The most accurate AI grader for Carnegie Mellon essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into Carnegie Mellon University and the rest of the T20.
Carnegie Mellon essay prompts for 2025-26
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
These are the most recent Carnegie Mellon prompts Kolly has verified, checked . Carnegie Mellon may have updated them since, so check Carnegie Mellon University admissions before you submit.
Anything Else / Highlight
Consider your application as a whole. What do you personally want to emphasize about your application for the admission committee's consideration? Highlight something that's important to you or something you haven't had a chance to share. Tell us, don't show us (no websites please).
300 words max · Required
Passion for Major
Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that's developed over time — what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study?
300 words max · Required
Why CMU & Major
Tell us about your decision-making process and the factors that led you to apply to Carnegie Mellon, including why CMU and your chosen field of study.
300 words max · Required
Defining Success
Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieve your ultimate goal. As you think ahead to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college experience?
300 words max · Required
All Carnegie Mellon supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a Carnegie Mellon essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. Carnegie Mellon readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what Carnegie Mellon readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
Grading your personal statement?
Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see Carnegie Mellon University admissions.