Carnegie Mellon University

• Current resumeRequired

  Current resume.

• Statement of PurposeRequired

  Statement of Purpose. Program-specific requirements are detailed on the application.

• Unofficial transcriptsRequired

  Unofficial transcripts from each university you have attended, regardless of whether you received your degree there. Transcripts must be uploaded prior to application submission; hard copies only if accepted. Fall semester grades are not required.

• Three letters of recommendation3 letters

  Recommenders should know you relatively well and be able to evaluate the quality of your previous work. At least two letters should be from faculty or recent employers; letters that are simply character references will not provide good support.

  Three letters of recommendation. The application allows up to five. Recommenders have until the final deadline to submit.

• GRERequired

  Required. GRE scores must be less than five years old. Institution Code 2074; Department Code 0402. The GRE At Home test is accepted, but a test center is preferred. If taken more than once, enter your most recent scores.

  Waiver / exemption: This requirement is waived for CMU undergrads.

• Duolingo English Test, IELTS or TOEFLIf your degree wasn't taught in EnglishRequired

  Duolingo English Test: Required if you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa and English is not a native language for you (spoken at home and from birth). One of: TOEFL (preferred), IELTS, or Duolingo. MCDS applicants must submit scores from an English proficiency exam taken within the last two years. TOEFL or IELTS preferred; Duolingo accepted if that isn't possible. Request that subscores be included. No minimum stated.

  IELTS: Required if you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa and English is not a native language for you (spoken at home and from birth). One of: TOEFL (preferred), IELTS, or Duolingo. MCDS applicants must submit scores from an English proficiency exam taken within the last two years. TOEFL is preferred, but IELTS is accepted (by e-delivery). No minimum stated.

  TOEFL (preferred): Required if you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa and English is not a native language for you (spoken at home and from birth). One of: TOEFL (preferred), IELTS, or Duolingo. MCDS applicants must submit scores from an English proficiency exam taken within the last two years. TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition accepted; the TOEFL ITP Plus for China is discouraged since speaking is not scored. Institution Code 4256; Department Code 78. No minimum stated.

  Waiver / exemption: No waivers: 'We do not issue waivers for non-native speakers of English.' Previous study at a U.S. or English-language high school, college or university outside the U.S. does not qualify: 'No amount of educational experience in English, regardless of which country it occurred in, will result in a test waiver.'

• PTE Academic not listedIf your degree wasn't taught in EnglishNot accepted

  Not listed: the accepted English tests are TOEFL (preferred), IELTS, or Duolingo.

• Short video (1-3 minutes) — strongly suggestedIf invited · with the application

  A short (1-3 minutes) video of yourself. Tell us about you and why you are interested in the MCDS program. This is not a required part of the application process, but it is STRONGLY suggested.

Who can apply

• GPA of 3.0 or higherRequired

  A GPA of 3.0 or higher (School of Computer Science requirement for all applications).

• School guidance · Required · Recommended: about 2 pagesYou should prepare a concise one- or two-page essay that describes your research interests, related experiences and objectives in pursuing a graduate degree at Carnegie Mellon. Your essay should be specific. Explain why your research interests are important areas of study and why you are particularly well-suited to pursue them. You should describe any relevant education, research, commercial, government or teaching experience.

  You should prepare a concise one- or two-page essay that describes your research interests, related experiences and objectives in pursuing a graduate degree at Carnegie Mellon. Your essay should be specific. Explain why your research interests are important areas of study and why you are particularly well-suited to pursue them. You should describe any relevant education, research, commercial, government or teaching experience.

  The program's actual essay question is inside the application.