Pre-College Student Experience
Pre-College is more than the classroom experience. It’s a student experience.
Residential Experience
The Pre-College residential experience allows students the opportunity to build life skills for success in college and beyond. Students are housed in residence halls typically used for Carnegie Mellon first-year undergraduate students. Each building is staffed with a team of current Carnegie Mellon undergraduate students serving as Resident Advisors (RAs), Senior Resident Advisors (SRAs), and a managing Community Advisor (CA). Our residential staff are selected through an intensive application and interview process and receive robust training providing them with the tools needed to bolster a safe, inclusive, and supportive residential experience.
Housing
Students have the opportunity to live in Carnegie Mellon's residential communities and experience an authentic college living experience. Most students live in a double room with a roommate. The rooms are furnished with twin extra-long beds, chests of drawers, desks with chairs, closets, and wastebaskets. Linens (including pillows, sheets, comforters, towels, etc.) and fans are not supplied.
Washers and dryers are available in each of the dorms at no charge. Detergent and all other laundry supplies including bathroom cleaning supplies (semi-private and private bathrooms) are not supplied.
For more information about what to pack, see the list here.
Housing Options
Students admitted to a Pre-College program will have the opportunity during the enrollment process to indicate their housing preferences and respond to questions about their living habits which will help inform the housing assignment process. To the best of our ability, students are typically assigned to a double room with another student from their academic program and with similar housing preferences.
Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Programs strive to provide a comfortable and safe housing environment for all students, including students who prefer to reside on a queer community housing floor. Queer community housing floors have limited capacity.
Students will be informed of their housing assignment and roommate contact information in mid-June.
Queer Community Housing
Pre-College queer community housing is an opt-in residential community open to any student, and allows students to live in the same room with any other student inclusive of sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, and/or sexual orientation. Residents who opt-in to queer community housing when completing their housing preferences in the student portal will be assigned together on a floor within the designated floor community. Generally, the queer community housing will be located in a building with semi-suite style rooms/bathrooms. In semi-suite style bathrooms, students share their bathroom with their roommate and two other students in an adjacent room.
Roommate pairings in queer community housing are based on a shared preference for this housing option and the compatibility of preferences indicated on the form, to the best of our ability.
Single-Gender Housing
Pre-College single-gender housing utilizes both traditional-style housing with shared bathrooms and semi-suite style housing with semi-suite bathrooms. Floors are single-gender (male or female), but buildings are mixed-gender.
Accommodations
Special housing accommodations requests are required to be submitted to the University Disability Resources Office. Click here to log in to the Disability Resources online portal to submit your request.
Dining
Residential Student Meal Plans Overview
Residential meal plans include breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Monday through Friday, and brunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Weekday Meals (Monday-Friday): These meal blocks - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - can be used at any dining location on campus. They are referred to as “traveling meals.”
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Weekend Meals (Saturday-Sunday): Brunch and dinner meal blocks on weekends are only valid at the Marketplace/Schatz Dining Room located in the Cohon University Center.
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DineExtra Funds: Residential students receive $16 in DineExtra funds each week, which can be used at all campus dining venues, including Entropy (the campus convenience store) and Scotty’s Market (the campus grocery store). These funds expire weekly, with the week running from Sunday through Saturday.
Commuter Student Meal Plan Overview
Commuter students receive $20 in DineExtra funds per day, Monday through Friday - totaling $100 per week.
- The full $100 balance is loaded every Monday and is available for use throughout the week.
- Unused funds expire at midnight on Saturday, so they do not carry over to the following week.
Special Dietary Needs
If you have specific dietary requirements and would like to consult with the Dining Services nutritionist, Jessica Rea, please reach out via email at jrea@andrew.cmu.edu.
Activities and Events
Students have the opportunity to participate in many evening and weekend activities both on- and off-campus. Some of these include:
- Day trips to local and nearby attractions such as a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game and Fallingwater. (Tickets will be available for purchase, and bus transportation is provided.)
- A variety of Pre-College clubs based upon student interests. Past offerings have included: an introduction to collegiate a cappella, art clubs, fitness clubs, sports clubs, and gaming clubs.
- Visits to local museums and art galleries (free of charge with the Arts Pass access on students' CMU ID cards).
- An on-campus fireworks display on the night of the 4th of July.
In addition to formal Pre-College activities, our residential staff works hard to engage their floor/building community through a variety of programs and activities.
We also encourage Pre-College students to create their own programming with the aid of residential staff. These can include personal interest/hobby events (like a musical instrument jam or a book club), relaxation events (like yoga or meditation), or inter-cultural events (like Big Questions or society’s news discussions).
Student Support and Resources
To support our students, a wide variety of campus resources are available for all aspects of the Pre-College experience.
We expect Pre-College students to arrive on campus ready to be independent, both socially and academically. Students should also be prepared to manage their time and self-advocate for their immediate needs. We believe that participating in our Pre-College programs is an opportunity for students to enhance these vital skills, with an added umbrella of support in place for them.
Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College participants must abide by the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct. This collection of policies and procedures has been established to ensure the utmost safety and well-being of all who are involved with Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs. The Student Handbook and Code of Conduct can be found in the student portal accessible to admitted students and should be read thoughtfully to ensure these expectations are understood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the common terms students will hear in the process of becoming admitted to and preparing to attend Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs?
- Check out our list of Common CMU Terms & Acronyms here.
Do the residential staff live in the residence halls?
