Carnegie Mellon SAMS (Summer Academy for Math and Science): A Complete Guide

Do you want to experience a STEM program that can support and broaden your interests? But are you also concerned with the costs? If you said yes to both questions, the Carnegie Mellon SAMS (Summer Academy for Math and Science) can be right for you.

This program lets you take advanced STEM classes and prepares you for college for free. Below, we’ll talk more about what you can expect when you participate in SAMS, how to apply, and what benefits you can experience.

• What Is the Carnegie Mellon SAMS?
• Carnegie Mellon SAMS Acceptance Rate
• Carnegie Mellon SAMS Application Deadline
• Carnegie Mellon SAMS Requirements
• How to Get into Carnegie Mellon SAMS
• Why Join Carnegie Mellon SAMS?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the Carnegie Mellon SAMS?

The Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy for Math and Science is a six-week summer residential program that immerses high school students in college-level STEM learning. What makes SAMS special is its focus on students from underrepresented communities in STEM. The program is fully funded, meaning that if you’re selected, you attend completely free of charge. The program dates for 2025 are June 21 to August 2.

The curriculum is intensive and structured to build both knowledge and skills. Despite being an on-campus program, SAMS actually starts with a required virtual Jumpstart a few days before the in-person program. This component helps you brush up on key skills and prepare for the on-campus coursework.

Then, during the residential program on Carnegie Mellon’s campus, you’ll take core seminars in math and science to strengthen your quantitative skills and engage in a STEM research project guided by faculty or graduate student mentors.

The program ends with the SAMS Symposium, a day-long event on the final Friday of the program where you and your peers showcase what you’ve learned.

Other workshops

One unique part of SAMS is that all SAMS scholars also enroll in a course called “From Student to Scholar,” a research-based, credit-bearing class that helps you reflect on your identity, goals, and the transition from high school to college.

The schedule also includes weekly writing workshops that focus on preparing for college applications. And yes, SAMS even helps you get ready for those college essays and personal statements!

Carnegie Mellon also brings in guest speakers and workshops led by alumni, industry professionals, and university staff on topics ranging from STEM careers to the college admissions and financial aid process.

Throughout the program, you’ll also regularly meet in small mentoring groups (run by the Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion) to discuss your experiences and get support. Academic coaches and tutoring sessions are available as well, emphasizing collaborative learning.

Carnegie Mellon SAMS Acceptance Rate

Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Academy for Math and Science doesn’t publish an official acceptance rate. However, as of 2022, around 1300 students have been accepted in the past 15 years, meaning around only 86 students are accepted a year.

Carnegie Mellon SAMS Application Deadline

Here’s a quick look at the important dates for the Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy for Math and Science:

Note: Submitting by the preferred deadline shows your strong interest in the program. However, all decisions are released at the same time, regardless of when you submitted your application.

Carnegie Mellon SAMS Requirements

Before you apply to the Carnegie Mellon SAMS, you should first check if you meet the eligibility and other requirements.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Summer Academy for Math and Science, you must be:

• At least 16 years old by the program start date
• A junior at time of application
• A citizen or permanent resident of the US

Required documents

To apply to the Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy for Math and Science, you’ll need to submit the following documents:

• Online application form. This is available through Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Programs portal.
• High school transcript. You’ll only need the unofficial copy.
• Standardized test scores (optional). You can consider reporting your test scores if they’re strong.
• Two letters of recommendation. You’ll need one from your current math teacher and the other can be from any other teacher or counselor you choose.
• Two essays. You’ll need to write one 300- to 500-word essay, and another 1000-word maximum essay.
• Financial documentation. The program will require you to submit tax documents or a NACAC Application Fee Waiver that’s signed by your high school guidance department.

Program cost

The Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy for Math and Science is free! The program is fully funded by Carnegie Mellon and supporting donors, but you’ll still need to plan for incidental personal expenses and possibly travel to and from campus.

How to Get into Carnegie Mellon SAMS

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to apply to the Carnegie Mellon SAMS:

Step 1: Set up your account.

Create an account on Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Programs Application portal. Or, if you’ve already previously applied to another program, then you can just log in through your old account.

We’ve already outlined the program requirements above, but the SAMS application form will provide more specific details.

Step 2: Gather your documents.

An unofficial high school transcript might be readily available to you. If not, request it from your school.

Next, ask two teachers or a teacher and counselor for recommendation letters. Carnegie Mellon explicitly says that one letter must come from your current math instructor, but you’re free to choose who the other letter will be from. You can provide them with a brag sheet to help them write a thorough letter that speaks to your academic skills.

Then, consider if you want to submit your test scores. If they reflect well on you, then you can pass them.

Step 3: Write your essays.

SAMS requires two essays. Here are some quick pointers to help you write a good response:

Prompt 1: What do you hope to gain from participating in Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Programs? (300 to 500 words)

For your first essay, you should show that you understand what the Summer Academy for Math and Science is about. Research its curriculum, research opportunities, faculty involvement, typical daily schedule, and any specific workshops or modules it offers and talk about which parts of the program you’re excited about.

Connect the program to your interests and goals to show your fit. Do you want to master advanced math concepts like calculus or go deeper into specific science fields like biology? Maybe you want to experience university-level research, learn lab techniques, or analyze data.

Talk about how the SAMS experience will contribute to your long-term academic and career aspirations. How will it prepare you for college and beyond?

