Carnegie Mellon University
- 4 Year
- PITTSBURGH, PA
CollegeGrad School
Carnegie Mellon University
- grade A+Overall Grade
- 4 Year
- PITTSBURGH, PA
- Rating 3.7 out of 5 1,465 reviews
Carnegie Mellon University Reviews
Rating 3.7 out of 5 1,465 reviews
If you 're applying from Europe consider the opportunity costs of:
- money.
- longer periods of studies.
- The breadth of subjects if you re in an interdisciplinary program that is not rewarding and the industry does not favor.
- finding yourself among students from developed countries.
Furthermore, consider the inflated reputation of the university and its faculty, the drive (and not wisdom) to develop the next Holmes or Bankman-Fried and the above and beyond hours of work that can geopardize your health.
- money.
- longer periods of studies.
- The breadth of subjects if you re in an interdisciplinary program that is not rewarding and the industry does not favor.
- finding yourself among students from developed countries.
Furthermore, consider the inflated reputation of the university and its faculty, the drive (and not wisdom) to develop the next Holmes or Bankman-Fried and the above and beyond hours of work that can geopardize your health.
I went to CMU for undergraduate and graduate school. As an undergraduate science major, I often had trouble completing my assignments despite being the valedictorian of my high school. Many years later I realized the school was trying to teach us how to problem solve, learn things on our own, and get used to the feeling of being lost. In another word, they were training us to be leaders and pioneers. In hindsight, I wish we had career and academic counselors assigned to each student at CMU so we could talk to someone when we were struggling.
Tepper was an entirely difference experience. It was hard work, but I got excellent career support and I didn't feel as lost as I did at Mellon College of Science. My Tepper education went a long way in helping me to pass all three levels of CFA exams on my first try. Thank Goodness!
After six years at CMU, I was completely prepared to tackle any projects that came my way. I guess all that hard work was worth it.
Tepper was an entirely difference experience. It was hard work, but I got excellent career support and I didn't feel as lost as I did at Mellon College of Science. My Tepper education went a long way in helping me to pass all three levels of CFA exams on my first try. Thank Goodness!
After six years at CMU, I was completely prepared to tackle any projects that came my way. I guess all that hard work was worth it.
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) offers a challenging academic environment that's both rewarding and demanding. Professors are top-notch, but the workload can be overwhelming. Some students can come off as arrogant due to the competitive atmosphere.
The social scene may not match the typical college experience, but it's manageable. Finding your niche and like-minded friends is crucial. Once you do, CMU becomes a place of rich social interactions and memorable moments.
In the end, CMU is a great place if you're up for academic challenges and can navigate the occasional social complexities. Finding your passion and a supportive group of friends can make it a truly rewarding experience.
The social scene may not match the typical college experience, but it's manageable. Finding your niche and like-minded friends is crucial. Once you do, CMU becomes a place of rich social interactions and memorable moments.
In the end, CMU is a great place if you're up for academic challenges and can navigate the occasional social complexities. Finding your passion and a supportive group of friends can make it a truly rewarding experience.
i hate cmu its all rich people and they are so mean to all the studetns and they bully me and the professors allegedly told me to drop out because they thought i wasn't good enough at being a cmu student. im a cfa student or at least i pretend to be but honestly sometimes i feel like a fake student just pretending to go here because everyone is so mean to me. i feel like i dont even know my professors its like i dont even have professors. i like the skywalk statue the first time i saw it i thought that they were real people and i got scared but its cool though. i like brownsville road more
As an incoming freshman, the orientation week was jam=packed with fun interactive activities to be more involved. The people are all driven and so far the professors have been really kind and understanding. Definitely should come here!
Academics:
If you're like me (a regular person), then this school is seriously going to challenge you. In high school I could get good grades while hardly studying, but at this school I had to sacrifice. I didn't get to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted to because the workload was very heavy. But, I've definitely seen a tremendous amount of growth these past few years. I'm an engineer, and the main thing we're taught is how to problem solve. Through CMU I have learned how to approach any problem and think critically about strategies I can use to solve it. I've never considered myself "smart", but after CMU, I'm a lot more confident in my ability to think (which is important because most things in reality are an actualization of someone's thoughts).
Student Life:
The school is very diverse in terms of the people you'll find. It was very refreshing to be surrounded by such variety.
If you're like me (a regular person), then this school is seriously going to challenge you. In high school I could get good grades while hardly studying, but at this school I had to sacrifice. I didn't get to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted to because the workload was very heavy. But, I've definitely seen a tremendous amount of growth these past few years. I'm an engineer, and the main thing we're taught is how to problem solve. Through CMU I have learned how to approach any problem and think critically about strategies I can use to solve it. I've never considered myself "smart", but after CMU, I'm a lot more confident in my ability to think (which is important because most things in reality are an actualization of someone's thoughts).
