Carnegie Mellon University

I have hugeeee affinity and hold very high regards for Carnegie Mellon University! My brother went there for undergrad/​grad school and my husband goes there for his graduate degree as well. I definitely attribute my brother’s successes in career (and life) thus far, to this university. He’s done very well, and it was no doubt, through the undergrad & grad experiences he had at CMU! It was definitely hard work, whichever major one chooses, but they did a great job teaching him great analytical/​reasoning skills. Initially, I wasn’t sure if my husband would like the university either because he’s somewhat spoiled by the West Coast’s weather. However, my husband who’s there now totally loves the university and really enjoys meeting the people from different departments/​areas and exploring useful resources that the university have to offer. Staff there is really caring and it just seems like you get way more personal attention that you’d elsewhere.
If anyone is considering a wonderful school where you can get top notch education, be it music, arts and business or science, engineering and policy, definitely put CMU on the radar! The classes are definitely tough but the in depth knowledge and valuable experiences you gained coming out of the university are second to none!

I dont go here, but i love to walk around. There is a spiral hedge garden, some strange sculptures, a quote on a wall thats backwards, hammocks, and lots of green spaces. Very close to starbucks too. I always see people exercising and running and such. Very fun place to people watch too.

Not giving this place five stars simply because I don’t go here, and I don’t know too much about campus life.
However, I do love the campus in general. My girlfriend doesn’t like it too much because she goes here, but I like it because it always reminds me that I’m close to her.
Also, is it me or are they deliberately removing more humans sculptures from their «walking to the sky» pole.

It’s my college! Well… graduate school. [Tepper ’15]
Love the campus and all that this school is doing for the city of Pittsburgh; hub for Entrepreneurship and CS that is bringing jobs, companies and new start-​ups to the area. Fantastic drama school and the Business school is getting there [still young].
It’s nice to have an actual campus in this city, thanks to the cut. Unfortunately it’s being uglified by the Walk to the Sky art piece [sooo tacky]. Love the annual carnival and carnival concert, the tech fairs, the random events such as the Zipline on Campus and the Petting Zoo. Buggy races every fall are a great tradition just terrible for parking and doing school work on Saturdays.
Beware some of the Nerd dorm, there are classes to civilize and socialize them, besides that hold your nose. Faculty is fantastic. Sticker price is a little hefty but it pays off in the end.

Had the privilege to study here… It’s a relatively small and cosy campus… Lots of studying, activities, fun… I Pittsburgh

Best quant business school! They should strive towards supporting alumni with great startup business ideas even if they’re not affiliated with google or Microsoft. Check out the Randy Pausch plaque outside of the robotics institute building which is the coolest classroom and faculty building ever.

The education is great. However, as a incoming student beware of a scam that the payment office has. Despite the fact that the vast majority of students are covered by their parents medical plan, they take the position that you are not and you have to prove it to them. Every year. The forms are cumbersome and if you do not fill it out right, it costs you $ 1200!!! I have had to fight with them multiple years.
Once again, great education, but greedy.

I’m biased because I received my MBA ’05 and will receive my PhD ’16 from CMU. However, I’m very happy at CMU. I think it’s a great school with an excellent community of researchers. There’s a climate of interdisciplinary collaboration and cooperation.

CMU is a wonderful school (full disclosure, I received my master’s degree here). I feel extremely well served the CMU experience, the instruction, and the facilities. I made lifelong connections and would highly recommend it to anyone who feels as though they have what it takes!
Pittsburgh, as a city though leaves a bit to be desired. There is no performing arts scene to speak of compared with similar sized cities, horrible food scene (including a plethora of crappy mid-​western pizza), and insane drivers.
Recommendation: if you go to CMU leave your car in another city (an watch yourself as a pedestrian, two of my classmates were hit by cars as pedestrians).

