<p>Anyone here applying to the humanities/social science school?</p>
<p><em>meekly raises hand</em></p>
<p>Is it really that hard to get into this school and how good is it?</p>
<p>im a freshmen. its moderately hard to get into cmu for the humanities. is it worth it? probably not. i am going to transfer. humanities come second at cmu. that didnt seem like a big deal to me when i applied, but it is. they have lousy professors, poor course selection, ridiculous gen ed requirements, and no money. not to mention, the school is very expensive. pittsburgh is ugly, depressing, and cold. it is a well-respected school, however. people ooh and ah when i say that i go there.</p>
<p>I have to say its hard to hear your description of humanities at CMU...mostly because my son (a freshman) provides an identical view. We feel a bit deceived by the image CMU presents with glorious descriptions of the HSS school...my son was forced to take courses with no interest to him his first semester and is taking one course this semester which he feels is good (creative writing)...In looking at the higher level course offerings it does seem that the English department has some interesting options...but,as you say, there is a sense that humanities are not valued generally at the university...So, if you don't mind my asking, where are you considering transferring? I have encouraged my son to give it at least another semester ...but that means he may have to return as a sophomore and transfer as a junior.</p>
<p>i am considering USC as well as some of the claremont colleges. i really just want to be somewhere where the kids at the school want to be there. there isn't any pride or school spirit at cmu. i am also looking into warmer climates. i am not 100% sure yet. it's funny that you mention your son is taking creative writing. is it intro to creative writing? i am taking that this semester too. anyway, my parents don't want to spend another 40k on a place that isn't making me happy. So to transfer next year, i really need to be looking into the transfer thing now. USC is a high priority because it has a public relations major which i should have just applied to in the first place. i am just disappointed at cmu because there is not a college feel here and i am wasting my college years. hope your son likes it better this semester.</p>
<p>easttowest-</p>
<p>thanks for your reply...we also are not happy to be spending $40,000 for our son to be so unhappy...yes, my son is taking intro to creative writing...and his fresh seminar is turning out to be bearable as well...</p>
<p>i think i would be even more upset if my son were unhappy and so far away! California is quite a different environment than PA. We live close enough to CMU (4 hours) that my son was able to come home at the mid semester break...so that is helping him cope.</p>
<p>good luck in your search ...</p>
<p>easttowest & weary: Thanks for your honest opinions on your HSS experiences. Here is a web site where students rate their teachers and the quality of the classes:</p>
<p>I wonder if the comments are valid for the classes you have taken. You might want to add your comments.</p>
<p>Also, you might want to use this when you pick which classes to register for, and also to get insight into schools you are considering for transfer.</p>
<p>The problem with assessments like "ratemyprofessor" website is that often the number of respondents is too small to really get a sense of the class...those motivated to get on these website rating places are usually either really happy or really unhappy...</p>
<p>At CMU there is a rating system of classes and profs that the students can access...it seems to draw a large number of respondents and you can look at how the professor did over a number of years in a variety of courses. I think most universities provide this nowadays and it is useful...</p>
<p>its response bias</p>