<p>We have a great dilemma. Our sons must make a choice between Emory and Case Western Reserve. They are planning to major in something in the sciences and would like a career in medicine, more than likely surgery. Other than the obvious location and weather differences, can anyone help shed some light on the differences/advantages of the two schools? Case is offering a significantly greater amount of non-loan financial aid. They attended a highly rated academic high school and are extremely studious. We would like them to be prepared to enter a top level medical school, if they indeed to continue on their current path, but would also like them to have an enjoyable and social undergraduate experience.</p>
<p>Do they both need to attend the same school?</p>
<p>Not necessarily.</p>
<p>Emory is known for being strong in medicine, I think, and it’s a beautiful place. Plus, you have the added benefit of the CDC nearby. How significant is the financial difference?</p>
<p>Net price at each school? (Remember, medical school is expensive.)</p>
<p>How strong is each school in their actual majors? (Pre-meds can do any major, as long as they take the pre-med courses alongside.)</p>
<p>Check out the Emory forum on CC. There has been some open discussion of pros and cons of the school and its academics. My daughter is a sophomore there and has found the teaching style to be quite rigid and inflexible, which I’ve heard from another Emory parent on CC, but if they’re smart enough and dedicated, maybe it won’t be an issue.</p>
<p>Good luck to your sons!</p>
<p>Are there extracurriculars at either school that they would like to participate in? Sports? Musical groups?</p>
<p>$$ should be considered carefully…medical school is expensive!</p>
<p>Case students are noted for being serious students, but they have their fun too.</p>
<p>collegebound1717–And Case has the Cleveland Clinic nearby.</p>
<p>2bills–how are your sons as writers? Case’s curriculum has mandatory writing-intensive seminars every year, for engineers as well as liberal arts majors. That has its pros & cons.</p>
<p>Edit: I wouldn’t discount Cleveland’s longer winters as a deal-breaker. If you are not used to it and don’t think snow is fun, or are prone to SAD, you might not be happy there.</p>
<p>Cost at Emory would be almost double as compared to Case Western, which is a concern. The weather is not really an issue. Both kids write very well. Each is leaning towards a chemistry major, but they are not definite. We are confident that they can handle the workload, but would like them to have social and entertainment options on campus when the opprotunity presents itself. Can anyone speak to the social life at either campus?</p>
<p>There is no way that Emory is worth double the cost of Case, especially for the sciences/premed which ultimately admit to medical school/grad school based on college GPA and test scores…</p>
<p>Save your money…</p>
<p>My stepdaughter and her husband both went to Case–it’s very strong in the sciences. His parents, both doctors, went to Case. His sister–a PA–went to case. If you are interested in medicine/health sciences it is a good place to be. I don’t think your sons would go wrong studying the sciences at Case. If it’s half the cost of Emory–go for it. You can help them with medical school with the money you save. The only downside I see is Cleveland–which isn’t on my list of the top ten cities in the US. (Bash away Cleveland lovers–I know–you’ve got the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame).</p>
<p>“There is no way that Emory is worth double the cost of Case, especially for the sciences/premed”</p>
<p>Strongly agree. This is a conversation-ender in my book, unless the family is rich enough to make the cost of med school insignificant.</p>
<p>Atlanta may have more going on than Cleveland, but due to campus location and public transportation options, I think it would be easier to enjoy urban benefits as a carless undergrad at CWRU than at Emory.</p>
<p>Case Western is a great school. You don’t need to feel like you’re “settling” to be there, because you aren’t. Except for the weather, of course. 
I know two top-stats kids who are there and very happy about it.</p>
<p>For double the price, unless money is truly not an issue, there would not be any discussion. Especially with med school in the future. And with two of them? If you can afford to even be contemplating putting out that kind of money for Emory, I guess it 's a discussion, but for most people, even those who are high income, the answer is obvious There are many who are hedging about borrowing or paying for medical school with costs what they are and the payback not as much or certain. IF you are paying full freight for two at Emory, you are talking a half million dollars right there.</p>
<p>It is worthwhile to give these threads a read especially if looking to pre-med.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1484178-if-you-high-school-please-read-before-posting.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1484178-if-you-high-school-please-read-before-posting.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1122176-bluedevilmikes-ten-step-guide-picking-premed-school.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1122176-bluedevilmikes-ten-step-guide-picking-premed-school.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1486654-premed-resources-thread-start-here-first.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1486654-premed-resources-thread-start-here-first.html</a></p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>If the difference is you are spending $4k at one, and $8k at the other, it doesn’t make much difference. If $25k v. $50k, it’s a no brainer.</p>
<p>Medical school debt can be crushing. </p>
<p>But if you have the money…</p>
<p>I don’t know much about Emory other than it is in Atlanta. My son is at CWRU. He was your typical high stat kid. CWRU offered him a good financial package. His fellow students are very serious students. The have fun, but make no mistake school comes first there.</p>
<p>He has been really happy there and the school is very strong in the sciences. It also has University Hospital right on campus and Cleveland Clinic just a mile or so off campus. That should make it very appealing to prospective medical students.</p>
<p>If your kids are going to want to go to medical school overall costs will be important.</p>
<p>As an (almost) native Clevelander, I do have to say that it’s not a bad city (although I agree the weather during the academic year is mostly lousy). It’s quite liveable and affordable and I would imagine that there is plenty to do as a college student (and you might actually be able to afford to do some of it). Case is in University Circle which has lots of arts and culture going on (art museum, museum of contemporary art, natural history museum, botanical garden, severance hall/Cleveland Orchestra) all within walking distance of the university (and Cleveland Institute of Art and Cleveland Institute of Music all right in proximity to each other). Cleveland has a lively theatre scene both mainstream touring broadway productions and lots of other professional theatre / dance at all price points. There are lots of concert and music venues - from Blossom Music Center/Live Nation venue in summer to House of Blues and smaller clubs. There is pro football, basketball and baseball (and since they don’t win, tickets are always available). There are also surprisingly good restaurants in Cleveland - Iron Chef Michael Symon has several restaurants and he is not the only renowned chef here. </p>
<p>In any case, while Cleveland is a bit gritty and doesn’t have the liveliest downtown, Case wouldn’t be a bad place to spend 4 years especially for someone interested in medicine / the sciences. I can’t speak to Emory / Atlanta from any personal experience. Kids of friends have / are attending both Emory and Case and all are happy.</p>