To those who chose Penn over CMU

<p>Browisng through CC posts, I found that many of you were debating between CMU and Penn (for engineering). For those that chose Penn, perhaps this will make you more comfortable with your decision:</p>

<p>Cmu is a great school… I live in the Pittsburgh area, and I’m always up in Oakland to visit friends at UPitt and CMU friends right down the street. The campus is pretty and the students are driven. However, CMU does have its downfalls, as many threads have pointed out.</p>

<p>If a severely thorough education is what you crave, CMU can deliver. But you ought to expect exactly that when you arrive on campus. Because CMU’s engineering cirriculum is so rigorous, many students have to work their butts off to get that 3.5, becauseCMU is known for a rather harsh grading system. By the same token, social life for many eventually wanes to near non-existence. All of my friends at CMU (both male and female) moan and groan about how sometimes there just isn’t much to do, either a) because they need to study to stay on top, or b) everyone else is studying, leaving you companionless. These traits are not unique to CMU; other schools of the same caliber will demand much the same time and work, e.g., MIT and Johns Hopkins. </p>

<p>Penn, on the other hand, will deliver a damn fine education as well as some fertile ground for a social life. Engineering kids everywhere are nerdy, it’s a given. But, from what I’ve heard, at Penn theres just so much more outside of the engineering realm in which you can take part. Apparently, Penn engineers are the most down-to-earth on campus, or, as some may say, “not as nerdy as other universities’ engineers.” Plus at Penn, you have the freedom to work with your personal cirriculum. Flexibility within your major is key… something that might be a hassle at another school. I dont know about anyone else, but this was a very attractive trait to me. It’d be nice to take major or minor in Arabic or some other interest of mine in addition to my engineering classes, or take a class in Wharton to get my feet wet in the business world, etc. In addition to a very thorough engineering program (that is often underranked), Penn offers an environment that will provide the necessary resources to pursue any interest you may have, and I feel comfortable in that fact alone.</p>

<p>So if you are still having doubts about your decision, worry not! CMU is a fabulous school: I won’t deny it (and no one else should). Excuse me for generalizing… bu it just seems as though you can still get a fantastic engineering education at Penn (almost, if not totally, equivalent to that of CMU) and still enjoy those four years of your life during which you are free to pursue whatever social or academic goals you may have. It takes a certain student to study at CMU, and likewise at Penn. It all depends on who you are socially, really. And should you want that severely thorough education that CMU can deliver, know that Penn (or any other school) can deliver the same, that is, depending on how much work YOU put in to it!</p>

<p>This is getting way long and boring, but I hope that at least one SEAS student who chose Penn over CMU feels just slightly more comfortable with their decision having read this. I’m up at CMU ever weekend, and I love the place because I’m there so often. Quite simply, I just wouldn’t want to study there for four years. No offense, CMU kids! I still think you guys rock!</p>

<p>Haha this is one more confirmation that I made the right choice in choosing Penn over CMU.</p>

<p>I had been waitlisted at the ECE department at CMU, and since I didnt want to settle for another major at CMU it was a given that I would not be going unless i got off the waitlist there. However, the desire not to go to Pittsburgh (too cold, not much going on) plus the social aspect kinda turned me off anyways. Although my cousin had a great time there (I attended his graduation last year), I don't think that it is the right place for me.</p>

<p>One more difference between Penn and CMU- Penn gives you a ton of options for studies outside of engineering, while CMU doenst. If you are certain that you want to be an engineer for life, CMU is a great choice. But if you think you might want to go into management, or maybe take another career track, Penn can't be beat.</p>

<p>Oh and I forgot to mention one interesting fact:</p>

<p>The current president of Carnegie Mellon (Jared L. Cohon) graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Penn, then went on to get his phd from MIT.</p>

<p>Precisely, silmon77. While I do love Pittsburgh because I lived here all my life, to any other outsider, it's a rather glum city... </p>

<p>I think you made a great choice.<br>
See ya in the fall !</p>

<p>You can't lose either place. I'm a Penn grad and my son is graduating from CMU in 2 weeks.</p>

<p>Social life does exist at CMU if you want it (S was in fraternity) and personally I like Pgh far better than Philly (we now live in Philly suburbs)...its not the sprawling mess I associate with Phila (sorry) and Penn's location in West Phila I think is nowhere near as nice as CMU's area of Pgh. And personally I think S's education in CS couldn't be beat.</p>

<p>That said Penn has definite advantages in overall options, ivy name...I enjoyed it. You just can't go wrong and engineering at Penn is strong enough.</p>

<p>Silmon: "Oh and I forgot to mention one interesting fact: the current president of Carnegie Mellon (Jared Cohon) graduated with a degree from Penn"....check the archives in the Penn website or the DailyPennsylvanian for Jared Cohon. You'll find he was THE top choice for Penn presidency but opted instead to stay at CMU.</p>

<p>2331clk, I agree. I hope I didnt give anyone the wrong impression by bashing CMU... if I did, I got the wrong message across, and that was not my intention.</p>

<p>Urban Pittsburgh (especially that area) is beautiful compared to a lot of urban Philly. CMU is a stupendous school... as is Penn. I, however, prefer Penn. :-)</p>