<p>Hi... My name is yixiang and I'm an international student. Glad to say that I was just recently admitted to CMU's class 2012. :) Anyway, I am now in a dilemma of choosing between two very good universities - UChic and CMU. WOuld anyone out there offer me advice on choosing between these 2 good schools. I know CMU is good for engineering and stuffs, but some of my friends say that CMU is .... dead boring. THe food sucks too. (I'm not sure whether all of these are true, but oh well..) Anyway, I have not decided on my major yet. So, I'm not going to the schools purposely for any particular course or major. Can anyone please help shed light on this? What's the major difference between UChic and CMU - as in the good(s) and the bad(s)?</p>
<p>There is a huge difference between the two schools. Namely, CMU is great for computer science and engineering. U. of Chicago is great for the humanities.
These are generalizations. If you think you will become an engineer, go to CMU. If you are more pre-law, pre-med, PhD in humanities/social sciences, go to U. of Chicago. By the way, which country are you from?</p>
<p>I'm more interested in humanities and stuffs. Anyway, I'm from Malaysia. How about you? Are you a HS student or are you currently attending any unveristies?</p>
<p>CMU is also great for music, art, architecture and drama. But the way it's set up, I think it is best for people who have a pretty good idea of where they are headed in life. It's more pre-professional in feel than most American universities. U. of Chicago I believe is also very strong in math and economics. I'd lean toward Chicago - it's also a great city!</p>
<p>I am a mother. I agree with mathmom. Chicago is a fantastic city and very beautiful, right on Lake Michigan. U. of Chicago is located S. of the city. U. of Chicago is a very intellectual type of place. Congratulations on your acceptances.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, mdcissp. It's great to see parents, like you, involving themselves in their S's & D's college admission process. Not to say that my parents are not helping out. Just that they are not that technological savvy enough and they don't know much about the US education system. But I'm glad they are giving me support, both mentally and spiritually. Anyway, the one thing that makes me kind of not wanting to go to CMU is because I get the feeling that CMU is .... boring ... and the courses there involves a lot of technicalities and theory learning stuffs. In short, for me, CMU = very technical. Sorry if there's any 'mistake' of interpreting CMU as the way it is, but could someone out there - better a current CMU student - enlighten me. Please tell me that CMU is filled with loads of FUN. As in parties, outdoor activities, etc.</p>
<p>Unless you're going to some kind of technical school (as in, DeVry), all universities are going to be "technicalities and theory". How is CMU any different than other top colleges in that regard? Courses are somewhat standardized.</p>
<p>One thing my son likes about CMU (he applied there and is not a current student) is that CMU is NOT a traditional party school and that it is a "tech" oriented school. I am doubtful that you will find a party atmosphere at U. of Chicago as well. Also, Chicago is cold in the winter so I am not sure you are going to find "outdoor activities" as its focus. Do you have any other possibilities besides U. of Chicago and CMU?</p>
<p>Wait a minute, isn't UChicago's unofficial motto "where fun goes to die"?</p>
<p>Urban</a> Dictionary: where fun goes to die</p>
<p>If you're more into humanities perhaps Chicago. CMU besides what's been mentioned here is also strong in psychology and creative and professional writing.</p>
<p>fwiw my S had a great social time, joined and lived in a fraternity at CMU. Socially it's not LSU or Texas A&M but there's plenty to do. Pgh is a nice city, and U of Pittsburgh is practically next door (with 20 or 30,000 more college age people and services in the same vicinity).</p>
<p>Generally:</p>
<p>For CS/Business/Drama/Engineering : CMU
Humanities and general Econ on most levels unless you want to do Quant: UChicago</p>
<p>However they are both very comparable and it really depends on what you like. I wouldn't say CMU is boring when like 2331 said, Uchicago is known as the place where "Fun goes to die." </p>
<p>Tucker Max, though not a reliable source by any means, has quite a few grievances with Uchicago's social life. </p>
<p>CMU does have plenty to do though and I think the surrounding area is better than Uchicago due to Upitt and other colleges (Pittsburgh is America's 2nd largest college city after Boston) and the nightlife and incline isn't that bad.</p>
<p>In all, its up to you, you will get an amazing education no matter where you go. CMU has a very strong job network and its strengths in academics is very marketable in the real world.</p>