I’ve read a couple of reviews for the movie Real Genius that claim the plot was loosely based on real events which took place at Carnegie-Mellon University. What I’d like to know is, what are these people referring to? What real events could be even remotely similar to this movie?
Well, there’s this.
That’s not quite what I was looking for. Check IMDB’s trivia page for this movie:
Wellll… Super-brainy kid starts college at 16, rooming with a braniac senior. The two students realize that their research is being used to build some sort of weapon. The students decide to sabotage their work to prevent this.
If you take out the zany hijinks, there is a core plot that could conceivably have occured at some time or place.
Chris Knight: I’ve suceeded… but I’ve failed!
Holyfeld: Well, then, I’m happy and sad for you.
I love this movie. That’s all I wanted to say.
That, and that I’ve heard of all the CalTech references but not the Carnegie thing.
All i know is that Jordan from that movie is way hot. That’s the kinda girl i want. So smart she is almost insane.
I have never heard of the Carnegie-Mellon reference, either. I wonder where the IMDB folks got their source for that. A couple of the remaining trivia reference Caltech.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Real Genius, but as FairyChatMom pointed out in her link, Caltech has a long tradition of pulling pranks. The annual Ditch Day is quite a production and what you see in the movie - students running around solving problems to break into a dorm room - is exactly what happens on Ditch Day. The movie seems to be a mish-mash of actual events and a certain amount of Caltech lore.
Here’s another webpage that draws parallels between the movie and the institute. (http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/7350/misc.html) The section on “pranks and parties” may be what you’re looking for. It has basically the same information as what’s on FairyChatMom’s link, but I think it’s a little easier to read.
This movie is my all time favorite. 
“In the immortal words of Socrates… I drank what?!”
Gabe Jarrett was indeed a real genius.