Experience at SCS

<p>I was wondering if anyone is already in SCS and understands what freshmen SCS students should expect. I know it's a hard school, so I want to know what the curriculum is like. Thank you :D</p>

<p>That’s what you should expect.</p>

<p>And a world class education.</p>

<p>I love my classes-- but this semester I’m spending at least 8 to 9 hours a night on weekly assignments-- and that’s before studying for tests.</p>

<p>Last semester like 5 to 6 hours a night.</p>

<p>I have 15-150 and 251. I have two GEs (they’re ok - a philosophy and a history – thought I’d get them done but only one would have been fine) and I have matrix aleg. </p>

<p>I’m just getting ready to post thoughts on dropping 251-- my time sink and it makes me (and many of us) doubt that we have any brains. The teacher is so intense – a genius – but he can make us feel (unintentional??) really stupid.</p>

<p>Positive side, all of us work together and love what we do-- but the lack of time shower, sleep and just kicking back gets to me ALOT.</p>

<p>My roommate just dropped 251 (and may even change majors) and I’m thinking of doing the same.</p>

<p>Bright side-- most of my friends and me – we have summer internships lined up – and we’re only freshman. My parents cannot believe what I’m getting paid-- $7000 for a three months plus my expenses in housing and airfare. </p>

<p>Seriously-- I luv it here and cannot imagine being anywhere else, but the workload is at times quite unbearable.</p>

<p>Don’t screw up your APCS exam or you’ll be a semester behind.</p>

<p>Are you saying that computer science AP is a must?</p>

<p>Also, could you be more specific about internships? How easy is it to get paid internships? What parts of the country? What type of internships? </p>

<p>One more thought, could you compare computer science at Georgia Tech vs Carnegie Mellon?</p>

<p>GrowUPtoofast— I see you also raised questions about financial aid at GT thread. Keep in mind CMU doesn’t not promise to meet unmet financial need - they are very open about that on their webpage.</p>

<p>Internships at CMU are relatively easy to come by and they are all over the country. You can look at the career center page to see the types of organizations recruiting here at job fairs and the places seniors report accepting job offers post graduation. </p>

<p>APCS is nice to have-- but not required. Check out the SCS curriculum page. Having APCS starts students right at 122 instead of at 110. But it’s not a race to the finish line. The APCS curriculum and the CMU curriculum recently changed and so this year’s High School senior taking the AP exam would know less than freshman taking it in the past. My S says about half the current freshman were in 122 and the other half were in 110.</p>

<p>CMU is # 1 in CS - -Georgia Tech is not.
I don’t know much about their curriculum but clearly these are two very different sized schools in two completely different locations. If location doesn’t matter, then your S should pick the school where “fit” feels best with the student body and other issues of importance to his choice of school (cost aside).
CMU was my S and D’s first choice b/c of the enormous number of research opportunities for undergrads and they felt an instant connection to the student body – and didn’t feel the same way about any other school they had each considered.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>PS CMUGUY_- thanks for the work hour tip-- that’s why my S doesn’t phone home (ha !)</p>

<p>I’m of the old era (2013), so I didn’t get to experience the new freshman cs curriculum. What CMUGUY said is mostly the consensus I hear though. No surprise, concepts and 15-251 are the killer classes that will likely make you work harder than you ever have before.</p>

<p>It will be hard, at times it will feel like it’s ruining your social life, but trust me when I say making it through cmu scs, even if you’re not the best, will open up so many future possibilities. Good luck!</p>

<p>@CMUGUY2014
Sorry to ask, but what is a GE?
Also, since you’re in SCS, if you want to major in CS do you think majoring in a language(like french) is a smart thing?</p>