #1

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? (300 words)”

Read through this sample essay for some inspiration: 

“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 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.”

Why Essay #1 Worked

In this example, the writer uses a clear timeline of events to convey the story of how they became interested in their major. What the student has done especially well here is demonstrate a developed passion and deeper meaning to their choice of program. 

Your story doesn’t have to start in childhood – for many applicants, it doesn’t! Whatever your story, just ensure your devotion to the study of your subject is apparent and your story is concise, easy to read, and moving. 

Sample Essay #2

Prompt 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)”

This essay provides a great example of how to answer this prompt: 

“My main goal in college is to attain a specific degree so I may pursue a stable career I’m happy with. However, the manner in which I achieve this is imperative since I will spend a considerable portion of my early adulthood in college. This is why I want to attend an institution that will teach me what to learn, how to learn, and why I should learn. 

When I leave college and enter the real world, I don’t want to stop learning about how the world works or how I can improve upon myself. I believe that to give up the pursuit of knowledge is to give up hope for true happiness. I don’t want to die knowing I could’ve achieved more through my time on earth but chose not to, especially considering the people in less fortunate circumstances who would’ve taken full advantage of the opportunities I was presented. I have a sense of duty to improve myself in some way each day so in the future, I may apply the lessons I’ve learned and experiences I’ve gained to make a positive impact on this world. I fervently believe that true education prepares students for the outside world by emphasizing this mindset. 

Therefore, a successful college experience to me is one that facilitates this kind of growth by providing bountiful opportunities for me to pursue my goals and even open my eyes to activities I never thought of attempting. This sort of environment is one that must be achieved through the collaborative effort of faculty and peers alike. I believe Carnegie Mellon-with its vast undergraduate and graduate majors, research programs, student organizations, and diverse campus culture-accomplishes this well.”

Source: Carnegie Mellon University

Why Essay #2 Worked 

In this essay example from an accepted Carnegie Mellon student , the writer focuses on their passion for the pursuit of education and why learning is important to them. This is an excellent approach; it indicates that this student wants to soak up as much of the CMU learning experience as possible rather than simply get a degree and move on. 

This Carnegie Mellon essay briefly mentions what the school has to offer, why they’re attracted to it, and how attending will help them fulfill their goals. 

Sample Essay #3

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). (300 words)”

Check out this sample essay to help you respond to prompt #3: 

“Haunted romanticism, ravaged gaze, desperation bordering on lunacy, Saturn Devouring His Son first caught my attention as a bored nine-year-old wandering around a museum, and once again as a high-school student, after catching a glimpse of it in a textbook. 

Because after looking at angelic frescos after more Church frescos, I could not stop myself from flipping back to the tiny printing of this unholy piece. I sought to discover the story behind it—what caused this artist to create something so raw and naked, in the age of staid royal family portraits?

I became immersed in unraveling each bit of the story, how Goya had long transitioned from a royal painter, to a harsh, but veiled critic of society, the desolation that occurred during the French occupation of Spain, the corruption of Charles IV— who was really only a puppet ruler to Godoy. I learned how kingdoms rose and fell—and rose again, how art is unafraid to capture the seditious attitudes of the common people, and how it has endured to teach us of past mistakes.

I fell in love with dissecting the messages from the past, and discovering how we still have not listened to them.”

Why Essay #3 Worked

In this example from a similar Yale prompt , the writer chose to delve into their appreciation for visiting art museums beyond the classroom and discovering their curiosity for art history. 

The essay is particularly effective because it doesn't just list the paintings they admire but instead delves into the meanings and significance behind each piece. 

The key to a successful extracurricular essay is to showcase your enthusiasm for the activity. To transport the reader into your world, it can be helpful to include sensory details that create a vivid picture of your experiences. 

Consider including descriptions of the smells, sights, and emotions that surround your extracurricular interest. By doing so, you can help your reader feel as though they’re there with you, experiencing the activity alongside you.

Get More Sample Essays Here!

If you found it helpful to look at sample essays, good news! You can check out our college essay example database down below for tons of great essay examples. 

FAQs: Carnegie Mellon Essays

Here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about how to write each Carnegie Mellon supplemental essay.

1. How Important Are Essays for CMU?

Supplemental essays are an important part of the application process for Carnegie Mellon University. They allow applicants to showcase their unique qualities, achievements, and perspectives that may not be evident from other parts of their application.

2. How Many Supplemental Essays Does Carnegie Mellon Require?

The CMU essay requirements vary depending on the program you are applying for. For most applicants, there are three required essays and one optional essay. 

3. What Is the Word Limit for Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essays?

Each CMU essay must be 300 words or fewer, while the fourth optional essay word limit is 150 words or fewer. 

4. Are the Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essays Required for All Applicants, Including Transfer and International Students?

Yes, all Carnegie Mellon applicants must write supplemental essays, including transfer and international students. 

5. Can I Reuse Essays That I Wrote for Other College Applications for Carnegie Mellon's Supplemental Essays?

You may be able to recycle content to an extent based on the essay you’ve previously written. For example, your description of why you want to pursue a particular major may not change, but the school-specific details you add will. 

Final Thoughts

Writing strong CMU essays is a critical part of your application. These essays provide an opportunity to showcase what makes you a fantastic CMU candidate. They also provide a platform to discuss personal achievements that may not be evident in other parts of your application. 

Because the CMU essays are relatively short, it's important to be concise while sharing your stories. It's also crucial to ensure that your essays are cohesive, flow smoothly, and make a strong case for you as a candidate. 

By following our tips, you’ll be able to craft memorable essays and increase your chances of standing out to the admissions committee at Carnegie Mellon University. Good luck!

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