CMU atmosphere/campus life

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am looking to get a better understanding of the general attitude/atmosphere and student life at Carnegie Mellon. </p>

<p>What are students like, what do they do in their spare time (if any), who do they hang out with and when, etc.?</p>

<p>I am hoping to major in computer science and am interested in robotics. I know that CMU is pretty much #1 in both areas (aside from maybe MIT, which I would go to instead if I'm accepted-but let's not discuss that here). They also made it clear that really awesome job and research opportunities are available. However, even if CMU can offer a great career, I want my college experience to be rewarding in itself.</p>

<p>I recently went on their sleeping bag weekend and came away with mixed feelings. Some students, such as the tour guide who was in the robotics club, seemed happy and enthusiastic and at least one class that I sat in on, OS design, was interesting and lively, but other students just seemed inactive, tired and awkward and some other classes were boring. It's entirely possible that I simply visited on a bad day-after all it was -10 degrees out, snowing, and students had just gotten back from break so most classes were reviewing.</p>

<p>My overall impression: while MIT for instance is described as "work hard, play hard" and "sleep, grades, social life-choose two", CMU is just "work hard, get job" and "sleep, grades-choose one".</p>

<p>The words "high paying" "work", "job recruitment", and "resume" were thrown around alot and they tried to make a case for "interdisciplinary", "collaboration", "study-abroad opportunities", "project-based leaning" (WPI still takes the cake in these) and "diversity". However, absent were other common catchphrases that I had begun to take for granted from schools such as "innovation", "open-source", "creativity", "inspiration", "passion" and "forward thinking" (although these are rampant on the website). Also, other than the Buggys and Steelers, I didn't detect a big sense of campus life, culture, or unity. Again, maybe I just came at a bad time-I was tired from traveling and was catching a minor cold so it's possible that I was overly pessimistic.</p>

<p>I did have fun learning about their lunar X-prize rover and other projects -the robotics and CS programs are undeniably impressive and rewarding.</p>

<p>As for the location, the Gates center was admittedly awesome but I though the rest of the campus and surroundings were average and hard to navigate ("City of Bridges" is very accurate). More than one student complained that classes for a subject weren't actually in the building associated with that subject. Also, I never saw any actual dorms as my ambassador lived in an apartment that was a 15 minute walk away from campus-I've hear that many of the "dorms" are actually apartments.</p>

<p>Basically, I sensed that CMU students' hearts are in the work but not much else.</p>

<p>Can anyone offer some honest insight into these interpretations?</p>

<p>On another note: Where might I find statistics on what schools CMU students go to for grad school and what schools CMU grad students come from?</p>

2

<p>My son goes to CMU and I only have a vague idea of what he does for fun (since after all what kid tells his mom what he really does for fun). However, a few things I know about. He joined a frat and as part of his induction they flew him to a city where he’d never been and a frat alumnus housed him. His frat planned poker parties, Steelers watching parties, rafting trips, as well as the usual girls and drinking parties. The drinking is under tight control, though, and many of the frats have been closed for infractions so don’t know if this is indicative of what your experience will be. He also cooks dinner together with friends and plays ultimate frisbee and soccer. He tells me that he’s having a great time. He’s a very social kid and had tons of friends in high school and I think the same thing is true at CMU. Fun isn’t always about what you do so much as the ready availability of people to just hang with. I think it’s a shock for him to come home and realize that he has to make some effort to get together with people. Everything is just so available on a college campus.</p>

<p>I do think CMU is missing the big football and/or basketball scene. If you like watching sports and all the pre-game hype, this isn’t the place for you. I also think jobs are important to CMU kids. It’s probably true that more kids at CMU are interested in jobs over Phd’s than at MIT. Also, perhaps you hear about that a bit more at CMU in the CS dept because they have bragging rights to a strong connection with high tech companies, particularly Microsoft and Google. As one professor put it - “Do you want a job at Google? Just walk across the parking lot.”</p>

3

<p>First, I realize you have already chosen where to go to school and are probably now going there. Good luck wherever you went. I’m writing this to help the poor souls that are thinking about CMU.</p>

<p>I went to CMU. Majored in ECE. Preface to what I’m about to write: This is for CS/ECE’ers. Yes, CMU is a good school. Yes many of their programs are top notch. CS and ECE are well above those. People in other (good) majors will think you’re crazy. It’s unfair to lump all their majors into one group. I’ve known a lot of people with SDS and MechE degrees have fun during their time at CMU. It’s not fun for CS and ECE’ers. </p>

