Hey All,
I recently just got admitted to Carnegie Mellon Dietrich College, Statistics Department! I was super excited until I started reading online reviews about how stressful CMU was, and I am starting to have second thoughts. I was also accepted to the University of Toronto for computer science, and I’m wondering if it would be a better option. Here is how the situation is looking as of now:
- CMU's undergraduate population is 10% that of UofT (Yes its that big a difference. 6,000 vs 60,000)
- I don't really mind the difference in majors as much because I like both Statistics and Computer Science. In fact, my dad said he would prefer I do statistics at CMU since it is a necessary skill in life. Plus my major would be Statistics and Machine Learning)
- I read online that Toronto is a very nice city as opposed Pittsburgh, which has 'bad weather'
- I heard both schools don't have great cafeteria foods.
Right now, I am leaning towards Carnegie Mellon, especially because of the difference in undergrad population. I am planning on visiting both schools over my spring break which is in one week! I would appreciate all inputs. Thank you all!!!
I’m very familiar with U of T and toured CMU with D16. She ended up not applying.
Although you have been admitted to the CS stream at U of T, you’re still not admitted to the major. You have to meet a certain %ge threshold in your first year intro CS courses in order to be admitted to the CS major or specialist, which U of T calls a “program of study” or “PoST”. In 2016, that threshold was about 74% which was about the course average. No one knows what it will be this year or next. For people not admitted under the CS stream, the threshold was 83%.
CMU’s campus is much smaller than U of T’s and there was nothing in the neighborhood outside the campus that looked interesting to us. U of T St George campus is in the middle of the 4th largest city in North America. There are major museums on the edge of campus. There are plenty of restaurants in the surrounding areas. The rest of downtown is easily accessible via subway. The airport has many direct flights to places in the US and Europe and Asia.
We ate in the cafeteria at CMU and the food was awful. I attended U of T and S14 is a student there. We both think the food is pretty good.
The 60,000 number at U of T St George includes 16000 grad students, most of whom live and work off campus.
As a U of T student, you have been admitted into one of 7 colleges. U go T is a federation of those colleges. Your registrar, bursar, residence (dorm) and dining hall all belong to your college. It makes the experience seem like a much smaller university.
Which college were you admitted to?
All I have ever heard from friends who lived in Toronto is that it is a fantastic city! Also, U of T is very prestigious internationally – considered like an Ivy of Canada. It is likely you would be able to take some statistics electives while pursuing your CS major there. Why not check on that if it is a concern?
Since these are very different places, I think you will know once you visit which one you prefer. You can’t go wrong – they are both phenomenal universities. Congratulations!
Wow, thanks for the very detailed response!
In U of Toronto, I am going to be in Woodsworth college and residence, but I was not aware of this threshold needed to be a specialist. I originally planned on specializing in Artificial Intelligence in Toronto.
As for Carnegie Mellon, I am also technically undeclared in the Dietrich College, even though I applied to their Statistics Department. However, I called the admissions office and was told that I could declare my major at any time without a problem of it filling up.
By the way, what college did your D end up going to? Thank you for all the help!
thanks, I’m super excited too!
D16 is at University of Waterloo. UW is very competitive for admission to CS, but students are admitted directly to the major.
Statistics and other math related majors at U of T are relatively easy to get into. You would have no trouble taking stats or other math courses as electives.
I believe Toronto may be stressful as well with grade deflation, however.
@bouders: OP is aiming for CS at Toronto.
Getting good food to eat in Toronto will NOT be a problem.