<p>I live in California and I haven't been to cmu or pittsburgh. I'm not sure if I can adapt to the environment there since the eastcoast is completely different from california, especially the weather. Does anyone know what it's like for a californian at cmu? Would it be difficult to adapt to the life in pittsburgh?</p>
<p>I’m from socal. Yes, the weather sucks. But honestly, you’re not going to notice it after November… you just start bundling up and it seems almost natural. Back in September, 60 degrees was a “chilly day” for me, and I’d throw on sweaters and stuff. But soon your body begins to adapt, and now 55 degrees with light rain is perfect weather for shorts and a t-shirt! </p>
<p>Additionally, breaks are long. You get to go home and tan and then make your friends jealous by how bronze you are when you get back to campus.</p>
<p>I think CA is actually the third or fourth state CMU pulls from. I know Pennsylvania and New York send a ton of students there, and next is either New Jersey or California. Either way, you won’t be alone.</p>
<p>I would think it depends on how much you hate the cold just like some find Seattle, and San Fran dreary. I love CA cuz we can visit the snow and go home. On snow days it might be a hassle to put on snow boots or whatever to go to a class or visit a friend. My son never wears a jacket because he LOVES the cold and went back this winter with just a sweat shirt…no jacket. But autumn and spring should be awesome. I grew up back east and those are some of my fondest memories. Good Luck!</p>
<p>thank you for the info! I’m glad to know the breaks are long and that there will be alot of californians. haha</p>
<p>any other info? not just about weather, but the cmu environment as a whole. for ex, are all the students very competitive? and is pittsburgh a safe city?</p>
<p>Pittsburgh’s not really that bad; I actually felt safer in a lot of areas there than I do here in Pasadena.</p>
<p>The school is extremely non-competitive. Everyone there knows they’re smart, and they know the homework sets are crazy hard, so it’s just a lot easier to get along and work together.</p>
<p>I don’t agree that the breaks are long. My S is home for just less than a month at Christmas break. Last exam was 12/13 and classes started again on 1/11. His friend at UDel was home the end of the same week and didn’t go back till mid February. Also, CMU starts before Labor Day and usually gets done the week after Mother’s Day.</p>
<p>I’m coming from Texas, visiting this weekend, and I’m looking foward to the difference in weather. Personally, I love winter clothes–I’m in a hoodie in Texas heat [I’m petty odd like that]. Please, bring the cold.</p>
<p>^ Oh same. I’m from tx and visiting this week also. And dying to see snow, I’ve never seen it before in my entire life.</p>
<p>If you’re lucky you might still see some snow. There was still a pile this weekend behind the parking garage on Forbes Ave across from Beeler St.</p>
<p>That pile’s been there since dinosaurs walked the earth. I think it’s actually part of a student prank. Aside from that, the snow’s gone, and the trees are bloomin’!</p>
<p>Additionally-- the breaks might not be long compared to other schools, but to someone coming from high school, a month off for Christmas is a reeeeeeally long time.</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Indeed. Farewell, 2 week high school holiday vacations.</p>
<p>bosssr, I have a niece at UDel. The reason their break is so long—there’s an optional January term. You can skip it, in which case your Xmas break indeed extends into Feb. Or elect the Jan term and take a course or two, esp if you need to lighten your load during a later semester. CMU’s winter break is typical for most colleges…about a month or slightly less.</p>