Majors: Architecture, Social and Political History  

Minor: Design 

Email: seyoungc@andrew.cmu.edu

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Questions about Academics and COVID-19

 

What were your classes like in your first year or in your major/concentration, especially transitioning from Shen? 

Schedule and curriculum are considerably different between majors and students at CMU. However, I believe that the average experience at CMU will not vary much from Shen's. CMU's average incoming freshman body was around 1,500 in 2019, not extremely different from Shen. The average student to faculty ratio at CMU is 13:1, and 66.4% of classes are under 20 students. This allows a more personalized and focused environment for education, and the faculty puts a great emphasis on getting to know you and help achieve your academic goals at CMU.

 

My experience in the Architecture department is considered "special" compared to most other concentrations. Architecture along with other majors in the College of Fine Arts, and some engineering majors are composed of a class of around 50 students, and this "class" will most likely spend the whole day together with the same schedule.

 

Architecture is especially known for this "studio" experience, where everyone in our class goes through the same rigorous training and share the same workspace to inspire and encourage each other. Even though architecture practices are known to be very intensive and rigorous in any school, it can be especially intense in a competitive environment such as CMU. Many students and faculties at CMU really practice out our motto "My heart is in the work", and surrounding yourself around others at CMU inspires you to also be passionate, intelligent, and most importantly curious about the world.

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What academic experiences have stood out to you at your college in either positive or negative ways?

I think the most unique academic experience available at CMU is the ease of exploring interdisciplinary studies. The school encourages students to build their own flexible course schedule and experiment with the various areas of study provided by the school. Mix-and-matching majors and minors are common in CMU, and this allows you to find your true interest and also produce creative results. Information and support for planning schedules or setting goals are easily accessible and very personalized.

 

CMU's research program is also well-developed and easily accessible as the interdisciplinary studies. With the help of the faculty and the undergraduate research office, students can focus on an in-depth investigation and reach out to present and expand their findings with the larger community.

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How was your online learning experience at your college? What resources did your college provide you during this time?

CMU like many other universities in the US switched to a full online schedule in early March. The faculty was generous in accommodating every student's needs and situation, especially focused on accommodating different time zones, since the majority of the student body is composed of international students.

 

Flexible deadlines and more office hours were generally provided with a difference in amounts among professors. However, as an institution, the spring semester grades were able to be turned into a pass or fail grade regardless of the course.

 

In my opinion, the online learning experience went well and more smoothly than most expected. The faculty and school worked very hard to maintain the quality of learning, and although the experience cannot be exactly the same as before, there was a lot learned by the way students were able to communicate and collaborate.

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What did your college do well or poorly to support students and communities when COVID-19 first hit?

I think CMU is doing great on paying attention to the current situation, listening to the community to accommodate their needs, transparently communicating, and I believe they will continue to be for the upcoming academic year. They are also flexible and versatile when it comes to planning for the unforeseeable future, planning out various options for this situation, and supporting families with emergency financial support.

 

However, because of the recent legal changes and it's unfair expectations for our large international student body, CMU may be making changes in their decisions, which they promise to be announced soon.

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Questions about Student Life

 

If students are interested in your major/concentration, what extracurricular activities do you recommend they do at your college?

AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students) and NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architects) are the two main associations within the School of Architecture that provide great insights and opportunities.

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Outside of these two organizations, CMU students tend to choose extracurricular activities most related to their personal interests. Similar to interdisciplinary characteristics of our curriculum, students tend to participate in activities not directly related to their major.

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There are a variety of options to choose from, including religious, cultural, sports, dance, game, etc. and also Greek life and networking groups. Student Work studies are also supported by the school, often included in the Student's financial aid.

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Other than the activities related to Architecture, I've participated in the SURA (Summer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship), work in the CFA Advancement office, and currently involved in the Asian Student Association, Korean American Student Association, Lunar Gala (CMU's local fashion show production), and Korean Central Church of Pittsburgh Praise Team.

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CMU not only provides various extracurricular opportunities but also encourages students to find creative ways to tie it back to their major and focus of study.

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What are common things to do on weekends? Do students commute back home for the weekend or are there events on campus?

The city of Pittsburgh is located in western Pennsylvania, which is a couple hours away from other major cities in Ohio, NY, and Pennsylvania. Students rarely commute back home for the weekends. However there are many things to explore in the city of Pittsburgh to keep you busy.

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1. Pittsburgh is a major college town with 5 other large schools in close proximity. Variety of people and facilities are easily accessible, especially through the free transportation card embedded in our school ID.

