First Impressions

Gifted Students Explore Opps

Samuel French (A'14) is among the many gifted first-year students excited to be exploring the opportunities at Carnegie Mellon University.

"I already feel like I'm part of an incredible community. Everyone has been welcoming and kind and thoroughly helpful," he said.

A student in the School of Drama, French is confident he will learn the skills necessary to pursue a career in theater.

"Theater has the wonderful capability to incorporate all the arts and — honestly — history, science, math and everything in between. Theater can work as an active force to change the world but can also just be a needed distraction from the world," he said. "Through Carnegie Mellon as a whole, I expect to learn about the world that I will be reflecting through my art."

Amy Stautz (MCS'14) enjoyed orientation week to the fullest.

"It was jam-packed with activities. The energy that everyone put into making the first-years feel welcomed and at-ease on campus is tremendous," she said. "It can only be a glimpse of the community we are about to immerse ourselves in for the next four years."

Stautz is enrolled in the university's Mellon College of Science.

"The constantly expanding and advancing field of medical technology is really impressive to me," she said. "The idea that there will never be a time when the workplace is stagnant is intriguing to me as a person who loves and seeks change."

Stautz feels CMU has so many diverse opportunities that she is simply excited to start exploring them — and not just academic opportunities.

"Buggy is something that's difficult to ignore here on campus. It sounds like a lot of fun," she said.

When it comes to preparing her for her future, she full expects Carnegie Mellon to deliver.

"High school was always constricted by textbooks and budgets. At CMU, the education base expands the walls of a classroom. Students at Carnegie Mellon are encouraged and expected to push themselves and each other in ways that can't be taught inside a classroom. It will be an invaluable experience."

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