Carnegie Mellon Qatar’s annual summer program helps students make informed decisions about college

Doha, Qatar, July 24, 2018:   Secondary school students from across Qatar spent three weeks learning about careers in science, technology and business during the annual Summer College Preview Program (SCPP), hosted by Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q). This year was the largest SCPP in history, with 79 students participating.

Throughout the three-week program, students explored the fields taught at CMU-Q—biological sciences, business administration, computer science and information systems—and learned about college life. For many students, the program is an introduction to their future careers. Nearly 25 percent of last year’s freshman class at CMU-Q attended SCPP.

“The Summer College Preview Program exposes students to college-level math and writing and encourages them to develop new skills through project work. This is an important introduction to new fields of study for many students,” said Kemal Oflazer, associate dean of research, CMU-Q, who addressed students and parents at the SCPP closing ceremony. 

The fast-paced program also includes workshops on becoming a master student by setting goals, managing time effectively, and preparing a competitive application for college. 

Saif Jassim Al-Kuwari, a parent of one of the SCPP students, commented: “The main issue new college students face is that they are not well oriented within the higher education system. The SCPP program is a great opportunity for them to get exposed to academic life at CMU-Q.”

Ghaya Al Sulaiti, a CMU-Q graduate, said: “I had a plan when I was at high school which shifted once I participated in SCPP. It became obvious I wanted to proceed in information systems, that’s how I joined CMU-Q and now I’m starting a career I’m passionate about.” Al Sulaiti is now a business analysist for materials management at Qatar Petroleum.

Haya Al- Kuwari, a student at Qatar Academy and one of SCPP participants said “ I first heard about SCPP in one of the school trips to CMU and for me it is considered a life changing experience. I gained perspective and now I have no doubt that I want to study Business  Adminstration at CMU and become one of the leading female CEOs in Qatar.”

In addition to the three-week summer program, CMU-Q holds workshops throughout the year for secondary school students who would like to learn more about biological sciences, business administration, computer science and information systems.