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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here, what's the connection like between Pitt and Carnegie Melon students? Do kids comingle a lot and/or do they tend to do grad at each other's institutions?[/quote]

Pitt-Michigan PP.

The biggest cross-pollination happens between faculty, in my opinion.  They are part of a larger intellectual community in the area.  This applied to Economics, Psychology, and other faculties when I was in school.

Pitt-CMU cross-registration for undergrad courses is allowed but rarely happens from what I hear.

CMU has a bit of a reputation of "where fun goes to die" like U. Chicago and many high math SAT STEM-heavy schools. That's not a very Pitt vibe.  Pitt is way more liberal artsy, health professions (pre-med, nursing, pharmacy), and chill.

Pitt engineers were sufficiently challenged by their own profs...no need to walk 20 minutes more to take electives elsewhere.  CMU is a bit MIT-like...why would they go down the road?  There is a bit of school-based snobbery in play...kind of like Georgetown vs. GWU level.

I can't speak to the hardest classes at Pitt Engineering vs. CMU, but the perception has always been that CMU is more difficult.  And people are very happy with Pitt.  So personally I'm not sure where people would come to the determination that they both needed to trade up in rankings to CMU for grad school and that it was a great option vs. continuing at Pitt.  I believe anything's possible with a great track record, just sharing that I don't feel it's that common.   I personally looked into the coursework for a 2nd masters in data science through CMU as part of an employer program this year.  I found out that I'd pretty much need to already be skilled in using Python and be an engineer to be ready to start the (non-engineering) program.  So I didn't apply.  That's an example of a quant/skill barrier around entry to CMU.  I don't need a 2nd master's so it's not a big deal to me, but it would be costly and time consuming to develop the quant pre-reqs needed just to begin the program.

If you are not asking about Engineering or CS, I think there are even fewer reasons to switch schools for grad school.  It would vary by department. CMU is very niche for certain majors.  You can also do some research on how things are these days...but hometown Pittsburghers at Pitt would often like to stay.  CMU kids are more the OOS types and people who want to make big bucks and leave town.

I had a high school friend at CMU (English major, friend of my good friend) and I probably visited her only 3 times during college.  We met up more back in our Pittsburgh area hometown.

I read on DCUM that the CMU frats got cracked down on long ago.  Not exactly my scene, but point is, people say that has impacted some of the fun of social life there.  The same has been said of Stanford.  Many people think drinking is the quintessential fun undergrad activity but it brings many safety risks and much liability to the universities.

CMU students come down to Central Oakland near Pitt for most of the restaurants, bars, clubs, a little shopping, and hanging out fun.  Close to and past CMU to the east, there's less of a business district feel.  CMU people are also more likely to live in/patronize the Shadyside business district.  The bus system runs through Oakland and goes there.  But it's a bit of a hike for Pitt students.  They are more Oakland and downtown Pittsburgh focused.

Anyone with a newer/different take feel free to chime in.  There have been a few threads on CMU in the last year that can be found by using regular Google.[/quote]

OP here: Great overview. My kid is NOT STEM/Quant minded so no need to even really bother CMU for grad school then. Thanks![/quote]

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