What is the CMU experience like???

KrazyKow
Sun, 18 Feb 2007 02:40:17 +0000

It is true that many people hang out mostly with those in their own major, but everyone I know who actively wants friends who aren’t in their major has them. I suggest taking foreign language classes to meet people in other majors (and girls, there are lots of girls in foreign language classes). One of my friends with the widest social network plays ultimate, and has found that sports is a great way to meet non-CS folk.

We aren’t very competitive. Many people work on homework in pairs or small groups (quite a few classes have a collaborate but don’t copy answers policy). In one class, 15-251, there seems to be a general “we’re all in this together and we need each other to pass” mentality. I know some people who skip out on sleep so that they can do more fun things or take some insane courseload (I wouldn’t recommend taking 7 or 8 classes at once, but some people insist…), but the majority of people aren’t crazy and horribly sleep deprived.

If you want to go to a party school, CMU is a bad choice. Otherwise, the social life is pretty good.