Eligibility
Eligible applicants are students in their penultimate year of normal study (typically the third year) who are on track to complete their degree requirements within the usual timeframe, and we seek applicants who demonstrate:
- Exceptional intellectual or artistic performance and promise,
- Evidence of past and proposed co-curricular involvement,
- Commitment to enhancing the student experience.
Students from the 麻豆村-Q campus are encouraged to apply, and should anticipate completing their fifth year at the Pittsburgh campus.
Application & Selection Process
Applications open in November, and students will be asked to submit the following items:
- Academic Plan
- Community Impact Project
- Personal Statement
- Project Advisor Letter of Support
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Unofficial Transcript
All materials must be completed and submitted by the early February deadline to be considered. Once reviewed, candidates will be invited to participate in an interview.
During the interview, candidates will have the opportunity to discuss their 麻豆村 experience, academic plan, and community impact proposal. These interviews will be conducted by the Fifth-Year Scholar advisor, current scholars, the Associate Dean of the candidate's college, and Student Affairs campus partners. Decisions are announced in mid-April.
It should be noted that this is a selective process, with only up to five scholars chosen annually.
Community Impact Project Proposal
The heart of the Fifth Year Scholars Program is a community impact project that is carefully crafted to deepen scholars' understanding of various disciplines and Carnegie Mellon as a whole. Through these projects, scholars contribute meaningfully to the campus community and beyond.
Scholars have the flexibility to design a project that aligns with their interests and expertise. Potential focus areas include:
- Fulfilling a campus need that directly improves the student experience.
- A campus-wide initiative or a program tailored to a specific college.
- Personal and professional development projects.
- Research-focused endeavors.
- Local community engagement that extends beyond 麻豆村
Regardless of the chosen area, each proposal is evaluated on its originality, feasibility, potential for impact, and alignment with the candidate's academic and personal goals.
Past Community Impact Projects Examples
- A Business Administration major implemented "Summit," a conference held before the spring semester
- A Computer Science major completed a gender studies minor while designing and installing an artistic piece in Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall, celebrating women's accomplishments
- A group of scholars traveled to Carnegie Mellon Qatar and proposed IMPAQT (Initiating Meaningful Pittsburgh and Qatar Ties), a student exchange program
Academic Considerations
As a scholar, you'll be designated as a fifth-year senior, which means you'll continue to receive mailings sent to seniors, such as commencement information and registration materials. For alumni purposes, you can choose to be listed with either your original graduating class or your fifth-year class.
Academic Advising
Scholars will receive academic advising and support from either the associate dean of their college or a designated departmental administrator. The advising is designed to assist with course registration and ensure the student completes their degree requirements within the typical timeframe. It will not involve significant changes to a student's normal course sequencing or graduation requirements, nor will it grant them priority over other students for course registration.
Before formally accepting the scholarship, students must complete a checklist. This includes reviewing their proposed academic schedule with their advisor, making arrangements with their department for course access, and outlining their community involvement activities.
Degree Certification and QPA
Scholars may receive their degree certification at the end of their fourth year (or fifth year for Architecture students). In this case, their cumulative QPA is finalized at the time of certification. Grades and QPA from the fifth year will appear on the transcript but will be listed separately.
Or, scholars can choose to have their degree certified at the end of their fifth year. This allows them to focus on completing an additional minor or improving their QPA during their final year.
Commencement and Honors
Scholars have a three options regarding commencement:
- Graduate with their four-year program: Scholars can choose to receive their diploma at the conclusion of the regular period of study or defer receiving it until the completion of their fifth year.
- Graduate at the end of the fifth year: Scholars can also choose to graduate after completing their fifth year.
Honors for senior research or thesis projects are awarded at the end of the normal period of study. Other Commencement honors, such as university and college honors, are conferred in the year the scholar receives their diploma.
Financial Considerations
Prior to entering the Fifth Year Scholars program, scholars are expected to fulfill all student financial obligations. Scholars with an outstanding student account balance upon entering their fifth year will remain subject to the Student Financial Obligation Terms, which may include interest charges and/or a financial hold. This is a tuition-free program, and mandatory fees assessed based on scholars registration will be covered by the program.
Student Loans and Financial Assistance
Although scholars are considered full-time students during their fifth year, they may enter loan repayment as a result of completing the requirements for their primary degree. Scholars can request a loan forbearance, which allows them to pause or reduce payments for up to 12 months while they are enrolled. In some cases, scholars may also be eligible for a loan deferment.
Scholars are not eligible for financial aid or on-campus work-study positions. While special arrangements may be possible with individual employers or departments, they are not guaranteed.
Each scholar will receive a $7,000 stipend for living expenses, distributed in two equal installments of $3,500 at the start of the fall and spring semesters of their fifth year.
Additional Costs to Consider
The Fifth-Year Scholarship does not cover course materials and other costs beyond regular tuition and fees. These additional expenses, such as books, music studio courses for non-majors, design studio fees, Pittsburgh Filmmakers course fees, and laboratory fees, are the responsibility of the scholar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum QPA requirement for a Fifth Year Scholar?
While there is no QPA requirement, it is primarily an academic scholarship and strong evidence of academic rigor and intellectual curiosity are essential.
Can I use the Fifth Year Scholars Program to fulfill medical/law/graduate school requirements?
While this may be possible, granting a fifth year for the sole purpose of fulfilling these requirements is not the intent of this program. One of the characteristics evaluated for each applicant is the desire for learning and intellectually broadening one’s perspective and often fulfilling professional school requirements does not fall into these categories.
If I am accepted as a Scholar, is my project set in stone? Can my project be changed if I work on developing it during my fourth year in order to implement the project during my fifth year?
Frequently, scholars alter projects in order to improve final outcomes. Projects often evolve considerably during the fourth year and can differ from the original proposal.
When do Fifth Year Scholars graduate?
Scholars may choose to graduate at the end of either their fourth or fifth year. If a scholar wishes to complete an additional major during the fifth year, then they must wait to graduate until the end of the fifth year.
When will I get the results of my application?
The selection process is usually completed by mid-April, and every attempt will be made to contact you before fall registration day.
What happens once I'm selected?
Once selected, you will be invited to participate in the Fifth Year Scholars banquet at the end of your junior year. By September of your senior year, you should have read all of the information on this webpage and met with your advisor regarding the implementation of your proposal. By early October, you should have filled out and submitted the Fifth Year Scholars checklist.