<p>So I am preparing my essays for my Regular Decision application to CMU. The prompt is very specific about what CMU wants:</p>
<p>"Please submit a one page, single-spaced essay that explains why you have chosen Carnegie Mellon and your particular major(s), department(s) or program(s). This essay should include the reasons why you've chosen the major(s), any goals or relevant work plans and any other information you would like us to know. For freshmen applying to more than one college or program, please mention each college or program to which you are applying. Because our admission committees review applicants by college and program, your essay can impact our final decision."</p>
<p>Based on this prompt, here is my intent. I will be applying to CIT for mechanical engineering. I also, however, have an interest in an additional major in Robotics (and possibly biomedical engineering). Through research, I know that Robotics is only available as an additional major. Therefore, I'm unsure whether I should include the School of Computer Science in my essay. I will be applying to CIT for my primary major, so I would assume Robotics can be added no matter what major I may have. I don't want to assume, though.</p>
<p>Has anyone had experience with this? What should I include in my essay? I don't want to leave something out that is actually important to the admission process. Thank you very much!</p>
<p>You’re right, it is. At least at the undergraduate level.</p>
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<p>Go for it. It happens to be a department within SCS, but it’s kind of it’s own thing. They’re certainly not going to think to themselves “hmm, i dunno about this kid, he seems to have multiple interests and is interested in multiple programs and colleges within the university…”. They’ll think the opposite. It’s kind of our thing. Interdisciplinarity, I mean.</p>
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<p>Your assumption would be correct.</p>
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<p>There is no correct answer to this. The best advice I can give as someone who went through the process (though not to CIT) is to try to put yourself in the shoes of person who’ll be reading your essay and ultimately passing judgement on it. Be yourself, and talk about what you love, and why you think CMU is for you and why you’d fit in and what you hope to get out of it. Don’t talk about how CMU has top ranks and our degrees command high salaries. They already know that and that’s a crappy reason to go to college, in my opinion. You go to college to learn, to grow, to better yourself and hopefully the world (or at least your community and the people around you). What is CMU’s culture? What’s our perspective on all this? What makes us unique in our approach to these generic prompt-y questions? If they seem vague and bland that’s because they are. That’s the point. They want YOU to give them meaning :)</p>
<p>@sockersocket Thank you so much for your input! I know that there is no “correct” way to answer the question, but I also know that some ways are more effective at demonstrating ideas, aspirations, etc.</p>
<p>One other thing I was hoping to get opinions on is my involvement with music. I’ve begin writing my first draft so far, and I’ve been really focusing on the engineering/CIT aspect of CMU, as well as student culture. However, I’ve always been VERY involved with music; my Common App essay is entirely revolved around music, and I will also be submitting a music supplement through SlideRoom (despite my being an engineering major). </p>
<p>In your opinion, would it be effective to include my interest in music as part of my essay, or should I focus on the academic interest (since the prompt mentions that the essays are reviewed by department)? The trick with essays like these are to elaborate enough on the important information, but not include too much extraneous information. </p>