Carnegie Mellon University

The school is very demanding of your time and energy in every major across the board. That effects the social activities outside of class and the comraderie between students is also limiting. The experience will be what you make of it. However, what I encountered is that the administration and professors are not truly there to help students---there is a reason why there is a low graduation rate and that needs to be highlighted and paid attention to. There is much to be learned from the challenging environment but it's easy to be emotionally drained because it's not a supportive or uplifting place, on the whole. Do not link personal vaule with your success at the institution.... There is normal life and entire world outside of the university that will slowly start to fade away. Most students are very driven in one area so someone is more "balanced" might have a harder time at CMU. Also-- knowing what major you want is almost a requirement upon entering and switiching majors makes things QUITE difficult and is often discouraged.

3rd Year Female -- Class 2005

Campus Maintenance: A, Social Life: C-