Student Profile
Bugme
- Class: Junior
- Major: Psychology
- Gender: F
- High School: Hammond
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
CMU is eclectic. Our strongest points are the art (drama, design, architecture, music) and the technology (engineering, robotics, computer science etc.) Put that together and imagine it in your head. Yea, you've guessed it. On a nice spring day, the Cut (our name for the yard down the center of campus) is filled with girls in long skirts listening to guys playing guitar, a barbeque at the Fence, and kids with huge backpacks riding their bikes to class. you have the lone girls reading a book under a huge tree and guys throwing a frisbee around. Of course, Pittsburgh is pretty cold in the winter, so this view is limited. however, it does give a pretty good view of the people who make up this campus. No matter who you are, you can find somebody to relate to here. The people you choose to make your friends are going to change you because they'll pool from different friends, interests, and experiences. It's awesome.
Academic Life
I think my favorite part of freshman orientation was meeting my calculus professor. I thought he was another student because he was so personable. In fact, this past orientation he crowd-surfed his way down to the front of the auditorium. Shockingly, he was one of the most intelligent people I have ever met and he ran one of the hardest classes. CMU professors are of different breeds. I have had friendly adn absentminded professors and cold and impersonable professors. There are those I will never forget and those that I wished would lose their tenure. It's really luck of the draw. fortunately, we do have FCEs (faculty Course Evaluations) so that you can check which professors grade easy, teach well, have good course materials, actually use their textbook, etc. Upperclassmen are pretty much always up for giving advice to underclassmen. Students are competitive but not ruthless. They will never turn off your alarm clock so that you miss your exam, but they will push themselves to do better. A few of our classes are curved but not that many that it makes a considerable difference. Also, as you get older and your classes get smaller, you have more power to talk to the professor and figure out how to ace the class. I'd say that CMU prepares you for the working world, but there are so many classes where the professor teaches something that he/she is passionate about that you will probably just want to take. for instance, I took Holocaust in Historical perspective for fun. It was the most amazing class I have had thus far. I am also planning to take Roots of Rock and Roll next year. Our acadmic requirements, depending on major, allow you to fulfill electives with classes like these and I highly suggest you take advantage of it.
Student Body
One of the first words you will here at CMU is DIVERSITY. It's a loaded word. We have several different majors, races, and religions represented, but that says nothing about diversity. I am impressed with theyw ay this campus promotes diversity. One of the orientation events is a community collage. It features performances and speeches by different groups and student leaders around campus. After orientation though, it's really dependent on you if you want to experience DIVERSITY. The school offers cultural shows, a gender issues conference, political rallies, dance shows, robot races, a womens leadership program, and interfaith council events. We are a pretty liberal campus. Unfortunately its the same batch of people that attend all of these and too many people leave CMU not going to any of them. Ok...down to the nitty gritty. People dress so well during the few warm summery days but by the second midterms come, several are in sweats. There are the few and mighty that refuse to sacrifice style for convenience and they look great no matter what. Greek life is highly visible on this campus. Different organizations are continuosuly having philanthropies, parties, or barbeques for people to attend and though it is not for everyone, it's definitely worth checking out.
The Best Things
It's just right. Not so big that you get lost, not so small that you get bored.
The Worst Things
The feeling that everyone is smarter than you.
