As a current student at CMU, I [though no doubt biased] think it’s a great program. I also looked at schools like RISD and Pratt, where everybody does the same thing foundation year, and I love that CMU sends you straight into design from the get-go. However, it’s not the place to be if you’re not absolutely sure you want to do design, as it’s not that easy to switch programs, and nobody ever seems to take as many classes as they’d like outside their major. Email me, hats@cmu.edu, if you have more questions.