<p>I really can't decide between these two schools on the basis of academics and social life. I would really love some advice or insights about either school.</p>
<p>go to Case but am not an engineering major.</p>
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<li><p>How hard is it to maintain the 3.0 GPA requirement for scholarships?
–Honestly it depends on the person. Certain people aren’t cut out for engineering at Case, a lot of kids who get into the field here drop it’s a ton of work and not everyone is smart enough for it. As in, the workload is so heavy that if it takes you a lot of time to work through it, you can’t do it. If you can manage your time, you can get through it, but the classes are hard. The average for some math classes is below 70% (it’s curved), some people simply fail out, some people are fine. It gets harder every year, and you can always switch majors. If it falls below a 3.0 you go on probation and have time to bring it back up. I’m not trying to scare away potential students, but a ton of people here are engineers, and many people who shouldn’t go into the field go into it and struggle. Case is notorious for the workload, and is on par with many top schools in that regard, but isn’t ranked proportionate to the work load. If your son is strong in math and science, Case has a great reputation, but many kids here were top 5/10% in hs and can’t handle the difficulty, but you have plenty of chances to maintain a 3.0.</p></li>
<li><p>What are the pros and cons of Case’s engineering program?
–Well known
–Media Vision- they tape classes and put them online
–TAs and SI sessions are really helpful- upperclassman tutor underclassmen
–A ton of work, a 4 year weed out the weak structure</p></li>
<li><p>How safe is the campus? - We have heard mixed reports about the safety and it would be nice to get some facts.
It’s in the middle of the city, if you go under the underpass into E Cleveland you’re asking for trouble. They offer campus shuttles until 12am weekdays, 2am weeknights, so you can always avoid walking alone. Safe ride is another option, runs past 2am- you call a number, and they pick you up. They also offer and escort service. The campus itself is safe, but there is a rough neighborhood behind the stadium/a block or so down from N. Residential Village. Most crimes happen to people walking along at 12am or later. If you’re smart, you’re fine, but it’s an issue b.c most students aren’t acclimated to city life, as most of us are from the suburbs. Whenever I’m out, I always walk with at least 3 people off campus, and the guys here always volunteer to walk with girls back to the dorms. If I get stuck somewhere, there’s always safe ride or friends who have cars. Don’t ride RTA alone in the evening, don’t flaunt a phone/money/electronics down the street at night. Basically use common sense and you’re fine.</p></li>
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<p>Case is a very different school, it is more nerdy then other schools. Many of our athletes, including football players, are engineers. Several of the soccer girls are engineers and pre med, and manage to hold over a 3.0 throughout the season. There is a lot of work regardless of your major. Greek life is also very unique. There is a very strict no hazing policy, and honestly hazing doesn’t happen. You don’t hear stories of kids being forced to do things in order to be initiated. Also, Greeks have a higher average GPA than non Greeks, and there are engineering frats/sororities, and all of them are very serious about academics, hosting study tables and tutoring sessions. The food is good, especially compared to most other schools. It gets repetitive at times, and someday’s it’s very mediocore (friday and saturday nights), but there are plenty of off campus options. About .5 miles from campus there is a pizza place, chinese place, qdoba, and a falaffle place. About 1-1.5 miles is Little Italy, and some of the places there accept Case Cash, and many places deliver. Case isn’t a party school, and there is plenty to do if you’re not into the party scene, but there are parties, and Case is a wet campus (residents in the Village are allowed to have alcohol in the dorms). However, there aren’t many instances of alcohol poisoning, and there is EMS on campus if anything should happen. Cleveland Clinic is about 1 mile from the dorms.
The dorms are ok, nothing great. The Village for upperclassman is 2 or 3 years old, air conditioned, full kitchen etc;.
There are things to do in Cleveland, because it’s a city. A lot of music venues, 2 huge malls, many theatres, movie theaters (one on Cedar, can get there using RTA, has $5 movies Mon. night), ice skating, sporting events ($10 Cav tickets, $1 Indian tickets), etc;.
All the students here care about academics, and it’s ok here. Everyone is a bit of a book nerd, there are all kinds of people here, a niche for everyone. People don’t go to football games so they can study, and it’s ok. There isn’t a lot of pressure to do certain things, and most people are friendly, albeit a bit socially awkward. Campus is fairly easy to navigate, everything is at most a 15 minute walk, and shuttles run all day if you don’t feel like walking across campus. There are a ton of activities and groups, and they are small enough for everyone to get involved. The library is amazing, top 20 according to Princeton Review, and is open 24 hrs a day. There is also a medical and law library which all students have access to. The school is also slowly increasing each new class, but it’s a nice size. You always run into people you know.</p>
<p>Case is a lot of work, but it does have a great regional reputation, and a fantastic business world reputation. If you’re picky about weather or hate the cold/snow/monsoons, you won’t like Cleveland. Cleveland is more metropolitan than WF. I love the people at Case though, there are all kinds of people considering we have a smaller student body. The Greek system has nationally recognized chapters (in a good way) for service and academics, there is absolutely no hazing but they are very social and do party. You always run into people on campus, my professors are all very friendly and make an effort to know each student, are very helpful. Case is stressful, but people let go on the weekends, but there aren’t too many people getting their stomachs pumped like at many state schools. There’s something for everybody, and the size allows each person to get involved easily.</p>