<p>I'm currently deciding between Lehigh and CMU, and could use some input. I'd be doing engineering at either school, though I'm admitted for the IBE program at Lehigh.</p>
<p>I feel Carnegie Mellon has better overall academics, a better reputation, and better employment opportunities. It also has stellar business, science, and computer science departments if I changed my mind about what I want to do (I am aware transferring into SCS is extremely difficult). And even if I remained in engineering, taking a double major in business or computer science would benefit from CMU's reputation. It also seems like CMU students have internships and research very readily available to them, even in their first years.</p>
<p>Lehigh has the IBE program, which would provide me a valuable business background- I have no desire to do finance, accounting, etc. by itself but in conjunction with engineering it might come in handy. It is also much closer- 1 hour vs. 6 hours for CMU, which while not a deciding factor is a plus. However, I'm concerned about how dominant fraternities are, and I feel CMU might have a more diverse student body. And on a less important note, the food at Lehigh seems much better. Lehigh has "buffet style" where you swipe once and then just get whatever you want from what they're serving today, with regular rotations, while CMU (correct me if I'm wrong) only has fast-food-esque mini-restaurant stations.</p>
<p>I'm really not too picky about the campuses, I like both. The academics and opportunities are the deciding factors.</p>
<p>Do want to be an engineer or a businessman? Lehigh IBE is not an accredited engineering degree, it’s a business degree. IBE students can continue for a fifth year to get an accredited engineering degree, though few do. Most get lucrative business jobs at graduation instead. As for double majoring, don’t count on it. An engineering degree is hard enough on its own, especially at a school like CMU. To double major is almost impossible without significant overlap, like a math or physics second.</p>
<p>I am much more leaning towards engineering, though of course the versatility IBE provides would be advantageous.</p>
<p>I will be coming in with a significant amount of AP credit (10 exams), but even if double majoring would be unfeasible, a minor in CMU’s excellent CS or business schools seems like it could be a valuable asset.</p>
<p>I went to Lehigh undergrad, and my son is a CMU graduate. So in my mind I’ve compared our experiences at these two schools. We were both members of fraternities…I was pre-med at Lehigh, he computer science /information systems double major at CMU.</p>
<p>Lehigh in my day was frat centered, I imagine it still is. Frats at CMU are less dominant and are active enough if that’s what you want. Some big differences between these schools, as I see them…academics, city, diversity.</p>
<p>Lehigh imo is a very good school. CMU is a “better” school. Check any rankings you want. There’s CMU high up there with the big names like Cornell, MIT, RPI, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Michigan. You don’t see that with Lehigh, not nearly as often anyway. </p>
<p>Diversity…Lehigh is more diverse than it was in my day. CMU however is much more diverse. Just walk through each campus, look and listen.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh vs Bethlehem and Lehigh Valley…I think there’s no real contest here. Pittsburgh is a FAR better city. Bethlehem (South B anyway) is still no bonus. Across the river, Bethlehem is nice, but small. Pittsburgh is a far more interesting place to go to school, again imo, in particular Oakland which CMU shares with U of Pittsburgh. Much livelier than anything the Lehigh Valley has to offer. Although as you know you can get to Philly in an hour and Manhattan in less than two from Lehigh.</p>
<p>Intercollegiate sports. Bigger at Lehigh, which fields mostly DI teams. </p>
<p>I would choose CMU but Lehigh is a fine school. Good luck whichever you choose.</p>
<p>Just going to say this is far from the truth. Plenty of people in engineering double major outside of their field, and, generally, choosing one like physics can actually be more difficult than a “softer” major like business or psychology. Doubling in engineering and CS is brutal, but it can be done (though, honestly, you’d probably be best served getting just a minor in CS and taking only the classes which appeal to you the most and skipping the hardest or ones you won’t learn what you want).</p>