Dropping out at CMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a nerdy, soulless place and really only good for a small fraction of people. Walk down Forbes Ave, immediately adjacent to Pitt & CMU dorms — you’ll 100% be able to spot which school the kid attends.

This 100%

NP.. My kid is thinking of applying to CMU for CS. I keep hearing that students at CMU seem miserable, barely any social life. I think my DC might want to re-think CMU. DC is in a magnet program and can handle a tough work load, BUT, they want college to be fun, too, and I don't blame DC. DC just spent the last four years working their tail off, but at least had a fun group of kids to hang out with and had a social life. I asked DC if DC wants to spend another four years of having to work their tail off but with very little social life. Something to think about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a nerdy, soulless place and really only good for a small fraction of people. Walk down Forbes Ave, immediately adjacent to Pitt & CMU dorms — you’ll 100% be able to spot which school the kid attends.

This 100%

NP.. My kid is thinking of applying to CMU for CS. I keep hearing that students at CMU seem miserable, barely any social life. I think my DC might want to re-think CMU. DC is in a magnet program and can handle a tough work load, BUT, they want college to be fun, too, and I don't blame DC. DC just spent the last four years working their tail off, but at least had a fun group of kids to hang out with and had a social life. I asked DC if DC wants to spend another four years of having to work their tail off but with very little social life. Something to think about.

That is why rankings really don't matter. The school you pick should be a good fit for you. Many kids are burnt out or nearly burnt out after 4 years of pressure in HS to excel to get into elite schools. Even if you don't, many kids spend college having to fight to get into their major (engineering that isn't direct admit or if they want to change their major), pre-med anything, etc. Other kids want to attend a school that is collaborative and allows them to learn, be social and not be 100% focused on academics all the time. I personally just want my kid to be happy---they are smart and will succeed wherever they attend. So they picked a place that will allow that---they can self select any major (including engineering), they can pick their core curriculum (open ended) and work is collaborative, not overly competitive. After 4 years of striving to get into college, my kid just wants to be able to learn in a more relaxed environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a nerdy, soulless place and really only good for a small fraction of people. Walk down Forbes Ave, immediately adjacent to Pitt & CMU dorms — you’ll 100% be able to spot which school the kid attends.

This 100%

NP.. My kid is thinking of applying to CMU for CS. I keep hearing that students at CMU seem miserable, barely any social life. I think my DC might want to re-think CMU. DC is in a magnet program and can handle a tough work load, BUT, they want college to be fun, too, and I don't blame DC. DC just spent the last four years working their tail off, but at least had a fun group of kids to hang out with and had a social life. I asked DC if DC wants to spend another four years of having to work their tail off but with very little social life. Something to think about.

That is why rankings really don't matter. The school you pick should be a good fit for you. Many kids are burnt out or nearly burnt out after 4 years of pressure in HS to excel to get into elite schools. Even if you don't, many kids spend college having to fight to get into their major (engineering that isn't direct admit or if they want to change their major), pre-med anything, etc. Other kids want to attend a school that is collaborative and allows them to learn, be social and not be 100% focused on academics all the time. I personally just want my kid to be happy---they are smart and will succeed wherever they attend. So they picked a place that will allow that---they can self select any major (including engineering), they can pick their core curriculum (open ended) and work is collaborative, not overly competitive. After 4 years of striving to get into college, my kid just wants to be able to learn in a more relaxed environment.

If that’s the goal, no need to work so hard in HS then

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CMU is a miserable place for those who enjoy friends. It is a very solo place and not collaborative. Everyone in CS there is trying to prove that MIT missed out on them. Your son probably enjoys an environment that is more collaborative and friendly, and many top schools can provide that. You don’t have to go to community college if you feel CMU isn’t the right place.[/quot

This is so not true. CMU is ranked evenly with MIT. Nice try though!
Why all the CMU hate?
Have had two kids go through the school who have loved it.

