What exactly is a “grind school” (undergraduate)?

[Anonymous]

In another post about CMU, several responses described it as a grind school. Does that mean there’s intense academic pressure or heavy competition for internships within the student body—almost like a second round of cutthroat high school? Can you give an example? Is it toxic?

[Anonymous]

All work, no play.

[Anonymous]

Many schools have "grind" culture: spending hours every weekend in the library, taking very difficult courses and competing to be above the mean. Much of this depends on the area of study, not the school. We know super-grindy premeds at Harvard and kids who don't go to class at Harvard. We know a laid back CS guy at CMU, yet the reputation is grindy.
Engineering at Hopkins, Penn are typically quite grindy overall yet we know non-engineers who are work-hard, play harder types at the same schools. The most intense grindy, never-goes out kid we know is at Dartmouth.

[Anonymous]

Grind school or not depends not only the school but also the major. For example, psychology at Cornell is not grindy but engineering at UMD is.

[Anonymous]

No hand holding schools.

[Anonymous]

Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

A grindr school would be something entirely different

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

Male-dominated programs with a lot of men who are academically competitive with each other, sharp-elbowed, some social skills limitations because not very pro-social, intense interest in schoolwork but not in other types of campus activities, focus on getting high-paying or hard-to-get jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

A grindr school would be something entirely different

As would be a bump and grind school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

Male-dominated programs with a lot of men who are academically competitive with each other, sharp-elbowed, some social skills limitations because not very pro-social, intense interest in schoolwork but not in other types of campus activities, focus on getting high-paying or hard-to-get jobs.

Guess you've "never met" any women who fit that description exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

Male-dominated programs with a lot of men who are academically competitive with each other, sharp-elbowed, some social skills limitations because not very pro-social, intense interest in schoolwork but not in other types of campus activities, focus on getting high-paying or hard-to-get jobs.

Guess you've "never met" any women who fit that description exactly.

PP went to college in the 70s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

Male-dominated programs with a lot of men who are academically competitive with each other, sharp-elbowed, some social skills limitations because not very pro-social, intense interest in schoolwork but not in other types of campus activities, focus on getting high-paying or hard-to-get jobs.

Perfect! No time for fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

Male-dominated programs with a lot of men who are academically competitive with each other, sharp-elbowed, some social skills limitations because not very pro-social, intense interest in schoolwork but not in other types of campus activities, focus on getting high-paying or hard-to-get jobs.

Sounds a lot like the Silicon Valley campus vibe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

Male-dominated programs with a lot of men who are academically competitive with each other, sharp-elbowed, some social skills limitations because not very pro-social, intense interest in schoolwork but not in other types of campus activities, focus on getting high-paying or hard-to-get jobs.

Guess you've "never met" any women who fit that description exactly.

PP. I am a woman. I was in a grad program that was 70% male. I am a high achiever. In general, I find that female nerds/grinders are far more required to conform to social norms to be successful. And that grinder schools retain traditions from their 100% male "contest culture" past.

CMU definitely has a lot of grinders. Within the past two years, I considered studying for a 2nd grad degree there. But, I should have accelerated my math skills starting in 6th! grade to make that possible. As in, I should have lived my academic life completely differently from the age of 12 to be an average student there. Pity I wasn't interested in algebra then. Because words were more fun.

If you don't like my definition, feel free to add your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopkins premed, CMU SCS, Cornell engineering, are epitome of grinder schools. Rigorous curriculum, harsh curve, cutthroat culture, a combination of these.

Male-dominated programs with a lot of men who are academically competitive with each other, sharp-elbowed, some social skills limitations because not very pro-social, intense interest in schoolwork but not in other types of campus activities, focus on getting high-paying or hard-to-get jobs.

Guess you've "never met" any women who fit that description exactly.

PP went to college in the 70s.

+1. Dated observation