<p>I believe it's on April 9th. I want to go, but it's going to be a little bit of a hassle to get to Pittsburgh from Philadelphia. How many hours would it take to drive? I've never driven to Pittsburgh by myself, and I don't want to get lost. For anyone who has stayed at CMU for Sleeping Bag Sunday: what did you think of it? What do you get to explore? Are the informational sessions very indepth? How many other prospective students attend SBS?</p>
<p>By the time you pay for gas and tolls both ways - about a 6 hour drive each way? - you might want to think about flying, if that's an option. You can get a round trip ticket for under $150, then take the 28X shuttle for less than $5 each way....from airport curbside to middle of CMU campus. A taxi might cost you about $35 each way.</p>
<p>D went last year and had a great time...her host had other obligations on Sunday night, but host's roommates took over and gathered a group together with other upperclassmen. They saw several dorms, were down in Oakland and Shadyside, and she sat in on an architecture course Monday morning. I think there were about 150-200 kids there in Jan. last year.</p>
<p>I'm thinking about going, but i'd go all alone, and that kinda scares me. Oh well.</p>
<p>I'd also be doing BU on Friday, and BC on Saturday. ::stress::</p>
<p>beachy, did your D ultimately choose CMU? It sounds like it will be very fun, if I am able to go. I hate traveling alone, and I'm afraid I'll get lost, even when using a map. Help!</p>
<p>Southwest offers inexpensive direct flghts. As was previously mentioned the 28X will take you from the airport to CMU without changing buses.</p>
<p>Easier to get lost driving than flying/bus...</p>
<p>She did - and loves it. Program is quite demanding, but she has managed to find time to explore the city, get to quite a few concerts around town, hits the museums nearly weekly...has found a nice group of friends and is very pleased with her choice.</p>
<p>My S and I went that weekend 3 years ago. He was able to visit classes on Monday. It was great for parents as well as students. It was there that he made his final decision to attend. He is very happy at CMU.</p>
<p>For all the parents who responded (thanks!), if a parent is able to come along, where should they stay? Are there any facilities on campus or can they stay in a hotel? This is in case I am not able to take a plane there.</p>
<p>I have always stayed at a hotel when visiting CMU.</p>
<p>Just stayed at the Wyndham a few weeks ago and we were very happy. They provide a free shuttle to the campus and places nearby the hotel. The drivers are very, very nice and accomodating. </p>
<p>I have also stayed at the Shadyside Inn, the Holiday Inn near the campus, and the Marriott in Monroeville. I really like the Marriott because it is next to the Monreoville Mall but you would need a rental car because it is about a 15-20 minute ride to campus. If you want an apartment type feel as opposed to a hotel feel the Shadyside Inn is for you and it is very close to campus. The Holiday Inn was OK and it also had a free shuttle.</p>
<p>Am I allowed to bring a friend to SBS? He did not apply but is interested in CMU.</p>
<p>We've stayed at the Hampton Inn both times our S visited (we're Hilton Honors members) - the staff is really nice and they have a free shuttle over to campus; you could even walk but it's quite a distance. Our S went to SBW on Superbowl Sunday and had a great time. I stayed at the hotel that evening and when my ordered pizza never arrived, the staff shared their pizza with me in the lobby.</p>
<ol>
<li>Definitely go!</li>
<li>Yes you can bring a friend.</li>
</ol>
<p>If I bring a friend, will we be staying with the same host if we request it? How many days in advance should I register for SBS? I'm still not 100% sure, because I need to book a flight or at least get transportation straightened out!</p>
<p>is SBS on the april 9th for accepted students only?
I do not see the april 9th one on the CMU website and was wondering if its
just exclusive for accepted students?</p>
<p>I learned about the SBS event from an informational packet that came with the acceptance letter.</p>
<p>AcceptedAlready, am I allowed to have that friend stay overnight as well?</p>
<p>KRabble that's how my son decided to go to CMU. Yes it was Sunday night SBW and he had a great time. About 3 days later he stayed overnight at Hopkins---a good way to compare going back to back like that (CMU was easy choice for him). </p>
<p>We live in South Jersey near the shore. It's no big deal to drive from Philly to Pgh. Just take Schuylkill West (or Blue Route) to Pa Turnpike W entrance near King of Prussia. You stay on Tpk (476) till you're only about 10 miles from Pgh so it's pretty much a straight shot for most of the way. It's about 5 hours. If you can bring a friend that would make the drive go faster.</p>
<p>Try to go, it's the only way you really know if it's right for you. </p>
<p>I was in Pgh many times over 5 years.....in Oakland I like Hampton Inn since it's clean, new, convenient and you get free (ha) breakfast.</p>
<p>Downtown the best deal is the Omni William Penn, your parent(s) would love it. Weekend rates are like $100 or slightly more for an absolutely fantastic grand old restored hotel. Pgh isn't big so you can drive from the Omni to CMU in 10 minutes max.</p>
<p>Good luck!!!</p>
<p>2331clk, do you know if my friend could stay with a host at CMU as well (he was not admitted to CMU but is still interested and I'm under the impression that this SBS event might only be for admitted students).</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don't think my parents will be joining me, so having some company, like a friend, would be great. They own a store and must work on Monday (and I completely understand) so it doesn't bother me that they won't be there with me.</p>
<p>I think I will be traveling by air after all. I hate driving on the highways, and I think taking a plane might be slightly more convenient in this case.</p>
<p>By the way, may I ask why your son did not like JHU? I'm still trying to get over the big rejection from earlier this week (JHU was essentially my top choice after Penn--I gave up on Penn after ED deferral though). Thanks!</p>
<p>I think if you brought a friend they would have no choice but to let him stay. The ones now MAY be for only admitted students but seriously they are not going to check that. </p>
<p>Oh and JHU sucks, unless you like stealing your roommate's alarm clock so he would miss the exam thus giving you a better curve.</p>
<p>lol...I agree, just bring the friend with his or her own sleeping bag. I doubt if it's any big deal for the host student. Your friend won't "officially check in" of course but they won't kick him/her out so I'd say bring the friend.</p>
<p>Why my son didn't like JHU: I preface this by saying JHU is a top school and the next kid could choose JHU over CMU (don't want to get in trouble if JHU kids are here :)). That said, S is very social. His hosts were ECE/CS kids in Morewood and they apparently were very cool----they were playing pool, video games, went into Oakland late and generally had a fun time and it was a Sunday night so he loved it. I also remember him saying there were a lot of people just walking around the campus late at night.</p>
<p>In contrast, at JHU (this also was a planned overnight with lots of accepted kids) he said the campus was dead late at night. He also asked his hosts how they like Baltimore and they said they'd never been to the Inner Harbor (it's a mile away and Baltimore's major attraction!). He did play a basketball game but he said the kids were uptight about the work they were missing. So when he called me in the morning he said he'd made up his mind for CMU and we didn't bother staying for the info sessions.</p>
<p>All this is anecdotal but he ended up having a great social life at CMU in spite of what you may hear otherwise.</p>
<p>Flying PHil-Pgh is great....you're actually in the air all of 40 minutes. Have fun...</p>
<p>I hope this isn't pushing it, but would it be possible to bring 2 friends?</p>
<p>Also, when is the latest that I can register for SBS if it is held on the 9th of April? I still need to find tickets, and I'll be confirming this information with my friend (I just lightly suggested the idea to him).</p>