Admissions

Be prepared to work hard, and you will learn more than you thought you could.

Make sure that if you have any problems with procrastination like I did when I was first starting out, that you get over them fast!

Don't be afraid to show the quirky, fun side of yourself too when you're applying. Carnegie Mellon is full of wacky people and the admissions office likes to see that in the prospective students.

I would put a lot of work into the essays you have to write to get in here because they count for a lot. Also try to be doing sports or drama or some sort of extra curricular. Carnegie Mellon is really hard to get into, but it is worth it. I wouldn't want to go anywhere else.

While GPA and SATs are extremely important, colleges look for students who will add to their campus. What extra-curriculars do you do? Do you play a musical instrument? Sports? Do you lead a club? Do you volunteer? These are things that colleges want to see.

Don't be afraid to give it shot. If someone tells you it's too difficult, give it a go, and only you can decide for yourself whether you can do it or not. Challenges are created by you, not others.

Find the perfect balance between school work and extracurriculars- don't risk your grade, but make sure you're enjoying yourself!

Consider whether you really love what you intend to study and be open to changing your major, or you may very well find yourself hating your tenure here if you do not truly enjoy your work.

Talk to everyone and take advantage of their knowledge. Don't feel intimidated by the intellect of your peers, but rather learn form what they have to offer! Know that you will spend most of your time working and studying, but the end result is worth it.

Obviously keep your grades up. Carnegie Mellon loves to see kids who are well-rounded (computer science majors who are musically inclined, etc.) so make sue you have a wide range of activities.