Chance me for Case?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Case Western Reserve University
1

I’m thinking of applying EA so I want to have an idea of what chance I’d have of getting in. I think I’ll probably be deferred, but I’m thinking of going for it anyway.

Female from Maine, family income ~$50k/year
Major: Astronomy or Physics

GPA: 3.22 UW 3.8 W
9th grade GPA: 3.25 UW 3.75 W
10th grade GPA: 3.17 UW 3.58 W
11th grade GPA: 3.25 UW 4 W
Class rank: 50/275

1370 SAT (700 R&W, 670 M, retaking Nov. 4)
Subject tests: Math 2 (620), Bio-E (650), USH (660) (retaking Math 2 and taking Physics in December)
APs: 10th grade - Biology (3), 11th grade - Language (3), US History (3), taking French, Calculus AB, Physics C - Mech, and Physics C - E&M this year

ECs: principal flute in local youth orchestra all 4 years, principal flute in school honors band all 4 years, student council all 4 years (secretary 11), science bowl since 10th grade (asst. captain 11), French club 10 and 11 (treasurer 10 and VP 11), math team all 4 years. Also do astronomical research and have presented at the state science fair twice.

Awards: Academic award (9, 10, 11), 3rd in category at state science fair (9), special award from US Navy Office of Naval Research at state science fair (10), volunteerism award for exemplary volunteerism work (9)

Volunteering: couple hundred hours cumulative, worked as co-coordinator for children’s village at folk festival and event volunteer for local symphony orchestra.

I also went to an elite summer program for astrophysics last summer that accepted 72 people out of 700 applications.

My scores and GPA are low so that’ll hurt me, but I think my recs, ECs, CA essay, and interview will help me. My SAT will go up when I retake it in a few weeks. My GPA is low since I’ve been dealing with mental illness throughout high school, including med changes that messed with me. I’ll mention that somewhere carefully.

Thank you so much!

2

Given that 69% of CWRU students have math SAT over 700 and you want a STEM major plus your GPA is lowish, it looks iffy right now… However, there is absolutely no downside to applying EA! If they still have the waiver on admissions fee then it won’t even cost you anything anyway.

Also, for any college, look at the Common Data Set in section C7 to see what they think is Very Important in admissions… GPA, SAT, ECs are. Essay is only “important”

http://case.edu/ir/media/caseedu/institutional-research/documents/pdfs/2016-2017-CDS.pdf

3

I have no idea how people on CC guess others’ chances for those kids who are neither “automatic in” nor “automatic reject,” so I’ll just say “good luck!”

Make sure your parents know that the financial aid forms are also required early (November 15th). They need to do the FAFSA and CSS while you’re doing your part!

4

@AroundHere Thank you! My mom will be those forms early next week.

5

@frazzledazzle study for the math portion of the SAT using Khan Academy on line school (its free ) to help your math scores. The physics department at CWRU is the top department there, and they are anxious for more women, so I think you have a chance. Physics is the smallest science program and students get an amazing education due
to the small size of this department compared to biology and chemistry. Specifically mention your major as physics may help you get admitted. It is a tough program but will lead to a PhD in physics if thats what you want. There are two majors: physics and a major called math and physics for students who are more bent towards theoretical work. The math and physics major has one less physics lab than the physics major, and more math. Its not a true double major, but close. There is plenty of research for undergrads at Case and if you change your mind, the other sciences are strong too. Good luck!

6

@Coloradomama Thank you very much! I’m actually leaning towards Astronomy and put that as my first choice major. Physics is my second choice major. Would the result you’re suggesting be the same/similar with an Astronomy major?

7

Write about this telescope in your application, and why you want to use it, and that might help. Case Western owns and operates a telescope in Arizona
for the astronomers, its a really top astronomy program but you will be traveling to Arizona if you want
to learn to use a telescope. Cleveland has way too much light pollution to be able to do observing in Ohio.

Case Astronomy offers a BS or a BA. Its very physics oriented program which is what you need to get into a PhD
in astronomy program.

http://www.pari.edu/cwru-burrell-schmidt-telescope/

8

Case’s Astronomy Department has less faculty than the physics department, so I need to correct my post, I believe astronomy may be the smallest science department at Case Western, not physics, but they are both very strong, personal and small. Many faculty teach both physics and astronomy and are jointly appointed, so you will interact with physics students in most of your classes if you study astronomy.

9

@frazzledazzle check out the Wind ensemble, if you want to play flute at Case, you
can play with a Case/CIM wind ensemble, its outstanding music option, this combined orchestra.
There is a full symphony orchestra as well.

http://music.case.edu/ensembles/case-symphonic-winds/

10

@Coloradomama There are no writing supplements for Case. If there were I’d definitely write about the telescope! Thank you so much for all that you have written! Submitting my app later today! :slight_smile: :-SS

11

Case would probably be significantly easier to get into since an application fee is now required. A lot of people I’ve met here only applied because they had a free application fee and got in. They showed no interest in the school whatsoever. I think Case just waitlists all the overqualified students and accept students who are mostly within a certain range. Plus, I’m sure thousands of high school seniors just send in their application because it’s no hassle, no fee. I wouldn’t have applied unless it was free.

12

Since I’ve been here, I’ve found a lot of people with GPA and SAT similar to yours(Me for instance). It plays a factor, but you can also get in if your extracurriculars and essay are great. I’m pretty sure that is what nudged me in.