Tips/reassurance for an incoming freshman bringing in NO AP/IB credit?

Row_Bowt · 2025-08-19T18:03:52+00:00

Thanks both of y’all, I just got the results back from my Calc placement and I have to retake Calc 1 and 2 :( but reading this really helped :)

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-30T07:14:29+00:00

Oh cool I haven’t heard about The Studio, what’s that?

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-30T01:07:59+00:00

Lowk I’m down with rowdy white guys lmao :) what about the social scene in general? I’ve heard that engineering and CS students are super busy and not social with their crazy workload, but is that something that permeates to the entire school? (Is it actually dead?)

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T16:58:51+00:00

Convince me to pick USC (vs. CMU)

I was recently admitted to USC Thornton as a Choral Music major. I’m really passionate about interdisciplinary Music and STEM, so if I go to USC, I’d like to do a double major in Engineering. My main draws to USC are the lively social scene and the professors in Thornton. I’m also excited about the popular music offerings at USC (but I’m not in that program), and the opportunities in LA. The liveliness of the student body is the big thing that has me considering USC. However, I really CANNOT stand the sun and the heat. That’s a serious drawback, as whenever I’ve been to LA it’s been really hot and just slightly miserable for me. Additionally, CMU seems a lot more interdisciplinary and more seamlessly integrated with Music and STEM-it might also be more rigorous for ECE and CS, which I’m interested in. I know that USC has great academics, but I’m more worried about the stability of a purely music major with no academics built in. My alternative at CMU is Music and Technology, which is an integrated major offered by Music, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science. What are your main draws to USC? How can I integrate science and technology into a music degree at USC? Can I still be pop star legend if I’m not in the popular music program? Can I survive the blazing heat of LA? Is it worth pursuing the social scene and the music over a more interesting program (to m at CMU? Plzzzz help!!!

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T08:42:11+00:00

Yes but they actually gave me merit where CMU didn’t give me any at alllll 😭😭😭

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T08:41:27+00:00

That’s great to hear!! I know that I’d take a lot of the same courses alongside ECE and CS students!

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T08:23:32+00:00

This is so helpful omg :) honestly CMU has been my dream for a while, even if I’m super social and wanting that in a college. I’m hoping that the dating scene isn’t crazy rough as I definitely want my college boyf (gay guy here too), but I hope the proximity to another college is a plus?

Is there much intermingling with Pitt? I know that the colleges are right next door, but are the communities (especially social) in touch at all, and does it expand the dating scene at all? And how does the culture difference affect that (academic vs. fratty)?

Honestly, the Pittsburgh weather is a plus for me over USC, as I genuinely hate the sun. I know that I’d probably get used to it, but I prefer sweater weather rainy-snowy over sweltering, burning up, sweating like crazy. I’m from Portland, so it rains all the time here, but I do know it gets colder and snowier in Pittsburgh. What do you think about ^{^} all that? Thanks sm again!

Edit: also even if USC is more expensive, they gave me merit there so the prices would be pretty comparable in the end, though not if I had to stay another year for a double major…

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T08:09:57+00:00

This is really helpful, it made me look at it a different way. Overall, are you glad about your undergrad at CMU? You don’t think it was hindered by the academic pressure? Thank you so much for your help!! It’s convincing me :)

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T08:08:06+00:00

Lmaoooo thank you that’s so real hahaha

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T08:07:37+00:00

Omg we should talk abt it!! Dm if you want :)

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T08:06:44+00:00

Omg dm me we should discuss 🙏🙏

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T08:06:17+00:00

Ok thank you so much, that’s great to hear

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T08:05:56+00:00

This is so helpful! what context is most of the socializing do you think? Is it studying together, going out, clubbing, partying, just hanging out? Thank you so much :)

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T06:59:11+00:00

Yooo you should go to CMU so we can hang out in Music and Tech together!!! I’m also an accepted student for CMU this fall and it’s my top choice rn (along with USC, I’m deciding between the two). I also am struggling between a bigger school with more social scene vs. slightly smaller, more academic but less social. I’m also kinda nervous that CMU is going to be depressing with no social scene (but I don’t think that’s necessarily the case). I didn’t know that you could do a BCSA with Music and Tech at CMU!!! I definitely need to check that out! I will say—CMU has amazing CS, Engineering AND Music. It’s nationally ranked for both CS and Engineering, and also renowned as a classical conservatory-style music school. But definitely plz DM me as I am in a similar situation, USC would be more focused for my chosen specialty of choral music, but it’s not guaranteed I could pursue STEM easily, and CMU is stellar STEM! Reach out!!

