<p>S take on campus of MIT, Harvard, and BU.
MIT has too much concrete. (but he's considering for master's)
Harvard is OK but hugh. (S is in ME and S wanted a school with great undergrad Engineering)
BU has no campus. Good but not outstanding programs.
Boston housing is expensive but there is a very good grocery nearby, and good eateries.</p>
<p>MattyB:</p>
<p>There aren't too many people up and about until 10am at the earliest. We have ORDERS not to call S before noon on weekdays and not until 3pm on Sat and Sun. If you visited CMU in the morning, no doubt the students were blah. </p>
<p>If CMU was in NYC, it should be next to its most famous sister facility-Carnegie Hall or other sister- the New York Public Library. Its not though, and it would be too expensive to put a university of this caliper in Manhatten.</p>
<p>Right - if CMU was in NYC, it would no longer be nearly as SAFE a campus, and everything would cost 30% more. Pittsburgh is not a NYC or Chicago or other hot city - but it has plenty of good things going - and certainly more than any student at CMU can easily handle and maintain his studies at the same time.</p>
<p>Hi, ITSTOOMUCH. (OPEN LETTER RESPONSE) D did make it through her Frosh year. She put on more than the freshman 15, however. (TRY 30!!!) Now got a good summer job in White Plains (office work) but claims it beats driving a truck for a local florist (which she did last summer). she just about passed CALC (told her it would weed out the unlikelies for the science dept.) Did well in ALL her writing courses, including metaphysics which was FILLED with junior and seniors taking electives. For that I was proud and surprised. I suppose she writes well. She eats that Indian food LATE...you are right! I am recommending some better eating habits...and a summer gym membership which she has taken me up on!!! She has already lost 3 lbs since her return. ONLY 27 MORE TO GO!!! She studied REALLY hard..she hasn't heard from her roomie since her return..so we are wondering if she passed...and this was a student with 800 VERBAL SAT scores!!!! I am proud of her, needless to say. She really adjusted well and made many friends...you have to be able to embrace ALL cultures...knew she would not have problem with that. Her favorite movie??? "REvenge of the Nerds!!!!!"</p>
<p>MattyB-</p>
<p>Theater students are up early. Acting class usually starts at 9:00 and last year the actors took ballet, (a new class for the major) and I believe it started at 8:00 am. When you get a tech assignment you are usually out until 10:00 or 11:00 pm. Saturdays you are usually rehearsing. Sunday's are usually your only "down" day. CFA acting majors usually carry between 45 and 54 units so your day is pretty full. So Purnell Center is usually a pretty busy place.</p>
<p>I was actually thinking of directing major at CMU rather than acting. I heard a lot about it from briarbrad, any other takers on CMU's directing program and its atmosphere/experience?</p>
<p>I'm an editor of The Tartan, and I was one of the people (proudly) behind this past years Thistles and Thorns. </p>
<p>Thistles and Thorns is our end-of-the-year traditional summing up of the entire year, geared at the world, at the US, at the local Pgh community, and at CMU. Obviously it's more campus oriented, because, hey, as spectacular as our paper is, im still not quite sure Ive seen Bush reading it yet, and the people closest to us are the ones most deserving of or thanks, and usually the least appreciated.</p>
<p>With approx. 15 points each (ALWAYS EQUAL) we comment positively and negatively on various happenings of the past year. There are the same number of thistles as thorns, so it is definitely NOT "complaining." Also, to those who may read it as "complaining," please note that things mentioned ranged from student government officials to John Kerry and beyond (I only vaguely remember which things we chose to put in at the end by now, but I'm sure you can find it at <a href="http://www.thetartan.org)%5B/url%5D">www.thetartan.org)</a>. Also, in the paper, it was clearly prefaced with an explanation of the tradition of Thistles and Thorns and what it means to the campus community.</p>
<p>Also, to respond to a few more things mentioned, there was no Natrat this past year (for obvious reasons, heh), and Tartan Online is doing pretty well currently, check it out.</p>
<p>Also, I love CMU. I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>SOTS:
