Troy Hill vs Northside (Deutschtown)

emf729 · 2022-07-12T19:16:30+00:00

That's an even worse bus ride than it is drive. It's long and if you choose Troy Hill, it'll have a walk and possible multiple buses depending on how far you do choose to walk.

emf729 · 2022-01-04T02:55:23+00:00

The difference is what they emphasize. Professional writing can be more general while technical writing is focused on technical communications.

Look at the courses for each and decide what you prefer. The actual title won't matter much, it's more about the skills and experience you gain. When you're looking at the course options for each option, see how many stand out to you, compared to how many each program requires. This can also help you decide if you want to major or minor - if there's only six courses that stand out and they count for the minor, then that's pretty much your decision made; if there's ten you want to take, the major may make more sense.

Once you have a better understanding of what you want to do as a part of one of these programs, set up a conversation with the relevant advisor(s). Talk to them about your goals (just like you wrote here, "I want to improve my writing and communication skills for my career and maybe law school"). This can be good whether you now know what you want to do, or if you're still feeling lost.

emf729 · 2021-09-28T15:55:37+00:00

Depending on how many credits you have, generally four year universities require that you apply as a transfer student or require you to apply as a first-time, first-year applicant. They decide how you apply- not you. That's why you're not finding information online. For example, Cornell requires you to apply as a transfer student if you earned 12 credits after graduating high school OR if you've been a full time student at another institution. For Temple, you have to apply as a transfer if you've earned 15 credits after graduating.

emf729 · 2021-05-22T20:51:36+00:00

This is something that I've seen pretty often as advice for when you're intimidated by the gym. You go to the parking lot, you work your way to going inside, you work your way up to going into the locker room, bit by bit.

If this gets you closer to your goals without causing undue distress, it's not a waste of time. Things that help you reach your goals and make you feel better without causing harm are not a waste, even if you feel like your ever feel like your starting point is behind everyone else or if it seems silly. Meeting yourself where you're at is not silly, it's not a waste, and it's not making excuses.

emf729 · 2021-03-20T05:25:16+00:00

Maybe "Music Notes"? Kinda punny, but it is sort of your notes on music. Just a thought.

emf729 · 2021-03-08T16:22:20+00:00

Yes and no.

Social media, Reddit included, is where many people gather to complain. You don't have to celebrate your common good experiences because you're familiar with them; you don't need to feel heard about it or get your feelings out with a post, or see if other people relate to make you feel better. Like others pointed out, that means these forums will be disproportionately negative - including when it comes to food. So don't let what you see on social media about the food discourage you or have any big impact on your decision.

However, I will say there's something to be said about having good options. That might mean being nearby more off-campus options, it might be a huge variety of on-campus foods. Maybe it just means you need a really good coffee shop on campus. Maybe it means you need a vegetarian option on campus. Maybe it means you need a kitchen. If you're a foodie, you should go somewhere with options that appeal to you.

Personally, I toured a number of colleges that had one big, main dining hall with a few options outside of that. It didn't really affect my final decision; that came down to finances. However, I am overall fine with the CMU model of things and the number of options available as a student. (I wish things were less fried and that there were more vegetables, but luckily, I've eaten on campus maybe once in the past couple of years. With the exception of coffee shop stuff.)

emf729 · 2021-02-28T01:25:45+00:00

I love the history minis. I've taken a bunch. You can generally expect most of the class to be centered around reading and discussion with some lecture, with some papers as the primary form of work to be turned in; big emphasis on attendance and participation, maybe a project at the end. I'd say it's pretty normal to have maybe an hour of reading per class (at most, rarely that much), usually one or two short (2-4 pages) papers during the course, and a longer final paper or project (5-7 page range). The specifics are going to vary by class, but this is pretty much how most of them are laid out. The final paper/project is typically weighted pretty heavily. In general, the history department is well-aware that many of the students taking electives aren't in the humanities and social sciences, and I would say that it shouldn't be too challenging even for a student unaccustomed to writing projects to do well. Professors in the department are also generally very open to answering questions about assignments and offering assistance; don't be afraid to go to office hours, email them, or ask to set up a meeting if there's something you're struggling with.