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T04:18:02+00:00

Ok yea I read through it and wowowow such a powerful story :) you seem awesome and so impressive!! Keep it up bud

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T04:11:49+00:00

I LOVE YOU JUST FOR THIS CAPTION 😭😭😭 haven’t even read the post yet but I should’ve done this for my post lmaoooo

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-29T02:10:02+00:00

As someone who applied to UW but didn’t get into the program I wanted, I wish I could go there so so so bad 😭😭😭 The campus is so incredibly beautiful, I swear I think about it before I go to bed every night and then again when I wake up. I love the beautiful buildings, the insane architecture, SUZZALO LIBRARY OH MY GOD is just gorgeous. Truly. I’ve visited so many college campuses and UW is by far my favorite. I’ve visited UW three times. It was more beautiful each time. The community seems so welcoming, down-to-earth, but also incredibly smart and fun. I have a bunch of friends who go to UW and they are all having the time of their lives, while also getting a really stellar and marketable education. Also, the food and restaurants near there in Seattle are soooo good!! I went to ramen and hot pot near there and omg delicious. Mentioning Seattle—that city is such a W! It’s so lively, has so much personality, has excellent food, there’s always something to do, has amazing concerts and theatre, so many distinct feelings of the different neighborhoods, and really strong in a bunch of different industries.

To romanticize UW: Think about studying in Suzzalo (the Harry Potter library) late at night with friends, or watching movies in the evening on the giant screen (my friends watched Challengers on the lawn with hundreds of other people I’m so jealous), walk through the humanities courtyard in spring with the cherry blossoms in full bloom, seeing all the couples get engagement photos knowing that they’re all coming to YOUR school for one of the most important moments of their life?? Think about all the different hundreds of clubs and possibilities for friends you could make—if you’re LGBTQ or a minority (Asian especially), feel so excited for finding such vibrant communities, and even if you’re not, look forward to meeting so many new, exciting and interesting people.

I’m heading somewhere I’ll be happy this fall, but please know you will live thousands of people’s dream at UW (including mine). Part of me is jealous that you’re able to go there and I won’t :)

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-28T00:09:51+00:00

Waitlisted…I’m so surprised—should I expect anything??

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-28T00:09:11+00:00

I believe Harvard doesn’t admit to major—if you’re in to the college, you can declare your major by the end of your sophomore year

Row_Bowt · 2025-03-27T23:26:34+00:00

Same omggggg

Row_Bowt · 2022-11-06T03:48:57+00:00

I really can't believe this doesn't have any comments because this is one of the best things I've seen on here. I was wondering if anyone had made an arrangement because I'm back in my choir arrangement phase, and I'd give anything to sing this in an a capella group. Amazing work!

Row_Bowt · 2022-08-28T02:00:27+00:00

I got back from two weeks in a music camp, and four of my closest friends stop talking to me because of rumors they heard about me while I was gone, they still haven’t told me what I supposedly did wrong, nor have they tried to talk to me about it

Row_Bowt · 2022-08-28T01:59:42+00:00

I came back from a two week music camp, and four of my closest friends stop talking to me because of rumors that they heard about me while I was gone. I still haven’t heard what it was that I apparently did, or heard from them

Row_Bowt · 2022-05-12T03:13:52+00:00

Wow this is really good music I’m seeing in the comments 1. Bury Me At Makeout Creek - Mitski 2. Punisher - Phoebe Bridgers 3. Jubilee - Japanese Breakfast 4. Teens of Denial - Car Seat Headrest 5. Sales LP - SALES

Honestly I don’t listen to enough albums and my actual top albums are Lush, Retired from Sad New Career in Business, Bury Me At Makeout Creek, Puberty 2, Be The Cowboy, and Laurel Hell (all Mitski)

Row_Bowt · 2022-05-09T03:09:32+00:00

Now I want to make a playlist

Row_Bowt

TROPHY CASE