So you are the one we should throw the thorns at. TheTartan online for 8 weeks was stuck on the rant and raves of shabbatz(?). The 2004, Spring semester's TheTartan, online, also went AWOL. As for contacting the editor, I assume -YOU, tried, but no dice. </p>
<p>a disgrunted parent, paying 85%!</p>
<p>The kids at the Tartan try really hard-- most of the editors (yes there are several editors, section editors, art editors, photo editors, etc, of which I am definitely not the most important) putting in an unpaid 20-40+ hours a week. As you might know, the paper had huge issues last april and had to completely stop publishing, resulting, basically, a general collapse of Life, The Universe, and Everything. Most people on staff now, including myself, are new as of last year, and have completely rebuilt the paper into a very responsible publication, one that I am proud of. While we still have miles to go, and no sleeping will be done any time soon, CMU has one of the best student papers I have yet to see, and I really hope that you will give it a second chance.</p>
<p>Secondly, as newspapers are largely a print medium, we understand that the times call for an online version as well, but our main concern was to take everything in stride, working like crazy of course, but making the paper as good as it could be, quality over quantity, and for first semester the website was definitely filed as a 'quantity' sort of thing. Still, especially for the sake of parents like yourself, we have several very talented people for whom the website IS the first priority. They took longer planning, etc, than we had anticipated (it was originally supposed to be back by the end of spring break) due to unforseen problems (such as the entire website needed to be recoded, and a general complete lack of money for servers and storage devices for older editions). </p>
<p>Also, before you so quickly insult the paper, keep in mind that 'Student Activities' in no way covers all costs of the Tartan. I'm not sure of this, but I think they might only cover approx. 30%. Without filling our paper with heavy advertising, it is an up-hill battle already. While I and many others sacrifice so much of our time and effort (try working virtually NONSTOP from 4:30 pm Thursday through 4am Monday morning and not getting paid for it, not to mention various other meetings that for me mean another 1-2 hrs each every other day of the week) to bring you the best paper possible, I just do not feel like these attacks are very necessary. If you have any other issues w/ the paper, such as suggestions for the future, I would be more than happy to talk about them. :)</p>
<p>minor note... also Shabazz was a pretty important event, 'diversity' being such a buzzword this past year. It also suffered from a huge lack of coverage by other publications, which is why we kept it up there for so long. The Tartan from that week also included many opinions from as many different groups/viewpoints as we could gather on the issue.</p>
<p>Overworked and underpaid. Welcome to the world.
Touched a Sensitive point, I feel. </p>
<p>Wasn't "insulting" the paper, just trying to keep in touch with CMU's environment. If you want to take the blame personally, don't. The other venue, that we parents have, are one syllable "uh's" from our kids. </p>
<p>Whatever problems that, the online version of Thetartan has, need to be communicated to your public. A brief explanation saying that thetartan is undergoing a editorial reorganization would have been helpful. Keeping Mr. Shabazz's entire speech on your website from January to Carnival, only told me that thetartan.org is up and running. </p>
<p>Perhaps you should solicit advertisers that are more national or regional than local to sponser the online version of thetartan. </p>
<p>I am not particularily interested in "other publications." I am interested in the student publication, of my son's school. And No, I didn't know the hugh issues that the Tartan had; TheTartan.org wasn't published, </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>hey sots, thanks for posting and I appreciate the explanations. How do you get your coursework done with that kind of time devotion to the paper?</p>
<p>Here's my question...I've subscribed to the paper version of the Tartan for a few years. Why, when it's online? I just like the feel of a real paper, etc. Something to look forward to each week in the mail too.</p>
<p>Anyway some years delivery has gone smoothly, other years no. Naturally I haven't been successful this year setting up a subscription...but a couple times on campus visits I was fortunate to catch someone in your UC office who gave me weeks of back issues.</p>
