The atmosphere at Carnegie Mellon is one of the most eclectic of any school. The
name “Carnegie Mellon” is often associated with computers and engineering; others think
of it as a school that specializes in art and drama. All of these people are right. And when
you add outstanding programs in the sciences, the humanities and business administration,
you’ve got the basic academic view of Carnegie Mellon. The students here are as different
from each other as you can get, yet everyone still finds ways to interact. There are students
here from halfway around the world; there are students here from two miles away. There
are undergraduate and graduate students from all fifty states and more than 100 foreign
countries. Some people are here building complex electronic and robotic devices, and some
are making beautiful art. The one thing that everyone does have in common is that they’re
committed to what they’re doing, and they work hard.
Carnegie Mellon, located about five miles from downtown Pittsburgh, is surrounded by
three culturally active, residential neighborhoods. Pittsburgh has come a long way since its
industrial past. Today, the city, a top twenty-five arts destination, has cultural activity and diversity,
and there is no shortage of things to do and learn. This serves as the perfect setting for one
of the fastest growing universities in the country.
In 1900 Andrew Carnegie, a Pittsburgh industrialist and philanthropist, founded
Carnegie Institute of Technology and Margaret Morrison Women’s College to educate the sons
and daughters of local working class families. In 1967 Carnegie’s institutions merged with
Mellon Institute, founded by Andrew Mellon, and formed Carnegie Mellon University. There are
now seven colleges and schools within the university: Carnegie Institute of Technology (engineering)
(CIT), Mellon College of Science (MCS), School of Computer Science (SCS), Tepper
School of Business (Tepper), College of Humanities and Social Sciences (H&SS), College of
Fine Arts (CFA), and the H. J. Heinz III College (policy and information systems).
Carnegie Mellon has also made great strides globally and is now an international degreegranting
institution. Today, Carnegie Mellon offers nearly a dozen international degree programs
in places such as Australia, China, England, Greece, India, Korea, Mexico, Portugal, and
Qatar, its first international branch campus. Carnegie Mellon also has student exchange and
joint-degree programs in Singapore, Taiwan, India, and China.
Carnegie Mellon has an incredibly distinctive history and, luckily, many of the traditions
live on. Directly inside the doors of Baker Hall is a portrait of the profile of Arthur
Hamerschlag, the first president of the university. Legend has it that it’s good luck to rub
his nose. Although they wouldn’t admit it, many students have been caught rubbing the
nose during exam time.
One of the rituals that students would not deny taking part in is the painting of the
fence. When Carnegie Mellon was still divided between men and women, the two schools were
literally separated by a ravine. The one footbridge that connected the two campuses was where
all of the men and women met in their free time. Then, when the College of Fine Arts building
was built, the builders leveled a hill and filled in the ravine. The students of both schools were
so disappointed that the administration built a fence in the bridge’s place, but this was not a
good idea because the fence really had no point. The night before it was to be torn down, a
group of fraternity brothers painted the fence to advertise a party. The party was such a huge
success that it became a tradition to paint the fence. Today, anyone can paint the fence.
The only rules are that the fence must be painted, with a paintbrush, between 12:00 A.M. and
5:00 A.M., and whoever paints the fence must guard it for twenty-four hours or as long as they
want their painting to stay. The fence paintings range from messages from fraternities advertising
parties to happy birthday wishes to friends.
Carnegie Mellon is also one of the only universities that uses bagpipes to greet its firstyear
students on the first day and say farewell to graduates at commencement. Carnegie’s
Scottish heritage is celebrated even today. The name of our marching band, the Kiltie Band,
says it all; every member of the band wears authentic Scottish garb (yes, including kilts).
Carnegie Mellon is one of the few schools in the United States that offers a music degree in bagpiping.
If you’re not interested in majoring in it, there’s also a bagpipe club (no kidding).
I never realized how different my college experience was from that of my
friends. I never knew how many different people could live together on one campus.
Like a lot of other people that have never really left home, I just figured
everybody would be more or less like me. I was so wrong. But I’ve learned so
much from just being here that I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Carnegie Mellon has, in a word, everything—there is nothing that you could not find at
Carnegie Mellon. Walking across the Cut (the grassy area in the middle of campus), you can see
people studying, playing Frisbee, reciting poetry, sleeping . . . the list could go on and on. The
people who end up coming to Carnegie Mellon are from all over the world, with different cultures,
different beliefs, and different interests. But they all exist together. People say that going
away to college is as educational outside of the classroom as it is inside. This has never been
more true than it is at Carnegie Mellon.
