 What is the policy regarding Advanced Placement (AP) credit?
 Who teaches the classes?
 Will my international teaching assistants have good command of English?
 How large are the classes?
 Who will advise me in my first-year?
 When do I choose a major?
 Can I take courses outside of MCS?
 What kind of outside activities do MCS students participate in?
 Does Carnegie Mellon have a pre-med / pre-law program?
 Are there opportunities for study abroad?
 What about summer internships?
 What kind of job can I get when I graduate?
 What is the policy regarding Advanced Placement (AP) credit?
In general, we accept only scores of 4 and 5 from the AP exams. See the Mellon College of Science AP policy for details.
 Who teaches the classes?
MCS classes are taught by faculty members, many of whom are leading researchers in their fields and/or leading innovators in science education. One such person is chemistry professor David Yaron. Another is biology professor Bill Brown.
 Will my international teaching assistants have good command of English?
Graduate student TAs for whom English is a second language must be certified before they can teach in Pennsylvania.
 How large are the classes?
Class sizes range from 10 to 200 students. Courses are structured so that large lecture courses typically have recitations, or small sections of 20 – 30 students, that meet one or twice a week. Recitation is where you will turn in your homework, take quizzes, and review material taught in lecture in a small group setting where it's easier to ask questions and get to know your TA and other students. Recitations often focus on teamwork, allowing students to break up into small groups and work on solving problems together.
 Who will advise me in my first-year?
We have a team of faculty advisors that is coordinated by Eric Grotzinger, Associate Dean in MCS. They are Amy Burkert (Biological Sciences), Karen Stump (Chemistry), John Mackey (Mathematical Sciences), and Kunal Ghosh (Physics). Several of our advisors have received university awards for their outstanding contributions to advising and teaching.
 When do I choose a major?
You declare your major midway through the second semester of your first year. Visit our Choosing a Major page for more details.
 Can I take courses outside of MCS?
Yes and we encourage you to do so. Our most recent Rhodes Scholar winner Mindy Hebert had a B.S. in Biological Sciences with extensive study in ethics and French. See the Choosing a Major and Options for Degrees pages for more information about available courses.
 What kind of outside activities do MCS students participate in?
Our students tend to be some of the most active participants on campus. Some of their activities include varsity sports, student government, musical groups, community service, resident assistants, fraternities/sororities, and even an VJ at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Read more about extracurricular activities.
 Does Carnegie Mellon have a pre-med / pre-law program?
Yes. Visit these web sites for more information on the pre-med and pre-law programs.
Are there opportunities for study abroad?
There are plenty of opportunities and support from your advisor and our Study Abroad Office.
What about summer internships?
Through your departmental advisors and our science career consultant we do an outstanding job in placing our students in internships. Learn more about internships on our Internship Opportunities page.
What kind of job can I get when I graduate?
Science and math students from Carnegie Mellon are in demand. We have excellent placement of our students into graduate programs, professional programs and job. Visit the career section of this web site for more information about what you can do with your science degree and what past graduates are doing. |
