<p>I've been surfing around on CC when I noticed that many college-hopefuls mentioned the importance of "legacy" at specific schools. Upon further investigation (oh the magic of Google), I also saw that having a parent as a member of the faculty helps a lot. I was wondering if that also applies to CMU because my mom is a researcher at Mellon Institute, and has been for about 10 years or so. Should I somehow mention this while applying (I'm looking into Tepper, SCS, and MCS...mostly MCS)?</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity (sorry, not really related to original thread), but if I were to get a recommendation from someone fairly high up in MCS, would it boost my chances? I'm fairly in love with CMU (not posting stats because I don't feel that I should change this into some chance thread in disguise) so I would like to see what helps and what doesn't :D</p>
<p>I’m not sure about this at all, but one of my friends has a parent who’s a faculty member at CMU. I heard that he’s paying about $10,000 a year? (not sure) … I think its definitely worth mentioning and from what I heard it should improve your chances of getting in.</p>
<p>@tennistar: Thanks for the input, I’m glad to hear that :)</p>
<p>@bco09: You just made my day as far as tuition payment goes It’s like a guaranteed scholarship pretty much! However, the hard part is getting into CMU >_>…</p>
<p>haha i mean if you want to guarantee you are in, do APEA for one summer (The only tuition you will ever have to pay). Don’t suck, and then apply EA / ED</p>
<p>Lol I did know about APEA but because of my outside orchestra, I couldn’t apply this year. The tour we’re going on is from June 28 to July 9, which is smack in the middle of many different activities I was hoping to apply to. I’m definitely going to submit an application next year as a rising senior and hope for the best!</p>
<p>Come on people…I see you looking at this pretty thread (I definitely did not refresh this page 80-some times). You know you want to put in your two cents…</p>
<p>honestly make a chance thread if it’s bugging you that much. to cut to the chase though, if you have above 2000 SAT, decent gpa anc ec’s, and go for a college other than CS/CFA(drama+architecture)/CIT-ECE, you will probably get in.</p>
<p>I don’t know how much that’s true. Based on my experience interviewing admissions still seems fairly random for students even with stats better than my own back when I applied.</p>
<p>but his mom is fairly senior CMU faculty? Idk… i feel like if OP is a good fit for CMU, the parent makes it clear in a memo to admissions, and OP has the stats to reasonably justify it, then there should be no problem. I have no evidence, other than a few friends with tuition covered who didn’t have to be geniuses to get in so take it fwiw</p>
<p>@RacinReaver: My confidence just died. Do you have an emergency revival kit? Oh, and what’s the policy for interviewing? Do they just call you after you submit an application and schedule one?</p>
<p>@bco09: What do you mean by “good fit”? lols</p>
<p>Sorry to bust your bubble, but your mom’s status as a “researcher” has no bearing on your status as an applicant. Better chances if you actually got yourself a job in the lab and some prof wrote on your behalf.
Unless your mom is a Dean or some highly ranked person-- even then, it’s really not relevant to decision making.</p>
<p>Like others said-- if you want someone to chance you, post your stats. MCS is less competitive than CIT, SCS and Arch-- so above average stats will get you in. </p>
<p>You need to call admissions and schedule your own interview-- it’s also less than 1/2 of 1% a factor in admissions. It’s meant to serve as information session for you.<br>
If you’re gung ho thrilled about CMU - then apply ED and express that in an interview. Even as local Pitt applicant, still schedule the campus visit and the interview— try the November sleeping bag weekend.</p>
<p>Again- your mom’s employment status in this case has no bearing on your chances (here at CMU or anywhere for that matter).</p>
<p>For purposes of college admission in schools with legacy preferences, the definition of “legacy” is: “my parent graduated from CMU as an UNDERGRAD” (legacy status not defined by graduate degrees either).</p>
<p>You need to set up an interview. Since you’re local in Pittsburgh you should definitely do it on-campus with the admissions office and do everything you can to show a strong interested in the school.</p>
<p>@mom2012and14 Thanks for your valuable input. I did understand the term of “legacy,” but I wanted to know if a parent faculty member also helps. I’d post my stats and be the average Asian screaming “Chance me!” but I’m going to stall a little bit until I get my SAT II scores in the next few days and AP scores back in mid-July before I start putting on the “chancing” lights and beg others to check up on my progress </p>
<p>@RacinReaver I definitely will. I’m glad to be getting all these tips. Can’t wait to sign up for the weekend sleeping bag event and APEA! :D</p>
It’s like a guaranteed scholarship pretty much! However, the hard part is getting into CMU >_>…</p>
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