A wonderful film festival. Got to see many films and they have brought many directors of the films there. Plus great food offered.

not sure why anyone would go to Unilocal for a review of their university, but as the duke, i feel obligated to inform my subjects. cmu has some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet. though be warned there will be arrogant jerks. its unavoidable, however preppy rich kids and arrogant jerks are less common here than at other schools, even other schools of lesser renound. its a lovely school and the campus is gorgeous. its proximity to pitt keeps it grounded in the world, which is to say, you can go to pitt parties and no one bats an eye. pittsburgh is a fantastic city for college, especially for those who are not accustomed to a city setting (pittsburgh is small). otherwise be prepared to do a lot of work, the school prides itself in being hard so even if you know the material the school wants you to do tons of work, be prepared. freshman courses are easy too, they warn you about difficulty, don’t follow through and hit you with it when your guard is down.
spring carnival is awesome, great time to pretend you aren’t stressed. tons of clubs and interesting things. but tepper cit and scs are the best, i was chemistry and realized late that chem e would have been a better idea. don’t go here for humanities generally, but philosophy is a very unique department and i hear its pretty great here, though do double major in a humanity, very interesting spins to standard majors here.

Let me skip the discussion of the education in CMU and list the places to visit on campus:
— The Fence in the center of campus, probably the most painted structure in the world.
— The Walking in the Sky sculpture, near Forbes Ave.
— The trucks: authentic and affordable food trucks on Margaret Morrison St, on the east end of campus.
— Randy Pausch bridge, from the central lawn to the Gates-​Hillman building. It lights up at night. Try to find penguin shapes in the fence — a reference to Gates, Microsoft, Windows, and Linux.
— Gates-​Hillman Center itself — the newest (so far) building of campus and an example of post-​modern architecture.
— The Hunt Library in the end of the cut also lights up at night.
— Wean Hall, holding a record for the size of a wholly concrete building in North America.

Freaking loved every minute of CMU, except for when…
— the weather sucked
— I had to study
— I had to take tests
— grades were posted
— I got dumped by my first girlfriend
— I experienced unrequited love
— I remained single the entire time after that
— there was nevery anything good to eat
— my life seemed to suck compared to everyone else
— I couldn’t find a job right after graduating
Hmmmm…so it sounds like there’s very little to like about CMU. Au contraire… it was in Pitts-​burgh that I hit rock bottom, and ever since then life is suddenly more beautiful.
On a serious note, my butt spanking at CMU was painful, but it made me a better person for it and for that, I can’t give any less than 5 stars.
1000^th review!!! Woooo hoooo!!!

A lot of the best people I know went to this college.

My University Alma Mater.
It’s one of those places you love to hate and hate to love, but in the end, you’re going to be extremely grateful for the opportunity to have attended and will love CMU for what it is.
Let’s be honest, you’re not going to CMU to party, to partake in the incredible sports scene, or even to enjoy the amazing year-​round weather. You’re here to get a great degree, to meet and make some lifelong friends, and to become part of the brand that is Carnegie Mellon.
CMU is a research and academic institution, first and foremost. The faculty and staff are AMAZING. This goes for every college and school on campus. Every single one of my professors I had was incredibly well-​versed in their field of study, and they definitely made classes challenging. Oh, that’s another point to make about CMU — your class load will most likely be more intense than your counterparts at other institutions. Why? Because professors here actually care about students understanding and growing beyond the material that is presented in the classroom. What’s the good in taking a test where you just spit back out what you heard in lecture? Classes here make you THINK, and yes, you’ll probably cry for your momma every now and then when midterms come around, but you’ll come out the other side a stronger person than before. Intellectually at least. As others have pointed out, there is a 99% chance there is someone on campus that is smarter than you, and you will probably need to allocate an inordinate amount of your waking hours (really, sleep is for the weak) to studying and bugging out about your homework set. But don’t let that get you down about CMU, it’s all part of the collective experience, because everyone does it.
The facilities are top notch — technology is almost always refreshed as soon as possible to keep campus up to date. Heck, CMU had the first all-​campus wireless internet capability out of all the universities in the States. Computer labs are everywhere, from classrooms to dorms, to the library, to the student centers. The newest CS building (the Gates Center), is brand new and has computers out the wazoo. Hey, if Bill Gates wants computers, Bill Gates gets computers and lots of CMU students learning on them.
Campus itself is an interesting place to be. It’s small enough so that a walk from one side to the other should only take about 10 – 15 minutes max. However, it’s large enough so that you won’t see the same people day after day, unless of course, you hang out in the UC (University Center) at the black chairs all the time. The buildings are a mix of old and new, where the older buildings (like Doherty, Porter, Baker, Heinz, and Hamerschlag) are from the Andrew Carnegie era. The older buildings definitely have a charm that I loved. Something about that long, sloped hallway.
When it comes to dorms, yeah, they aren’t the most amazing. If you can snag a room along the Morewood corridor or in West Wing/​Resnik, then you’re probably the best off. Henderson is pretty good as well. Or just go off campus if you really can’t deal with it.
Ok, food-​wise, CMU isn’t the greatest. You’re not going to get any franchise meals on campus, and the available eateries aren’t tremendous, but they’re decent for what they are. Lunchtime rushes between classes can get crazy in the UC. There are alternative dining options scattered throughout campus, so find something you really like and make that a frequent destination. For me, it was Joe’s hotdog cart outside Tepper and the actual café inside Tepper. Ok fine, Si Señor burgers and chicken fingers were amazing as well (gotta love the triple-​nuked fingers!). Off-​campus, there are bunches of bordering neighborhoods to find food at, such as Squirrel Hill or Craig St. You can even venture down to the Pitt area of Oakland for some more well-​known chains and local joints.
There are a bunch of traditions and campus myths at CMU, as with any school, and you’ll be sure to learn them quickly enough. These are integrated into student life pretty heavily, and I wished I’d taken advantage of more of them. Definitely spend a night out to paint the Fence. Definitely be involved with Carnival in some capacity — building a Booth is the real way to go. Definitely explore campus to find «secret» levels and rooms. Sounds like a video game, right? Don’t forget, CMU students are a bunch of self-​professed nerds, no matter how much we may deny it.
I’m not going to go over other Pittsburgh attractions or amenities, as others have done so already. CMU is an oft-​overlooked institution because it isn’t a traditional Ivy, and it’s not MIT or Stanford. However, the education and academic reputation is absolutely there to compete with the best (a recent Forbes ranking placed ~4 degrees from CMU in the Top 10 highest-​paid degrees upon graduation), and all of our colleges are consistently present in discussions regarding top academic programs in the country. This includes the arts and design programs.

