Carnegie Mellon University User Reviews and Ratings
Decent
By Henry, From PA
What I like: Environment that pushes the students to work harder and study harder. What I do not like: 1. An excessive workload that does not really help. 2. Food 3. An excessive tuition 4. Lack of quality school events.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：1
City & Setting
Score：3
Classes & Teachers
Score：4
Dining & Food
Score：2
Dorms & Housing
Score：2
Health & Safety
Score：4
Outstanding ECE program and University
By Parent, From Maryland
My freshman daughter could not be happier as a college student! She is working VERY HARD at her studies, while meeting and studying along side intelligent, focused, equally hard working, dedicated, passionate, and friendly peers. ECE is challenging, but is doable if you organize your time, begin assignments early, and seek academic assistance from professors, TAs, tutors, and fellow students (all are more than willing to help). Quality of professors is top and they have been approachable for anything. She has formed a wonderful study group and friendship with several female ECE students including athletes, girls from various religious and cultural and international backgrounds, and one very talented singer. She has not experience ANY cut throat competition, only a cooperative learning environment. The university encourages students to use the Academic Development department services, which offer peer tutoring options such as one on one, Excel (small group), SI (supplemental instruction, larger groups), and student coaching. By using the university's resources, my daughter is having an excellent year both academically and socially, but she said you should be willing to ask for help and maybe join school clubs to meet more friends. Joining clubs is strongly encouraged and gives you a chance to meet new people outside of your dorm and major and sometimes you get off campus for activities. She has attended Penguins games, a symphony, and several dinners out with club friends. Also, most engineering freshman friends are set with research and internships for the summer with on campus, in Pittsburgh, or at home positions. CMU's freshman housing is good and the apartments are quieter and larger. There are no dining halls at CMU, just eating venues so quality of eating is ok and improving. On campus safety is not an issue and neither is surrounding area until late night. Financial aid can be an issue at CMU. Thrilled parent with CMU and Engineering program!
What best describes you? Parent
Activities & Social Life
Score：4
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Top school in CS and Analytics
By Dan, From Pittsburgh, PA
CMU is not for everyone, it is TOP and it challenges you to the limit, specially on technical degrees (CS, Data Science, Data Analytics). The curriculum is extremely rigorous and demanding, it requires a non-stop working to succeed. I did my master degree there and received very good job offers after graduation. The downside is that CMU is so demanding that you don't have much time to explore the city and do extra activities.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：3
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Top school leading the world technologies
By John, Class of 1980, From NY
Best research achievement in Computer Sciences
What best describes you? Parent
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Good School but not best
By Annonymous, From Annonymous
Not the best school in CS, just big. Many faculty just left to the industry. Just a brand now.
What best describes you? Other
Get job offers non-stop
By Tim P., From Pittsburgh, PA
CMU's curriculum is challenging, and it took some time to get used to the rhythm. I majored in Computer Science, after graduation I have been receiving job offers non-stop, which makes you not only marketable but able to negotiate salaries to a higher standard than others.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：4
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Great for Developing Grit
By John 18, From Pittsburgh, PA
CMU is a very academically rigorous school due to both the coursework and the culture. The coursework is very technical. The culture of the school is to push yourself to your limits, which helps students learn what type of workload they're capable of maintaining. When I was at CMU I double majored in business and statistics (a very popular option), and was working two jobs (one internship and one on campus job) in addition to balancing greek life, business competitions, and a girlfriend. In terms of work capacity, I determined that to be roughly my upper limit. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to learn that while in school. I've seen peers from other schools learn their work limits on the job which isn't always pretty. It can be stressful, but by graduation time most students from CMU can handle almost any type of work environment. It's a great school for developing grit.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：3
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：3
Health & Safety
Score：5
Unique experience
By Markus 13, From Jew Jersey
While I found course work to be challenging, it wasn't bad to a point it impacted my social life. Because my girl friend was at UPitt, my social base was probably broader than a typical CMU student. . I wasn't used to cold weather and that took some getting used to and I didn't like the campus food but there are much better options off campus. CMU's reputation in professional world is outstanding. I didn't realize this when I was in school but I quickly realized this when I started working. Overall, I had a great time and it was a rewarding experience
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
All-round development.
By Akhil N., Class of 2022, From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Being an international student, I knew that adjusting to the US academic environment would take some time, especially based on the university I would be attending. I know I made the perfect choice with CMU. Whether it's the challenging academics, unique and numerous research opportunities, renowned faculty, incredibly diverse, humble, and friendly student body, or the distinct 'nerdiness,' I have loved my experience at CMU. Sure, many struggle to keep up with the tough academics, but it molds our work ethic and creative problem solving abilities. Pittsburgh itself is a wonderful city with a rich culture and history. You cannot go wrong with CMU.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Top Tier Academics
By Anonymous, 2020, From Pittsburgh, PA
Very difficult and competitive, yet rewarding. Most coursework is very math/quantitative based. Could improve small things here and there such as dining hours and parking passes, but overall an incredible school.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：4
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Best Place to Learn Computer Science
By Dong, Class of 2011, From New York, NY
Smart & Cool people all around the campus. It feels AWESOME!!!
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
