BS Political Science

How US Universities Assess Applicants

US universities use a holistic admissions review. Beyond grades and standardized test scores, they weigh the strength of your overall profile to understand who you are as a student and a person.

• Profile Assessment: Undergraduate applicants interested in law may choose Pre-Law, Political Science, Economics, History, Philosophy, International Relations or another field. Debate, Model United Nations, mock trials, student government, journalism, advocacy, research and community service may demonstrate critical thinking and communication.
• Advanced Placement(AP) Guidance: AP availability depends on the student's school. Relevant APs can strengthen an application and may earn university credit, but are not compulsory unless the university or programme explicitly requires them.
  • AP English Language/Literature
  • AP US Government
  • AP Comparative Government
  • AP History
  • AP Economics
  • AP Psychology
• Extracurricular activities: Estimated extracurricular contribution: 15–25%. Carnegie Mellon values focused achievement, creativity, collaboration and evidence of genuine interest in the selected academic area. Technical projects, research, coding, entrepreneurship, arts and interdisciplinary work can strengthen the profile. Portfolio or audition requirements may apply to arts programs.
• Essays & recommendations: Personal essays and teacher/counselor recommendations give context to your achievements and help demonstrate fit with the program.