Mellon College of Science › Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences › Apply

Applying to PGSS

To apply for the 2026 program, please create an account and fill out the information requested through our online portal.

Questions about the application can be sent to pgss-applications@andrew.cmu.edu

Eligibility to Apply

The applicant is a rising high school senior (having completed their junior year immediately prior to the start of the program)
Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Application Parts

The PGSS application consists of several parts including:

A personal information form
A summary of your science-related activities and awards
A summary of other activities and awards
A narrative essay introducing yourself and explaining why you want to participate in PGSS
A topical essay describing a significant influence on your interest in science or an achievement of which you are most proud
2 letters of recommendation from teachers in the core subject areas of PGSS (biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, or physics). Each letter must be from teachers in different subject areas.
A letter of recommendation from your school counselor

Helpful Hints

In order to fully assess your scientific aptitude and potential, the PGSS application is fairly comprehensive and takes time to completely fill out. We recommend you start the process sooner rather than later!

Remember, when asking a teacher or counselor for a letter of recommendation, you should always give them 2-4 weeks notice before the application deadline. Polite reminders one week before the deadline are generally considered appropriate.

Incomplete applications on February 1 - including those that are only missing a letter of recommendation - cannot be considered for review. It is a good idea to double check that your application has been fully submitted.

If you or your letter writers have any questions, please reach out to pgss@cmu.edu