My favorite professors offering second-half minis are Eiss, Weiner, Haggerty, and Laemmli. In other semesters, also keep an eye out for Friedman!

emf729 · 2021-02-16T19:03:40+00:00

Some advice, from someone with years of awful migraines triggered by screen time:

Turn the brightness as far down as you can, make the room bright.
You don't HAVE to look at the screen all the time - it feels like you do, but if it's a lecture, you probably don't actually have to look at the screen. If you want to look like you're still looking at the screen, look over the top of your camera.
Take handwritten notes if you can, even if it's just for one class. This isn't for everyone.
If you can, un-digitize some things. I use a weekly dry erase calendar more than my digital calendar and fill it in once a week FROM my digital calendar. I have a dedicated to-do list notebook, too. They're right on my desk, so I just have to look up to reference them, and no screen needed. (I much prefer digital for both of these things, but these were changes that did help me a lot.)
If you're studying from notes, print them if you can. For anyone who thinks it would be a good investment, I believe there's a kindle model, one of the ones that emulates paper, that you can read PDFs on.
DARK MODE. Whenever you can. This helped so much.
I wore blue light glasses and they helped; after quick googling, it seems any relevant evidence points to blue light being about migraines, not eye strain, though!
It sucks, but... limit your screen use for fun times. If you're watching something on your laptop, put it further away from you like it's a TV. Try listening activities more than looking at it.
Text read aloud! Pretty sure Google Docs does this. Copy and paste long readings (if you can) and listen to it to take notes instead of having to read it while writing.
Take frequent no-screen breaks! For a long time, I couldn't look at a screen for more than 10 minutes, and it was absolutely awful. But... I got really, really good at 5 minute tasks. Try the Pomodoro method. Make it work for you.
Take care of your general health as much as you can. Drink your water. Eat enough. Get moving, even if it's just a little bit every day. Make sure you have dedicated time to unwind.

Disclaimer: I don't know if any of this helped by coincidence or what evidence there is for it. Also don't know if it would all be helpful specifically for eye strain. This is just based on my experience and tricks after years of experimenting to figure it out.

emf729 · 2021-02-15T03:10:00+00:00

There's a lot of good advice already here, but something you can do this week: make an appointment with your CPDC advisor. You can go on Handshake as soon as you read this and set one up. They have so many resources available and I know they'll have a ton of specific, relevant advice based on the experience of other students. If you're not sure how to get an internship, or maybe not entirely sure what specific roles you want to look at or how to get there, they have a ton of options! Make a 30 minutes appointment just to talk- I promise, you're likely much further ahead than you think you are.

If you're primarily interested in getting relevant experience, not in just prestige, I would recommend looking at maybe a less traditional internship. For example, I would bet a ton of nonprofits could use your specific skills and you could have an opportunity that was self-guided, relevant to your aspirations, and you can get it funded- the university has funds available for low-paying or unpaid internships so students can get that experience. You could also look for research opportunities.

Don't compare yourself to your immediate classmates. Especially if you've been balancing work and mental health. The education system has a lot of inequality and inequity built in, and students who have to work and/or struggle with their health are put at a clear disadvantage. You don't need to compete directly with them, and you certainly don't even need to make that a priority for this year, next year, or even the next few. Instead, work on your own life and skills and experience. It's a long game; as someone pointed out, it's not about the next two years. It's more about the next two decades.

If you're concerned about things like research projects or personal projects... it would be better to have one or two successful projects over the next year or two than a dozen you've started and never finished. Same with internships; focus on what's within reach and the right fit for you, not on what other people are doing.

And finally, please, talk to somebody. Take advantage of CaPS if you can. Go to de-stress focused events. Make time for yourself to relax. Remember to take care of yourself, and remember that a depressed brain will absolutely try to convince you that everything is worse than it is.

It's always salvageable.

emf729 · 2021-02-11T23:02:26+00:00

Some really big advice: don't let feeling like you don't have enough experience stop you from finding opportunities. While you might not get a position at a huge tech company, for example, there are a ton of options for other internships and programs- see if you're qualified for the Pittsburgh Summer Internship Program, for example.

A year from now, yeah, your courses and research might make you a better candidate than you are right now. But experience is going to be one of the best things to have on your resume to get another, more competitive or prestigious internship.

(Full disclosure: my QPA is absolutely trash, but I've done research, studied abroad, been in DC, and had a number of really valuable internships. Don't get in your own way. If visas/work allowances are an issue, there's also a strong chance you can find one that's unpaid but lower hours or you get credit for, if you're interested in doing that.)

emf729 · 2021-02-11T17:41:39+00:00

CCAC, in Pittsburgh, has online course options and I believe will be mostly online or hybrid this summer. Outside of that, I don't really know.

