Hey guys! I went to the Turn Tartan Overnight visit. I know Carnegie has a lot of bright and friendly students and I truly like their academics, but some of the students I talked to kinda ignored me and did not make me feel very welcomed. For example, I would ask them where they’re from, what they’re majoring, and start chit-chatting with them. But as I conversed, I felt like they didn’t really want to talk to me. I was the one who had to keep the conversation going and they eagerly left the conversation when they had the opportunity to do so. Also, I felt like the majority of people there were CS or ECE majors, even though their majors aren’t supposed to be the the most common. Is there an overwhelming computer science vibe at Carnegie? How would you guys describe the student body at Carnegie? What is the culture at Carnegie like? Carnegie used to be my top choice school, but now its a battle between Carnegie Tepper School of Business and NYU Stern :(.
Were you talking to current students? I mean you cannot really expect current students who are likely busy and have stuff to do to take time and talk to a potential student. If the students you talked to were not part of the volunteer Turn Tartan program, then obviously they have no real reason to talk to you. People have their own agenda. And maybe you were in an area where the students were CS or ECE majors (because they take some of the same classes). And I would not say “overwhelming computer science vibe” because the entire school itself is very computation focused. Mathematics is integrated into a lot of majors such as business. Do not let a small sample size of students in a small sample of time dissuade you from your original love for CMU. Comparing Stern and Tepper, I’d much rather take CMU over NYU. I personally think NYU is a bit overrated (maybe because I live 30minutes away from NYC).
I’m with @yoyohi, I want students at the school my daughter picks to be enthusiastic and welcoming whether they are part of the turn tartan experience or not. That’s just the type of school and atmosphere I would want my DD to be in.
Our CMU student led tour turned us off for just the same reasons that you noted from your overnight experience. My D and her friend both felt unwelcomed and as if we were bothering people by being on the tour. Most people were independent - we saw very few students socializing, walking together, or communicating at all (most were nose in phones or ear buds in). It was a beautiful day outside, not during finals week and no one was “hanging out”. We saw so many kids sitting with their computers in labs, classrooms, and in lobbies working - but very few (none?) were collaborating, working together, or even looked up when people passed. It was as if we were in “library” mode all through campus - including on the quad area. There was no chatter and very few smiles (not in classes or study lounges - in eating, relaxing areas) When we asked a question to someone standing in front of us in a food line we were granted a one word answer and then the student turned his back to us making it obvious that they were not going to engage in small talk. This type of interaction was repeated multiple times in various ways throughout our day on campus. Disappointing as it was a favorite on paper and we have several relatives who are alums.
Nothing wrong with a serious, work focused campus ~ just not what we were looking for. The feeling that we received was one of pressure, stress, and isolation. Daughter and her friend both asked if we could ditch on the tour after 30 minutes - I insisted that we stay through the tour and also to stay for the other meetings set up for us - which were outstanding - but we couldn’t shake the overall “vibe”. It could have been just our tour day, as D’s good friend and family LOVED it and CMU is now at the top of their list (along with several others from her school). They are theater and music kids (not computer kids) so that could have made the difference.
For the OP, when did you go? If you went in the last week or so there were lots of tests/assignments kids were getting out of the way before Spring Carnival. And if you were there during Carnival you do realize lots of kids were working on fumes and little sleep as they worked on Buggy, Booth, Mobot, etc., right?
My daughter, a sophomore, was far less grumpy this year during Carnival than last - she knew what to expect, I suppose. But man, was she exhausted both years…
Her strong impression on her first tour a couple years ago was largely the same as the negative ones voiced here. But she wasn’t expecting sunshine & rainbows - she knows and embraces the culture of hard work, stress and pressure because she wanted to go to a top school. Not everyone can handle it, of course, but if you’re not ready for it there are plenty of other schools with far more relaxed vibes.
As for ‘isolation’, I think that’s up to each individual. It certainly hasn’t been her experience at all but she took the initiative to join a sorority and has been involved in several other organizations and activities. Are there kids who do isolate themselves? Yep, but it’s their choice.
In summary I suspect that to prosper at CMU first and foremost your heart better be in the work, as the motto goes. And if you want a social life, extracurriculars, strong friendships, etc. that’s all certainly possible but dependent on the effort you put into them. Nothing comes on a platter there, but that’s pretty much true everywhere.
NYU is way better for business connections and New York City the way better city for you if you are majoring in business. I see CMU as a Music/Theatre/Engineering/CS super serious school. Business people need connections and you can develop those in NYC. Only go to CMU if for some reason you want a techy focus to your business degree. It makes no sense to live in Pittsburgh if you want a business degree and got into NYU. New York City is the center of business for the WORLD. Pittsburgh is a nice city on three rivers, with Uber and a few high tech firms and U of Pitt, which is a nice environment. Good luck.
hey everyone, so I just visited NYU this weekend. It was really nice with a lot of enthusiastic people, but I think I prefer the campus feeling of CMU.
I heard a lot of Stern students talking about how they are interning during the school year and during the summer. I know internships are important for a business major, but I’m scared NYU Stern would basically force me to take on many internships to stand out from my ambitious Stern peers. Also, I am rather introverted (although I really want to make many friends in college), so I’m not sure if I will fit in the beautiful NYC. Now I think I’m leaning towards CMU again.
Also, I know introverted people may have a little bit of trouble majoring in business (i may be wrong saying that idk), but I am determined to change my mindset to become more social :).
@yoyohi Yea, most of my friends that graduated from Tepper are in Wall Street atm, so I do not think you will be at a disadvantage to Stern kids. No need to dive into NYC, take it slow and develop social skills at CMU.
@Coloradomama - I would disagree that NYU is a superior school for business connections. You cannot get more connected than David Tepper. Plus, i think business is done in more places than New York City;-)
Your D probably did not talk to the right students. You cannot expect introverts to be very engaged, no matter what school. We did not have the same experience as you when we visited last year.
Hi guys, I just wanted to post an update that I paid my deposit to Carnegie Mellon. After visiting both colleges, I felt like Tepper was a better fit for me than Stern.
@yoyohi congrats on becoming a tartan!
I do think there was a pace to CMU…the lunch lady was abrupt and rude compared to other schools, the students were polite but gave as short of convo as possible…I think the students intentionally hosting and greeting us were fine…because they obviously weren’t in the middle of their “real life”. We were there a couple days and sat in on classes and there is a lot of teamwork on projects from what we witnessed. I was surprised in lecture to see about 5 students out of the supposed 80-90 there…not sure what that was about. lol. But the campus is pretty and nice town. I think one has to consider that it will competitive and focused group of students…the RPI students were more laid back and “Fun” as were NEU students. CMU seemed about the same as Cornell Univ students.