Carnegie Mellon University Reviews

Great Career Center and Job Placement

It is easy to find internships or jobs if you are attending CMU. Companies look at CMU graduates extremely favorably, and the career center has many resources to help you improve your job-seeking skills and learn about potential jobs and employers.

The facilities on campus are just...

The facilities on campus are just one step below excellent. Athletic facilities for sports team members are exclusive, and everything was just rebuilt, expect a regular gym and stuff for non-team members. Hunt library, the main library is very convenient, as it has a coffee shop inside and several quiet study areas for optimal focus.

The atmosphere in Pittsburgh is...

The atmosphere in Pittsburgh is definitely dull unless the Steelers win the Super Bowl, which I was lucky enough to enjoy. Stay away from dark alleys in the wee hours of the morning for obvious reasons.

Typical dorms at CMU are standard,...

Typical dorms at CMU are standard, usually two-person rooms. Nothing really separates one from the rest. Some that are better are the dorms in Morewood Gardens and Morewood E-Tower. They provide a standard room right on campus with the feel of a modern dorm. Stever is the only dorm with AC, but the rooms are usually smaller. Some other average dorms are Donner House and Mudge.

I feel like a lot of people at...

I feel like a lot of people at least smoke weed, especially in the fraternities and with people in the College of Fine Arts. However, it is not all that publicized.

All buildings are relatively new...

All buildings are relatively new and in good condition. There is never limited space in the athletic facilities or the library.

There's a stereotype of nerdy,...

There's a stereotype of nerdy, anti-social students at CMU, but I don't think it's true. I've met anti-social people, but I've met plenty of friendly, outgoing people, too. The College of Fine Arts definitely has the most attractive people (both guys and girls), but there are other attractive people on campus. Everyone at CMU is really busy with their schoolwork, but I think everyone has time for a social life.

Most of the facilities on campus...

Most of the facilities on campus are really nice. The library and the University Center (student center) are really nice. Some of the dorms and other buildings are older, but they're well kept.

There is so much diversity at CMU,...

There is so much diversity at CMU, it's pretty much our school motto—diversity through ethnicity, sexuality, ideologically, everything.

Don't listen to the bashing of...

Don't listen to the bashing of Donner. Most kids who claim it's a stink hole have never set foot inside. Yes, it's old. Yes, it's ugly on the outside. Yes, you have to share a bathroom. Suck it up. You're sharing a bathroom wherever you go. They clean it every day. Donner has the biggest rooms, is closest to the actual campus (which great to get you five more minutes of sleep or when you forget your homework for your next class), and by far has the biggest sense of community. I've never heard of kids regretting Donner. But Hammerschlag is one to avoid---sorry guys. That's what happens at a school with a terrible ratio.

Nobody cares about varsity sports....

Nobody cares about varsity sports. IM sports are big in Greek life.

The teachers really know their...

The teachers really know their material. Oftentimes, their passion for the subject is evident in the excitement they get when teaching. Most of the professors I have had have been more than willing to meet outside of class to give extra help. Carnegie Mellon has exceptional programs in business, engineering, science, design, architecture, and the arts.

There are 13 fraternities now, but...

There are 13 fraternities now, but adding the Pan-hellenic and multicultural fraternities, you get four more. I'm in an Asian fraternity, and I can honestly say that it is great. The brothers help you out with everything and are not afraid to do be of assistance. Anything from choosing classes to just partying it up, the fraternity has helped me. The parties are fun, and it is a great way to connect with people throughout the campus even in other years. Some people have stated their discontent at fraternity and sorority life, but as a member of a fraternity, it is not all about the sex and girls. Our first pillar in our fraternity is academic achievement because, after all, you come to college for the education. Fraternity life is supposed to be a supplement, and I believe CMU Greek life has a lot to offer in that department.

Overall, I won't call Carnegie...

Overall, I won't call Carnegie Mellon a particularly attractive campus even though the incoming classes have been getting significantly more attractive than previous classes.

The bars and clubs are mostly over...

The bars and clubs are mostly over 21. There is a pretty delightful gay bar downtown, which features goth night on Fridays for $5. Other than that, your best bet are house parties and a close second with frat parties. You can go down to Pitt for parties, which are always good, but the scene at Carnegie Mellon is definitely satisfactory.

They look good on the outside, but...

They look good on the outside, but inside every building looks like it hasn't been remodeled since the 1920s.

Architecturally speaking, it's...

Architecturally speaking, it's really diverse. The only qualm I have about this is the numbering of the floors on Wean and Doherty, which are connected—they don't align. I would say that the athletic facilities are good. The student center is nice, and there's a lot of space to hang out or people watch. Hunt library is pretty nice and is open all time, plus it has Maggie Murph Café, which is now open 24 hours. It is amazing when you're in the library until 4 a.m. and need coffee, because inevitably you will be in the library until 4 a.m. at least once.

The Pittsburgh area surrounding...

The Pittsburgh area surrounding CMU has actually a few nice eating places that I enjoy going to multiple times a week. There is cheap, delicious food at Lulu's on Craig Street. Craig Street actually has quite a few tasty and pretty decently priced food places. Lulu's is the best for taste and price. Very reasonable. Toward Squirrel Hill, there is a lot of good stuff. That's a bus ride away, but it's actually very close. Gullifty's is great and has delicious desserts. Also, the sushi place called Pacific Ring is very tasty. The restaurants off campus are actually very pleasing to me.

Pittsburgh is a very eclectic...

Pittsburgh is a very eclectic city. In the city, there are a lot of small music venues if you are into live music. Also, the Carnegie Museum is a fun place to visit along with Andy Warhol museum. University of Pittsburgh is right down the street and no more than a 15-minutes walk. There are a lot of places to shop and eat in this neighborhood along with many other districts in the city—all with their own personality.

The facilities at Carnegie Mellon...

The facilities at Carnegie Mellon provide just what is needed and not much more. There are common places to hang out, but they are not used much unless students are eating. The library at CMU is very nice and has multiple computer clusters, a cafe, and different floors designated to group and individual study.

There are all types of people, and...

There are all types of people, and you can you usually find a group of people to hang out with. However, there are plenty of geeks. Let me rephrase that. We all are in our own way, but we're proud of it.

Everyone avoids Donner like the...

Everyone avoids Donner like the plague, but I met some of my best friends there. It really doesn't matter where you live as long as you really get to know the people that live near you.

It is convenient. You can normally...

It is convenient. You can normally find a house that isn't far away, and it ends up being cheaper than a dorm room and more spacious. I recommend living off campus with a bunch of friends after your first year.

At Carnegie Mellon, you find...

At Carnegie Mellon, you find people from all different backgrounds and from all over the world coming here to receive an excellent education. You also find a lot of really wealthy people. The school is expensive, and most of the people I know didn't even receive financial aid. Politically, it is pretty liberal with the occasional extreme-right individual.

Freshman dorms are amazing. As a...

Freshman dorms are amazing. As a freshman, you get an entire floor of friends. After freshman year, there is very little support for housing communities. Most people don't know their neighbors. Aside form the study lounges, the dorms are devoid of life. Avoid off-campus housing—it's even less active than the dorms.