My Favorite Club at CMU
by Rohit G.
Of all the experiences I’ve had at Carnegie Mellon University, nothing has come close to the impact that Carnegie Mellon Racing (CMR) has had on my college journey. It’s more than just a student organization—it’s a community, a hands-on learning environment, and, most importantly, a group of people who have become like family. When I think about what makes CMR so special, it’s the perfect blend of close-knit friendships and the chance to apply real-world engineering principles that sets it apart as my favorite club at CMU.
One of the most rewarding aspects of being part of CMR is the incredible sense of community. Everyone on the team, whether they’re designing a component, running tests at the track, or helping with logistics, is fully invested in our shared goal: to design, build, and race a competitive electric vehicle for the annual Formula SAE competition. That shared goal fosters a level of trust, collaboration, and camaraderie that I haven’t found anywhere else. There’s something uniquely bonding about pulling a late night in the garage troubleshooting a mechanical issue or celebrating after a successful test day. The friendships I’ve built through CMR feel deeper than just classmates or colleagues—they’re teammates in every sense of the word.
Beyond the friendships, CMR gives me a tangible way to apply what I’ve learned in my mechanical engineering classes. Thermodynamics, materials science, dynamics—it all comes to life when you're working on a race
car. Concepts that might otherwise feel abstract in a classroom setting suddenly become essential when you're designing a suspension system or analyzing load paths through the chassis. CMR bridges the gap between theory and practice in a way that’s exciting, immersive, and incredibly motivating. It constantly challenges me to take ownership of my work and think critically, just like I would in a real engineering role.
What makes this even more special is the fact that I get to do all of this as an undergraduate. It’s not often that you find such a high-level, hands-on engineering experience available to students so early in their academic careers. CMR doesn’t just allow undergraduates to participate—it encourages them to lead, contribute meaningfully, and push the envelope. From design reviews to race day strategy, we get to be at the center of it all. There’s something surreal about being at the track, surrounded by student-built cars from universities all over the world, and knowing that our vehicle is the result of hundreds of hours of work from students just like me.
CMR has also helped me grow in ways that go beyond technical skills. It’s taught me how to communicate effectively in a team, how to manage projects under tight deadlines, and how to think on my feet when something inevitably goes wrong. It’s built my confidence—not just as an engineer, but as a leader, a problem-solver, and a teammate.
In short, CMR is the kind of experience that defines your college career. It’s where I’ve found my closest friends, discovered my passion for hands-on engineering, and pushed myself to grow in ways I never expected. That’s why Carnegie Mellon Racing isn’t just my favorite club at CMU—it’s my home on campus.