Overview of our visit at Carnegie Mellon

Colleges & Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
101

<p>My experience cannot have been ANY MORE DIFFERENT than taxguy's. Everyone i talked to at CMU seemed very helpful and outgoing to prospective students. They were also quite happy with CMU, they almost everyone said that the only people who talk about there being nothing to do, no one interesting, etc. were the people who did nothing and were uninteresting themselves.</p>

<p>The architecture studios were quite nice, big open studios with lots of windows, and a craftsman toolbox for every student's work station.</p>

<p>I agree, however, that the price is steep and that they are not easy with their aid money... why im not going. However, I disagree with the notion that it is odd for a waitlisted student to not be elligable for merit aid... frankly, if a student who wasn't waitlisted did not qualify for it, why would a student who was almost good enough to get in, but had to wait and see if there was a spot for him or her qualify? particularly at a place like CMU where only the very top acceptees receive merit aid, it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for a waitlisted student to.</p>

102

<p>Yargg notes,"if a student who wasn't waitlisted did not qualify for it, why would a student who was almost good enough to get in, but had to wait and see if there was a spot for him or her qualify? "</p>

<p>Response: The answer is that the waitlisted students are very close to those admitted students. Many times it is the "luck of the draw" or something very small that separate those who got accepted from those who got waitlisted.</p>

<p>As far as other schools, I do know two students who just got into Tufts and Weslyan. Both were on waitlists and both received both merit and need based aid. I don't know if those schools are an anomaly,but they did give aid to waitlisted students.</p>

<p>Finally, we aren't just talking about merit aid. CMU doesn't even match or negotiate with wait-listed students who received merit aid from comparable schools.</p>

103

<p>"It is basically a place to work hard and get a good job...period."</p>

<p>That statement besides being unfair is just plain false. I can tell you for certainty very few 18 year olds want to go to a school with no fun. My S who recently graduated, had a great social (out of the classroom) time at CMU in addition to amazing classroom/internship/faculty experiences . Joined and lived in a fraternity, saw Steelers and Pirates games, spent plenty of time in Shady Side, Squirrel Hill and the South Side. Lots of parties, constantly involved in intramural sports, spent months involved with buggy, did community volunteer work, on and on, far too much to mention. So please don't tell me CMU is a place to get a good job...Period.</p>

<p>Also it pushes you to your academic limit, this is a good thing. Not many schools can compare in this important category.</p>

<p>"many of the people we met did have a rather cold, aloof attitude compared to that of other schools."</p>

<p>Which schools? Not top ones I'll bet. A partial possible explanation(??)...there are lots of foreign students at CMU...one of 7 undergrads and more than half of the grad students. So nearly one of three students you randomly pass is foreign; they seem to be more reserved, at least that's my observation.</p>

<p>I went to Penn 4 years grad school and am often there for continuing ed courses. You can walk one end of that campus to the other with nary one eye contact. My nephew just graduated from a different ivy...we've all observed, same there. My conclusion...top schools (at least in the East) don't give a warm and fuzzy vibe walking around the campus. But there's great diversity at these schools so you easily find your niche.</p>

104

<p>While this is only the experience of our one family, I must agree with taxguy that our three or four visits did not give the perception of a friendly, welcoming administration. The financial aid parent meeting was particularly curt. We never did get to see the inside of a dorm, nor eat with other students since there is really no central cafeteria (we just got an overpriced sandwich and sat alone in the student union building). There were no student panel discussions to offer that personal touch.</p>

<p>Still, our son would have loved to attend CMU as it is an excellent school that fit his individual academic and artistic needs...if only the financial aid approached the offers of other institutions. We really got the impression that they didn't care if they were affordable to us, but just as taxguy said, "we are Carnegie Mellon. If you want to come here, fine. If not, we have thousands to take your place."</p>

<p>Honestly, Andrew Carnegie is probably rolling over in his grave.</p>

105

<p>I am in a fraternity and can honestly say I spend an equal amount of time partying and socializing as I do concentrating on academics (with good grades to boot). </p>

<p>One thing is for sure, if you're not in love with learning don't come here. Because I don't want you here. What sets us apart from other schools is this unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and if you don't have it you will only pull us down. </p>

