Carnegie Mellon University

Date: Mar 16 2005
Major: Computer Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
here are 2 sides of a coin for almost any top 10 computer/electrical school in the nation. from what follows is generally about private schools but goes well for public schools too (just add a LIITLE more people and less resources and more red tape)

Side 1: you are atleast modestly bright, can count and perform arithmetic addition and subtraction reasonably well, and KNOW the ropes of the system, do NOT possess a passion to genuinely contribute but DEFINATELY want to RISE up in life and make good money and name for your yourself.

Side 2:you are atleast modestly bright, can count and perform arithmetic addition and subtraction reasonably well,. However, you do NOT know the ropes, want to genuinely contribute and in the process make good name and money for yourself.

Knowing the ropes is everything in this major. What are the ropes:

1. Know what each class requires you to do homework/exam etc wise before you register for it.

2. Know who from the past semster did how well under a certain professor and basically figure out OR get information on how to do well. Information could also mean getting past, exam, homework and labs

3. Self-study them before especially if you are an undergrad. I say undergrad because 9 times out 10 although you would be enrolled in a subject which sounds exciting to you, it has been taken by a million people ahead of you and will probably be taken by another million in the coming years. Secondly, at that level things dont drastically changes for atleast 5-6 years. so you are studying the same crap someone studied 4 semesters ahead of you. Hence, again 9 out of 10 times the grading will be very clear cut and impersonal and people that belong to side 1 will get A's. Do not expect a lot of help form professors because he might be a stud who invented to tspaceship and might be busy in his research and does not have to time to make things clear for you. TA - issues like no time, is not involved in the class, just got an A in the class but does not know what he is doing. You really have to pursue these professors and TA with appoinments and office hours to make an hoest and sinceere effort to leanr and eventually you will, but good luck with all the other courses you are taking and trying to finish up in 4 years. If you take minimium required courses for a full-time student you MIGHT find time to pursue them and actually understand what is going on. Otherwise, step over people and learn. This WILL be your general experience although every class might not be like this. I personally have experienced extremely good professors who do walk with you till the last mile to make you actually learn stuff and those are the very FEW professors I have met which have made me stick with this major.

5. Peer support - it is the BEST resource you would have because usually everyone is in the same boat as you are and hence help each other out. Degree varies to how many people you know and how many people including people who have taken the course before you are ready to oblige you. The culture you were brought up in plays a critical role into forming such associations which also implies the degree of cooperation one does in completeing ones assigned task. If you are used to collaborating on class material with your peers (maybe crossing the line and plagurising and doing …. cheating) you stand an extremely good chance at success.

The positive side of knowing the ropes is you get a good GPA . Is knowing the ropes the only way? There are other ways like being genuinely smart but trust me sooner or later you crack and you adapt some parts of what I have written above.

Dont belive all the gazz / recruiters tell you about GPA not being important. If you are not born extremely lucky, then it will be the deciding factor with what happens next in your life be it job or grad school. So why let some ass professor or some dumb TA or for that matter all the international copy ass students spoil your god given right to success. Unless, someone fixes this reality which has crippled this major, the averagely smart, genuinely interested student, who got 1500s in the SATs has no choice but learn the ropes comprimise on actal brightness and contrinution and get smart !!!!