<p>UK-US mom…here is some info based on our search/decision process last year.</p>
<p>My son applied to and was accepted at both CMU and WUSTL and, similar to your daughter, was very keen on going to a university rather than an art school. We encouraged this because we liked the idea of having options other than art and also it seemed a better fit for his multi-disciplinary interests up through high school. WUSTL came off of his list pretty quickly. It came down to choosing between CMU and VCU because both offered engineering/comp scie programs and both had conceptual art programs. Despite the massive difference in cost, he chose CMU because it had an engineering/robotics program leagues beyond what VCU offers although the art programs had some similarities.</p>
<p>He is not a humanities person. He did a lot of animation in high school, likes computers and math and definitely legos mindstorms got him into robotics. </p>
<p>He visited both CMU and WUSTL. We have family near St. Louis so I secretly hoped that would work out. S loved WUSTL because he said the kids were sooo nice. He said, I quote, “no one could be unhappy there. Everyone is positive and friendly and interesting.” His negative about WUSTL was that the art was very traditional. The first year was very much emphasizing 2-d skills and little opportunity to try some of the newer/more out there kidn of things. There was little or no interest in his animation and game design and, frankly, odd themes in his art. He was quite sure it was not the place for him after his visit despite loving the campus and the students. </p>
<p>They are also nice at CMU and he actually feels a better fit there because there is more of a quirky, geeky aspect to the campus. What I have found most impressive is the collaborative atmosphere across the different schools…his latest video project involved half of his dorm he said–actors and stage directing majors from the drama program, techies from engineering and comp sci. He is taking intro comp sci this semester to get started on a robotics minor and is doing a big animation project for the “intro python programming” class…I find that heartening and surprising that comp sci professor will let him get out of the traditional python programming box and do this. I can’t imagine this happening at any other university–not WUSTL, not MIT, and certainly not VCU. CMU really takes the multidisciplianry mantra very seriously…</p>
<p>The first year foundation is quite distinct from WUSTL. He has had art history, 2-D and 3-D but they also take short 1/2 semester classes in other medium that expose them early on to things that other programs restrict to upper classmen. He has already done a bit of kinetic sculpture, animation, film/video, as well as metal sculpture…They do have these “concept studios” that seem a bit of a mixed bag…helpful for learning about the creative process and giving students time and support for thinking through ideas and concepts for their art but the quality of the course depends a lot on the instructor.</p>
<p>CMU is not super well known for their liberal arts and language programs. However, they have an excellent creative writing program and there is a kid on the CMU forum “CompletelyKate” who is doing that as well as taking graduate courses at the Entertainment Center. She, like many CMU students, are following two or three interests and combining them into a multidisciplinary degree. </p>
<p>Internships seem to be pretty plentiful. My son did not take advantage of all that CMU seemed to offer in terms of finding summer internships and employment. He found foundation year grueling and is happy to work at starbucks this summer. Next year he hopes to get something through the school’s employment office.</p>
<p>Last, it is hard to say how a girl will feel about being at CMU. Girls are at a real premium because it is one of the few universities where guys outnumber girls and geeky/tech girls outnumber arts/humanities girls. However, social life is pretty limited compared to the typical US university–my son says that traditionally most kids do homework on Friday nights, work most of saturday until dinner and then some diversion sometimes on Saturday and sleep late on Sunday (that is his one luxury). There are fraternities and sororities but they are pretty much organizedaround professional interests/ethnic/sport affiliations rather than parties.</p>
<p>WUSTL definitely has that midwest atmosphere–very wholesome and open. There are kids from all over at both univesities, but CMU has a much more evident asian/foreign group of students. WUSTL has a more “fun” atmosphere but the kids still work very hard. Pre-med majors dominate at WUSTL…it is one of the best med schools in the country and the natural sciences is their strength. Those kids work as hard as the comp sci people at CMU. CMU art majors are also known for their killer work load…I did not hear that about WUSTL. </p>
<p>so I really put out a lot of info, but remember it is filtered through my eyes that see my son very happy at CMU. </p>
<p>Good luck with the decision…oh…about transportation…Southwest flies out of st. louis and to Newark …can be direct and cheap so not a bad choice. Southwest and Jet blue both fly out of pittsburgh which can actually be as cheap and easier than the bus. Don’t even think about the train from Pittsburgh to NY…kind of crazy but the trains are infrequent/costly/time consuming.</p>