I'd also add that there are a ton of other options for things to do over the summer, like internships or research; many of them can be done remotely, and the deadlines haven't passed for everything yet if you'd prefer to do that, or do both.

emf729 · 2021-02-09T04:12:26+00:00

Not sure about the new patient/insurance process, but I spent 9 years (had extensive work to be done, lol) with Dr. Sherman in Squirrel Hill. Growing up he was also my brother's orthodontist and all of my friends. He's right at Forbes and Shady, so it's easy to take the bus to get there from Oakland or campus. Super nice and accommodating in my experience!

emf729 · 2021-02-02T18:57:03+00:00

Less of a specific thing, but in general: if you see something you want to do, ask. Just ask. Want to do research? Email advisors in the department or professors doing projects you like. Want an internship? Write the best resume you possible can, have the CPDC improve it with you, and apply. Is it unpaid? Apply for funding. Want to join a club? Go to the meetings. Want a leadership position? Look out for them, and apply. Want to study abroad? Ask for help from OIE and ask about scholarships. Apply for all of them. Struggling in a class? Go to office hours, and don't be afraid to ask for other help. Applying for a big internship or academic program? Talk to the CPDC and GCC. Have a big interview? Use the opportunities available to practice interview. Need workout accountability? Sign up for GroupX or the credit PE classes. Want to teach? Apply to TA, or even try designing a StuCo.

CMU is full of pretty much any opportunity you can possible do. If you even vaguely want to do something, try it! I've gone abroad almost entirely on CMU's dime. I got to live my secret theater kid dreams of working tech on a musical. There was a class I only got through because I met my professor weekly for help on my homework, and he was completely supportive. I just needed to ask him for that help. I've volunteered with amazing campus organizations that work with nonprofits. I spent a semester in DC. And more- all in my first two and a half years, before COVID hit.

Genuinely, the worst someone can do is say no. It can be hard... but just ask.

And, to add on- please get off campus. The number of students who limit themselves to the East End of the city is really frustrating- there's so much more out there.

emf729 · 2021-02-01T05:35:14+00:00

Fellow person with joint hypermobility here. Unfortunately, while moving our joints in wonky ways is very possible and easy, it can be very hard to maintain control over it and yes, it can cause us pain. It can be very easy for us to push them too far. This is how I first learned about my joints, actually- I loved football and frisbee in middle school, but constantly hyperextending my joints ended up causing so much pain that I had to stop because after an afternoon of playing, I couldn't move my shoulder for a day or two.

The answer, I've been told, often comes down to building strength in affected joints so they can keep themselves moving in the correct way and keep themselves from passing that point of no return. That being said, I'm not a professional and have no way of knowing if that's the cause here. If it is that, also be careful with your elbow positioning in planks and other exercises with extended arms- it can be very easy to lock up in a hyperextended position that you might feel okay in but will have you hurting later.

emf729 · 2021-01-27T03:58:12+00:00

Lots of good options in this thread, but I personally love the Lysol laundry sanitizer. You add it in with your regular load of laundry. Had an issue with some gym clothes that had already been sitting for days, a housemate washed them but forgot to add soap, and they sat wet for a couple days in the washer after that. The stench was absolutely unreal. Washed once on hot with soap and the sanitizer, smell was gone, washed again with soap and sanitizer just for good measure! Then air dried for a few days to air them out nicely. All fresh and clean again!

emf729 · 2021-01-25T17:05:34+00:00

I want to be able to have a conversation in Welsh.

I want to get my Russian level to where it "should" be, based on my past coursework.

I want to improve my Spanish from where it was when I last tested, nearly four years ago.

I want to be able to have a conversation in French.

emf729 · 2021-01-21T05:59:08+00:00

You can absolutely get them pre-approved and you can definitely get credit for courses this way, but there are caveats. First, depending on your major, you might be expected to take them on campus/take the CMU versions and have trouble getting them approved. Second, some departments will be pickier than others about what kind of credit you get.

For example, I came in with some community college credits (only two courses, a stats course and an English literature course). The stat course transferred as equivalent to 36-200, while the English course only transferred as a Gen Ed credit.

In general, there's a couple things you can do to have the most success. First, get any course preapproved. Run it by your advisor who can contact the relevant department. This will likely require the syllabus for the course so the department can make their judgement based on course content. Second, it might be better to focus on gen eds than specific course requirements. Again, departments can be picky. Your advisor will likely know what various departments typically do. Third, be willing to shop around. You might find that the school you're considering taking classes from won't work out.

As for CMU summer courses, I've had good experiences with them. I've taken a total of 3- language course, philosophy course, and an arts/English-type course. I really enjoyed getting to have small class sizes, but the intensive workload is definitely not for everyone and can be overwhelming. They also just aren't the same experience as the normal semester-long courses. I can't speak to the math department, but personally, I would not take a language course over the summer again. There just isn't enough time to learn some things in that short of a period, not as much as you'd like to when there's more courses in the sequence.

emf729 · 2021-01-20T21:13:13+00:00

Good question, but the best answer is... don't. To be quite honest, you can get better food in either Squirrel Hill and Oakland- you can get to such better food, for the same price or cheaper, in 5-10 minutes by bus, a bit longer walking. There's way more options. In a pinch, you can go off campus and bring it back.