There is so much here, it can be very intimidating at first. Where do I go? What do I do?
How do I make friends? It’s impossible to know exactly how to approach it. Fortunately, somebody
has already planned this. For the first week that freshmen are on campus they are
involved in, as many students would tell you, the best orientation anywhere. Through the entire
week, students take part in planned activities, learn how to deal with being away from home,
and meet more people than they could ever remember. This orientation is just the beginning
of the series of support systems that exist here. No matter what you’re doing, there will always
be somebody there to help you. There are programs here ranging from peer tutoring to peer
counseling. If you have a problem that you don’t think a peer can help you with, the professors
and other staff are always willing to try to help you. Basically, no matter what’s going on, if you
look for help, you’ll find it.
The students that attend Carnegie Mellon are motivated, driven, and goal-oriented.
Everyone here knows that everyone else has worked hard to get here. They’re all in the same
boat, and this brings everyone closer together. College is about the things you learn and the
friends you make in the process. You’ll have both at Carnegie Mellon.
There isn’t anybody who goes here—or has ever gone here—who won’t
tell you that everything about this place is intense. People work hard. They have
goals and dreams. But they also have friends and fun. Don’t ever let anybody tell
you that it’s too hard.
Carnegie Mellon University
Academics
The students of Carnegie Mellon come from a number of different backgrounds. The one
thing that everyone has in common is that they have worked hard to get here. Most of the students
come from the top of their high school classes. At first, many of them are surprised that
they are not necessarily in the same position here; however, they soon realize that they are
gaining something even more valuable than a class rank. They are surrounded by people and
situations that challenge them and inspire them to work harder.
When I was getting ready to come here, I was really worried because I
thought I wouldn’t be able to handle the work load. All I had heard was how hard
it was and how much everybody had to work. Now that I look back on it, I do have
a lot of work to do, but it was as if I was eased into it. I’m used to it. Plus, all of
my friends have the same amount of work to do, so I don’t feel that I’m the only
one studying so much.
Although Carnegie Mellon is an extremely competitive school, students learn early that
they need to help and support each other to succeed. People are willing to explain a difficult
concept or give constructive criticism because they know that at some point they will probably
need the same favor.
For every class, there is a study session offered before a test. In many cases, the professor
or a teaching assistant will organize a review session to help members of the class. In addition
to this, many students take it upon themselves to start their own study groups. In addition
to helping and being helped by their peers, many students find this to be a good way to get to
know people in their classes.
Classes and Faculty
The student/faculty ratio is eleven to one; the average class size is between twenty-three
and thirty-five students. This also takes into consideration the larger lectures. The
largest lecture hall on campus seats 300, which is relatively small compared to other universities.
Most of the classes that have lectures this size are introductory classes that many
students are required to take. In classes with lectures this size, there is always a recitation
offered with the lecture. The recitation is a smaller group (ten to twenty people) led by a
teaching assistant (TA) or graduate student who discusses the concepts and subjects covered
in the lecture. In all cases, the TA and professor will always have office hours for people
who may need extra help, and, in most cases, they will also give the class members (no
matter how many) their office (and sometimes home) telephone number and e-mail
address. Some professors even host social gatherings to become better acquainted with
their students.
When I was looking at schools, I was intimidated by Carnegie Mellon’s
reputation. I came for a visit and was really surprised to find that the students
were normal people—their rooms were messy and they procrastinated, just like
me! Since I’ve been here, I’ve found teachers and classmates to be very supportive.
It’s an intense environment, but I don’t feel I’m in it alone.
The course load and the kind of work you do depends on what college you’re in and what
you’re majoring in. Computer science majors will obviously spend a lot of time at their computers,
while architecture majors will spend a lot of time in their studios. While one person is
working on problem sets every night, another will be writing a long paper. Everyone will say
that his or her work is the hardest, but the truth is that everyone is doing the kind of work they
enjoy (or they should be). It’s impossible to classify the class work here into one category. Every
class has its own pattern.
