<p>Does anybody know when the application info comes out for SAMS and when it's due?</p>
<p>From the web site it looks like you can go ahead and apply anytime up to April 1.</p>
<p>Anybody have the contact info for the SAMS department? Can’t seem to find it anywhere.</p>
<p>I’m applying to this too! Who else is applying?</p>
<p>Hey guys…I’m really confused regarding SAMS and AP/EA</p>
<p>So it seems like AP/EA is way more rigorous and harder to get into…is that correct?</p>
<p>But on the other hand SAMS is free (right?) while AP/EA is like $6,000 for tuition and room and board.</p>
<p>Sooo which one is better to get into? Super confused at the moment, any help would be appreciated. </p>
<p>You’re right that SAMS is free and AP/EA costs money (approximately $8200, excluding books and personal expenses). But from my knowledge, SAMS is actually more difficult to get into. Since it’s a free program, they get a lot of applicants and they obviously can’t accept most of then, otherwise the program would be too large, plus CMU is known to not be the most generous with financial aid. AP/EA has something like an 80% acceptance rate, so if you have good scores and your overall application doesn’t give the admissions officers some red flag that you wouldn’t be able to do well, you’re very likely to be accepted. SAMS looks for diversity, either ethnically, socioeconomically, or otherwise. </p>
<p>AP/EA gives college credit for real college classes you take for six weeks, SAMS doesn’t because you are not taking college courses. </p>
<p>It depends on your personal situation which one is ‘better’ to apply to. There’s pros and cons to each (AKA- AP/EA gives college credit but it costs money, while SAMS is free but reportedly harder to get into and you don’t get college credit).</p>
<p>Let me try to clarify some things.</p>
<p>AP/EA is a precollege program where you take 2 college classes for credit and get to spend the rest of your day, evenings and weekends as you please. Admission is NOT competitive. Yes, CMU is going to screen your application so that they feel comfortable you can handle taking the classes, but otherwise if you have $8000 to spend on such a program you are in. Nearly every college in the nation offers something similar, and you can surely take 2 college classes in your hometown for a whole lot less. If the money is not an issue and you want to get away for 6 weeks and have fun while taking 2 college classes, then this is a fine program for you.</p>
<p>Then there is the “Summer Programs for Diversity.” This is the program through which you can attend for free. The main program is SAMS. This program is very competitive as last year there were over 800 applicants and they took 25 rising juniors and 30 some rising seniors. (There are 80 kids total but 20 some seniors were students that attended as rising juniors the previous year that are automatically invited back). This program is very structured, and in addition to full day week day classes, much of your weekend and evening time is also committed to the program. As mentioned you do not take regular college classes or receive credits.</p>
<p>Also through the Diversity program you can apply for AP/EA as well as Fine Arts. They state those awarded these programs for free are very limited. On the Diversity application you check which programs you are interested in: SAMS, AP/EA, Fine Arts. You can only be considered for AP/EA if you are deemed overqualified for SAMS.</p>
<p>I have looked through past years posts and found one girl last year that was awarded the Fine Arts free ride, however I found no mention of anyone ever getting the AP/EA program paid for.</p>
<p>So a couple of points:</p>
<p>The scholarships are ONLY through the Summer Programs for Diversity, so please realize you have to demonstrate diversity.</p>
<p>Getting the diversity scholarship for the AP/EA program would indeed be highly selective, but the program itself is NOT selective.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>I will add my 2 cents worth here too. The Diversity scholarships are I think very competitive and I’m pretty sure might have a financial component to it as well. My S applied 3 yrs ago and was not admitted to Diversity but was accepted to Pre College in design. The kids on diversity scholarship and regular Pre C kids take the same classes.
He decided to attend Pre C but for only 3 weeks as the cost for the 6 weeks program is very steep and he had other things he wanted to do with his time during the summer. Overall, I think it helped him. First, he was able to get a good idea of campus life, worked on his portfolio, and came away with a realistic perspective of the major. It solidified his decision to apply to CMU. He was however invited to Diversity weekend where he did sleeping bag and attended special events for diversity kids. He then was able to attend the diversity orientation before freshman orientation after acceptance. I think it’s worth trying for Diversity and if not accepted then you can decide if it’s worth the cost to you and your family. S is sophomore at CMU- Design (industrial design). </p>
<p>Ugh! Too bad! I totally overlooked SAMS because I’ve already taken all of the classes they offered. I guess I just assumed that all of the Summer Programs for Diversity programs would be free… Oh well! I guess there’s really no point in going to SAMS if I’m not going to learn anything new anyway :)</p>
<p>But I’m applying for AP/EA and the Music program… Excited! When do we hear back from them?</p>
<p>anniesunshine, if you applied through the Summer Programs for Diversity application then you did apply to the free summer program. And if accepted, the 6 weeks will be free. However, if they do not accept you then you may be offered the program for full pay. That is what happened with my son. If you applied for SAMS and they thought you were over qualified then they may offer the AP/EA program for free. That’s the difference. </p>
<p>Hello all! I’m finishing up my application to SAMS now and was wondering how we are supposed to do the activities resume. Is there a specific format I should follow? </p>
<p>@emywemy610 is the deadline postmarked April 4th or April 1st?</p>
<p>And I think the resume just has to look professional, no specific format.</p>
<p>@Holocaust This is what the website says: “All application materials must be postmarked by April 4 and be mailed together to the following address:”
I think you just have to submit your application online, like the questionnaire thing, before April 1st.
Also, thanks!</p>
<p>do you know how we can check our application status? </p>
<p>@weiyourenma I think they send you an email but it would be too early anyways. Online it said that they would tell you mid-May. </p>
<p>Does anyone know how many ppl apply each year? and whats the acceptance rate?</p>
<p>@thalamus somebody said earlier in this thread that about 75/800 get accepted, but 20 of those people are returning participants. So the acceptance rate is less than 7%</p>
<p>Hey guys! I also applied to SAMS. Does anyone know when results come in? and did any of you receive any confirmation that they got our submitted materials? Bc I didn’t. And I turned mailed my Application in on April 1st, not knowing they extended the deadline to April 4th. XD</p>
<p>The website says early May so it should be soon! </p>
<p>@luckystar888 I had to email them to ask if they received all my material. </p>