<p>Copy and pasted from one of my posts:</p>
<p>how is the social scene at CMU? I know that Tepper has a very small class (around 80 according to their website) and that’s better for individual attention, but I don’t want to be stuck hanging out with the same few guys for the next 4 years. Is it easy to meet people from other majors?</p>
<p>Where do you see yourself after 3 years at CMU?</p>
<p>Thanks for answering my questions! Do you know which building math classes are in? Is this building closer to the hill or closer to forbes?</p>
<p>Hey there, I’m a sophomore in ECE and I can also answer questions if anyone is interested.</p>
<p>I personally lived in the Rez on Fifth and now I live in Fairfax apartments. We got a pretty bad reputation for pulling pranks on other freshman dorms last year (it wasn’t <em>that</em> bad, it was just stealing a ping pong table…starting a nerf gun war…nbd) but like many have mentioned, your floormates will probably be the beginning of your social life in CMU. Right now, most of my floormates from last year are doing block housing in Fairfax.
The Rez is pretty much apartments: for three people, you get your own bathroom, a living room, kitchen and a bedroom, and it’s really nice. (no community showers and big rooms!)
As for the distance, it’s really not that bad. After a week you forget that it’s far at all because you get used to it, and hopefully if the first time you’re late to class because you underestimated the distance, you’ll leave 5 mins earlier the second time.
Not that many of residents owned bikes/scooters/skateboards and for those that did, rarely used them. The walk is honestly not that bad: maximum 10 mins. </p>
<p>@FateGoneAwry16:
For basic requirement courses in any subject it’s hard to predict where your class is going to be. But the more popular it is, the more likely you will get the big lecture halls: Porter 100, Doherty 2210 and 2315, Rahshid Auditorium in Gates and a few of my classes were in Giant Eagle Auditorium in the basement of Baker. Recitations are really spread out and could be anywhere, but most of mine tend to be in Wean and Baker/Porter. As for how close it is, everything is EXTREMELY close. I’m guessing it will take you like 3-5 mins to get to the fence (which is outside Doherty) from either the Hill or Morewood.
As my final say on proximity of things around campus, you will be surprised how close everything is. Somebody once told me that you can walk the whole campus in about 10 mins, and they were pretty correct.</p>
<p>@ACTE35
Hopefully not flipping burgers…:)</p>
<p>Even though I’m not in CS, I’m concentrating in Computer Engineering so I’m taking a lot of CS classes and know more CS staff than ECE. All of my CS friends and acquaintances are doing something outside the classroom and still are doing very well academically. Most are participating in buggy, various bands (Kiltie Band, All University Orchestra) and play sports. Not sure about varsity sports because that actually takes up lots of time, but few do club sports and almost everyone tries IM sports (when friends/orgs decide to form teams and play for fun)
I personally have done all of these things I mentioned, except varsity sports, but if you are interested, talk to the coach and I’m sure you’ll get help.</p>
<p>@MaxterXL
I know a few Tepper kids and they’re great people. I’m not sure how “clicky” they are, but they do usually spend time together. However, that does not mean you won’t see anyone else. In my freshman friend group, I was the only one in ECE. Thus, I strongly suggest mingling with your floormates because it is extremely likely you will be put with tons of kids from around everywhere, and you will see Tepper students in your classes. It’s a great balance.</p>
<p>@sorcelator
DO NOT GET OFF THE MEAL PLAN COMPLETELY #starving sophomore (unless you’re dedicated to cooking and making frequent trips to Squirrel Hill for groceries)
I ended up getting the small commuter plan because when you’re stuck working like crazy on campus late at night (which, as a CS major, is bound to happen cough251cough) and the weather outside isn’t great, you will be veryyy thankful to grab something from campus and not spend real money on campus food (which is extremely expensive if you’re not on a meal plan)</p>
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<p>CMU gives need-based scholarships and very few merit-based scholarships (which are still partly based on your ability to pay–they won’t give money where it’s not needed). All you need for those is to apply for financial aid. Other than that you’ll need to look for outside scholarships.</p>
<p>I’m not doing a double-major because I’d like to try to graduate early. If you choose a reasonable double major (something that overlaps with courses you already plan on taking), 4 years should be no trouble. Otherwise you might need to take summer classes once or go for an extra semester.</p>
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<p>I don’t know about swim team specifically, but you should be able to be on any of the intramural teams. You should probably try to start out by choosing just one club or activity to devote your extra time to, and then see for yourself whether you want to take on more than that. I’m in one club that takes 7 hours a week on average, and that’s about right for me, but you might feel differently. This is a good database of the clubs and activities available, although some might be missing: <a href=“https://stugov.andrew.cmu.edu/orgtracker/organizations/search[/url]”>https://stugov.andrew.cmu.edu/orgtracker/organizations/search</a></p>
