<p>I am an incoming freshman into the IS program at CMU. I ED'd into the program because it was EXACTLY what I was looking for in terms of academics. </p>
<p>I would like to know what the IS program is actually like because I can't seem to find much on it other than the offical website. I hope its not as much work as the more technical schools at carnegie but I also hope its not a complete joke : /</p>
<p>I also seem to find very varied opinions on the social life at CMU. I assumed social life when going to college is what you make of it. If you happen to like the people around you, you'll have fun. If you go out and try to meet new people, you'll have fun. If you sit in your dorm and play DotA/WoW/SC/CS all day obviously you won't have much fun. </p>
<p>As for me I have no problem doing required work, I just don't like over-doing it and going crazy over grades. I like to forget all that and relax and party towards the end of the week.
Somethings I have read tell me this is NOT POSSIBLE AT CMU!! I can't believe this! CMU seems like an awesome place with tons of fun stuff to do! Am I wrong or are those people just whiners with unrealistic expectations who expect the party to come to them?</p>
<p>I know I said a lot (and might have rambled) but anything in response would be great!</p>
<p>If by this you mean having Thirsty Thursdays every week then you’ve got another thing coming (unless you’re in Tepper). Generally I’d work to Friday night during the week and I’d be able to take the night off. Wake up around 11-noon on Saturday, work until around dinner time, then get to have another night of fun. I’ve I had been doing a good job of working ahead during the week I’d get Sunday free. If I wanted to dig myself a hole for the following week I could also take Sunday off. Otherwise I’d probably spend another afternoon doing problem sets/projects.</p>
<p>There’s certainly time to go out and have fun at CMU, but you need to plan ahead and budget how many nights you can actually take off.</p>
<p>RacinReaver, what kind of a load are you taking? Are you taking the standard classes, or doing extra work? What is your major? Thanks, your posts are always so helpful.</p>
The kids who are doing that consider that fun. My impression is that even in SCS you can go out on Friday and Saturday night, but you won’t be able to take the entire weekend off.</p>
<p>I was a Materials Science & Engineering major with a minor in Physics. I took almost entirely technical classes with, at most, one humanity a semester. I guess I was doing extra work since I was taking many more classes than was required for my degree (when I finished I had taken almost all of the MSE courses offered, plus doing independent study as a tester for one they planned to offer the following year).</p>
<p>I think my experience was fairly typical of most people in work intensive majors (technical, theater, fine arts, architecture). This isn’t to say you had to do solid work every weeknight. I’d usually have to do at least some homework, but there would always be time for some TV, video games, or hanging out with friends.</p>
<p>Don’t worry. My kid graduated from CMU with IS (and CS) degree. His take: CS was more work, more everything. Still IS was strong, highly regarded program…project based with a convenient masters (MISM) that you can do in an additional year. We went to the IS-specific graduation ceremony (there are ceremonies for the individual CMU schools). A short bio was written by each graduate and read (more like “performed”…some were really hilarious) but the point is, the majority had impressive jobs, mostly in the financial sector, specifically investment and mega banks.</p>
<p>btw he joined a fraternity, never complained about nothing to do, rather the opposite. He had plenty of time for fun. Then again you run into those inevitable times when everything conspires and it seems there’s not enough time in the week to get all your work done.</p>
<p>“He had plenty of time for fun. Then again you run into those inevitable times when everything conspires and it seems there’s not enough time in the week to get all your work done.”</p>
<p>That sounds about right. CMU comes in waves, but even in the downtime there’s something to do and the bar for “low” workload is set high.</p>