Transitioning from high school to college is difficult for many students, especially those who move away from home. It is important to understand how to handle this transition. I will aim to make this as easy as possible by highlighting 5 things that you must do at Carnegie Mellon University. Each suggestion on this list made my college experience more enjoyable and I would highly recommend them to anyone!
1.) Socialize with your peers
Although the social atmosphere at Carnegie Mellon is not as pleasant as it is elsewhere, it is still important to interact with fellow students. Attend the orientation events as much as possible and branch out to meet new people. Carnegie Mellon is full of bright, motivated individuals. It is good to make connections so that you have someone to work on assignments with. Also, you never know when you might meet someone who will go on to found their own company.
2.) Play intramural sports
This is my favorite recommendation, as I greatly enjoyed participating in intramural sports during my four years at Carnegie Mellon. I played intramural sports year round and loved every minute of it. The coordinator is extremely good at his job and makes the experience a positive one for casual participants and serious competitors alike.This is also a good way to relieve stress and stay in shape. I graduated from Carnegie Mellon as the all-time winningest intramural athlete, so see if you can break my record!
3.) Paint The Fence
A tradition unique to Carnegie Mellon is painting the fence in the middle of campus near Doherty Hall. This tradition originated long ago, back when Carnegie Mellon University was Carnegie Institute of Technology, which is now the name of the engineering school. It is taken very seriously and there are actually rules for how and when it should be painted! In 2011, a few students were severely punished for vandalizing The Fence. You can ask some of the upperclassmen about The Fence or search online for additional details, but painting The Fence is definitely a tradition you should be a part of at least once.
4.) Attend Spring Carnival
Carnegie Mellon’s oldest tradition is Spring Carnival, an annual event for everyone including students, alumni, faculty, and staff. This is definitely an event you need to attend! Over the course of this extended weekend, you will enjoy an abundance of food and entertainment, as well as carnival rides set up in the More wood parking lot. This is a great time to unwind with current and former members of the Carnegie Mellon community.
5.) Study, sleep, and stay positive
I included this suggestion because it is completely different from the other things that I mentioned. At Carnegie Mellon, you will inevitably be faced with a heavy workload. Procrastinating and trying to cram before your exam the next morning is not a viable option if you expect to maintain quality grades. Although it may sound silly, sleeping is another vital component to success. Getting minimal sleep is bad for both physical and mental health, which can lead to poor performance in your classes and severe disorders.
I would encourage all students to do these 5 things while at Carnegie Mellon University. If you do not take advantage while you are there, you will be upset with yourself when you hear your peers talking about how much they enjoyed their experience! I still regret keeping to myself and not attending Spring Carnival as a freshman.
Matthew Remaley is a 2014 honors graduate from Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance as well as a minor in Biomedical Engineering.