Recruitment Projects

You may find it interesting and helpful to learn about the many efforts that the Office of Admission makes to communicate and recruit the students that have expressed an interest in Carnegie Mellon.

On-Campus Interviews

Students can register for 45-minute sessions with a member of the Admission staff. We usually spend at least 30-minutes with the student and then 10-15 minutes with the parent(s). Interview times are 8:45 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:15 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:15 PM, 2:00 PM, 2:45 PM and 3:30 PM from the May to November. (Times may vary depending on day and staff availability.)

On-Campus Group Sessions

Throughout the majority of the year the Office of Admission hosts Group Information Sessions on-campus Monday – Friday at 10:30 and 2:30 (Thursday only the 2:30 time slot is available). These informational sessions are an opportunity for families to learn more about the campus community, academic offerings and admission requirements.

Off-Campus Information Sessions

Off-campus information sessions are presented during weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons all across the country. One or two counselors give an approximately 90-minute information session to students, parents and local secondary school/college counselors. These sessions include multimedia components and an opportunity for students and families to ask questions.

Campus Tours

Campus tours leave the Office of Admission at 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM Monday through Friday at most times during the year. Tours last about one hour. Please instruct your students to call the Office of Admission before they make a visit to campus. During holiday breaks and other times, such as finals, we are unable to offer tours. There is a tour of a Residence Hall offered at 1:00 PM.

Saturday Visits

Saturday visits are offered in the form of group information sessions that last approximately one hour and are followed by a one hour tour of campus. Students must call ahead or register online in order to arrange to attend one of these sessions in the same way they arrange an individual interview.

Sleeping Bag Weekends

Students are invited to spend a Sunday night through Monday afternoon on campus where they will stay overnight with a current student. Sleeping Bag Weekends (SBW) are held four times a year in both the fall and spring semesters. The Office of Admission markets SBWs as the best way to get to know the campus and as an opportunity to live like a real Carnegie Mellon student.

Hometown Interviews

The Office of Admission travels across the country to interview students. Hometown Interviews are typically offered in smaller metropolitan areas.

High School Visits

Office of Admission staff members visit a number of high schools throughout the country in order to talk with students and their college counselors.

Junior Recruitment

As today's high school students continue to start their college search at an earlier age, the Office of Admission strives to reach out to students during their junior year. Each spring, admission representatives take part in high school visits and college fairs in targeted geographic areas across the country.

Pre-College

During the summer, the Office of Admission in conjunction with the entire university community offers a six-week pre-college experience for rising juniors and seniors. Students have the opportunity to take classes in a variety of disciplines and have an early college experience.

Ethnic Minority Recruitment

The Office of Admission is committed to recruiting a diverse student population to Carnegie Mellon. To this end, the Office of Admission hosts several Celebration of Diversity weekends to actively recruit students of diverse backgrounds to Carnegie Mellon. In addition, special phoning and writing campaigns are undertaken to specifically target ethnic minority students.