Ask Questions about CMU

mom2012and14
Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:45:58 +0000

@ Lucky and @anselmo

I don’t think any CIT student has it easy-- (well - maybe CivE relatively speaking). MechE is considered one of the most difficult majors on campus after SCS and ECE. ArchE perhaps has the largest work load along with SCS == that’s what I’ve heard from my D and her friends. I think it’s fair to say though that students work together on their 20 hour a week problem sets-- so you aren’t holed up in your dorm room or the library by yourself- your friends are those you start forming study groups with - very different from other top engineering schools.

Regarding English- those topics CHANGE every semester-- some stay for a while…but the genocide one was the most popular this past year, and the year before it was Obama/Race that was the big topic. Unless the English grad student teaching the course has a very focused topic-- chances are that half the sections offered are the same topic – who knows what it will be next Fall-- it will be up by June which is when you start looking at things in anticipation of July course registration (after AP scores are in). At least half the sections are taught by a 4th or 5th year English grad student-- amazing that there are any at CMU – !

Engineering majors other than ECE take the same classes first year:
Chem, Physics, Computing, 2 Intro courses, Freshman English and a GE…that’s pretty standard at CMU and most schools. The more AP credits out of the way- the more opportunity to try out other options for a minor outside of CIT and/or take it light to get accustomed to college life and actually enjoy yourself (something BCO noted as well).

CIT restricts you to 4 classes in the Fall and you only get approved to hit 5 if you pass a 3.0 Fall semester. News flash-- there are no +/- s at CMU-- and the average GPA is 3.1 for the college as a whole. Don’t be upset-- they tell parents at opening day presentations not to be upset if their previously stellar “A” student gets a 2.5 first semester! Good news-- you don’t have to tell your grades to your parents – FERPA mails nothing to the home address- it’s all electronic. Getting an A in Physics for Engineering is not easy.