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<p>You’ll meet people in your dorm, in your classes, and at whatever events/clubs/activities you choose to be a part of. As long as you’re actually trying to make friends–leaving your room, talking to people–I can’t see you having any problems.</p>
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<p>Mars. With a jetpack. And a robot army.</p>
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<p>Most of your classes will be in Wean, Doherty, Baker/Porter, or Gates. Morewood is probably just as close as the hill, but Stever and Mudge are definitely a bit farther.</p>
<p>Ah, thanks for the help! It’s good to hear from someone with a bit more experience.</p>
<p>Is the meal plan really cheaper than buying the same foods directly? I don’t usually get sides or a drink, so blocks seem like such a waste to me… I guess it’s expensive whichever way you go.</p>
<p>I’m sure that after a while you wouldn’t mind a drink and a side with your meal. The meal plan I got was mostly DineX and like 50 blocks for a whole semester. I agree the Red/Blue plans are a waste (I knew I couldn’t finish off my blocks so I bribed upperclassmen with food in return for help in classes, really worth it :D)</p>
<p>Are the Stever’s rooms smaller than MorewoodETower rooms? How spacious are Mudge rooms compared to Stever’s?</p>
<p>What kind of research opportunities and/or internships availabe for SCS students? In what year, do we get opportunities?</p>
<p>I believe Stever has the smallest rooms on campus, but they have AC. Morewood is smaller than Donner, but at least you get the creepy elevator.</p>
<p>ACTE35, as a freshman in Materials Science I was able to be part of a research project. Most of my friends started working with a professor by their sophomore or junior years. It’s not horribly difficult. The hardest part is understanding what the heck half your professors actually do.</p>
<p>What is the best double major combination that goes with CS?</p>
<p>Whichever one interests you.</p>
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<p>Stever’s rooms are a bit smaller than most, Mudge’s are a bit bigger. Morewood’s are about average. Not all the rooms in a dorm are the same size, though, so it really depends.</p>
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<p>Some people do research the first semester and/or get an internship the first summer. If you’re well prepared, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for both.</p>
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<p>What do you mean by “best”? The math minor has the fewest additional requirements (3 classes) if you just want to fill the requirements for a CS degree, but if you’re choosing to complete another major you should pick something that interests you, as RacinReaver said.</p>
<p>I mean to ask, what 2nd major complements the CS better in terms of future job opportunities. I am interested in ECE, Information Technology, and HCI. I don’t know how difficult to complete double major in 4 years. Are there chances that you can complete CS alone in 3 years?</p>
<p>[2012-2013</a> Undergraduate Catalog](<a href=“http://coursecatalog.web.cmu.edu/]2012-2013”>http://coursecatalog.web.cmu.edu/)</p>
<p>This is quite an amazing resource for basically everything relating to majors, courses, and recommended course sequences.</p>
<p>ACTE35, With a degree in CS, you really won’t be limited in job opportunities. Choose the double major that you’re most interested in. That’s sincerely the best advice here.</p>
<p>Quite a few ECEs are doubling/minoring in CS because some of the courses interweave
HCI is pretty popular, in my opinion, but it is extremely competitive (I heard that to get accepted into HCI one pretty much needs around a 4.0)
If you’re really set on finishing school in 3 years, you should consider taking summer semesters, though they are pretty expensive ($300/unit I believe)
CS is a pretty demanding program so think carefully what you want to double in. As many have said so already, you wouldn’t want to get stuck with extra courseload that you won’t even enjoy.</p>
<p>One of my friends finished a double major in math & CS in three years, but he also came in with over a year’s worth of classwork done. I remember spring term freshman year he was already taking grad math classes.</p>
<p>Would you happen to know anything about the design program? I had a pretty good impression of CFA/design dept when I visited but after lurking around on a concept art forum, I’m having second thoughts (granted CMU is all about conceptual/installation work, which is on the complete opposite side of concept art)</p>
<p>hello!
I got accepted to Dietrich College as well as MCS.
I am planning to declare a major from one of the two colleges above, but I would also want to minor Computer Science because I would like to switch my major to CS at the end of my freshman year.
So,
<p>Thank you!</p>