Throwing in Stanford into CMU essay? Too risky?

College Essays
1

<p>Alright here’s the deal. I’m writing my essay for Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science which basically asks me why I want to go to CMU and why I want to major in Computer Science. Well one of the things I’ve been doing lately is I have been self studying Java through Stanford’s Open courseware program and it’s really my only encounter with programming. Is it safe to throw in that bit about me learning Computer Science through a Stanford source, while applying to Carnegie mellon? or should i just say I used “the internet” to learn most of the Java.</p>

<p>Basically how do you think a CMU admissions officer will see me having learned something from a Stanford University source. Will he look at it as showing strong initiative or will he look at it as showing little interest in CMU?</p>

<p>I appreciate all your feedback on this.</p>

2

<p>I don’t see how this will negatively affect your chances. You’re still taking time out to learn. I’m sure plenty of applicants have taken courses at their local community college, but that doesn’t mean they show more interest in attending those.</p>