I am aware that a number of universities state that a student’s intended major is not taken into consideration during the application process. I do not know if that is an honest or accurate representation. I also do not know whether CWRU has a similar policy. But looking at @alliblues’ D’s stats, and maybe @bopper is able to provide a perspective, maybe there were many applicants wanting to major in Computer Sci and the applicant pool was rich with students with the same or better stats. Maybe this has some bearing?
Also, @bopper, if a student, at least on paper, appears to have received a considerable amount of college credits during high school, wouldn’t the Admissions Counselor assigned to the applicant reach out and address with the student whether none, some, or all would be accepted?
I am a parent of a junior CWRU student. Others on this list might know more about the admissions process regarding the role of anticipated major, but I do know that CWRU has a very transparent process for how they award credit for AP credit. In fact of the schools my daughter considered, the information at CWRU was considerably more helpful than the others. Also, CWRU was as generous as you find at any highly selective university with how they award credit for AP/IB work. You can find information on it here: https://case.edu/admission/apply/ap-ib-college-credit
Colleges tend not to tell applicants if their credits would be accepted because that would be quite a bit of work for every student. They have an idea of credits from say a Cayahoga Community College because this is well known, but for others they would need to have info about the syllabus and what was covered etc. (https://case.edu/ugstudies/students/transfer-students/transfer-guides)
If a student has many credits from a CC, i would look very hard at the State U if getting credit and saving money is a priority.
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Case has a Single Door Admissions policy…once you are admitted you can major in anything and take classes in anything.
Implications of this are:
You aren’t prevented from taking business classes if you are not a business major
You can switch to say, Engineering from say, Physics without having to apply to the Engineering School
You do not have to choose a major for admission…some colleges make you state your major and only allow so many into that major and it is very difficult to transfer into that major.
Let us say you want to be an Engineer but your math scores are not the best so you apply as an English major. First you would have to take the Math Diagnostic Test unless you have a reported Math ACT above 32, Math SAT score above 740, or reported AP Calculus score of 3, 4 or 5 (note: a score of 3 on AP Calculus does not qualify for credit at CWRU). You may be evaluated where you can start in Calc 1 or even Precalc. You may not have enough math background to succeed at Engineering.
But taking into account the above, I would say that Case, like any school, takes your major into account somewhat…if you have a English SAT score of 500 and you state that you would be interested in an English major, perhaps they would pick someone else. They probably also don’t pick 100% of students interested in Engineering…they spread out the majors. But if you say you want Math and ahave a 750 math score and later switch into Physics or Economics or engineering or CS any other major you are prepared for, you can definitely do that.
I know someone who started out in History, but then took a physics class for a science requirement, and fell in love with Physics. He then switched to a Physics path. It might have taken him longer because of that, but he was not restricted.
@ansr89 Both Case and Carnegie Mellon require one computer science class freshman year for engineering or CS…so if your friend knew more it wasn’t from his course at CM.
@ansr89, you are coming off as a disgruntled former student, as you wrote “when I was at Case.” It is fair to compare and contrast, as well as provide constructive criticisms, however, that is not what you are doing.
^^Also, how recent was this “bad” experience? Again, it’s unfortunate. But that’s why students do transfer to other schools and more power to them. Criticism is fair game, but let’s give programs CS or others an opportunity to change and grow from that criticism. I recently read that Case has a new Dean of Engineering from Purdue where he led the EE and Computer Engineering departments. New leadership could signal changes throughout the department.
Understood. But I anticipate you research schools like Carnegie Mellon, RPI, etc. before making your final selection. I also understand that there is a cost factor involved, as well as other considerations.
Just in case anyone in the future wants to use this thread for reference and will be wondering where my deferred daughter got in, I’m going to add her acceptances to this thread as they come in. She got accepted to Northeastern last night with substantial merit scholarship money and grant aid.