While officially located in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland, Carnegie Mellon is in fact bordered by three very different local neighborhoods and is a short bus or cab ride away from dozens more. Oakland is sort of known as the "college neighborhood," at the center of which are Forbes and Fifth avenues. Oakland stays awake until the wee hours of the morning to cater to the thousands of college students that spill onto the streets at around 2 a.m., after the parties are broken up, and the bars are closed. Shadyside is the more residential of the three neighborhoods bordering Carnegie Mellon's campus. Take a 15- or 20-minute walk down Fifth Avenue, and you arrive at Walnut Street, which is a popular section of Shadyside among CMU students. During the day, students frequent the mix of middle- and upper-class shops, like J.Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, American Apparel, Coach, and more. At night, Walnut Street turns into an entertaining, yet relatively laid-back environment—the bars open, and some restaurants transform into bars peppered with CMU students (and the residents of Shadyside, who range from mid-20s to those creepy old men that love to buy students drinks).
If you are looking to get most of your daily shopping and chores done, it's best to make the quick trip on a 61 bus up to Squirrel Hill. Located just up Forbes Avenue, this is the place to find record shops, ice cream and frozen yogurt shops, the grocery store, and more! While Pittsburgh has dozens of other interesting neighborhoods, some CMU students manage to live four years without leaving these main three.
Carnegie Mellon Student ReviewsWhat's This?
Sort by:
Local Atmosphere at Carnegie Mellon University
Anonymous
Carnegie Mellon University Student
4.2
A-
Not a Big City but Plenty Stuffs Around
Pittsburgh is not a very big city but you have lots of stuff around to do and go about.CMU may not be a partying college but you would have lots of opportunities for free food and some parties here and there.Pretty helpful and cordial atmosphere out here.
Local Atmosphere at Carnegie Mellon University
kshark
Mechanical Engineering '15
3.8
B+
Pittsburgh
People say there isn't much to do here, but I have found plenty! Visiting all the museums at least once is completely worth it, since it is free with a CMU ID. Plus there is ice skating in the winter and plenty of places to go shopping and such.
Apr 03, 2012
Comment actions:
Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Local Atmosphere at Carnegie Mellon University
Kd93k5
Information Technology '15
3.1
B-
I Mean, It's Pittsburgh
If you try hard enough you can find stuff to do, but the nightlife isn't that great, and there isn't that much variety.
Apr 03, 2012
Comment actions:
Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
User rating for Carnegie Mellon University - Local Atmosphere is
3.5 out of 5
based on 54 user reviews.
Become a Contributing Author Learn more »
Most Recent Student Author View all
- Name
- Raina Bradford-Jennings
- Hometown
- Brookfield, CT
- Major
- Professional Writing
- Grad Year
- 2014
College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.
Buy the eBook "Carnegie Mellon University 2012: Off The Record"
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)