Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Mellon University

CMU is really hard academically for most STEM majors, & there's a pretty serious stress culture. There are very few blacks/latinos, but campus is pretty diverse in many respects. Students are very nice, hard-working, and they actually like to party (on occasion)! CMU is super rough but the degree will be worth it.

Carnegie Mellon is a very impressive school with a very impressive pedigree, and it lives up to those expectations. The curriculum is intense in the drama school, but the teachers are readily available at all times and extremely passionate about what they do. Small class sizes and well-maintained facilities only add to the experience. Campus life is relatively quiet, owing to the smaller student body. People join Greek life and there is certainly revelry to be had on a given weekend, but the campus is by no means wild. The real strength of the student body is in its diversity. Students from very disparate backgrounds are able to forge lasting connections through the many extracurricular activities available on campus. Whatever you're into, there's bound to be a club or organization dedicated to it. Dorms are iffy, and depending on where you live you'll either be very comfortable or not at all. The food is good, not spectacular, but it's varied, and the school recently opened a branch of Au Bon Pain on campus if you prefer to eat at a chain. Pittsburgh itself is a fascinating city to live in, and off campus housing and dining can be found for cheap if you don't want to live on campus after freshman year. Overall, CMU is a really great school. It's not perfect, but it does provide a world-class education and amenities far above many other universities.

Carnegie Mellon provides an amazing college experience to the motivated college undergraduate. It is abounding in resources, so I feel like I can achieve any of my aspirations as long as I put in the effort to seek those resources out. There's also a diverse set of people, so it isn't hard to find a place to fit in.

Whether you want challenging courses, research experience, top-of-the-line professors or you want to be philanthropically involved, CMU can give you the chance to experience all these things. Carnegie Mellon does not hide from politics or from standing up for what they believe is right and will continue to pursue advancements in science and the humanities. While the direct surroundings may not offer a lot of great weekend getaways, CMU has ample access to downtown Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh campus for exploring. Where else would anyone want to pick up that extra bagpipe major? (Hey at least it might impress your relatives.)

I truly do love this school. Although it has rightfully gained its reputation as a pretty intense school academically, the campus is nice, everyone and everything-- especially professors and advisors-- is geared to help you ultimately succeed, grow, and learn. This paired with the unparalleled research and academic opportunities it offers make it worthwhile.

Carnegie Mellon is a place where academic inquiry really envelops the student lifestyle. Amazing faculty and ambitious students generate a very positive learning atmosphere which breeds creativity and innovation. Being among others who are so passionate about their work encourages one to consistently strive for excellence.

Carnegie Mellon University is a unique school, in that it emulates elements of nearly every other kind of school (big state party schools, the Ivy league, research schools, technical schools, etc.). At CMU, if you choose to identify with one of the aforementioned school types more than any other, it's totally possible. We have greeks that go hard, athletes that go harder, and geeks who, obviously, go the hardest. People here are ridiculously smart - going here will make you feel unqualified, but that's fine - the people around you will be your greatest teachers, not your professors. The weather is REALLY bad, like easily the most depressing thing about this school, but if you can get over humidity and constant dreary gray rain, then sure, this school is great for you. Great for computer science, great for architecture, great for drama. For business, the ranking is a bit of an exaggeration on the quality of education here - the classes are disorganized, the kids are disheartened, a noticeable proportion of the class is made up of athletes who don't always qualify for other schools at CMU, so having intellectual conversations with the business kids is pretty difficult. The business program is also poorly organized, at least in the first year, and this leads many students to consider transfer. Other than that, CMU is a great community for innovation, exploration, and conversation.

I am currently enjoying my experience at Carnegie Mellon. Although there is a lot of work, the community that you are surrounded by (student wise) are very friendly and very open to help. I was worried about having a difficult time making friends, but I have found people who accept me for who I am and are always there to help me when I need it. There are also a lot of dogs on campus, which is always a win.

One of the most important things that I considered when applying to colleges was the community I would find in each one. I wanted to attend a university where I felt included, respected and cared for. The community at Carnegie Mellon University has given me that and so much more. The people I have met here have been so kind and friendly to me. It warms me up inside everytime one of the workers tells me 'Have a good day' or 'How have you been?' Or when someone I know waves at me in passing or calls my name with a 'Hey' and smiles. They make me feel like I matter, and that I'm not just one of many. Another thing I love is that there is always someone to help when you need it, and you never feel judged. Coming to a 'smart school', you have this notion that everyone is competing with each other and trying to get the best grades, but that just hasn't been the case in my experience. Here we are encouraged to seek help and work with others. Everyone wants you to succeed, and it isn't about being the best in a pack, but the best person you can be. I'm often reminded of when Dumbledore tells Harry "Help will always be given in Hogwarts to those who ask for it" because it is completely true here, and probably one of the best lessons I have learned.

It is an excellent school academically, but it needs to improve student life and health. Although students can join various extracurriculars, creating an organization requires excessive time and energy, which could be used for academics. That said, CMU provides its students with exceptional educations.