<p>Although my son just graduated I still want to subscribe to the paper version for the coming year. Can you give me contact info so I can do this?</p>
<p>Thanks and congratulations on getting the paper back on its feet.</p>
<p>itstoomuch: I apologize if I sounded angry at all; we really are trying our best, and I guess a bit of frustration naturally comes along with it (which of course should not manifest itself in touchiness).</p>
<p>It's been tough for the current staff because of the disaster the April before last that halted publishing, something that we have openly addressed on campus (even to the extent of publishing and distributing our own commission report last December). Still, I think that now that we are past the first part of the reconstruction stage, this next semester will be one of continued progress, but also of refining the multi-leved process of creating and distributing an interesting, accurate, level-headed and balanced paper. Obviously, one very important factor that we need to address is readership not just among the students and the Pgh community, but also among parents of those students (and I entirely understand & appreciate your interest). Any input and suggestions, such as those you have already made, would be very much appreciated. I'd also be happy to serve as a contact for you with the Executive Officer, Managing Editor, and of course the rest of the Ed Staff, if you have anything you would like for them to know.</p>
<p>Also, your point on advertisinG ONLINE is a very good idea, and one that I am actually not yet aware of the status of, currently (it isn't my dept), but I will definitely make sure that it is not forgotten. Also, our Executive Officer spent a large part of last semester recruiting business majors (for credit) to form a new Tartan Business Team, which should kick into acton next semester and hopefully make a huge difference in the future. While generally we are courted by several large advertisers (I've seen Starbucks, Google, Target, etc) we have also experieced difficulties with actually collecting payment from some companies we run ads for. </p>
<p>2331clk: The level of difficulty and the time commitment involved w/ creating The Tartan on a weekly basis is easily as intense as the rest of CMU. Several of the students on the Ed Staff take fewer classes in order to survive. I myself had to drop my one elective half-way through last semester, and I am taking one less class next semester, which I am thankfully allowed to do from AP credits. I am currently negotiating with my dept. advisor to recieve an internship (9 units) for my work with the paper next semester (I'm 99% sure it will come through) which should also help CFA-ers who are Tartan staff members in the future. I'll admit that it also involves a lot of all-nighters, but the staff are such great people and the paper is coming along so well that I cannot even imagine myself doing anything else. For me, personally, at least so far my grades have otherwise not suffered.</p>
<p>Also, its great that you are still interested in the paper. :) That will easily make my day, lol. I'm sorry for any problems you have had recieving it; even with the website we all agree that it's much better to have something tangeable. The real paper also has all of the art work and photos that the online version doesn't, as well as several sections of content that still cannot be found online. Plus... it's paper. I share your bias. </p>
<p>I am not in Pgh so I cannot do anything yet to get your subscription back to you, but I'll send you a message via CollegeConfidential with the contact info of someone who I'm sure can help you out.</p>
<p>Thanks again, and to everyone who send me messages regarding my last posts. I really appreciate the interest/suggestions you've all made!</p>
<p>*I can't e-mail/msg you via CC, but you can email me at <a href="mailto:dsaudino@andrew.cmu.edu">dsaudino@andrew.cmu.edu</a> and I can give you the information.</p>
<p>Oh, sorry, I just edited my profile to accept pm's, so you can e-mail me thru cc.</p>
<p>Thanks, and have a relaxing summer.</p>
<p>-clk</p>
<p>thetartan stopped publishing this spring.</p>
<p>I would propose to you that your online constituents are parents, prospective students and future parents of students, hiring recruiters, and benefactors. </p>
<p>Get rid of the "How things work" feature. I can google.