<p>People are down to earth here. More so than you'd think</p>

<p>EDIT:
To add, I also play intramural basketball, indoor soccer, softball and football, and am thinking about joining the club rugby team.</p>

106

<p>
[quote]
What sets us apart from other schools is this unquenchable thirst for knowledge

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Oh, I don't know about that. I'm quite sure that students with "unquenchable thirst for knowledge" attend other schools, too. Maybe one thing that sets CMU apart from other schools is the high price tag and the generally minimal financial aid. So what you have are students who were smart enough or talented enough to get in, and whose parents can afford it.</p>

107

<p>I'm sure that these other schools with the unquenchable thirst also have high price tags. The minimal financial aid comes from the minimal endowment, I would think. CMU doesn't have much money - and the money it does have is poured into research (the unquenchable thirst). </p>

<p>I can't exactly afford it, so I take out loans. You can't return an education, it isn't a commodity. Money is money, and I'll live with the debt, as long as I'm learning things I enjoy learning and doing things I enjoy doing.</p>

108

<p>All I have to say is this:</p>

<p>What comparable University DOES NOT do what Carnegie Mellon does? Many universities do not even GIVE aid to waitlisted applicants and expect them to pay the full price.</p>

<p>What comparable University does not have a comparable tuition?</p>

<p>As for the environment; that is quite subjective. Obviously I don't know what people you met but Carnegie Mellon's student body has always been known to be helpful and courteous. People open doors for me and I do the same for them. </p>

<p>Lastly, yes CMU gets you a job and gets you paid but many a times on this board I have been put in my place offering advice to people who don't need it. They dont' want to know which professors are easy. They don't want to know which courses are easy A's. These kids PM me their thanks and tell me that they are here to learn as their MAIN PRIORITY. Look at the Math thread on the first page here and you'll see samcold as a prime example when I tell him to take easier math to get a free A. He is here to learn and so are many Carnegie Mellon students.</p>

<p>" We really got the impression that they didn't care if they were affordable to us, but just as taxguy said, "we are Carnegie Mellon. If you want to come here, fine. If not, we have thousands to take your place.""</p>

<p>Once again, how is this different from other top schools? Do you know how many kids Harvard sends crying back and feeling left out in the cold? Carnegie Mellon is a PRIVATE university. You don't pay its endowment with your taxes. It owes you nothing. </p>

<p>I'm not trying to be harsh but just offer a reality to the backbone of our economy (the supply/demand system). </p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon is actually very generous DESPITE its low endowment in giving aid. They match peers and have given exactly what was expected in most cases and even MORE in other cases. </p>

<p>I got into Stern '09 and I can tell you if you called them up and asked for more aid they'd laugh at you and hang up. Carnegie Mellon will work with kids it WANTS for aid. Unfortunately this does not usually apply for waitlisted kid because even though they may be qualified, the truth of the matter is that there were MORE qualified kids. </p>

<p>I think perhaps some of you on this board would prefer communism over capitalism based on your posts as the arguments therein apply to private universities (private companies) and the backbone of our contemporary American economy.</p>

109

<p>AcceptedAlready, spare me! Don't tell me that Weslyan and Tufts aren't very strong, comparable schools because they are! They were willing to give merit aid and negotiate aid to waitlisted applicants. The same by the way was true for Emory. </p>

<p>As for atmosphere, I must admit it is subjective,but it is the impression that I and each of my family got.</p>

<p>As for the facilities, again, this is my opinion. Being in the subbasement of a building for two years, even one that is historic, doesn't make me feel all that warm and furry.</p>

<p>Yes, I understand about CMU's lack of endowment; however, CMU isn't that cheap with scholarships. They note that 70% of their students get some sort of financial aid, although this could be subsidized loans. However, to give this amount of aid with a very small endowment, it seems that they can only accomplish this by higher tuition... a sort of Robin Hood mentality.</p>

<p>Yes, if you are the beneficiary of this Robin Hood approach, I guess you would feel great. If, however, you get nothing, I can promise you that the emotion isn't as rewarding, especially if you are told that waitlisted kids don't get treated the same as those who were accepted in the first place, which means that waitlist kids are considered second rate students. Whether you feel this is valid or not, it doesn't negate the feeling of being considered second rate!</p>

