<p>Hey everyone. I posted this same thread in the Carnegie Mellon forum, and since a lot of people posting there were more familiar with CMU, I just wanted a different viewpoint from others who know more about the University of Rochester. I've narrowed my colleges down to Carnegie-Mellon (H&SS/Tepper for Economics, MCS for Math, and the Science and Humanities Scholar Program) and the University of Rochester. I visited both campuses and loved them. UR gave me a scholarship and overall more money than CMU, but I will appeal my financial aid package from CMU.</p>
<p>I would like to major in Mathematics and/or Economics, but I am also interested in other areas such as psychology, philosophy, physics, biology, and engineering. I'm a techy and mathy kind of guy, but I also really like literature and social sciences.</p>
<p>I've heard that Carnegie-Mellon has great programs in econ and math, but people coming to CMU seem like they already know for sure what they want to study. Also, I am concerned that I may begin to dislike my major, and that it would be too late to switch majors if I find another subject that I like better. In addition, many people I've talked to say that the Gen Eds at H&SS are BS and a waste of time, that the humanities and social sciences at Carnegie-Mellon are not great, and that the only descent/good academic areas are engineering and computer science.</p>
<p>On the other hand, UR offers great programs in the humanities and social sciences and would let me study humanities as well as sciences and engineering before I choose a major. One slight reservation with going to UR is that my brother already goes there, and I would like to go to a different school. But, I really like the Rochester Curriculum and am interested in the Take 5 program.</p>
<p>Can anybody help me or give me some advice?</p>
<p>Also, can anyone comment on the math and economics programs at U of R?</p>
<p>You sound like you have already carefully thought out your academic priorities and have a good handle on the differences at the schools. I am a UR alum and when I went there my brother attended two years after me. At first I was not sure if I would like having a sibling there, but it turned out to be a great thing. We saw each other when we wanted to, but not too much. We always had someone to travel home with. Now, years later we share the bond of being UR alum and many happy memories of the school. My daughter is attending there this fall, and the person with the most excited reaction about her decision was my brother!</p>
<p>My son is graduating with a degrees in Economics and Political Science next month. If you check various college ratings, you will find that the Economics and Political Science programs at the University of Rochester are among the every best in the country, especially after taking into consideration that UR is a relatively small research university.</p>
<p>Biology and bioengineering are also strong, taking advantage of the UR Medical School. Finally, one of my son's roommates is graduating next month with a degree in mathematics and just received a "full ride" to continue his graduate studies at another major university.</p>
<p>If you haven't already decided on a major and still want to explore different areas, UR is the place to be. The Rochester curriculum gives you lots of flexibility and you can easily double major or even triple major! </p>
<p>My son has also been accepted to UR and we visited there last week. He's thinking about a double major in math and psychology (with a minor in studio art). At nearly every other school we have visited, someone has commented that it's a strange combination of subjects. At UR, our tour guide Priscilla is a senior majoring in -- math and psychology!!</p>
<p>Both my sons are at UR. They are two years apart and since their majors are quite different, they schedules are also very different. They hardly ever see each other unless they make a point to meet up. As a parent, I appreciate the ease of keeping track of calendars.</p>
<p>When ds1 was looking for colleges, he had quite a few possible majors in mind. The Rochester curriculum was attractive for that reason. He did explore the possibility of CMU. However, the reputed difficulties in switching majors/schools within CMU 'scared' him off. Have you received some more reliable information from the CMU forum regarding that issue?</p>
<p>As to programs, the economics dept is definitely excellent good at UR and many of their programs are very good even if they are not #1 in their categories. Economics, poli sci, optics, psych (the various subdiv.)...</p>
<p>i appealed my financial aid package from CMU and got a $7,000 scholarship. but, they did not match my aid package from UR, who offered a little more than $4,000 per year. would it still be worth it to go to CMU because of its job network? or would UR be a better choice because they offered me more money?</p>
<p>also, how are the career services at UR? how well does it help students and graduates get internships and jobs or get into graduate schools?</p>