No matter what a person’s major is, he or she will have a few classes in other areas. For
example, computer science majors are required to take non-computer related electives (such
as an English class), people in the humanities are required to take a math class and two science
classes, and every freshman is required to take a computer skills workshop, Introduction
to World History, and an introductory English class.
Computers
Any student at Carnegie Mellon would tell you that this is a very computer-oriented
campus. Almost everything, from communicating with professors to signing up for
classes is done over the Internet. One of the first things students are taught when they come
here is how to use the campus network, Andrew. Every freshman is required to pass a class
called Computing at Carnegie Mellon, which covers everything from e-mail to ethics. Almost
everything is announced over the Internet. Most classes and student organizations have
their own electronic bulletin boards to make announcements and have discussions.
There are computer clusters in many of the dorms and in every academic building
including dormitories. Carnegie Mellon was the first university campus to offer wireless networking
in all administrative and academic buildings. Wireless Andrew, the largest installation
of its type anywhere, connects over 5,000 students, faculty, and staff across
campus—and that number is growing. The wireless network is now available in all administrative,
academic, and residential buildings across campus. The network is also accessible
from outdoor areas on campus due to wireless leakage around buildings and through access
points mounted on the exterior of some buildings.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Carnegie Mellon University.
What does it take to get into Carnegie Mellon? The Office of Admission looks at a lot of
different elements when choosing who gets in. Basically, the admissions counselors are trying
to get a feel of who you are and what you’ve done. Unlike many people think, it isn’t only your
transcript that admissions counselors look at. Of course, high school grades are important, but
they are definitely not everything. The Office of Admission also looks at your standardized test
scores (SATs or ACTs) and SAT Subject Tests, your essay, activities you’ve been involved in, personal
recommendations, a portfolio or audition depending on your major interest and your
interview (recommended not required).
There is no set formula for how people get accepted. In some cases, one element (like
test scores) may not be as strong as you’d like, but something else (like extracurricular activities)
will make up for it. What admissions counselors look at also depends heavily on what your
intended major is. For example, if you are applying to be a math major, they will concentrate
on your math grades and scores more than on other things.
However, what they are looking for is a well-rounded student who will take full advantage
of the opportunity to come here. Your best bet is to do your best in everything and, above
all, get involved! Most Carnegie Mellon students are involved in much more than just class
work—the admissions counselors want to find people who will be willing to take part in other
things. This doesn’t mean just sports or clubs. Your activities can be interests or hobbies.
To apply to Carnegie Mellon, you can call or write and request an application for admission.
You can also submit the Common Application online. Once you’re on the mailing list, the
university will send you all the information you need. When you apply, you must indicate which
college within the university you’d like to apply to. If you’re still not sure what you want to major
in (which college), you can apply to more than one college for no additional charge. Keep in
mind that it is possible to be admitted to one college and rejected from another.
Requirements for Majors
The classes that you need to have taken in high school depend on what you’re planning
on majoring in. Each major has slightly different requirements, so be sure to check on
that. Every major requires that you take four years of English; beyond that, it depends on
the major. Of course, as long as you carry a normal high school course load, you should fulfill
all of the requirements. You must submit scores from either the SAT or the ACT. In most
cases, you also need to take two SAT (subject tests). Students applying to art, design,
drama, or music are not required to take the SAT Subject Tests.
Interviews
Recommendations and interviews are two of the best ways to show the Office of
Admission who you really are. Interviews are suggested, but not required. They not only
give an admissions counselor an opportunity to learn more about you, but give you an opportunity
to learn more about the school. For those students who are too far away to come to
campus for an interview, the school also offers hometown interviews. These interviews serve
the same purpose as campus interviews (although you won’t see the campus). Alumni interviews
in your hometown are available as well.
Financial Aid
The total cost of a year at Carnegie Mellon, including tuition, room and board, books,
etc., during a recent year was $52,150. With a price tag like this, it’s obvious that many students
will need some kind of financial aid. Depending on your financial need, your financial aid package
might include a combination of grants, loans, and work-study. About seventy-two percent
of the freshmen who entered in a recent year received some sort of financial aid. The average
need-based package was $22,943. Although you are not guaranteed financial assistance, most
people who are eligible and in need receive it.
My parents own a small business and don’t have a lot of extra money.
When I applied to Carnegie Mellon, I was worried that the cost would be too high
for them to afford. If it wasn’t for the financial aid, there is no chance that I
would be here. I’ve talked to several of my friends about this and many of them
are in the same position.