- Yes. The RAs and CAs live in the residence halls, with staff available to respond 24 hours a day, every day. The residential staff will be proactive in building community by hosting activities as well as ensuring safety measures by enforcing curfew and all other policies. All residential RAs and CAs are full-time CMU students.
- All residential staff are compliant under PA Act 153 which requires a PA Criminal History, PA Child Abuse, and FBI Background check.
Do the residence halls have air conditioning?
- All residence halls occupied by Pre-College students are air-conditioned.
How are roommates assigned?
- Roommates are assigned randomly. We first match students (to the best of our ability) by housing option selection (single-gender or queer community) and academic program, then by lifestyle preferences submitted during the enrollment process.
- Students may request to room with a particular individual, however, both students must make the request by May 5 for the arrangement to be considered. Please email Pre-College Student Affairs. Please note, we cannot guarantee this accommodation request.
Are rooms equipped with refrigerators or microwaves?
- Refrigerator/microwaves (combined) are available for rental at a flat rate. Students will be required to place their rental orders prior to their arrival on campus. A deadline for these orders will be provided to enrolled students. Since roommate assignments will be released in advance, we encourage students to contact their roommate to determine if they would like to share the cost of renting a unit.of renting a unit.
How will students access their rooms? Are keys or ID cards used?
- The CMU ID Cards will act as the room keys. Students will tap their ID cards on the locking mechanism to unlock their rooms. If students lock themselves out of their rooms, they must follow the procedure to unlock their rooms via a smartphone app. We strongly recommend students carry their ID cards with them at all times to avoid locking themselves out of their rooms. It can take a long time for help to arrive in such situations.
- In the event a student loses a CMU ID Card, it should be immediately reported via the SIO (Student Information Online) portal. There is a $30 charge for replacement of each lost ID card. To obtain a new one, students should visit The Hub located in the lower level of Warner Hall. Please visit The Hub website for summertime hours of operation. After hours, students should visit the summer housing office for a temporary card.
What will my first few days on campus be like?
- Most students* will move in on Saturday, June 20, 2026. This is considered Opening Day. Staff members will guide participants to their dorms, assist with the move-in process, and distribute CMU ID cards. The day will also include academic meetings to meet their professors as well as residential meetings to introduce students to their housing staff and community.
- The next day, Sunday, June 21, 2026, is considered Orientation Day. Students will use this time to get to know the campus; some academic programs will have mandatory meetings.
*Please see the Arrival webpage for information about when students are permitted to move into their residence halls.
What do students do on July 4th?
- There is a spectacular fireworks display planned for Pre-College students on Saturday, July 4th, 2026. Students will not have classes on Friday, July 3rd, 2026.
Can I change my residency status from resident to commuter?
- If you wish to make a change to your residency status (resident to commuter), please contact the Office of Pre-College Programs at (412) 268-5914 or precollege@andrew.cmu.edu.
Are there televisions in the dorm rooms?
- While televisions are not provided in dorm rooms, Pre-College students will have access to the campus cable network. You will need to bring a cable-ready digital TV and a coaxial cable to connect.
How does Pre-College Programs handle medication for Pre-College students?
- All medication is expected to be responsibly self-administered by the student.
- CMU faculty and staff (including residential staff) are not able to administer or handle any prescribed medication for Pre-College students.
- University Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services staff are also unable to store medications, provide medication management, make medication adjustments or prescribe mental health medications.
- Students who are bringing prescription medication are required to bring a lockbox in order to keep that medication secure in the residence. Lockboxes can be purchased at office supply stores and most superstores.
- Students are allowed and encouraged to bring their own over-the-counter medicine, as well as Covid tests and masks.
What services can University Health Services (UHS) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) provide to Pre-College students?
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UHS: Pre-College students can be treated by UHS when needed, but must first call for evaluation. No walk-ins are accepted. After this initial evaluation, students might be given an appointment at UHS, or referred to a local medical center for further testing and/or treatment if needed. It is important for students to submit the required and necessary medical/health records during their enrollment process. Not meeting the health requirements can affect students' enrollment in Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs. Due to FERPA, CMU cannot release Pre-College students’ medical/health information to individuals who are not listed on the student’s FERPA Waiver Form. For further information, please visit the UHS website and/or review the Welcome E-Folder sent to students prior to their arrival on campus.
- CaPS: Pre-college students have limited services at CaPS. Services that are available are same day crisis support and consultation sessions with the purpose of providing referrals to mental health providers in the community. Pre-college students do not have access to therapy sessions, psychiatric services or gender affirming care. All services will be offered at our location in the Highmark Center for Health Wellness & Athletics. Pre-college students are welcome to access resources via the CaPS website or Instagram: #cmucaps.
How safe is Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh?
- The Pittsburgh region has, for a long time, had one of the lowest crime rates in the country and remains one of the nation's safest cities. Its crime rate is half of the national metropolitan average; in fact, it is among the lowest of the 24 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
- Student safety is a top priority at Carnegie Mellon. The university employs a police department whose staff of police officers and security guards patrol the campus 24 hours a day on foot, by car, and by bicycle. Students attending Carnegie Mellon benefit from the cooperative relationship the University Police enjoys with federal, state, county, and city police agencies. The Campus Security Report, which documents crime statistics and security policies over the past 3 years, is available online for more information.
- The Pre-College residential staff works with the University Police to educate all students on safety procedures and emergency contacts during their time in the program.
Age and Grade
Age: You must be 16 years of age by June 20, 2026.
Grade: You must be in high school between 10th and 11th grade or between 11th and 12th grade during the summer of 2026 to participate in Pre-College Programs (excludes Music Part-time Commuters).