110

<p>I've said in previous posts that liberal arts were probably not a good choice in choosing Carnegie Mellon. You cannot even compare LACs vs National Universities. Can I truly compare NYU vs Wesleyan or vice versa? No.</p>

<p>I am talking about CMU's peer institutions and while Emory is a good example I can find 2 universities for every "Emory" you find. The point is that supply/demand is still an integral part of private Universities. </p>

<p>I would of course not be happy if I got nothing but I did the American dream. I worked my butt off and I got a scholarship. I was accepted to an Ivy and other top schools. If CMU gave me nothing I would've gone elsewhere. CMU knows this and so do schools like Stern. I asked Stern for more money and the response I got was despicable. I was not even WAITLISTED yet they treat me like a 2nd citizen. I am not mad though because I know the difference between a Private/Public school. NYU has the money but it is private and should be able to make decisions for itself. It should be a bit selfish because honestly that is how capitalism works. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, and it really does pain me to say this, but waitlisted applicants are not always equal to accepted applicants. Look at the acceptance thread for the waitlisted applicants vs. accepted and you'll see a difference. </p>

<p>Yes, although we always say waitlisted kids are qualified, the truth is that there were obviously MORE qualified kids who actually got accepted, got scholarships, or got their matching aid. </p>

<p>Now for Facitilies:
I don't know why you'd judge a University based on a basement? Are you talking about the sloping halls of Baker? CMU has always been in the forefront and been a pioneer in technology as well as facilities.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Washing Machines and Dryers at CMU email you when your clothes are done and you can check availability online so you don't waste a trip downstairs to see whether or not enough machines are open. </p></li>
<li><p>Your card holds everything about you. Tepper kids can swipe their card and get into teh Tepper building on weekends while say a Comp Sci student would not be able to do so. </p></li>
<li><p>CMU has free tickets to almost all the tech conventions and competitions. Our main competition is usually the like of Stanford as shown with the unmanned hummer competition.</p></li>
<li><p>The Gates building is going to be starting construction very soon. </p></li>
<li><p>New buildings have sprung up in CMU only in the past few decades/years such as the amazing Tepper building.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I can list a bunch more but the point is I would like an elaboration on the excerpt: "Being in the subbasement of a building for two years, even one that is historic, doesn't make me feel all that warm and furry."</p>

<p>I hate to be the @ss that tells the kid there's no such thing as Santa Claus but in the private world of capitalist America there is supply/demand and unfortunately waitlisted kids are not usually seen as equal. It's been said before but other schools do not even give aid at all to their waitlistees. Waitlistees unfortunately are often seen as just a backup in case some freak accident happens and not enough kids matriculate.</p>

111

<p>Carnegie Mellon would not match my other offers, which were double, and I got in RD. My friends also got a lot less from Carnegie Mellon than other schools, however Carnegie Mellon is worth it's price. A Carnegie Mellon degree can open a lot of doors, by getting you some great jobs or into a great grad school. Carnegie Mellon is very generous though, considering their endowment, a lot of schools don't give any or very little aid to people admitted off of the wait list. The Carnegie Mellon faculty is among the best and the students are very smart and hardworking. The campus is very nice and well maintained, however I have never seen the basement. Also, it's student body is very friendly, when I visited I never met a person that was cold or aloof and the admissions office staff was very nice and informative.</p>

112

<p>honestly taxguy i think you resent it because your daughter got waitlisted. Unless your daughter planned on not eating/sleeping/socializing, why would she spend two years in her studio?</p>

113

<p>
[quote]
Yes, although we always say waitlisted kids are qualified, the truth is that there were obviously MORE qualified kids who actually got accepted, got scholarships, or got their matching aid.

