Are the stereotypes that CMU students are antisocial? Does the school have more of an intense academic vibe or a quirky, bohemian vibe? How is the workload? What is the culture like around campus? I understand that CMU is a top-tier university academically, but do students have fun as well?
(By the way, I would want to major in molecular biology, biology, or chemistry, if that information changes your answer to any of these questions)
My brother currently attend CMU, and I can say that it certainly is strict academics, with a decent size group of non-engineering/sciences/hardcore subjects that hold students of interesting habits. There is very little, if any, party atmosphere (most you’ll find is a collection of kids imbibing on alcohol to get over the work grind). If you want to learn at a top-tier school, CMU is definitely there; if you want to converse with “socially” normal humans, take a stroll to the University of Pittsburgh xD!
Along the lines of Freshman workload, in the Biology department(my brother), he felt ahead of/up to date with his previous knowledge, 5’s on AP BIO/CHEM exams, etc. After freshman year, I couldn’t help you there, since he switched to engineering/business.
I personally decided not to attend (whether or not accepted) due to the fact of the 4 year “grind” required to succeed(I want to go to med school aka gpa is tough to keep very high) and the mountain of debt that anyone who is not below ~50k nor above 150k will certainly carry for a long time (brother is graduating with ~240k debt, my parents make ~75k)
So, all in all, if you are looking for an academically rigorous school, and you are not intimidated by debt, CMU is definitely a good school for you. If you are kind of so-so on the idea of attending, think about what you want to do, and if CMU can truly help you achieve that goal (more than likely they can). Then consider your other options with the resources they provide and go from there!
^^The $240 K in debt needs to be checked. That would mean about 90% of the total cost of attendance was financed through debt. With a family income of $75K, surely (I’m certain) CMU would have kicked in with grant money at a minimum of 50% of the cost of attendance, unless your parents have a low income but a large amount of liquid assets. In the latter case, the parents chose not to help with school from personal assets (not knocking it; it’s a family choice).
If your brother truly leaves CMU with $240 K in debt, I’d have to really question his decision to attend CMU in 99% of the scenarios I can think of.
I’m an old time alum so I am not current with the social part, but for the most part what you describe is consistent with my experience way back when. People were pretty much fully engaged with academics 7 x 24 with daily breaks for activities (I was varsity athlete) and maybe a party or two a week.
We had fun, it was just understood, even 40 years ago, that parties weren’t the focal point of your attention. If it was, you would soon be out the door.
Good luck to you OP.
My son is in his second year as a physics major. This semester he is finally feeling like he has a handle on the workload. He spent the first year working day and night and then not doing very well on exams and it really took a toll on his self esteem. This year has been better, he’s still working just as much but he’s performing better on exams. The culture is very much work, work, work. He does mention he goes to some parties, but it’s nothing like my college experience. When I visit I do get a quirky vibe and you can tell the CMU students from the PITT students walking down the street. At CMU, academics is the focus without a doubt.
@Colfax --you can tell from the way students walk down the street whether they go to Pitt or CMU? How so?
(spoiler: biased current CMU student)
I’m going to have to disagree with much of the above, and i’ve worked as a tour guide + hosted > 10 baggers.
@kaukauna @jwombat I just spoke to my brother the other day and I was wrong, but not far from what he will have after he graduates next year. He was given 8k a year, 15k in loan access, and work study, he also has a separate job from work study to earn some spending money. He will graduate with 210k in debt. As to the idea of people receiving really good financial aid, I’m sure it happens, but to quote my brother “We’re not poor enough nor are we rich enough”. My parents are not helping him, nor any of their children, as they are still paying off their student loans(still 30k to go) (They have no liquid assets, still paying off majority of their mortgage on a ranch house) As to 50% in grant aid, my brother received no such thing; this was difficult for anyone to understand. My brother chose CMU in spite of the debt because he knew what he wanted to do and felt he needed CMU to give him the resources to do so and be successful. With the path he has lead, I expect him to pay all of that debt off in 5-10 years. Of course, take everything you hear with a grain of salt, since everything is dictated on a subjective, personal level, what happens to one person will probably not happen to another. I hope I addressed everything!
My husband went to CMU for undergrad and grad school. He enjoyed his experience but any party he was involved in was within his dept. He said that departments did not mingle as there was no time to do so. My S and I did a lot of student review research and the best comments we remember was this: Choose 3; work, eat, friends, study
It was pretty funny after thinking about it. My husband enjoyed his experience and those in his class (small group) but he did not think my son would.
It’s important to recognize that CMU rewards institutional aid with some merit-based motives, in addition to the financial need of the applicant. Those who receive the highest financial aid packages are those who excel in both merit and financial need – the university essentially invests in these folk.
As for the OP’s question – as a design major I’ve had a load of opportunities to go to parties. The vibe is generally close within the people of the major, and within the majors of CFA. The people I’ve met so far – faculty, staff, and other students – are incredibly passionate about the things they do. The intentions are there, and it’s fascinating seeing how everyone is gradually approaching the fields that they’re driven about.
That being said, @PAwind98 's response is not entirely true. Each experience is to one’s own, and can be shaped by the major, school, college, atmosphere, etc. that one is in. Be wary of this as you make look through threads throughout the site.
Look, it’s not the way they walk. There’s a quirky vibe at CMU, at least there is to me. Where as PITT has a more typical feel to it in terms of college life. Maybe it depends on what school you are in at CMU, but my son doesn’t have any friends that go to PITT and he told me there are places he won’t wear any CMU clothing to identify him as a CMU student. This is his experience, it doesn’t mean it’s everyone’s that goes there.
I’m not quite sure I grasp the point @colfax is trying to make but my Junior daughter is proud of CMU and while she doesn’t wear a lot of CMU garb when she does she wears it anywhere.
And she has fun. ;->
@Colfax apologies but you’re making a lot of generalizations from the few times you’ve come here it seems. I’ve spent semesters at Berkeley/Stanford, and Columbia while being a CMU student and I visit Pitt fairly regularly; I argue that would be your son’s preferences and not across the university itself necessarily.
Also its quite easy to find CMU Alums from their clothes alone if you spend time in SF/Bay Area/ Seattle.