I want to read about success stories of students in getting to CMU, how problems are solved by students, the problems of hooking up with someone that never studies, how students have the conscience to sleep thru breakfast and lunch and parents are paying the 25 meal plan, the type of stories that make me continue paying big $ so that my kid will support me in my old age.</p>
<p>2331clk: No problem! I saved the mail I wrote to you so I will just forward it again. :)</p>
<p>Itstoomuch: So tell you why the Tartan stopped publishing this spring? I'm sorry, I am confused. We stop publishing in late May (the last paper being a special graduation one) every year because nobody is on campus. The staff are located all over the world currently (either going home or traveling), and we all need a break. I, personally, also need time for a full time job this summer, since I am paying for college with no help from my parents or relatives, and I'm sure there are other members with similar situations. Also, since regular classes are not in session on campus and most of the on-campus dormitories kick students out for the summer, publishing a paper now would be relatively pointless because readership would be so low.</p>
<p>The entire Tartan Editorial Staff is, however, going back to campus at least a week early in order to put out an issue for the incoming freshman. I am looking forward to that issue, but with our all of our staff writers, photographers, and artists not yet on campus, one issue is about all I can take.</p>
<p>As for our online readership, I believe there are a lot of CMU students interested in The Tartan Online as well. Our online competetor, the pulse, which has all but died recently, was very popular among the student body. Features like ScheduleMan (owned by The Tartan, then The Pulse, now The Tartan again), for example, are designed for use by students (it helps block out your schedule in a chart for you so you can visualize it and avoid conflicts). </p>
<p>As for "How Things Work," on a selfish level I would love for it to go (it needs art every week), but at such a tech-oriented school I can understand why they keep it. It does have its own following, and some of them (such as the carnival issue, which was beautiful in print) come out rather nicely. The main problem with Scitech is that our Scitech editor last semester folded under the pressure (someone asked how we can take it ~ not everyone can) and our Executive Officer had to add onto his own job to save Scitech and run it for most of the semester. Last semester we also interviewed several highly qualified candidates for SciTech editor, and a new editor has been chosen. She is very talented and very good at what she does, so it will be up to her as to whether or not to keep How Things Work, and if you e-mail me when school starts back up I can get you in contact with her. Either way, look for a much-improved Scitech section next semester. </p>
<p>As for students getting into CMU, since we all got in (well, all of those on campus anyway) I don't think I could find anyone to write it. </p>
<p>The meal plan is an overused and much-abused subject to mention on campus; we all hate it and are quite aware of its horribleness ...and I apologize for our general student population and our meal plan as a whole-- it gets to the point where you just cant eat all the food that they make you pay for; I for one had classes/work during almost all of the "meal periods" so I ended up hungry most of the time but with 10 meals left over every week. On a bright side, as a sophomore next year, I can get off the meal plan, and I've heard rumors that CMU's contract with the company that was providing the intentionally money-sapping meal plan is expiring this year.</p>
<p>Hooking up with someone that never studies? That's a little tabloid-ish, but you know, it could be interesting to include more personal stories (which I also get from your success stories suggestion). I'm sure the students would enjoy it, and it would definitely help to bridge the divide between the paper and the student population. I do not have a section of writers where I could incorporate that myself, but I will definitely mention that to the other editors (especially Pillbox, and maybe News as well). </p>
<p>Lastly, I should mention that we are an independent news source for the student population, not just part of CMUs advertising squad who run out and take pictures on all 2 of the sunny days in Pgh. You can depend on us to cover the bad as well as the good. If I was a parent, I would want to know what was really going on on campus, and read a diverse selection of opinions on important topics, which is what we are trying to give you.</p>
<p>Two years running, thetartan.org went on prolong holiday after Xmas and only reappearred for Carnival. What gives?</p>
<p>Don't worry about the meal plan. Its probably a concession. Do you know how concessions make $$? Makes you like swanson. When I went to school, we had cafeterias-where I never got enough to eat. The meal plan problem is that it is out of sync with the student's eating and sleeping habits coupled with the lack of exercise and enough roughage.</p>
<p>As of last year, the meal plan was also very limited. Well, Im a vegetarian, and while places have TONS and TONS of stuff for vegetarians to eat, when it came to the meal blocks I usually had only one choice, which was usually something fried and disgusting. Still, it's absolutely no reason not to go to CMU-- after freshman year you can get any plan you want, inc. ones with no "meal block" restrictions, which is where the whole out-of-sync part comes in. Plus, to some extent, by being a vegetarian (been one since my grandma tried to cook a lobster when I was 3) I am limiting myself... and I should mention that there is a place on campus with decent salads.</p>
<p>And why the website did that, I am not the person to explain. I only joined Tartan Staff at the beginning of last year, and was elected to be an editor in december. I know their last online editor bailed out on them to some extent, but I dont have the full story. The online editor now is new as of December, and very good. The website was a mess so he redesigned and recoded it and everything (it is still a work in progress) and it just took longer than expected. I doubt that there is any sort of pattern.</p>