<p>Hi.</p>
<p>I would like to know about academic/social atmosphere in carnegie mellon.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/carnegie-mellon-university/771643-truth-about-cmu-all-prospective-students-should-read.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/carnegie-mellon-university/771643-truth-about-cmu-all-prospective-students-should-read.html</a></p>
<p>We work, we play, and we sleep. There’s almost always something to do, and when you’re not working you immediately go out and find something fun to do. Honestly, I’m loving the whole experience.</p>
<p>My experience has been amazing. Classes are intense, but if you get out there and join one of the 250+ student organizations that appeal to you (or even better, multiple), you’ll have a lot of fun.</p>
<p>I’m in 5 or 6 organizations and pledging to a fraternity, and I couldn’t be having more fun. Greek Life here is great, everyone in the fraternity I’m pledging (Kappa Sigma) is a lot of fun to hang out with, but also breaks from the stereotypical mold. Everyone is concerned with academics and all the upperclassmen in it are constantly willing and offering to help underclassmen with their work if they don’t understand something.</p>
<p>You will never want for something to do, people to hang out with, or awesome experience if you come here and are able to manage your time between work and play. Most importantly, don’t just sit in your dorm room and watch TV. If you are in your room, leave your door open always, but most importantly get out on campus and meet people. Rush the Greeks, even if you don’t pledge you’ll meet amazing people from all the classes that will always be willing to hang out with you or help you out. Go to the activities fairs and go online to get contact info for ANYTHING that might interest you and give it a try. The most you lose is a few hours going to a meeting to try something new.</p>
<p>If you need any specific help, send me a PM and I’ll try to get you sorted.</p>
<p>Does CMU mainly consist of 1 type of people (you know what I mean)…</p>
<p>My friend says there are hardly attractive people there, and a lot of people are “nerdy”… is this the case?</p>
<p>Lots of people are nerdy, lots are not (there is art and drama too). Some of the nerdy people are even attractive.</p>
<p>Sometimes people manage to have fun. Last thurs I heard reports of a guy that actually had fun on two occasions in one weekend.</p>
<p>It must have been a long weekend.</p>
<p>My daughter is a sophomore in the Drama department. I have met or seen photos of many of her friends. They are a very attractive group of students. I would guess that most of her friends are in the School of Drama or Art. Last year she lived in a dorm. The students we saw at the dorm and on campus looked like average college students. As for fun, she seems to have a very active social life- on the weekends. She does seem to be incredibly busy during the week.</p>
<p>This question will sound odd, but how would you compare/contrast Carnegie Mellon and Tufts? </p>
<p>My son is interested in Engineering (or perhaps Math or Physics). He is an IB student strong in all subjects, and we thought he might like Tufts University outside of Boston. Perhaps it was due to the geeky/good vibe he got from the MIT tour that morning. But he really didn’t like what I’ll term the loosey goosey liberal arts feel of Tufts. Carnegie Mellon is the only school on his list that we have not visited, so I’m trying to get a better feel of the place via CC advise. (We probably can’t visit til spring).</p>
<p>CMU definitely doesn’t have a liberal arts feel. It’s a tech school in every aspect, and most of the students are motivated by a career they’re interested. That said, you’ll find everyone there has some interests other than what they’re studying, though they might not be as outspoken about them as you’ll find at liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>What other schools have you visited and what did you like in them?</p>
<p>I think the engineering students are serious at Tufts, but it’s a much smaller part of the whole university. I think CMU tends to have more kids who already know exactly what they want to be when they grow up (whether that is architect, theater, computer scientist or engineer) than most universities. It gives it more a pre-professional vibe and a lot of kids who are passionate about whatever it is they are into. We didn’t visit until son was accepted. The spring visit was so impressive he turned down Harvard for SCS. He has no regrets, but you have to realize he’s not a well rounded kid interested in getting involved in the ECs that are in many ways Harvard’s real strength. Tufts tries hard to feel small, CMU doesn’t. Food is much better at Tufts. Boston is great, but Pittsburgh really isn’t bad at all. My son has made more friends at CMU than he ever had before, but I have to admit they play Dungeons and Dragons and video games.</p>
<p>try googling* cmu clubs * or something similar</p>
<p>DS participated in The Fringe as a social group and applying mechanical engineering skills. He spent about 10 hrs/wk in club either building something for Carnival (he liked buggy building), running the concession stand for weekend movies, or social gathering. [Fringe</a> | Pictures : Fringe](<a href=“http://fringe.org/Pics/main.php]Fringe”>http://fringe.org/Pics/main.php) , Kids look pretty average to me.</p>
<p>There are many clubs and groups that will keep you occupied. Don’t over do it. </p>
<p>DS also dual majored and worked for his advisor for another 10 hours/wk (experience only).</p>
<p>RacinReaver - You asked what other schools interest my son…</p>
<p>He son really loved Harvey Mudd (including opportunities at Claremont Colleges too… but definitely did not want to apply to Pamona), but I worry about the academic intensity at Mudd. MIT was appealed to him too, but almost impossible to get into. He also liked Northeastern (great co-ops and scholarships) and RPI. CO School of Mines or CU may be ok too, but he’d like to go away.</p>
<p>One of the main considerations for me will be opportunities for exellent amatuer musicians. Music makes him tick. He is an excellent musician (tenor sax/jazz, piano, composing), but not good enough to out-audition a music major.</p>
<p>CMU has a pretty strong music community, I believe. If he likes going to classical type music there’s the Carnegie Music Hall about a five minute walk off of campus, as well as all the performances done by the music program at CMU itself. There’s also the Kiltie Band which is a blast if he’s interested in joining a marching band (and he’ll get to wear a real kilt!). I think the drama program also gets people around the campus to perform music for them, but I’m not as sure on that one. And, heck, he could always get a minor or something like that in music. Classes are open to everyone (though can be a little difficult to get into your first year there due to how course selection is done), so that might be a fun elective for his humanities requirements.</p>
<p>I was deciding between RPI and CMU for undergrad and wound up going with CMU since they were willing to match RPI’s financial aid offer, and I liked their program a bit more. I did Materials Science there and had an absolutely great time. If you’ve got any questions about the program in particular feel free to ask.</p>
<p>One of my friends here in grad school went to the Colorado School of Mines for undergrad and didn’t have that great of an experience, but she seems to be unhappy in general, so that might not be a fair impression.</p>
<p>I think the academic rigor of CMU is fairly similar to Harvey Mudd, though it’s in a different form since they have their core for everyone and CMU just has really tough classes for everyone sophomore and junior years.</p>
<p>CMU has an excellent music school. I know kids in SCS are able to do music as a minor. RPI has lots of a cappella groups, but I’m not sure what sort of instrumental music is available.</p>
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<p>DS participated as freshman, in the All CMU Orchestra in violin section. Got too busy in later years but he faithfully played his music as a way to relax and to think. </p>
<p>DS roommate of 3 years, was first chair All Ohio. And at least 3 years as concertmaster at CMU. Music wasn’t even his major but ME. Music was only an EC along with his student assistantship with a professor.</p>
<p>@Kansas city. I in awe of your daughter as a CMU, drama student.</p>
<p>nerdy. yes, all the rumors are true, indeed. professors sux.you study all the time especially if you are in scs. if you like studying, I mean , study study, then you are welcome here. cs stands for can’t shower. go figure.</p>
<p>None of what you said is true.</p>