<aside> 💡 Prof. Vincent Aleven is the Director of Undergraduate Programs in Human-Computer Interaction (BHCI).

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As an educator and as someone who closely work with students, how would you describe current HCI students at CMU?

CMU's HCI students are a very strong group of interdisciplinary students (literally from all over campus) all with a passion for creating innovative digital technologies and services that improve human experiences with fairness and equity. Some students have (in addition) a strong desire to investigate and understand how digital technologies affect humans, or how digital technologies and humans can work together.

A very creative and talented group of students!

Do you think there’s any opportunities at CMU that students in HCI should make use of but seldom do?

There are many opportunities! To the best of my knowledge, they are all being used.

How do you describe a successful HCI education?

There are many aspects to a successful HCI education but two of the most important ones are understanding processes of user-centered research and design, as well as being able to function well in interdisciplinary teams. These two go hand-in-hand. In interdisciplinary teams, everyone has depth in a different area, so having a shared understanding of key processes is essential for effective collaboration. The idea is not that everyone masters all skills. The idea is that everyone has enough of an idea what the others are doing that they can have in-depth conversations around shared project goals.

We know that the undergrad HCII program application is open now, what kind of student do you want to look for?

Strong students in a wide range of disciplines who are passionate about using digital technologies and services to improve the lives of humans, whether individuals, groups, organizations, or whole societies.

Could you give some tips for students who want to get in but don’t know how to prepare?

The best way to prepare is to get involved in HCI projects or courses, so you learn where your passion is, and so (come application time) you can write an insightful and thoughtful statement that communicates your passion for HCI.

One caveat (and I don't mean to discourage anyone from applying) is that there are often so many strong applicants that we cannot accept everyone who is qualified - at least for the HCI 2nd major. The situation with the HCI minor is better.  It is a matter of capacity in our courses. We are working to increase the capacity, but the interest in HCI keeps growing as well. It reflects the importance of the field.

Don't let that stop you from applying though.  Fortune favors the bold.