Work-study gives students the opportunity to have on-campus jobs in order to make
money to pay some of their college expenses. These jobs include positions in offices, food service,
the child-care facility, and the library, to name a few. These jobs usually don’t take up more
than ten to fifteen hours a week and they allow the student to make extra money that they
might need to buy books or for other necessities. Since there are so many jobs available, students
may work on campus even if they don’t qualify for need-based work-study.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Carnegie Mellon University 4287th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Pennsylvania scholarships and financial aid
Carnegie Mellon is technically in a city. The campus is self-contained and surprisingly
open for a city campus. There’s grass and trees and (if you’re in the right dorm) you
never have to cross the street. The campus is also fairly safe. Pittsburgh’s crime rate is
relatively low compared to the national average. With relative security and other cultural
benefits, Pittsburgh has continually been named one of the country’s most livable cities.
Because the Carnegie Mellon campus is so self-contained, it’s even safer.
The university has about 65 security employees. About 25 are sworn police officers who
have the power to make arrests; the rest are security guards and dispatchers. These guards and
officers patrol the campus (on foot, bike, and in cars) twenty-four hours a day. If something
does happen on campus, the campus police will hang up “crime reports” on all of the bulletin
boards and in all of the dorms to keep everybody informed.
In addition to the campus police, there are many student-run safety organizations.
There is an escort shuttle bus (driven by students) that runs within two miles of the campus
and will bring you home if you don’t want to walk off campus alone. If you feel unsafe walking
across campus alone, you can call Safewalk and two students will come and walk you
wherever you need to go. The university has created an Alert Now emergency notification
service for all students, faculty and staff. The Alert Now service sends voice and text messages
to phones in the event of an emergency on campus. The service is free and all students
may sign up.
Unwinding
Although the academic environment can get fairly intense, Carnegie Mellon students
definitely know how to unwind. After a full week of classes and schoolwork, everybody’s
ready to relax and have some fun. A common stereotype of Carnegie Mellon students is that
they can never tear themselves away from their computers. While everybody here has probably
had a few weekends when they spent much of it working, it is much more common for
students to find other, non-work-related things to do.
Off Campus
Alot of students jump at the chance to get off campus on the weekends. The Carnegie
Mellon campus is situated in the middle of three major shopping areas: Oakland,
Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill. Between these three areas you can find shopping, restaurants,
movie theaters, coffeehouses, museums, and nightlife (and this is all within walking distance).
Beyond that, it is easy to catch a city bus going downtown or to a nearby shopping
mall. Students have free access to public transportation with their ID card. Pittsburgh is
full of things to do, from the cultural to the just plain fun. You can go to the symphony one
night and then go to a Pittsburgh Penguins game the next. The possibilities are endless.
Organizations
Beyond sports, there are more than 225 student organizations on campus. The student
body of Carnegie Mellon is incredibly diverse, so it is obvious that the list of clubs
would be just as diverse. From organizations celebrating ethnic heritage to clubs based on
political views to clubs made up of people who like to play chess, there is a club here for
everyone. And even if there isn’t, all you have to do to start one is find a few people with
your common interest and apply to the student senate to be recognized. Student organizations recognized by the senate are open to any student and vary in size from a few people
(usually the newer clubs have fewer members) to a lot of people.
I had been involved in drama in high school, but I knew I wouldn’t be
able to take part in the drama productions here because I wasn’t a drama major.
I was so excited when I found out about Scotch and Soda, a group of nondrama
majors who put on shows throughout the year. I’ve met some of my best friends
through S&S.
Scotch and Soda, an amateur theater group, has a long tradition at Carnegie Mellon.
Throughout the year the group produces two full-length shows and several one-act plays. The
playwrights of both Godspell and Pippin were not only Carnegie Mellon alumni, but Scotch and
Soda members.
Fraternities and Sororities
Throughout the year, the twelve fraternities and five sororities on campus plan various
events open to the entire campus. These events have, in the past, included talent
shows, dance marathons, and the annual Mr. Fraternity contest. The Greek system (fraternities
and sororities) make up about fifteen percent of the campus. Many of those involved
in the Greek system enjoy it because it gives members a chance to get to know other students
and to take part in large social events (each fraternity and sorority also takes part in
several charity events), but the number is low enough to not overwhelm the campus. If a
student chooses not to join the Greek system, he or she will still have no problem having a
social life. It is also very common for people to interact with many people in an organization
without being a member.
