Your Summer, Your AI Journey!

Imagine a summer exploring artificial intelligence alongside passionate peers, guided by Carnegie Mellon’s leading faculty. AI Scholars is a fully funded, merit-based program for rising high school seniors to develop real-world skills, gain mentorship, and take the first step toward your future in tech. During this four-week immersive program, scholars will engage in classroom instruction, research projects, faculty lectures, and industry experiences, gaining real-world experience while exploring one of today’s most exciting fields.

Non-credit

Residential

Financial Aid

Final project

Application fee waiver

Program Overview

As an AI Scholar, you will dive into college-level courses and weekly college prep seminars covering admissions, financial aid, and social-emotional wellbeing. Through project-based learning, you’ll explore computing and AI concepts while collaborating on hands-on group projects that tackle real-world challenges and culminate in a final symposium presentation. You’ll also connect with industry leaders, gain mentorship from faculty, and build lasting relationships with peers all while experiencing life on a college campus. A core value of the AI Scholars program is a commitment to an inclusive, equitable community where all participants feel valued and supported; scholars are expected to uphold this value and actively contribute to a culture of respect and belonging.

AI Scholars is a fully funded, merit-based program that brings together students from across the country to learn directly from CMU faculty, staff, and researchers. Thanks to generous support from foundations, corporations, sponsors, and donors, all program costs are covered, including*:

Tuition
Housing
Meal plans
Select program-related field trips and special events

*Limited travel assistance is available for families facing transportation barriers.

Curriculum

Academic

• Virtual Pre-Program Python Course: A virtual course held approximately one month before arrival combines synchronous and asynchronous components to prepare students for the on-campus experience. Prior coding experience is not required. Instructor support will be available for all participants.
• Core AI Curriculum: Taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty, the core AI Scholars curriculum introduces foundational computing and artificial intelligence concepts.
• Research Exposure: Students gain an in-depth introduction to ongoing research projects led by CMU faculty and graduate students.
• Writing Workshop: Focused on college application and essay preparation, helping students strengthen their writing and storytelling skills. All students leave the program with a completed college application essay that has been workshopped by their instructor and peers.

Personal Growth

• Career and Personal Development: Interactive discussions with experts designed to help students explore academic and career pathways.
• Mentorship: Group mentoring with CMU faculty and graduate students fosters guidance and support.
• College and Beyond: Seminars on academic readiness, college success, and post-graduate planning during the program and beyond its completion.
• Community Building: Social and team-based activities designed to create lasting connections among peers.

Hands-on Experience

• Group Research Projects: Collaborative projects allow students to apply classroom concepts to real-world challenges.
• Industry Engagement: Field trips to leading tech companies where students connect with professionals, explore emerging topics, and learn about career opportunities.
• Capstone Symposium: On the final day, students publicly present their group projects - showcasing the skills and knowledge they’ve developed throughout the program.

Single Session

Jun 20 - Jul 18

4 weeks

Residential

0 USD

Students admitted to AI Scholars are not required to pay an enrollment deposit. To secure their spot in the program, their Enrollment Reply Form must be received within 7 days of admittance.

AI Scholars (AIS) utilizes a holistic application review and admissions process, looking at the full application and selecting program participants based on a combination of factors. Because participants are fully funded, demonstration of financial need is one of these factors. There is no option for participants to pay out of pocket tuition fees for this program, and documentation of financial need is required for application submission. Documentation includes either tax documents or a completed NACAC Application Fee Waiver signed by your high school guidance department. 

The AI Scholars program is intended to create opportunities for students who lack access and/or resources at home, at school, or in their communities. This can mean financial need, it can mean a lack of computer science education in your school district or community, or lack of access to affordable/stable internet or computing devices. We recognize that students may not meet the current financial need requirements, but may still lack access or opportunity for other reasons. If any of this resonates with your experience, we strongly encourage you to apply.