<p>The schools hate what I am about to say, but the students are consumers. It would be great for your son to take other classes that would expand his horizons but it sounds to me that he is not really interested in other classes. He is a paying customer but cannot take certain classes because of institutional squabbling is just bed policy and will reflect poorly on the school in the long run.</p>
<p>There is no reason for CMU to require your son to wait in order to take the class. You are more restrained than me . . . I probably would have sat in a dean's office until they could resolve their institutional squabble that negatively impacts the operation of the school.</p>
<p>Thanks. I have to say that I didn't understand that there were open seats until yesterday, too late to get him in the class, or, I admit, this might have turned out differently.</p>
<p>Dear Strick11 et all...
Wow, this is a really great threat to have stumbled on to (thanks to interesteddad) because it sounds like I will end up in more or less exactly the same boat as your son.
CMU is one of the schools I am seriously looking in to, because of its amazing CS program. I plan to do multiple majors (including one in CS) and in order to complete college in three years, will presumably come in as a sophomore. <em>question:</em> how many credits qualify you as a junior? If I make 5's on all my following AP tests, it looks like i will come in with 110-ish 'units': 10 APs + 4 or 5 Community College classes.<br>
I am surprised to find out that CMU makes a major + minor or double major mandatory. Would this make it easier for me to persue multiple majors, if they are used to handling cases of multiple majors? My majors would also be in separate 'colleges' (all three: creative writing, computer science and foreign language 'student designed major').
Because you all seem to be dealing with these sorts of situations, do you have any insights on how I can go about organizing such a venture (multiple majors). Clearly it is important to keep a constant flow of communication going with the various councilors. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
also: since you seem to have looked into the matter already, what other schools are strong in CS? I trying to find other places like CMU where I would consider applying. CMU seems to particularly appeal to me because it has a CS + art duality which appeals to me (it is kind of like my HS)...</p>
<p>idamayer, a minor is required. You can look up the details on the SCS's website, the requirements are pretty clear. My sense is that they're quite acustomed to double majors. Getting a double in 3 years might be interesting, though.</p>
<p>Our case is complicated both by my son's class standing (which you would share) and the fact that he wants to minor in the highly popular business school. My sense is the schools you're talking about are easier to get into to or take classes.</p>
<p>The issue of class standing isn't really well documented anywhere we can find, but what I understand from talking to a dean and my S's advisor, a student starts as a freshman regardless of how many units they transfer or get through AP (pure transfer students are not accepted). You advance a class level at the beginning of the fall of each year regardless of how many units you earn up until you're within two semesters of graduation when you become a senior. That's within the SCS. Each school at CMU apparently determines class level requirements for themselves.</p>
<p>Others might want to chime in, but CMU considers MIT it's primary competition. We didn't look at Standford, but it's well regarded. Our main alternative was the University of Texas, which is considered in the top ten and would have been a terrific bargain for us. The only info I've seen on this is the dated US New rankings of graduate schools. I'm sure if you've been reading CC for a while, you know you should take rankings with a major grain of salt, but it's a place to start.</p>
<p>yes, thank you... I was not planning on attempting to get three BA/BS's in three years: i was thinking 4, but the school apparently also offers a CS MS in a 5th year; and if anyone has any experience or insight on this matter, a comment would be much appreciated.
Both of my parents are texas-exes, but I was not really planning on applying to UT, because it is an enormous school...
I'm glad that you think it is pheasable that I could still get into the classes I would need to complete my requirements.</p>