Benefits

The following benefits are provided to Carnegie Mellon University's PPIA Fellows during and/or after the Junior Summer Institute.

1. Graduate School Scholarship and Stipend

Students who have successfully completed the PPIA Junior Summer Institute and are admitted to a full-time master's program at Heinz College are offered a generous financial aid package. The current award to PPIA alumni is a full (100%) tuition scholarship and an $8,000 stipend per year.  Students must earn a B or better in each PPIA JSI course in order to be eligible for PPIA scholarship and stipend benefits from Heinz College. Other universities in the PPIA Graduate School Consortium offer various financial packages.

2. Career Services Workshops

Heinz College's Office of Career Services provides top tier support to students, alumni, and employers. They will partner with you to provide effective tools and resources to assist you with promoting yourself in the job market and/ or your graduate school search. They will share best practicies for highlighting your strengths and accomplishments and help refine your resume.

3. Office of Admissions & Program Directors

PPIA fellows will have the opportunity for one-on-one meetings with admissions and program staff to learn more about applying to graduate school and preparing for life after college.

4. Undergraduate Course Credit

Credit earned in your PPIA courses will often transfer to your undergraduate institution. This would decrease the number of credits you would need to complete in the final semesters of your undergraduate program. Please refer to your home institution's transfer-credit policy determine if you are permitted to transfer in credit from your PPIA coursework.

5. Trip to Washington, DC

Carnegie Mellon University's PPIA Fellows will travel to Washington DC in July.

During this trip, the PPIA Fellows will visit Heinz College’s DC Center to engage with PPIA and CMU alumni and members of our faculty.  In addition, the PPIA Fellows from CMU and Princeton attend a graduate school admissions panel, PPIA alumni panel, and a graduate school fair featuring members of the PPIA Graduate School Consortium.

PPIA fellows are expected to attend each scheduled event, and typically have one free evening to enjoy the city on their own.