<p>“What are students like, what do they do in their spare time (if any), who do they hang out with and when, etc.?”
-To this, I’d say there’s a decent range of stuff to do, but you won’t have much time to do it. If you know people from Pitt, you might be able to get a party in a couple times a semester. If you’re into other stuff, you might be able to sneak it in once in a while. Either way, something else will be suffering because of it. </p>

<p>“I am hoping to major in computer science and am interested in robotics. I know that CMU is pretty much #1 in both areas (aside from maybe MIT, which I would go to instead if I’m accepted-but let’s not discuss that here). They also made it clear that really awesome job and research opportunities are available. However, even if CMU can offer a great career, I want my college experience to be rewarding in itself.”
-CMU won’t feel rewarding. In fact, it’ll probably make you feel terrible. Besides a few schools, CS (and ECE) have some of the highest suicide rates in the country. Some people can’t take it. It’s not because they’re not intelligent enough. It’s just CMU. But, yes, you have to keep focused that it’s only four years and at the end of it you can have a good job. Not talked about much as no one at CMU wants to talk about it (at least not the administration), is that CMU also has one of the highest burn out rates once guys get into the industry. We’ve suffered for years at college, going to work right after usually doesn’t help. </p>

<p>“I recently went on their sleeping bag weekend and came away with mixed feelings. Some students, such as the tour guide who was in the robotics club, seemed happy and enthusiastic and at least one class that I sat in on, OS design, was interesting and lively, but other students just seemed inactive, tired and awkward and some other classes were boring. It’s entirely possible that I simply visited on a bad day-after all it was -10 degrees out, snowing, and students had just gotten back from break so most classes were reviewing.”
-I don’t trust the tour guides at all. Their job is to “sell” the school. You want to find out what CMU is like? Ask the guy walking with his head down staring at the ground in front of him looking like a zombie. That’s the average guy. </p>

<p>“My overall impression: while MIT for instance is described as “work hard, play hard” and “sleep, grades, social life-choose two”, CMU is just “work hard, get job” and “sleep, grades-choose one”.”
-I think your last statements describes CMU perfectly. </p>

<p>“The words “high paying” “work”, “job recruitment”, and “resume” were thrown around alot and they tried to make a case for “interdisciplinary”, “collaboration”, “study-abroad opportunities”, “project-based leaning” (WPI still takes the cake in these) and “diversity”. However, absent were other common catchphrases that I had begun to take for granted from schools such as “innovation”, “open-source”, “creativity”, “inspiration”, “passion” and “forward thinking” (although these are rampant on the website). Also, other than the Buggys and Steelers, I didn’t detect a big sense of campus life, culture, or unity. Again, maybe I just came at a bad time-I was tired from traveling and was catching a minor cold so it’s possible that I was overly pessimistic.”
-That is CMU. We’re driven for the time after CMU, not the time AT CMU. I’ve always thought that I would have been better served going to a school that helped me grow as a person as much as an engineer. CMU doesn’t offer that. (Well, besides the constantly having adversity thrown in your face.)</p>

<p>“As for the location, the Gates center was admittedly awesome but I though the rest of the campus and surroundings were average and hard to navigate (“City of Bridges” is very accurate). More than one student complained that classes for a subject weren’t actually in the building associated with that subject. Also, I never saw any actual dorms as my ambassador lived in an apartment that was a 15 minute walk away from campus-I’ve hear that many of the “dorms” are actually apartments.”
-The biggest dorm, Morewood, is more like a prison, than an apartment. Donner isn’t much better. The further away from campus you get, the better the living is. But again, you’re sacrificing a quick walk to classes for better living. 15 min walk 2-4 times a day is 30-60 minutes you could be sleeping, or more likely, studying if you lived further away.</p>

<p>“On another note: Where might I find statistics on what schools CMU students go to for grad school and what schools CMU grad students come from?”
-<a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/salaries-and-destinations/”>http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/salaries-and-destinations/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>I suggest you post your questions to the CMU forum.</p>

5

<p>

Right.
My son double majored in SCS/ECE and held a job for most of his stay, and had a life and a good time. The most important factor that determines your experience is you, and there’s ample opportunity to have a good life and a good education.</p>