The Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences (PGSS) was started by Governor Richard Thornburgh in 1982 to ensure Pennsylvania’s global competitiveness in science and technology. Held each summer at Carnegie Mellon University, PGSS provides the State’s highest caliber students with a STEM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Over the course of five weeks, the students study advanced subjects, perform laboratory experiments, and conduct original research, all under the guidance of University faculty. One of the defining aspects of PGSS is the diversity of the student body. Applications are broken down according to the 29 Intermediate Units, with applicants only compared to others from the same region. Within a region, applicants are selected solely on merit, and every student is a priori guaranteed a full scholarship. This allows students to attend, regardless of economic status, with attendees coming from every corner of the state. In a typical year, over 400 people apply for approximately 56 seats. Throughout these pages, you'll find descriptions of the academic courses, the research projects, and the social aspects of PGSS. Please visit the following links to learn more about the hallmarks of a PGSS education: |