About

Carnegie Mellon University’s Pre-College Program in Computational Biology is a four-week, immersive summer experience that introduces high school students to the interdisciplinary territory where biology and computation intersect. This program blends hands-on laboratory work with computational analysis so students can see how modern biological data are generated and interpreted—from field sampling and microbial DNA extraction to coding solutions for real data analysis. The 2026 program is scheduled for June 20 through July 18, and admitted students complete foundational programming preparation (based on the "Programming for Lovers" project) before the on-campus session begins.

Designed for students who are strong in math and science and curious about how computation informs biological discovery, the program gives participants the opportunity to work with real research-inspired problems under the guidance of Carnegie Mellon faculty. Daily activities alternate between “hackathon”-style coding teamwork and experimental lab work, leveraging CMU’s automated laboratory infrastructure to foster both analytical thinking and practical skills. Although no college credit is awarded, the experience mirrors the rigor of undergraduate learning in computational biology and data science.

Admission is selective and requires an online application including an unofficial transcript, one letter of recommendation, and responses to essay prompts. Eligible applicants must be at least 16 years old by the program start date and must be current high school sophomores or juniors at the time of application. Decisions are released on a fixed schedule rather than a rolling basis: the Early Deadline is February 1, with decisions sent March 15, and the Final Deadline is March 1, with decisions sent April 15. Residential and commuter options are available, though commuters must reside within approximately 30 miles of the Pittsburgh campus.

Tuition and residential costs for the 2026 program are $10,750 for students living on campus and $8,041 for commuters, plus a $50 application fee and an $800 enrollment deposit. Full scholarships covering tuition, housing, and meals are available for U.S. citizens or permanent residents demonstrating financial need, provided application materials are submitted by the February 1 financial aid deadline. International students are welcome to apply but are not eligible for scholarship consideration.