[Anonymous]

My daughter graduated from CMU with a CS and engineering degrees in 2021. She had a great experience and made what she calls life-long friends. Your kid’s mileage might vary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a nerdy, soulless place and really only good for a small fraction of people. Walk down Forbes Ave, immediately adjacent to Pitt & CMU dorms — you’ll 100% be able to spot which school the kid attends.

This 100%

NP.. My kid is thinking of applying to CMU for CS. I keep hearing that students at CMU seem miserable, barely any social life. I think my DC might want to re-think CMU. DC is in a magnet program and can handle a tough work load, BUT, they want college to be fun, too, and I don't blame DC. DC just spent the last four years working their tail off, but at least had a fun group of kids to hang out with and had a social life. I asked DC if DC wants to spend another four years of having to work their tail off but with very little social life. Something to think about.

That is why rankings really don't matter. The school you pick should be a good fit for you. Many kids are burnt out or nearly burnt out after 4 years of pressure in HS to excel to get into elite schools. Even if you don't, many kids spend college having to fight to get into their major (engineering that isn't direct admit or if they want to change their major), pre-med anything, etc. Other kids want to attend a school that is collaborative and allows them to learn, be social and not be 100% focused on academics all the time. I personally just want my kid to be happy---they are smart and will succeed wherever they attend. So they picked a place that will allow that---they can self select any major (including engineering), they can pick their core curriculum (open ended) and work is collaborative, not overly competitive. After 4 years of striving to get into college, my kid just wants to be able to learn in a more relaxed environment.

If that’s the goal, no need to work so hard in HS then

Well my kid did make choices in HS that many on DCUM wouldn't "approve of". Choose to only take thru year 3 of a FL, as level 4 didn't happen that year and the AP was taught by a terrible teacher (had that one for Spanish 2, so well aware of how incompetent she was). Choose not to take APUSH or AP Eng, as spending 20+ hours per week on each of those was not going to be healthy. Sure could have gotten an A or A- with work, but at what cost? Instead my kid took 4 APs each year (JR/SR) in STEM and was able to continue with their 15-20hr+/week of a sport completely outside of school.
It might have hurt their chances for an elite university, but they had a much more enjoyable HS career. And ultimately, they are at a Univ in ranked in the 30s and were accepted at several more in the 30-60 range, so had plenty of options.
So yeah, they made a choice to do what was best for them in terms of rigor and still enjoy HS.

[Anonymous]

Wow, the date could have been 2002 on this thread and I wouldn’t have blinked. My brother *should* have dropped out of CMU way back then, and a good 25% of his friends from freshman year did, including his roommate. He did everything possible to try to make it fun- fraternity, booth & buggy, girlfriend, study abroad- but it wasn’t very effective. I visited often but never got a good feel for the school. There were so many beautiful common spaces that were lifeless.

The good thing is that now with Covid disruptions and gap years, no one bats an eye at a year off or a transfer. It is simply not a big deal. It truly isn’t. Don’t let fear of the dropout label stop your child from making the choice that is right for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, the date could have been 2002 on this thread and I wouldn’t have blinked. My brother *should* have dropped out of CMU way back then, and a good 25% of his friends from freshman year did, including his roommate. He did everything possible to try to make it fun- fraternity, booth & buggy, girlfriend, study abroad- but it wasn’t very effective. I visited often but never got a good feel for the school. There were so many beautiful common spaces that were lifeless.

The good thing is that now with Covid disruptions and gap years, no one bats an eye at a year off or a transfer. It is simply not a big deal. It truly isn’t. Don’t let fear of the dropout label stop your child from making the choice that is right for them.

This is OP. Thank you.

As I've said before, my DS has nothing but positive things to say about CMU. It is an exceptional place for hard working AND talented students, it is just NOT the place FOR HIM. He gave it a try and it just didn't work out.