Prompt 2 Option 1: Carnegie Mellon’s founder, Andrew Carnegie, is famously known for the quote “My Heart is in the Work.” At the Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion, our heart is in work which focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). How will being a part of the SAMS cohort help you amplify or discover your STEM-inspired passions? (1000 words maximum)

For your second essay, you have two prompts to choose from. There are several important parts to this prompt that you’ll need to understand and address:

• Andrew Carnegie’s quote, which emphasizes passion, dedication, and deep engagement
• Carnegie Mellon’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment through the Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion
• How you think being part of SAMS will help you foster or discover STEM interests

If you already have strong STEM passions, how will being in a diverse SAMS cohort improve those passions? Or, if your passions are still forming, how will the inclusive environment encourage you to explore different STEM areas, ask new questions, or feel comfortable taking intellectual risks?

Explicitly connect DEIB to STEM passions. For example, how do diverse perspectives (such as from different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, genders, identities) enrich problem-solving in STEM? Give concrete examples of how interacting with a diverse group might introduce you to new ways of thinking about a STEM problem, inspire you to pursue a different research question, or highlight the societal implications of scientific work.

Throughout your essay, try to show how you relate to Andrew Carnegie’s quote. Show your deep passion and dedication to STEM, and how an inclusive environment allows that passion to flourish.

Prompt 2 Option 2: As a STEM scholar, how can your academic work address a social inequity you have personally experienced or observed as harming/impacting a community in which you belong? (1000 words maximum)

For the second option of your second essay, choose any community you belong to—whether it’s your neighborhood, school, or others.

Then, identify a social inequity you have personally experienced or observed as harming/impacting a community in which you belong. This can be lack of access to clean water in a rural community, digital divide in an underserved urban area, or lack of representation in STEM fields for a particular group, among other examples.

Describe how this inequity harms or impacts the community. Use specific examples or anecdotes to show the problem.

Next, think about how your academic work as a STEM student addresses that. Show that you’re thinking like a “STEM scholar.” How would you approach researching the problem? What kind of data would you look at? What scientific principles would apply? For example, if the issue is clean water, how could chemical engineering, environmental science, or materials science contribute to filtration systems or detection methods?

Need professional help with writing these essays and completing your application? We can help. We’ve supported students like you in gaining admission to prestigious programs like Carnegie Mellon SAMS.

Step 4: Submit your application.

Once you have everything ready, submit your application. If you’re sure about getting into the Carnegie Mellon SAMS program, you should ideally apply by the preferred deadline (February 1). However, submitting by the final deadline (March 1) is alright as well. But regardless of when you submit your application, you’ll still be notified by the decision on April 4.

Why Join Carnegie Mellon SAMS?

Carnegie Mellon SAMS has a competitive admissions process, so is it really worth the effort? The answer is yes! Below are just a few benefits you can experience as a participant:

1. Rigorous college-level STEM academics

As you would expect from the Summer Academy for Math and Science, you’ll experience a rigorous curriculum that will deepen your STEM knowledge by tackling advanced topics in math and science and conducting research projects using university resources.

Through the program, you can ignite or reinforce your passion for STEM. You’ll be exposed to fields that are new to you (like computational biology or engineering disciplines) and get to do hands-on work that goes beyond your high school’s standard labs. It’s also an opportunity to explore potential college majors in a risk-free, supportive environment.

2. Immersive college experience

The Carnegie Mellon SAMS is an on-campus program, so it gives you a realistic preview of what college life is actually like. You’ll live in dorms, follow a structured class schedule, work on advanced academic projects, and develop college-level study habits and time management skills.

This immersion helps you adjust early to the pace and expectations of higher education. By the end of the program, you might find that your transition to actual college is much smoother, because you’ve already experienced the intensity of college courses while adjusting to the feeling of independence.

3. No cost

One benefit that certainly can’t be overlooked is the fact that SAMS is completely free! Removing the financial barrier is a huge deal because it somehow levels the playing field by allowing students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to join.

4. Opportunities for underrepresented students in STEM

SAMS was created to increase access and representation in STEM fields for students who have been historically excluded. In fact, the Summer Academy for Math and Science’s webpage explicitly says that it focuses on “providing opportunities for students from underrepresented communities to explore STEM-related fields.”

This program helps you build confidence, connect with mentors, and develop a sense of belonging in spaces where you may not always feel welcome. So, if you’re a first-generation college student, from a low-income household, attend an under-resourced school, or belong to a racial or ethnic minority group underrepresented in STEM, SAMS is definitely something you should try applying to.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does it cost to go to Carnegie Mellon SAMS?

Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy for Math and Science costs nothing. The university fully funds the program, so accepted students don’t pay tuition, housing, or meal fees. You’ll only need to prepare expenses for personal use and travel to and from the school.

2. How hard is it to get into Carnegie Mellon SAMS?

It can be quite hard to get into CMU SAMS. The school doesn’t give an acceptance rate, but only around 86 students are accepted per year, so you can expect a pretty competitive application process.

3. Is Carnegie Mellon’s summer programs good?

Yes, Carnegie Mellon’s summer programs are good. For SAMS, you can expect rigorous college-level courses, research projects, and mentorship from top faculty, all for free.

4. Do I earn credit from participating in Carnegie Mellon SAMS?

Yes, you can earn credit from participating in the Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy for Math and Science. The program has a credit-bearing course called “From Student to Scholar.”

Takeaways

• The Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy for Math and Science is a free, highly selective six-week summer program for rising seniors who are underrepresented in STEM fields.
• The program dates for SAMS 2025 are June 21 to August 2.
• Some of the benefits of participating in the Carnegie Mellon SAMS include experiencing rigorous college-level STEM academics, having an immersive college experience, attending for free, and getting opportunities for underrepresented students in STEM.
• Looking for other programs that also support underrepresented students? Receive an extracurricular roadmap to see what options you have.