Where to begin? How do I write a review for a university that raped me academically?
As mentioned in other reviews and other college sites, this place will get you studying no matter how big of a procrastinator you were in high school/​college. Yes, your colleagues will be smart, and those that appear dumb are probably smarter than you. You will pretty much be able to distinguish who is a Pitt student vs. CMU student if you are at a bar (womp womp). And yes, your social life will diminish to a certain extent.
Then why would I give this place 5 stars? Why would I give this school 5 stars even though they made me take Programming with CS majors though I pursued a field in the medical area?
This school really cares about its students. I realized this only after I continued my studies at other institutions and meeting peers from other schools. Plus, the hardest course in dental school was probably only a medium level course at CMU.
I won’t go into specifics, but this school goes above and beyond to make sure you are cared for while you attend. The school is small enough, the faculty is accessible (and even the for the larger ones), and the staff are plenty to make sure you make it through successfully. If you need assistance, they have every type available. If you are unsatisfied with something, you will see them try to fix it. As a student, athlete, and leader during school, I ran into a few hurdles here and there, and CMU helped me pass them.
The food on campus is getting better, and the restaurants in Pittsburgh are not as bad as you think. The food trucks on Maggie Mo Street are freaking delicious, and my favorite is the Thai truck.
There’s plenty of parties around campus every weekend, and if these are lame for you, Pitt is down the street. The scene in the Strip District isn’t too shabby either.
There’s plenty of arts. I think CMU has the first fine arts school in the US? Pittsburgh orchestra and ballet, Falling Water, Mattress Factory (the museum, not the store), Andy Warhol Museum?
CMU is strong academically no doubt, and the surrounding communities make it much more attractive. I definitely wish I took more advantage of the resources and people there. I met my lifelong friends there, and for that, I’m forever grateful.

Sure, CMU, I suppose I could give you some stars for the cool education your faculty is giving me. A couple more stars for sending me away at the end of 2 years with a masters degree. A couple more stars for the lifelong friends you gave me too. How about the graduate/​faculty only lunchtime at Schatz Dining Room? Stars for you too, I suppose.