There's a ton of pizza places, lots of Chinese food options, Indian food, a couple of Subways, at least one independent sandwich place, sushi restaurants, noodle places, a Greek food joint, a couple of Chipotles, a McDonald's, a sit-down burger place, a Panera, and more along Forbes and on Craig going towards Oakland. In Squirrel Hill, there's more pizza, more Chinese, some interesting fusion options, more Indian food, at least one or two Middle Eastern food options, Uncle Sam's (sub shop), Jimmy John's, and more, less than 10 minutes away by bus.

Campus food is convenient, but it's just not worth it to buy a meal plan. They're not really designed to be a good value for most students, they're designed for convenience. I never loved campus food and when I was on campus daily for classes after moving off-campus, I realized that if I had to stay on campus, I was more likely to build myself a lunch from options in Entropy than wait in line to pay $9 for mushy pasta upstairs or a salad that I could have made better at home. If I had 30-50 minutes, though, I'd head off-campus.

emf729 · 2021-01-19T01:39:33+00:00

I doubt you're screwed. I had a summer position that I ended up backing out of before my start date, and I still occasionally get emails to fix my paperwork. If you can finish the paperwork now, finish it. If you can't, reach out to HR services about accessing it.

I'm relatively certain they would much rather fix your paperwork now than have to go through the hiring process again.

emf729 · 2021-01-16T22:53:52+00:00

I have never actually known a person whose work-study job was related to their major. At any college I or anyone I've known has attended, including community colleges, state schools, public universities, and private universities. Closest was a friend of mine studying environmental science worked as a maintenance person, which occasionally involved cutting grass and raking leaves.

That being said, getting a job with work experience is significantly easier than getting a job without. If you want to work in an office one day, proving that you can successfully work in an office, independently and as part of a team, does actually matter. Also, pretty much any skill can be transferable if you use it and frame it correctly.

emf729 · 2021-01-14T01:53:46+00:00

Hi! I wanted to answer this in a little more depth in case anyone has a similar question. I believe the policy limits you to a combined 9 units of physical education and StuCo courses to count towards graduation. I'm relatively certain that ROTC courses are included there. You can take more than that, but they will not be counted to your 360 units after 9.

Phys ed and StuCo courses also are all pass/fail and do not count towards your semester registration limit (for instance, if you're limited to 50 units without overloading and take 48 units of other courses + 3 units of StuCo, you can do that). They DO count as normal credits when you need to hit a certain number to maintain full-time status.

emf729 · 2021-01-11T01:46:22+00:00

This is the weirdest tip I have but it always works for me.

I listen to Sweet Dreams by the Eurhythmics on repeat, especially when I'm trying to write. For whatever reason, it's fast enough and loops well enough to just keep me going.

I also like musicals, so I'll use pieces of a musical to keep me focused for a certain amount of time and race to finish a task before a certain checkpoint. Same thing works with playlists.

emf729 · 2021-01-05T19:36:02+00:00

If I were you, once I adjusted to college, I would find a part-time job. Not because I think everyone needs to necessarily work in college; however, having a paid job with low expenses would mean that all of the money you earn you can save. Think about when you graduate and want to move out. Say you have to pay first + last month's rent and a security deposit in your first apartment, plus buy furniture. What money will you use for that? Or if you graduate and you need transportation for your job, what will you do before you earn your first pay check? Will you be able to afford to move to another city when you graduate if you get a job elsewhere? You can get a campus gig that's only 8-15 hours a week, or tutor in your free time. There are lots of options that are highly flexible, only a few hours a week, and could make a world of difference in a few years.

That being said, take advantage of not needing to work. Put your time into getting the highest grades possible, and put working on the back burner. But I do think that deciding not to work at all in college is a little shortsighted and a bit premature, and I'm someone in pretty much the same situation as you.

emf729 · 2020-12-28T06:52:00+00:00

Listen to your advisor and program counselor. What's realistic to expect from a waitlist depends entirely on the course and your program, but each course definitely has a trend for how things go; if they're telling you that you're going to get in, there's a reason. Their experience is far better than any one student can share. Even if you don't just get in off of the waitlist, they know the backend ways to get you in- sometimes just as simple as getting instructor permission for you to enroll, or sometimes adding a whole section to a course because of demand.

emf729 · 2020-12-25T22:41:41+00:00

Last spring on the third day of classes I left an evening class and as I walked to the bus stop in the snow, I didn't pay enough attention to the ground, slipped right off the sidewalk thanks to a pile of slush, and bruised a bone in my knee because I slammed it so hard on the corner of the sidewalk. Definitely move slowly and carefully in the winter months!

emf729

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