Application deadline
1 March 2027
Scholarship consideration; 11:59 p.m. EST.
In-person Program
Drama Pre-College Program
by Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs
Intensive drama training develops audition repertoire or a design portfolio, with Carnegie Mellon faculty and practical preparation for college theater study.
Last verified: 5 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Drama Pre-College Program at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Applications open
Eligibility
Current high school sophomores or juniors
Age range / Year group
Ages 16+
Location / Region
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
Cost
$8,974; $12,303
Duration
6 weeks
Format
In-person
DesignFilmLiteratureCreative Writing
Accommodation: Typically shared double rooms
Meals: Three weekday meals; two weekend meals
Outcome: Audition repertoire or developing portfolio
Campus experience: University housing, clubs, museum access
Tutors / faculty: CMU faculty and adjunct professors
Class cadence: Monday–Friday, approximately eight hours daily
Residential support: Live-in staff; 24-hour response
Drama Pre-College Program summary
Carnegie Mellon's Drama training offers Acting, Music Theater, and Design/Production tracks modeled on undergraduate conservatory study.
Performance students build audition repertoire and receive mock-audition feedback; Design/Production students begin a portfolio for college interviews.
The strongest fit is a student testing a serious interest in theater training, with the discipline to prioritize classes and independent practice.
What is Drama Pre-College Program?
The Drama Pre-College Program is Carnegie Mellon's intensive introduction to conservatory-style theater training. Its Acting, Music Theater, and Design/Production tracks prepare students for college auditions or interviews through instruction from university faculty and adjunct professors.
Acting and Music Theater students develop monologues or songs through classroom practice and coaching. Design/Production students explore theatrical design, technical production, and management while starting a portfolio. All students study Dramaturgy, connecting close reading with research and the social context of plays.
Why Succeed highlights Drama Pre-College Program
Three distinct tracks make the program useful for both performers and students interested in backstage design or production.
Mock auditions give performance students specific feedback they can use in further preparation.
Design/Production connects practical theater work with portfolio and college interview preparation.
Dramaturgy across all tracks adds critical reading and research to practical training.
Carnegie Mellon faculty and adjunct instruction provides direct exposure to university-level expectations.
Who is Drama Pre-College Program for?
Best for
Students seriously considering college theater training who want to develop audition material or a design portfolio through sustained practice.
Not ideal if
You want a relaxed summer camp, a final production, or college credit.
Is Drama Pre-College Program worth it?
The program can be valuable if your main goal is to test whether intensive theater study suits you. Faculty instruction, audition feedback, and portfolio preparation offer practical ways to identify strengths and decide what to work on next.
Its value depends on your willingness to practice consistently and use feedback after the program. There is no final production or college credit, and attendance has no influence on undergraduate admission to Carnegie Mellon. Treat it as training and exploration when weighing the family investment.
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Cost and what is included
$8,974; $12,303; includes Faculty-taught college-level classes, Campus housing for residential students, Residential weekday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Residential weekend brunch and dinner, Residential $16 weekly DineExtra funds, Commuter $100 weekly DineExtra funds, CMU ID card with museum Arts Pass, Pittsburgh Regional Transit access.
Accommodation
Typically shared double rooms
Meals
Three weekday meals; two weekend meals
Provider details
Review the Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
6 weeks; Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Drama Pre-College Program need?
Effort level
High.
Best started
Begin six to eight weeks before your applicable application deadline to prepare essays, a recommendation, and any financial or international documents.
Main challenge
Maintaining reliable attendance and productive practice through an intensive schedule.
Typical preparation
Compare the three tracks and connect your choice to a specific training goal.
Request your recommendation early and prepare three thoughtful 300–500-word essays.
Plan for required devices, clothing, advance book purchases, and independent medication management.
International families should confirm a suitable immigration status before making travel commitments.
Useful if
You want to assess your readiness for conservatory-style theater study.
What do students do on Drama Pre-College Program?
You follow a track-specific sequence of theater classes alongside Dramaturgy and practical classroom work. The emphasis is developing your process, technique, and college preparation through practice and feedback.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Choose Acting, Music Theater, or Design/Production.
- 2
Attend core classes and complete the projects and exercises for your track.
- 3
Build audition repertoire or begin a cohesive design portfolio.
- 4
Study plays through Dramaturgy and apply critical reading, research, and writing.
- 5
Use optional evening workshops and weekend rehearsal to extend your training.
- 6
Performance students complete a mock audition and use constructive feedback to set future goals.
Drama Pre-College Program dates and deadlines
Upcoming
Programme dates
26 June-7 August 2027
Applications open
December 2026
Application launch month; an exact day has not been announced.
Scholarship decisions
1 April 2027
International arrival
25 June 2027
International student move-in, 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Orientation day
27 June 2027
Campus familiarization and program meetings.
Classes begin
28 June 2027
Classes end
6 August 2027
Residential move-out follows the next day.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 1 March 2027 | Local | Upcoming | Save deadline |
Programme dates | 26 June-7 August 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Applications open | December 2026 | Local | Upcoming | |
Scholarship decisions | 1 April 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
International arrival | 25 June 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Orientation day | 27 June 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Classes begin | 28 June 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Classes end | 6 August 2027 | Local | Upcoming |
Eligibility and requirements
Be at least 16 by June 26, 2027.
Be a current high school sophomore or junior when applying.
Commuters: permanent family residence within approximately 30 miles or Allegheny County.
International students: suitable immigration status and applicable English proficiency requirements.