Reviewing a university is difficult; one must consider academic ranking, location, professors, curriculum, everything. I attended Carnegie Mellon for my undergraduate studies and graduated with a B.S. in ECE, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This was definitely the best and worst four years of my life. In the end, all was worth it. I am now very happy in the DC area, and I can only thank CMU for allowing me to get here. I not only grew up and matured here, but I was forced to adjust my study habits and grow stronger academically. The challenges I faced in my major far surpassed any of struggles I had thought were oh so important back in high school. I met some of the best people I have ever met here at Carnegie Mellon, and I can safely say that these people will be my best friends for life.
I had very mixed feelings initially about going to Pittsburgh. I am a Jersey boy at heart, and Pittsburgh was not only far, but just different. At the end of the day, I am very happy to have experienced a different location, a different culture, a completely different lifestyle. Pittsburgh taught me to face certain social challenges and to learn to be the better man (being an Asian American from a heavy Asian population in New Jersey, racism was not as prevalent as it was in Pittsburgh).
I can simply say, attend Carnegie Mellon because the academic studies here are top tier. However, Unilocal should not be the first place to look. In fact, I would never imagine to look to Unilocal for reviews. Unilocal does provide a very casual atmosphere, though, one that won’t change the game, but simply allow you to have that small nod of approval.
Carnegie Mellon gets five stars from me. I would give it more if I could. It changed my life.

(rant more than review)
Okay, this is more of a specific rant rather than an actual review.
I’m an alumni of Carnegie Mellon University from almost 2 decades back. When I visited campus this week for the first time in 20 years, I was taken aback at how fast the campus has grown and the many new buildings and new features of the campus, specifically the academic buildings.
However, when I visited the dormitory area (West Wing, Resnick, Hill Residences, etc.) I was really, REALLY disappointed. Both West Wing and Resnick are in much more terrible shape than they have ever been. Resnick’s first floor rooms (now used for something called ID technology, whatever that is) just looks like a mishmash of office spaces. What the f? The courtyard between Resnick and West Wing dearly needs to be totally grazed and rebuilt. Almost every tile is chipped and worn away. Wow, and that Tartan Pavillion! That never used to be there and I’m sorry, but it really doesn’t fit in well with the rest of the architectural theme of West Wing, Resnick, and Gesling Stadium. Oh, how my heart really bled seeing that eyesore and absolutely poor architectural addition. If they really wanted to add an additional eating space, please think about making a building that fits in with the architectural themes of West Wing and Resnick. Damn, I almost can’t get over the fact how fugly it is and so totally out-​of-​place it is.
Okay, moving on. On to Donner. What the hell is up with that building? Okay, back in the 1990s it was an ugly builing, but now, it has concrete rebars exposed on many sides of the building. The sidewalks all around Donner are in horrible shape. Margaret Morrison Apartments are in very poor shape. Where Margaret Morrison Computer Cluster used to be, that area is also very poorly maintained. The brick façade looks like it could seriously use some washing and maintenance. It has a lot of white blotches of, paint? The space underneath Hamerschlag Hall is also a total mess. It needs to be cleaned up. About the only pleasant thing about the Hill Residences are the way Henderson, Scobell and Welch hall looks. They fit in well.
So in sum: awesome academic building improvement and the Mall and Cut are very beautiful. But, the Hill Residences, Gesling Stadium, West Wing, Resnick, Donner, and Margaret Morrison are all in extremely poor shape, including all (and I mean ALL) of the public walking areas surrounding each of those buildings. Very shabby, decrepit and ugly. It wasn’t like this 15 years ago. I used to be very proud of the residence halls. What happened?
I’m still giving the institution itself 5 stars. I had an absolutely wonderful 4 years at Carnegie Mellon. I hope it invests in a LOT MORE money in the residence halls, especially in the aspect of maintenance.

Dear CMU,
I need to tell you something.
During our four-​year-​long relationship, I was often upset with you. When we first got together, I was so full of hope and optimism for our future, but as time went on, things only got more and more difficult and I began to wonder if you really had my best interests at heart. You made so many sweet promises about how you wanted to give me a better future, but I suspected that you were only interested in my money, and I resented that. You were also so demanding, you know? You took up all of my time, sapped my energy and sanity, and made me cry a lot. I kept wondering if I should break things off with you (it also didn’t help that Pitt was fun and available), but I really wanted for us to work out. I was so confused.
Now that it’s over, I have to admit that I often think of you and the good times that we shared. Even though things were so complicated between us, you did give me a lot of fond memories. I laughed a lot and learned a lot. And you helped me to grow into a better person — you encouraged me to work hard, to think deeply, to be creative, to take action. You also introduced me to some of my closest friends. Although we’ve finally parted ways and have long since grown apart, you had a special part in my life, and I thank you for that.
I… I miss you.
Or maybe it’s just the idea of you that I miss.