 

2. Pittsburgh has unique neighborhoods and a variety of cultures interesting to learn about. Lawrenceville and East Liberty are especially know for the nation's best dining areas.

 

3. The Carnegie Museum, Phipps Conservatory, Andy Warhol Museum, the Mattress Factory, Carnegie Science Center, and many other institutions are free for CMU students.

 

4. Heinz field home to Pittsburgh Steelers, the PNC park home to Pittsburgh Pirates, and the whole downtown area is only 10 minutes away by car and 30 minutes away by public transportation.

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Are you involved in athletics at your college? How do you balance sports, academics, and extracurricular activities?

I am not involved in any sports activities in my school, however, there are many students who balance their athlete life and student life. Some dormitories are also dedicated to leaders and athletes in our school in order to aid their academics and extracurricular activities.

 

Another great thing about the CMU academic curriculum is that no classes are assigned from 4:30 - 6:30 for extracurricular groups to hold activities and for students to participate freely without the concern of classes.

 

Most importantly, the atmosphere among students is always lively and encouraging that there is a great support community to participate in extracurricular activities yet balance it with academics.

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Do you have a job during the school year, or is it common for students to have on-campus jobs? What is that experience like?

As mentioned before, Work-study is common among students and it is encouraged by the school, often included in the Student's financial aid.

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I work in the College of Fine Arts Advancement Office as an assistant, helping with Donor relations, research, event promotion and organizations and many other things related to the College of Fine Arts. Other work-study positions in the school includes library monitors, dorm monitors, research office assistants, and more.

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The faculty are very understanding of our academic expectations and flexibly matches our academic schedule. It is overall a great opportunity to experience real-world work experiences, as well as a great way to understand how our CMU community works.

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Extra Questions

 

What advice would you give to current Shen students when applying to your college?

In my opinion, Carnegie Mellon looks for a great amount of creativity and the passion to learn in students. They prefer students who are able to research deeply into their interests, persistently conduct the study, and come up with creative and innovative solutions that contain concerns of our larger society and community.

 

My advice would be to appeal your unique characteristics and unique interests that make you stand out. I also recommend clearly stating your goals and the changes you want to make in the world through your studies at CMU, as well as your leadership qualities which promise your goals to be practiced.

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What makes your college special to you?

I wouldn't say our school exactly illustrates what most people think of to be a "college" experience. The term "institution" probably suites CMU better. However, I think it is a great place to really immerse yourself in studying your interests and try out courses or extracurricular activities you are curious about.

 

The medium-sized community was perfect for me to find my group of people to support me through my studies but also allow me to break out of my boundaries when I wish to and meet new people of diverse backgrounds.

 

I have been able to also try out things outside of my focus of study, most notably the fashion show experience. The CMU community inspires me to try harder, learn more, and explore innovative ideas preparing me to be both an expert citizen as well as a storytelling designer.

 

Lastly, the city of Pittsburgh and all the great things has been a wonderful playground for me to explore, and truly grew on me.

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What do you wish you knew about your college when you were a senior at Shen?

I think a lot of your education at CMU has to do with how open you are to new ideas and how actively you seek educational opportunities. I wish I read more books from different disciplines and started to conduct more self-motivated researches to rather use the time at CMU for deeper investigation.

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Before COVID-19, what was the housing like at your college? What would you recommend to Shen seniors to find their roommates?

The CMU campus is not large, and most dorms are located within 5 minutes from academic buildings. Even private apartments are within a 15-minute walk. All freshmen are obligated to stay in a dorm their first year, and there is a large amount of dorm spirit involved.

 

Before COVID-19 I lived in an upperclassman dorm with 3 other suitemates, only 3 minutes away from my studio. I found my freshman year roommate through our school's room/board portal and it is an easy yet detailed program that helps you find a good fit. Most students, including myself, after their freshman year, find their roommate from their major or extracurricular activities.

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How is the financial aid situation at your college?

CMU is a private institution and tuition is on the expansive side. Financial aid is not provided for international students however CMU provides generous amounts of aids, gifts, scholarship, and loads, and makes accommodations calculated based on your family situation.

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Is there anything else you'd like to share about your college experience that hasn't been addressed yet in this questionnaire?

As someone told me when I went through the college picking process - choosing a college is like dating, what matters more than name value is if the school is truly a good fit for you (and these categories may differ from student to student). Hope you pick a school that you will enjoy learning and meeting new people!

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