<p>On CMU’s site ([Admission</a> > Admission Statistics](<a href=“Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University”>Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University)), it shows that 76 out of 76 have been accepted into the BXA program. </p>
<p>I did some research, and BXA is supposed to be a design major combined with computer science, or something like that. I’m really interested in industrial design, so this could possibly be the right choice for me. But why is the number of people applying to the program so small? Any other information about this would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Hi,
As a current student in the BXA program, I can assure you those statistics are incorrect. I saw a presentation last year where admissions statistics were presented, and I specifically asked about BXAs because, as you pointed out, they seem very strange. What the admissions representative explained to me (as of last year, maybe it isn’t correct now) was that they cannot come up with statistics in the same way for BXA because people don’t apply directly to BXA- they have to apply to both CFA and their “X” program (CS, H&SS, etc.) and be accepted by both before BXA even sees their applications. So applied versus admitted numbers are hard for them to calculate so they publish numbers as being equal (even though it isn’t the case). I know of quite a few people who were rejected to the program when they applied as high school students, and others who have been rejected multiple years when trying to get in as internal transfers- I can assure you it is a competitive program.
Anyway, you can go on the BXA website and see that it is a very small group, averages only 5 students for the BCSA program you mentioned being interested in: <a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/interdisciplinary/people/bcsastudents.html[/url]”>http://www.cmu.edu/interdisciplinary/people/bcsastudents.html</a>.
If you’re still confused about the statistics, I would just call up the office and ask about that- but I can assure you that they don’t accept everyone who applies!
Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Hi, ccww53333!
I, like fleurebelle95, saw those admissions statistics and was very puzzled. I applied to Carnegie Mellon’s BXA, and I THINK that I’ve been accepted, though I’m not positive. I know for a fact that I’ve been admitted into my MCS choice major because, as I am considering participating in CMU’s varsity athletics, one of CMU’s coaches told me so. I checked my CMU “Where Am I In the Process Page” today, and in the spot where my 5th college/major choice spot was, the college reads CMU, the department reads BSA, and the program reads ARC.
Given that, I’m curious how you like the program? The prospect of possibly participating in a varsity sport while studying math and architecture sounds very intimidating.
I appreciate your feedback! Thank you!</p>
<p>I work in the interdisciplinary admissions process at CMU, and I can absolutely confirm that the numbers you cite on that page are “incorrect”, for the reasons stated by ccww53333. BXA students must be accepted by two different Schools – a double-gauntlet – and most do not succeed. However, once a student has been admitted by (for example) both the School of Art and the School of Computer Science, the BXA office imposes no further hurdles to that student’s enrollment in the BXA program. Thus the BXA office “accepts” all of the students who meet these criteria.</p>