Hi, I’m most likely going to pursue mechanical engineering and I just want to know some of the difference between these two schools. Although I am looking at a few bigger schools like Michigan and Purdue, I prefer the smaller size of these two. I’ve heard that the engineering program is a little better at Case (US News ranks it higher), but Rochester has kind of a better social scene in general. Can anyone tell me about the differences between these two schools with respect to engineering and social scene? Any replies are greatly appreciated.
RIT or UR?
University of Rochester. I already applied. I don’t really want to go to a technical engineering school. I want a few other options if you know what I mean.
The best way to find out is to visit the colleges, should you be accepted to both; being there in person will tell you a lot. Otherwise, you might post your question on the individual college forums and see what responses you get.
Would be hard to find two good schools less known for their social life.
My middle son attends UR and loves it. There are definitely all sorts of social opportunities, though it’s not always Greek. He’s in a dance troupe and a handful of clubs he enjoys plus he just spends time with friends. There are parties if that’s what you’re looking for.
I know students who have gone to Case and enjoyed it. None have talked much about Greek, but again, there are parties as well as club opportunities, etc.
Case is more “urban.” UR is more “campus” in a city.
Engineering is quite good at either.
Ok thanks. I’ve visited both and liked them. Both visits were over the summer though so I think I’ll be visiting again.
One reason Case might be a better engineering school is that it has more options. UR has no civil engineering or materials engineering, for example, but CWRU does.
On the other hand, you have to love “no required courses” at UR. And, yes, there is every indication that the social life is better at UR.
My son attends CWRU, a sophomore in math and physics. He has a great social life, without joining a fraternity. Students go out to Little Italy, to improv night, to the Cleveland Orchestra, to Coventry, or to the Lake Erie waterfront, all accessible by a free bus pass or walking. CWRU has better public transportation to downtown Cleveland than UR has to Rochester, and a more exciting and interesting urban campus, walking distance Little Italy bakeries and restaurants. The fraternities are active at Case but there is a good social life in the dorms as well. There are more good restaurants, art museums and theatre in Cleveland compared to Rochester. For engineering, Rochester offers an optical engineering program that is very well known. Case has very highly regarded biomedical engineering, due to two major hospitals being on campus, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. Case has a solid core for learning to read and write, and also has a lot of flexibility to do a general engineering major, so has some resemblance to a liberal arts college, with nursing, business and more specialized engineering fields like Aerospace, macromolecular engineering as well as civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical engineering. . There may be more engineering industries for internships in the northern Ohio area, compared to Rochester, such as First Solar, NASA Glen, and quite a few manufacturing firms are nearby, for internships and jobs. GE is in Cincinnati and there are many job options in Dayton and Columbus as well. Both schools have outstanding music conservatories nearby, but Cleveland Institute of Music is right on campus, allowing Case students to take music lessons from world renowned musicians. Rochester has lesson opportunities as well, but the music school campus is further away, in the heart of Rochester, and not on the UR campus.
Rochester, definitely. Obviously, Engineering at CWRU is not high ranked except its BME. it would be hard for other engineering graduates to get a job.
“Obviously, Engineering at CWRU is not high ranked except its BME. it would be hard for other engineering graduates to get a job.”
Obviously, this is the most flawed comment I’ve seen today on CC because Case Western is an excellent STEM school, as is URochester.
Yeah I’m not worried about getting a job with either of these schools. I’m visiting UR for admitted students day on friday so we’ll see how that goes.