Visit Report by hollyert (Member since July 26 2005 with 315 posts) Visit Date - August 2007
Visit to Carnegie Mellon University in August 2007 by hollyert (Student, HS Class of 2009)
Visit Activities:
Information Session:
Yes - Totally a canned speech; other kids were bored. I came in not knowing much, so it did introduce what seemed like the rigidity and intensity of the programs there. Campus Tour:
Yes - I loved the campus although it was not beautiful. It was wide and appealing with attractive (mostly) buildings; many were new. The guides were friendly and obviously smart.
Carnegie Mellon University Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 4 - Very Good -
Though I didn't speak with many, those I did speak with were funny, pretty loyal to the school, and open and honest. But the ones I passed on the walkway didn't really smile or say hello or
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: -
I didn't speak with more than 2 staff members. One gave the way-too-glossy "info session," and was funny if not very type-A, and the other I exchanged 2 words with. The tour is more stu
Appearance of Campus: 4 - Very Good -
Not the prettiest place I've seen, but the grassy expanse seemed social and welcoming, and well proportioned. It seemed to fit in well with the hilly nature of Pgh. and was a flat home base.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent -
Everything was clean, nice, and good, but the grass even in the treacherous humidity was kind of dead. Lots of construction too, which was exciting.
Dormitories: 4 - Very Good -
The dorm tour took us into one TEENY TINY dorm. The guide told us it was as small as it got, though; the living area was nice and clean, looked very new and livable.
Security/Safety: -
The whole area is residential and non-gritty so the campus seemed safe. But it was really hard to tell.
Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent -
I felt comfortable on campus, more so than at much more beautiful campuses. Something about it seemed to offset the hardcore nature of the school.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 5 - Excellent -
Above campus are some cool wealthy shopping areas, and below it is really neat and student-oriented. But I hear students don't get out much anyway.
City/Town/Community: 4 - Very Good -
Pgh. is sort of in disparate parts, but overall it was neat. People there were exceptionally friendly.
Campus Visit Notes for Carnegie Mellon University:
Visit Description:
I will start by saying that the entrance from the northwest into the city is very, very cool and I recommend coming in this way if you have an opportunity. Yes, from the airport through the tunnel must be neat and all, but the contrast of the utter forest to this industrial dreamland is pretty nuts. There are bridges everywhere! There are 3 rivers! Wow! And we stayed in a very very deluxe hotel in Shadyside, just north of the school I visited, Carnegie Melon. We walked the two blocks to campus and immediately, though it is by a long shot not the prettiest or the stateliest or the cleanest or anything-est campus, I thought it felt right. There is an openness to the campus, this wide expanse of grass that seems to push the yellow-toned buildings back. The view from campus at (ironically) the UPitt Cathedral of Learning (which I assume is the immense and sculptural tower visible from the whole city) as well as the rest of Pgh. is really memorable. I had no idea that Pgh. was that hilly! It's crazy hilly! It's hilly as it gets! Pictures do it no dimensional justice. CMU is about the only flat place in Pgh., mainly because the major ravines on campus have been filled. It's this flat and grassy platform atop a hill in an exceptionally nice area of the city. Despite certain concerns I have about the flexibility of schedules (as I want to major in Econ, minor in Classics--which the school does not offer but UPitt does, and at the very least be involved in theatre--but the school has an isolated conservatory that doesn't at all seem accessible to non-majors), I felt I could see myself there.
Pittsburgh itself is a very cool city. As in all the midwest (and I count western Pennsylvania as part of the midwest) the people are really, really friendly. They don't have obtrusive accents as I expected them to have (mainly from seeing Philly cheese steak pizza commercials on TV, I guess), and overall seem very chill. And though Pgh. had by far the most miserable summer weather I have ever experienced and ever will experience (save for in the Equator when I'm old and cruise-bound) it was not an uncomfortable city. And as I didn't really care at all for CMU before visiting, I'm having to reevaluate what I'm looking for.
Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:
Sunnyledge - very chic, pricey, comfortable
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
Figure out the bus system; light rail is useless and traffic is a nightmare, but the area surrounding campus is totally walkable.
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Though I didn't speak with many, those I did speak with were funny, pretty loyal to the school, and open and honest. But the ones I passed on the walkway didn't really smile or say hello or
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I didn't speak with more than 2 staff members. One gave the way-too-glossy "info session," and was funny if not very type-A, and the other I exchanged 2 words with. The tour is more stu
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Everything was clean, nice, and good, but the grass even in the treacherous humidity was kind of dead. Lots of construction too, which was exciting.