Spring Carnival
Each spring, the campus comes together for Carnegie Mellon’s annual Spring Carnival.
This three-day event includes shows, concerts, and contests. The two biggest elements of
Spring Carnival are Booth and Buggy. Each organization has the opportunity to build a booth
corresponding to the carnival’s theme, and each structure includes a game in which all of the
money raised goes to charity. These booths are often quite large and quite elaborate.
Buggy has been one of the highlights of my life at Carnegie Mellon. At
first, I wasn’t sure about it. Everyone seemed to know exactly what they were
doing but I had no clue. However, the first time I pushed, the whole team ran
along beside me cheering—after that first push, I felt like a pro. I’ve also made a
lot of friends through Buggy. There’s a lot to be said about the friends you can
make getting up at 5:00 A.M. on a weekend.
These same organizations build buggies, high-tech soapbox derby cars, to race through
Schenley Park. The buggies look like torpedoes on wheels and are driven by the smallest student
(usually a female) that the organization can find. People push the buggies up the hill and then
let them coast through the park (some get up to speeds of thirty-five to forty miles per hour).
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University?
Of course, you don’t need to leave campus to find something to do. Carnegie Mellon has
seventeen varsity sports (nine men’s, eight women’s). There are also many more intramural
and club sports (these range from very competitive to strictly for fun). Even if you’re
not interested in participating in one of these sports, you’ll probably have at least one
friend who does. Around eighty percent of the student body participates in an intramural
or club sport at one point or another.
Alumni
There are more than 75,000 Carnegie Mellon alumni spread out all over the world. The
goals achieved and backgrounds of these alumni are as diverse as when they began their
careers at Carnegie Mellon. There is no one category that all graduates fit into. There are
Carnegie Mellon alumni who have become great actors, writers, artists, and scientists, more
than 5,800 alumni are presidents or vice-presidents of corporations, more than 200 teach as
professors at universities, and 100 are deans.
Very few of these people graduate and go
immediately to the top; however, many of these graduates
are used to working hard to achieve their goals.
After four years at Carnegie Mellon, these people
know how to get the job done. Because of Carnegie
Mellon’s reputation for preparing students with realworld
and practical experience, employers are eager
to hire recent Carnegie Mellon graduates. More than
half of all graduates get job offers within six months
of graduation, while another thirty percent go on to
graduate school immediately after commencement.
There is a large network of Carnegie Mellon
graduates organized all over the world. This network
helps fellow alumni who decide to relocate or need
advice concerning a job. It is also an invaluable
resource for meeting people in your field. The one
thing that all Carnegie Mellon alumni do have in common is the pride and tradition of being
part of this network. You could go anywhere in the world and be able to chat with alumni
about Spring Carnival or Schenley Park. Although some alumni may have complained about
their classes or other things while they were here, most say that being a student at Carnegie
Mellon helped them in the long run.
Prominent Grads
Gais Charles, ’05, Actor
Randy Pausch, ’88, Author
Jack Klugman, ’48, Actor
Andy Warhol, ’49, Artist
Erroll Davis, Jr., ’65, Chairman,
President and CEO
Iris Ranier Dart, ’66, Novelist
Stephen Bochco, ’69, Producer,
Writer
Ted Danson, ’72, Actor
John Wells ’79, Executive Producer,
Writer
Holly Hunter, ’80, Actress
Rob Marshall, ’82, Choreographer
Keith Lockhart, ’83, Music
Conductor
Zachary Quinto, ’99, Actor
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
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almost 3 years agocindee
My neice attended the summer program for music. She was in LOVE with the University! We visited to see the music/voice program and saw why she was so impressed! Being that she lives in New York and we live 35 miles from the University we waited anxiously for her acceptance to be a full time student there!She was accepted at NYU instead.But good luck to those accepted at this beautiful college.
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My neice attended the summer program for music. She was in LOVE with the University! We visited to see the music/voice program and saw why she was so impressed! Being that she lives in New York and we live 35 miles from the University we waited anxiously for her acceptance to be a full time student there!She was accepted at NYU instead.But good luck to those accepted at this beautiful college.