Student Life:
The school is very diverse in terms of the people you'll find. It was very refreshing to be surrounded by such variety.
Academically challenging buy sets you up for success in the long run. Everyone is focused on education.
My experience at CMU was transformational. As a research institution the academic curriculum challenges you to fully understand the fundamentals and then build on that knowledge such that you can learn continuously. I had the benefit of being in an interdisciplinary degree program, which gives you the opportunity to experience a lot more of what the university has to offer and set me up well for future success. You get real world experiences through professors who draw upon a lot of their industry experience, and not just academics lecturing you on theoretical subjects. There are also a lot of hands on opportunities through coursework and extracurricular activities on campus. What I felt could be improved while I was on-campus, and I think it is improving, is the engagement of the university administrators, students, and alumni network to build a diverse community of belonging that you can take pride in while on-campus and after graduation.
Carnegie is an amazing school. I'm doing well in my classes and studio sessions. I participate in a lot of extra-curricular activities including orchestra and clubs. The staff is dedicated and focused to their students. I like most of my professors and they challenge us with our projects. We are all a big family at Carnegie and I love the area. The school is diverse but it needs more cultural variety in activities. The food options are okay but need more flexibility on buffet style and different types of food options, for instance Mexican, Spanish, Caribbean and American choices. The neighborhood surrounding the school is great too. Housing conditions are poor and should be updated. Dorms are older, AC issues and the bathrooms/laundry rooms and always dirty or broken.
The rigor is high. Every student has various interests. I feel included and welcomed, even though the financial aid is stingy and the diversity is low.
Attending Carnegie Mellon University was a transformative experience. The prestigious institution's rigorous academic environment challenged me to push my intellectual boundaries and explore various disciplines. The diverse and inclusive campus community provided ample opportunities for personal growth and cross-cultural exchange. Engaging in cutting-edge research projects and collaborating with renowned professors enriched my learning journey. Additionally, the university's strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation inspired me to develop practical skills and creative problem-solving abilities. Throughout my time at Carnegie Mellon, I formed lasting connections with talented peers, fostering a supportive network that continues to influence my professional and personal aspirations positively.
Course load is challenging but very educational. Campus resources are plentiful. As for what could change, perhaps lower tuition.
My experience so far has been full of diverse perspectives over interdisciplinary studies that connect to produce a unique educational journey.
Studied mechanical engineering with an additional major in biomedical engineering. The program had many great opportunities to connect with people in industry that came from similar majors, as well as being able to connect with faculty and take part in their research.
Going to Carnegie Mellon University gave me the unique opportunity to network with classmates, spend one-on-one time with faculty, attend seminars, and acquire many free perks around the Pittsburgh area.
Carnegie Mellon is an excellent university with a diverse range of resources that I find very useful, including the technology such as access to several different types of software and several computer labs across campus. The professors helped me learn about topics and perspectives in my field that I never thought of previously. However, the sheer amount of academic resources drowns the amount of athletic resources. Fortunately, a new gym is currently being built to be open by 2024. Additionally, an incredibly difficult thing to change at the school also has to do with the academics, rather the culture of the academics at CMU. The issue with going to a widely-known intellectual school is dealing with the culture of people who constantly stress about lacking intelligence among their peers or the people who carry a hubris with them in and out of class. Although, I would love to see this culture change there is nothing I can do besides adopt or ignore this toxic culture.
Without a doubt, Carnegie Mellon University is a rigorous academic institution that can make students feel pressured, especially for me in my first semester. If you are in STEM there are moments when the demanding schoolwork and high standards established by professors become too much (Physics 2 in particular). Despite the difficulties, you cannot ignore the amazing people you meet and the priceless networking opportunities offered. There are lots of generous and helpful people at the university who make the journey more tolerable. Additionally, Carnegie Mellon provides a wide range of services, including in-person peer tutoring, a course center where you get help with homework, and supplemental instruction before exams. Despite the fact that the stress culture here is normalized, the existence of a caring community and the accessibility of beneficial activities ultimately lead to a better overall experience.
I believe I have been able to gain valuable experience and skills that I would not find at most other colleges/universities if I were to choose a different school. I have a technical standpoint from all topics and aspects of my studies, and has been beneficial (particularly for business) for me to look at things differently and competitively. While I also feel academically challenged, this is recently become more of a flaw of CMU than something I initially wanted when I was a freshman. The peer pressure and academic strain has become a terrifying hinderance on my college experience, and while many top and elite schools have this, the other aspects of college like social life, campus activities, people, and much more are not sufficient enough to create a healthy balance. I've realized many students make either getting an internship at a top technology company or finance firm their entire personality, or many students simply do not want to socialize and only are here for school.
I am going to be an incoming freshman at Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering this fall. I am excited to begin my journey there.
Love being with people who love being here and love learning. Professors are great and really care about teaching. Pittsburgh is great and there's tons to do in Oakland.