I told DS that whatever he decides to do, I am going to be OK with it because it is his life, not mine. Unless he asks for my advice, I am going to stay in my lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, the date could have been 2002 on this thread and I wouldn’t have blinked. My brother *should* have dropped out of CMU way back then, and a good 25% of his friends from freshman year did, including his roommate. He did everything possible to try to make it fun- fraternity, booth & buggy, girlfriend, study abroad- but it wasn’t very effective. I visited often but never got a good feel for the school. There were so many beautiful common spaces that were lifeless.

The good thing is that now with Covid disruptions and gap years, no one bats an eye at a year off or a transfer. It is simply not a big deal. It truly isn’t. Don’t let fear of the dropout label stop your child from making the choice that is right for them.

This is OP. Thank you.

As I've said before, my DS has nothing but positive things to say about CMU. It is an exceptional place for hard working AND talented students, it is just NOT the place FOR HIM. He gave it a try and it just didn't work out.

I told DS that whatever he decides to do, I am going to be OK with it because it is his life, not mine. Unless he asks for my advice, I am going to stay in my lane.

Good for your kid OP! Also awesome he will continue comp eng somewhere else. As someone who hires engineers, I always review transcripts and ask the candidates about their college experiences and this would not be an issue if he ends up completing his degree elsewhere. Maturity in recognizing that a path isn't working sooner rather than later is a good sign. Good luck to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If possible, I'd encourage him to drop one class (his hardest and most dreaded) and focus on fewer classes. If he relied on AP classes to skip basic math or science courses, I'd encourage him to retake those classes at CMU. Shore up that foundation.

He could also consider changing majors or transferring, but I'd support him seeing if he can do it more slowly. I'd also consider having him do a co-op semester in the spring so he can get a feel for his intended career.

OP when someone tells her kid "do the $75k a year school more slowly"

+1. Ahahaha! I thought the same thing. Love that you used this meme.

[Anonymous]

As I've said before, my DS has nothing but positive things to say about CMU. It is an exceptional place for hard working AND talented students, it is just NOT the place FOR HIM. He gave it a try and it just didn't work out.

I started at a school that "wasn't the place for me" and then dropped out and went elsewhere. I did not regret it. In fact I should have done it sooner (freshman year instead of sophomore). Good luck to your son!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, the date could have been 2002 on this thread and I wouldn’t have blinked. My brother *should* have dropped out of CMU way back then, and a good 25% of his friends from freshman year did, including his roommate. He did everything possible to try to make it fun- fraternity, booth & buggy, girlfriend, study abroad- but it wasn’t very effective. I visited often but never got a good feel for the school. There were so many beautiful common spaces that were lifeless.

The good thing is that now with Covid disruptions and gap years, no one bats an eye at a year off or a transfer. It is simply not a big deal. It truly isn’t. Don’t let fear of the dropout label stop your child from making the choice that is right for them.

This is OP. Thank you.

As I've said before, my DS has nothing but positive things to say about CMU. It is an exceptional place for hard working AND talented students, it is just NOT the place FOR HIM. He gave it a try and it just didn't work out.

I told DS that whatever he decides to do, I am going to be OK with it because it is his life, not mine. Unless he asks for my advice, I am going to stay in my lane.

OP---It' takes a lot to step back and say you made a mistake and it's not the place for you. Your son is mature and has done just that. More importantly he's done it before his mental health declines and his grades plummet. He's got this, he will regroup and find a better fit for himself. The fact he's doing this all himself is impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter graduated from CMU with a CS and engineering degrees in 2021. She had a great experience and made what she calls life-long friends. Your kid’s mileage might vary.

Yea, I think the point is that not every great school is a great fit for everyone.

[Anonymous]

This is for the other people on this thread that are asking about CMU. For your kid to like it and succeed, they need to be more than just a hard worker. They need to be gifted (artistically or intellectually) and they have to enjoy the process of learning. They also need to be able to work with others, CMU (except for 2 CS classes where you can’t do hw together) is highly collaborative.

[Anonymous]

CMU used to do Tartan Nights before Covid - a weekend one-night stay program for prospects. It's a good way to suss out the school. Alternatively, prospects could contact alumni of their HS and set up something informal.