About

Writing & Culture at Carnegie Mellon University is a four-week, university-run summer program for high school sophomores and juniors who want to deepen their expressive and analytical capabilities across writing, film, and cultural media. Hosted by Carnegie Mellon’s Department of English within the larger Pre-College Programs suite, the curriculum immerses students in storytelling in its many forms—from digital poetics and short-form writing to screenplay development and visual narrative. Participants build a coherent, diverse body of work integrating written pieces and a culminating multi-modal project, all while sharpening critical thinking, creative expression, and effective communication for college and beyond.

To be eligible, students must be at least 16 years old by the program’s start (June 20, 2026) and be in high school (sophomore or junior) at the time of application. The application includes an online form, unofficial transcript, essay responses, and one letter of recommendation; while a portfolio is not a mandatory requirement, students are encouraged to highlight their creative engagement in their personal statements. Standardized test scores are optional. Carnegie Mellon uses a fixed admissions schedule: applications submitted by the early deadline (February 1, 2026) receive decisions by March 15, and applications by the final deadline (March 1, 2026) receive decisions by April 15. Residential and commuter options are available, with residential students living on campus and commuter students participating full-time in the academic and extracurricular schedule. For 2026, the total cost for residential students is $9,926 and $7,574 for commuters, plus a $50 application fee and a $1,000 enrollment deposit.

Instruction consists of interactive workshops, seminars, mentorship sessions, and cultural excursions into Pittsburgh’s literary and visual arts scene. Faculty from the English department guide students through exercises in creative writing, cultural analysis, and media interpretation, showing how medium influences message. Students attend local readings and museum visits, participate in discussions with practicing artists and authors, and explore narrative techniques across formats. Over the course of the program, learners transition from idea generation to polished work, gaining personalized feedback and developing a professional portfolio.

This program is institutionally grounded in Carnegie Mellon’s emphasis on interdisciplinary arts and humanities scholarship. The Department of English’s expertise in literary and cultural studies informs a curriculum that views storytelling as both craft and inquiry. The program does not confer college credit, but it helps students articulate and defend complex ideas across media and formats—a foundation valuable in any liberal arts undergraduate setting.