I've been hearing that Carnegie Mellon is quite difficult to get into. Is that accurate? In terms of difficulty, how does it compare to other colleges? Would appreciate any thoughts on this.
Carnegie Mellon University is indeed quite selective, ranking among the top-tier institutions in the United States. In fact, its overall acceptance rate for 2024 was approximately 11%, making it highly competitive.
From a comparison perspective, Carnegie Mellon's acceptance rate is in the same ballpark as other highly selective universities. To give you perspective, schools like Johns Hopkins University or the University of Pennsylvania also have acceptance rates in the teens.
However, the acceptance rates can vary dramatically depending on the specific college within Carnegie Mellon you are applying to. For instance, the School of Computer Science is considerably more competitive than some other schools within the university.
Just remember, admissions go beyond just admission rates—each individual school or program within a college could be more or less competitive depending on specific criteria, such as student interest, number of faculty, or even the number of seats in a particular program's classes.
On top of that, keep in mind that regardless of the acceptance rate, what's most important is how you as an applicant align with the school's values and expectations. So while you can use these rates as a general benchmark, focus primarily on presenting the strongest application you can put together.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.