<p>It really helps to have other schools' offers to present to CMU when your asking for more aid. They gave me more money based on a package I got from RPI.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say it helps. I sent in 7-8 better offers including RPI and still got JACK!!! I think it has to do with being a white uppercalss male I don't add to their diversity at all and it ****es me off that I got aid from every other school but them.</p>
<p>Based upon our past experience, I would discourage my younger student from applying to CMU, even though it is a good school. They care more about what an applicant looks like on paper (gender, race, geography) than they do about the individual person. You are better off to be an average person with desirable demographics, than an outstanding person with average demographics. Sad, but true.</p>
<p>^ You don't make any sense at all. Even if it is true that CMU took your student based on where you lived (I don't even know how you would prove this) you have no idea how admissions work here. </p>
<p>CMU is one of the most holistic top 25's along with UChicago in that they will excuse low GPA or other factors in return for good E.C.'s, interest, and how well the INDIVIDUAL is suited for the college. </p>
<p>About the gender/race thing, I hope you aren't starting a flame war with AA but there were AA applicants rejected this year who had high GPA's in the 3.8's but were not a good fit for the school. </p>
<p>"You are better off to be an average person with desirable demographics, than an outstanding person with average demographics. Sad, but true."</p>
<p>If by "outstanding" you mean 4.0's and 2400s then you are probably right. CMU is holistic and will accept based on the overall application and INDIVIDUAL rather than a 4.0 and 2400 = guaranteed admission.</p>
<p>Relax, AcceptedAlready. I simply mean that CMU strives to create a well-rounded student body, rather than enticing well-rounded individuals. As an employee of the admissions office, you should know that diversity of states & countries, as well as attracting women, is very important to them. They wish to shed the regional reputation from the days of Andrew Carnegie and foster a more international reputation. Furthermore, it is my opinion from casual observation that financial aid is mostly given to those who posess the demographics they desire. </p>
<p>No, I am not trying to start a discussion of AA (AA is not even related to the topic.) Nor I am not criticizing anyone who was admitted and/or got a ton of money. I am simply agreeing with cyprus and others that how much your 4.0/2400 and EC's are worth to CMU, or how much your RPI scholarship is worth to CMU has a lot to do with what you can add to their paper data. I consider it a lesson learned. :)</p>
<p>I'd disagree with the "quota" argument as well. It seems as though there is a huge jewish and asian (and apparently in asianjew's case, both) group at CMU, which cannot be maintaince of quotas or AA, as they keep accepting all of us in those two groups...</p>
<p>Also, they do look at everything as a whole, I was accepted to 1/3 schools, the two math/sci based schools I was denied to because I consistantly show a bit of weakness in that area when compared to my writing and other skills. If CMU had just gone by my scores, I should have been in everywhere, but as they do care if you do well or not somewhere, they decided on architecture for me :-/</p>
<p>Not that I won't still try to switch in after going for a semester, but at least I know they have my strengths/weaknesses identified.</p>