Scholarships: demonstrated financial need and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
How much does Drama Pre-College Program cost?
Program fee
$8,974; $12,303 — 2026 commuter and residential totals, respectively.
Funding or discounts
- Application fee: $75 — Non-refundable; qualifying scholarship consideration waives this fee.
- Enrollment deposit: $800 — Non-refundable; credited toward the program cost.
- Need-based scholarship: Tuition, housing, and dining — For eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents demonstrating financial need.
- Scholarship recipient deposit: $100 — Available for student spending through the CMU ID card.
What's included
Faculty-taught college-level classes, Campus housing for residential students, Residential weekday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Residential weekend brunch and dinner, Residential $16 weekly DineExtra funds, Commuter $100 weekly DineExtra funds, CMU ID card with museum Arts Pass, Pittsburgh Regional Transit access
How to apply to Drama Pre-College Program
- 1
Choose your preferred Drama track and prepare the required application materials.
- 2
Complete the online application with student, parent or guardian, and academic information.
- 3
Upload your unofficial transcript and three 300–500-word essays as PDF or Word files.
- 4
Enter your recommender's email so they can submit the required recommendation online.
- 5
Add optional test scores and any required English proficiency results.
- 6
For scholarship consideration, request it in the application and submit financial documentation.
- 7
Pay the applicable application fee and ensure the recommendation arrives by your application deadline.
- 8
After admission, submit the enrollment reply form and applicable deposit within seven days.
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What does Drama Pre-College Program cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Acting
Practice monologues, camera acting, voice and speech, Shakespeare, and movement for college audition preparation.
Music Theater
Develop monologues and songs through acting, song coaching, camera work, ballet, and jazz.
Design/Production
Explore theatrical design, technical production, management, and portfolio preparation, with course offerings varying by year.
Dramaturgy
Analyze plays through close reading, research, writing, history, philosophy, and their social context.
Performance electives
Acting and Music Theater students rank electives such as improv, dramatic writing, directing, or tap.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Drama Pre-College Program?
A typical day during the program.
Core classes
Approximately eight instructional hours within 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with a daily lunch break.
Optional workshops
One to three optional workshops or masterclasses are offered in the evening schedule.
Independent work and activities
Time is intended for homework, independent rehearsal, and Pre-College Student Affairs activities.
Who teaches on Drama Pre-College Program?
Classes are taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty and adjunct professors. Featured faculty include Design/Production coordinator David Boevers, speech and dialects professor Gary Logan, and dramaturgy faculty member Kristi Good.
Where do students stay on Drama Pre-College Program?
Residential plan
- University residence halls: Most students share furnished double rooms in air-conditioned halls, with free washers and dryers.
- Residential dining: Three weekday meals, weekend brunch and dinner, and $16 weekly DineExtra funds are included.
- Live-in support: Trained residential staff provide 24-hour response coverage and enforce curfew and campus policies.
- Campus community: Students can join evening and weekend activities, clubs, and museum visits using their Arts Pass.
Non-residential plan
- Local commuter option: Students and their parent or guardian must permanently reside within approximately 30 miles of campus or within Allegheny County.
- Commuter dining: Commuters receive $100 in weekly DineExtra funds, with unused funds expiring Saturday night.
Students bring their own linens, pillows, towels, and laundry supplies, and must manage their own medication.
What happens after Drama Pre-College Program?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Develop monologue repertoire for college acting auditions.
Build song and monologue repertoire for music theater auditions.
Begin a design portfolio for college applications and interviews.
Use mock-audition feedback to set future training goals.
Assess whether further professional theater training suits you.
The program awards no college credit and has no influence on undergraduate admission to Carnegie Mellon.
Where does Drama Pre-College Program take place?
The program takes place at Carnegie Mellon University's Pittsburgh campus, at 5000 Forbes Avenue. Students traveling alone can use scheduled free airport shuttles on designated arrival days, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit access is included in the campus experience.
Drama Pre-College Program FAQs
Students choose Acting, Music Theater, or Design/Production. Acting and Music Theater develop audition repertoire, while Design/Production introduces technical theater coursework and portfolio preparation.
No. Admission requires an online application, an unofficial transcript, one recommendation, and three essays; standardized test scores are optional.
No. Training focuses on preparation and process rather than a final production. Acting and Music Theater students complete a mock audition with constructive feedback.
No. Pre-College Drama does not award college credit, and participation has no influence on a student's undergraduate application to Carnegie Mellon.
Yes. The Drama program allows commuters whose permanent residence, shared with their parent or guardian, is within approximately 30 miles of the Pittsburgh campus or within Allegheny County.
Most students share a furnished double room in an air-conditioned residence hall. Residential dining includes three weekday meals, weekend brunch and dinner, and $16 in weekly DineExtra funds.
Full need-based scholarships cover tuition, housing, and dining. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents; scholarship recipients submit a $100 deposit available for campus spending.
No. Students must manage and administer their own medication. Prescription medication must be secured in a lockbox, and CMU staff cannot provide medication management.
Alternatives to Drama Pre-College Program
Compare these adjacent creative programs if your interests extend beyond theater.
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Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- Join our Pre-College Mailing List
- Packing List - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- International Applicants - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Dining - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Student Experience - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Admitted Students - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Admission - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Cost and Scholarships - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Arrival - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Discover Sessions - Presentations and Q&As - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Drama - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 5 Oct 2026)
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Historical fees identified
Scholarship conditions reviewed
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How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Drama Pre-College Program
by Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs
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