Andrew Carnegie famously once said “My heart is in the work”. He certainly had these words in mind when he founded Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). I graduated in May this year, with a B.S. and M.S. in computer engineering from CMU. My five years there were enlightening, enjoyable and humbling.
Consistent with the structure of courses in most other colleges in the U.S., one’s grade in a course was dependent on continuous assessment through written homework, programming assignments, exams, projects, and participation during the semester.
There are two things behind CMU’s reputation for computer science. The first is the necessity to be able to apply and combine concepts learned in class in homework or exam. Professors spent time developing questions on their own. Attempting to find these questions on the Internet or in books was a fruitless exercise. However, knowing that I could solve such problems gave me the confidence to tackle interviews and strike conversations with interviewers about the problems they solve everyday.
The second, and probably the most defining factor of CMU, is its peer group. My first semester was an eye-opener. There were students who were opting for and acing three to four difficult classes in a semester, when I would struggle with just one or two. We had Olympiad winners and coaches, Putnam champions, and founders of startups as fellow students.
Balancing act
I developed an attitude wherein “time spent not studying was time wasted” because I knew that the Putnam champion was putting in work when I wasn’t. At the same time, I also had to agree that there would be people smarter and more equipped than myself. It became more about maintaining a balance of academics with physical fitness, and social life. If I had just written a bad exam or struggled with an all-nighter, I would go for a quick workout or play some basketball to re-organise myself.
What American education teaches you is to not only be able to manage your time well, but to explore multiple avenues, be it courses, activities or clubs, and thereby, meet people you never thought you would.
When I look back at my experience at CMU, I see a roller coaster with a great number of ups and downs. I think about the academic dedication I showed (and didn’t show at times), the stress associated with classes and job interviews, but also, all the friends I made and the different people I met.
Aditya Aiyer is an alumnus of Computer engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh.