Visit Report by ever_after (Member since August 25 2005 with 460 posts) Visit Date - August 2008
Visit to Carnegie Mellon University in August 2008 by ever_after ()
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview:
Yes - The interview was fairly informal and about 30 minutes long. I came without parents, but it seemed like if I had they could have come to the interview as well. (There were four chairs, not just two). Campus Tour:
Yes - My overall impression of campus was good. Especially for summer, I would try to schedule tours either early or late in the day.
Carnegie Mellon University Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent -
There were some Summer Session students, but the majority of people I saw were in Pre-College ( a summer program).
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
The staff at Carnegie Cafe in Resnik was always very nice.
Appearance of Campus: 4 - Very Good -
There is a lot of yellow brick. The College of Fine Arts is very pretty, but Wean Hall is an ugly block of concrete. Everything looks very lush. There are lots of benches in little gardens.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 4 - Very Good -
Nothing remarkable.
Dormitories: -
I toured Morewood. Security seemed fairly good, and the rooms were fairly large compared to other dorms I've seen. It's organized in towers. A-D towers have private baths, E doesn't.
Security/Safety: 4 - Very Good -
Campus police had a noticeable presence. There is only one enterance to Morewood.
Overall Campus Impression: 4 - Very Good -
Campus was nice, but it was very hot. I'm not sure what the weather is like year round, but I certainly didn't enjoy the humidity.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 3 - Good -
One nearby neighborhood, Oakland, seemed to have a fair number of panhandlers. Students get free bus passes, so getting to Squirrel Hill and Shadyside were fairly easy.
City/Town/Community: 4 - Very Good
Campus Visit Notes for Carnegie Mellon University:
Visit Description:
I was part of Pre-College (APEA), so I was there for six weeks. I figure that qualifies as a very extended visit ;) My professors were amazing. Three friends and I even took one out to lunch. Dining is vendor-style; with your meal plan you get 'blocks' which you can spend at a variety of places on campus. My favorites were Ginger's Deli in Tepper and Asiana in Newell-Simmon. If you have a chance, try to look at the robot workshops. There is a catwalk above the workspace (I think it's on the second floor of Newell-Simmon, but I'm not sure). There was fraternity prescience, but we were kept from interacting with them. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.
Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:
Before I signed in I stayed at Holiday Inn - University Center. They have a free shuttle that will take you to the surrounding areas. However, I didn't care for the adjoining restaurant.
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
I fell in love with a small Italian place in Shadyside called Grisole. In Oakland, Dave and Andy's ice cream is to die for. Craig Street, a short walk from campus, had a bunch of small vendors.
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
Parking didn't seem like it would be very easy. The airport is ~45 min from campus. The 28X shuttle takes slightly longer. Once in town, don't expect just to hail a cab. Call in advance.
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There were some Summer Session students, but the majority of people I saw were in Pre-College ( a summer program).
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There is a lot of yellow brick. The College of Fine Arts is very pretty, but Wean Hall is an ugly block of concrete. Everything looks very lush. There are lots of benches in little gardens.
-
I toured Morewood. Security seemed fairly good, and the rooms were fairly large compared to other dorms I've seen. It's organized in towers. A-D towers have private baths, E doesn't.
-
One nearby neighborhood, Oakland, seemed to have a fair number of panhandlers. Students get free bus passes, so getting to Squirrel Hill and Shadyside were fairly easy.