<p>What do you guys think?
And if I were to enroll in MCS at CMU, would it be hard to switch into another non-science related major?
But overall, which is a better school to go to in temrs of prestige, social life, help from teachers, competivness.
Thanks!</p>
<p>I went to Tufts and have been visiting CMU this week with my son, talking with lots of students and staff there. My OPINION is that CMU may have an edge in overall reputation (but NOT sure that it’s the same for med schools), but that CMU is also more competitive and the students tend to work harder and not have as much fun. I think Tufts is more welcoming, less competitive, more cooperative among students (and faculty).</p>
<p>CMU has one of the most flexible curriculums, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to another non-science related major.
In terms of prestige, CMU wins because it is more internationally and domestically recognized.
For social life, I don’t think you will be at disadvantage if you decide to enter either of the schools. It is what you really make out of it. Though CMU might not have as big party as some public schools, there definitely is a party scene. UPitt is also right next door.
Also, CMU is known for having a good academic help system as there are TAs and Professors available during the open hours.
Last but not least, CMU is a very competitive school inside and out. People work hard not only just for the grades but for the understanding of the subject.</p>
<p>So, I think you will be better off choosing CMU than Tufts! :)</p>
<p>(i apologize for the super long answer, but i feel like i was kinda misled about the social scene at CMU and i felt like giving an honest opinion on it LOL.)</p>
<p>domestically, i think CMU and Tufts are pretty much equal in terms of prestige. in fact, even though CMU is ranked higher, i think Tufts has a better rep because admissions is more competitive there. since you aren’t planning on going into comp sci or engineering, i’d say Tufts would be a better match for you.</p>
<p>i don’t think it would be too hard to switch into a non-science major. switching into dietrich isn’t too hard to do. i’m not sure how easy it is to do that at Tufts, though.</p>
<p>i visited CMU last weekend and when you ask students what they do for fun or how the social scene is, they give you a funny look (or they just laugh). then they’ll explain that they “venture out into pittsburgh” and “see movies” and go to the occasional party. those were the responses from students that actively chose to get involved in the prospective student’s weekend.</p>
<p>from students that had no vested interest into convincing prospective students to attend, the answers were different. a lot of people said that the party scene flat out sucked, or that despite loving CMU, they hated that they weren’t getting the quintessential college experience.</p>
<p>…and in all honesty, a lot of the people there were really, really weird. one kid introduced himself to me by saying, “did you know stalin drowned in his own pee?” i could go on, but i’m 100% certain Tufts has a better social scene than CMU. that having been said, there are still plenty of interesting, passionate, intelligent and attractive (in a cute/quirky rather than hot, way) guys & girls on campus, and it seems easy to get involved in activities that you enjoy.</p>
<p>CMU claims to not be too competitive, but i dunno about that. i do know that most of the faculty seem really willing to help you out, and offer plenty of opportunities for you to approach them personally. the university also requires that professors save spots for undergrads to do research, etc. overall, the teachers are really approachable and seem to be passionate about what they do.</p>
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<p>I think this is something that is somewhat true. You won’t get the typical college experience at CMU, and this is something you should know ahead of time. I was fine with it, and felt the social atmosphere of the school was perfect for me. I didn’t like large parties, getting hammered a few nights a week, or those sorts of things. I liked that most social activities were smaller, and tended to be grouped with friends instead of random people at a frat party (though that is available if you want). It probably seems weird to say that, in general, I had a lot of fun doing my homework, but when you’re expected to collaborate on assignments, working with 5-10 of your best friends all night turns out to be fun, no matter how brutal the workload is.</p>