[/quote]

Come now. You know this isn't true. My son was accepted to FIVE programs in CMU, and he couldn't go because we got such stingy financial aid. The only failing of this exemplary student was that his is a middle class white male from an overrepresented geographic area. I'm sure if he posessed some "valuable hook" in terms of gender, ethnicity, deprived economic status, desirable home state, etc, they would have been throwing money at him.</p>

<p>Anyway, that's water under the bridge. My point is that those of you who are fortunate enough to attend CMU or other elite colleges should realize that it might have been the result of who read your essay or some slight nuance of demographics or even that your parents could pay the full bill that got you there, and not necessarily that you are superior to everybody else.</p>

114

<p>nysweetie1287 and AcceptedAlready, all I can say is to go to the design building subbasement and look around. Ask yourself if you want to spend literally thousands of hours in there during your four years!</p>

<p>Notice, I am NOT knocking the wired facilites at CMU, the science building or talking about any other building. I am simply referring to the design facilities located in the subbasement of the design school.</p>

<p>As for socializing, yes, NYsweetie, kids will do that too. However, design kids work VERY hard and long hours on projects. Thus, she would have been spending a LOT of time there. This would have been especially true of my daughter who is a worker!</p>

115

<p>Taxguy,
I am curious about the architecture studio facilities. Did you see those at either CMU or other colleges?</p>

116

<p>Lkf725, we did glance into some of those studios. Although they at least had windows on their rooms, I didn't think that they were anything fabulous. </p>

<p>The problem is that the design department,which houses ID, Communication Design and Architecture is in a old, historic building. The building may be historic and very nice from the outside, it isn't that nice from the inside. If you compare new buildings with newer studios such as that of Cincinnati to CMU, you will notice a tremendous difference. Maybe architecs like working in old, historic buildings. I can't say. It was, however, a turnoff to us.</p>

<p>I should note that this was NOT the case with other CMU buildings. Even the art building was very nice with murals and lots of atmosphere. If you check out the design building at CMU and compare it to other buildings there or to other schools such as the DAAP school at Cincinnati, you will see what I am talking about.</p>

<p>By the way, I am only talking about the Design building. I do still think that CMU has a fabulous curriculum and tough program. I also loved the interdisciplanary project that kids do in their senior year. As a result, I REALLY wanted to like CMU and wanted my daughter to like it to.</p>

<p>It was just that the design facilites really were a turnoff. I guess kids can overcome this if the work is sophisticated and there is a lot to do. I should note that I wasn't the only one who felt this way too. If you email Mackinaw, whose daughter got into both RISD and CMU, he can shed some more light on this. He and his daughter were very underwhelmed with the design facilities.</p>

117

<p>All of the architecture studios i looked at were quite nice compaired to every other school I visited.</p>

118

<p>lkf725: My point was that waitlisted kids are not always equal to accepted students in a college's eyes; not that all accepted students should get full aid. That is why some schools will not even give aid at all to waitlisted students.</p>

<p>Demographics might've screwed you over (I dont' know what happened with your son) but getting into 5 colleges does not mean CMU was dying to have your son though I'm sure he was very qualified. It merely means he was a good fit for what he applied for. </p>

<p>"The only failing of this exemplary student was that his is a middle class white male from an overrepresented geographic area."</p>

<p>This is definitely true and every top college uses demographics in its decisions. You can bet your dollar that the lone Alaskan kid will get more aid or incentive to come than the 80th New York kid. Every college boasts of its students coming from all areas in order to create a variegated student body. This is also why African American applicants are usually offered more incentives to come. </p>

<p>This is unfortunate but another sad fact of the life of college admissions. I don't see why you would think CMU is the only college to base at least some aid preparation based on demographics and wanting to have a diverse student body as once again almost every college does this.</p>

119

<p>Just a note on physical facilities - when we toured MIT's CE labs the only word I can think of is "dreary" - there were (dirty) windows somewhere, I guess, but it mostly reminded me of Dagwood's workbench in 'Blondie'. But had my S been lucky enough to get admitted that would not have been a factor due to the excellent education provided in that dreary environment. He was admitted RD to CMU SCS; we had to go back with a comparable offer to get any finaid; CMU came back with a slightly lower offer than the other (Ivy) school but that was enough to make us feel that they really did want him. There were no hooks involved.</p>

120

<p>I think the value of physical environment will vary with the individual. But even for those who are not affected by environment to a great extent will want to make sure it doesn't impact their mood and creative energy in a negative way. I can vouch for the fact that some colleges had very inviting music practice rooms while other had rooms that were rather cramped, dreary and depressing.</p>