Hi guys,
I was just wondering how the BME program currently is at Case Western. I’ve read that the ranking has been falling in the recent years possibly due to being over crowded as the major is becoming increasingly popular. That post about the failing capstone project really swayed my opinion but I’m not sure if I should base my opinion on a single post. Any info is appreciated.
Thanks!
There is one poster here with strong opinions so don’t take that as your only input.
This was just in the news:
The Hartwell Foundation, a Memphis-based philanthropic institution that funds innovative biomedical research to benefit children of the United States, has again selected Case Western Reserve University among its 2017 Top 10 Centers of Biomedical Research.
Does anyone have anymore input? I got off the waitlist but I already committed to University of Washington which has a great BME program too but am not direct admit, if that helps.
I would read this thread. http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/case-western-reserve-university/1729119-a-definitive-objective-description-of-case-western-by-a-current-student-p1.html
It gives you insight into what people think about CWRU.
At CWRU, you have the One Door Admissions Policy…that is, once you are in the University you can major in what you want and take classes in what you want. So you would be a direct admit to the Biomedical Engineering major.
You also have the opportunity to do research as a freshman if that interests you.
Here is an example from @coloradomama ." I know CWRU freshman that got research projects in polymer sciences, physics, engineering physics, aerospace engineering and materials science. Biomaterials and heath sciences including biomedical engineering are other fields with rich research programs at Case, but all the majors offer research work for undergrads. Your child can go onto individual Case Western professors websites and see if undergraduates are listed as part of the team. If they are, he/she can write directly to the professor and ask for a part time position. My son was able to win a SOURCE grant to do statistics research over one summer, with an econometrics professor after sophomore year at Case, and he also worked with a biophysics professor over that same summer."
You have your choice of Biomedical Focus:
For BME, you pick a specific track that focuses you more:
Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation
Biomechanics
Biomaterials Engineering
Biomedical Computing and Analysis
https://engineering.case.edu/ebme/academics/undergraduate/CurriculumAdvising
Also from @coloradomama (somewhat edited)
"I think there are older threads that compare these three schools. My bias is towards Case, being a Case parent.
For medical related work CWRU is great because of the associated Medical Schools in the same cities. At CWRU, there are two related medical schools (University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic) walking distance from the undergraduate campus and solid mechanical and biomedical engineering programs.
This CWRU website talks about the new Health Education campus, that brings social workers, doctors, engineers, and nurses together to serve patients:
CWRU has an entrepreneurial program called Think Box, that helps business students and engineering students work together on new ventures: http://thinkbox.case.edu/
CWRU offers co ops in mechanical and biomedical engineering. These work assignments can be limited to summers so you graduate on time. Other students choose away semesters, making good salaries and no tuition is payed on the away semesters, allowing students to pay for much of their senior year.
https://engineering.case.edu/coop/
Cleveland offers both trains to get to the airport and West Side Market, and the Euclid Ave Bus to get to downtown quickly.
Cleveland neighborhoods are unique: Little Italy, Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland,Coventry, and various venues and clubs downtown. Right in the University Circle area,there are museums, Cleveland Orchestra, and LIttle Italy.
CWRU is a combination of a liberal arts college (Western Reserve College ) and a technical school (Case Institute of Tech) so the breadth of the education is something to consider.
Cleveland Institute of Music is right on campus and those students, take their general education at CWRU.
There are some joint CIM/Case music ensembles, like University Circle Wind Ensemble. Do not need to be a music major or minor to participate.There is some credit given.
CWRU has a good balance of male/females.
Society of Women Engineers is active at CWRU.
CWRU offers more foreign language classes and more humanities and social science classes, and some students who later will pursue law.
Also one cannot beat the thrill of the Cleveland Cavalier’s lately or the Cubs/Indians rivalry in Baseball.
Cleveland is a city in love with its sports teams, and Case students are enthusiastic."
I also encourage you to check out the BME dept page: http://engineering.case.edu/ebme/
http://engineering.case.edu/ebme/academics/undergraduate/InnovativeEducation
@DanEmil It is difficult to come off a waitlist, I hope you have a few more days to think about this. Sorry you may have been mislead about BME at Case Western by some disgruntled student CC posters in the past. Students who are happy are not posting, is my experience. Parents, like me, are post too much but we are trying to be helpful.
Many students at all universities, not just Case, find BME to be a difficult major as it includes electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, as well as physiology classes and a lot of chemistry. Hard work comes with rewards though. A BME degree from CWRU will lead to outstanding careers in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, or genetic engineering.
The advantage of Case Western is you will be able to start research right away if that interests you. In larger public schools, you may need to wait until junior year to get involved and it will be competitive in some labs, to get a research position. Case Western’s professors welcome undergraduates, even freshmen and there is a way to sign up for research for credit as early as freshman year.
CWRU offers a degree in Macromolecular Science and Engineering, which focuses on the materials science and chemistry of carbon containing molecules, both the processing and characterization of those materials. for biomedical applications, and other applications
https://engineering.case.edu/emac/
CWRU is offering a summer chemistry REU ,which is funded by the National Science Foundation and open to undergraduates from all different colleges to join the Case Chemistry research team for a summer.
http://chemistry.case.edu/other-programs/reu2017/
At Case, you are already in BME if you want that major. You can still change you mind easily in the first two years at Case and focus on mechanical engineering or biochemistry, once you try classes and find what interests you the most.
Thanks @bopper for the reposting.
I also recommend you contact the Department head of BME and ask for their input.