<p>TONS of math, tho not so for a minor</p>
<p>Hey, I’m applying RD, and I was just wondering how good the need-based is for most people. Like how much of your demonstrated need is given in grants vs loans and such.
Obviously this depends on the person, but I don’t know if you know anything about other people’s fin aid packages and such.</p>
<p>For our calculated EFC, we have to pay almost 3 times that amount, though from asking around, some people don’t even get a grant. I love CMU a lot, but their aid really sucks. My parents even drove in couple of hundred miles to try to explain our financial situation and ask for more, but they didn’t raise my aid.
I have a feeling if you’re a URM with amazing stats, who is wanted by other ivys as well, CMU will try to cover most of your tuition. Other than that, you might have to start thinking about loans…</p>
<p>After looking at the various housing options, I’ve narrowed my choices down to Mudge, Donner, and Morewood E-Tower. The problem, however, is that none of them have AC (according to the housing chart online). I don’t want my dorm to be super warm during most of the year (I’m fine w/ being cold thought). Given how cold Pittsburgh is, are the temperatures manageable in all three of these dorms? If not, which ones aren’t manageable?</p>
<p>It generally works out that you’ll be really hot for the first 2-3 weeks of classes and during finals in the spring. The rest of the year there’s not a huge need for AC.</p>
<p>I would recommend bringing a fan if you’re from within driving distance, though.</p>
<p>Do you think double majoring in computer science and chemistry would be possible/manageable?</p>
<p>Sorry, I have one more question. How much experience did you have in CS before you started at CMU? Did you feel well prepared?</p>
<p>I only took AP Java and did a small internship where I learned very very basic python. Other than that, I knew nothing about computer systems.
Also, many come in to CMU without even knowing what programming languages are, and CMU offers very basic and interesting courses for beginners: both for beginners who are pursuing CS and those who just need to take it for a graduation requirement.</p>
<p>I’m currently a freshman in Mechanical Engineering, planning to double major in Physics(astrophysics track) and minor in photography. I’m also the manager of the newspaper (The Tartan), in a sorority (Alpha Phi founding member), in Dancer’s Symposium (it’s a student dance exhibition thing that happens every semester), on the executive board of my dorm’s house council (Stever House), and in the Kiltie Band! I do a lot and managed to do fine academically first semester-- time management is key!! </p>
<p>I can try and help answer some questions too if anybody has questions pertaining to any of the aforementioned activities!</p>
<p>How is the workload for a Mechanical Engineer? Is it always really heavy, or is it more like really heavy some weeks, light other weeks?
Can you give me a general idea of what your daily or weekly schedule is like? Like time you take up and time you sleep?
What is it like in the Kiltie Band?</p>
<p>I can tell you about first semester, which is definitely not representative of the entire mechanical engineering major. I just took intro to mechanical engineering this past semester and it was a really easy class, especially if you have experience with physics. The professor I had was a funny lecturer, he sometimes overcomplicated simple things and oversimplified complex things and grading was horribly inconsistent, but it really didn’t require much work at all… generally like 5-8 problems per weekly problem set. Weeks when projects were due were generally harder-- my group’s mousetrap car project failed miserably because we couldn’t find a time for all three of us to meet until 11 PM the night before it was due, but that’s not typical! Upperclassmen have told me it comes in waves, so I’ll assume that’s true-- it generally is with most majors.</p>
<p>My schedule is driven a lot by my activities… Last semester I didn’t start classes until 12:30 three days a week (11:30 if I had a programming quiz) and 10:30 the other two days, so I usually slept like 4/5-12 or 2/3-10. That’s plenty of sleep (7-8 hours) and it worked well for me because I’m more productive at night when there aren’t any people to distract me 
but that’s what worked for me. I could’ve gone to sleep earlier if I woke up at 9 vs 12 or something, it’s not like I was forced into labs at 3 AM.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed Kiltie Band! I did color guard/flags for the marching season, so it wasn’t the typical kiltie experience, but I absolutely loved the flag section! I played flute for the concert season and that was also a great experience. The band is really chill and fun! My high school band was very strict so it’s a nice break from that 
I only went to practices once a week because of other commitments, but that wasn’t a problem at all. The football games were definitely WAY more fun from the band section than any other section!</p>
<p>How’s the work-study program?
Is it manageable to have a job while doing well in your course load?
If you don’t mind me asking, is Carnegie Mellon a huge financial burden for your family? I know it will be different according to aid/family income, but just a general idea of the expenses.</p>
<p>Do you know if transfer students are common there? is it realistic to get in as a transfer?</p>
<p>Hi, I was admitted under ED. When can we set up our <a href=“mailto:andrew@cmu.edu”>andrew@cmu.edu</a> emails? I tried setting mine up right now with the email from my NTIE page. Unfortunately, the online systems didn’t let me set up an account.</p>
<p>@RacinReaver a friend of mine in Mudge said that its “toasty” all year round. Does Mudge have some problem with heating?</p>
<p>@transferhoperful0, it really depends on the college you apply to. A friend of mine is planning to transfer next year and CMU is on his list. According to him, SCS and CIT accept that most transfers because many people drop out of CS and Engineering. In contrast, DC takes the fewest transfers because almost no-one finds DC majors “too difficult” (or so he told me). Unfortunately, the popularity of each major changes every year so its difficult to know whether you have a “chance” or not. You should still apply however if you’re genuinely interested in CMU.</p>
<p>Pretty much all of the buildings at CMU have steam heat. You have a little bit of control over how warm your room will get, but not a ton. My freshman year in Donner it was pretty toasty all winter (I’d change into shorts and a t-shirt when I got back from classes). We’d just open the windows a little to keep cool, fresh air coming in. Same thing when I lived in Shady Oak (one of the Oakland Apartments owned by CMU). For some reason my room in Scobel was pretty chilly (top floor, corner). It was mostly fixed after the fall term ended, but I remember sleeping the night before my thermo final with all the lights on to try and keep the room warm.</p>
<p>Which dining plan is the best and why?</p>
<p>what is the difference between DineXtra dollars and flexible dollars? (or are the same thing, and I am just being confused?)</p>
<p>Can you use the flexible dollars on groceries, laundry, etc. like you can at other colleges?</p>