Ohio State or Case Western for pre-med?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>So i got into Ohio State Honors as well as Case Western. Sent my acceptance money to OSU, then Case decides to give my scholarship offer 10 days before May 1. Case now costs $4,000 less per year than OSU after adding up all my scholarships. I want to go to medical school so I'm planning on pre-med/bio. Also would like research opportunities. Plan on studying hard obviously but also would like to go out and party and have a social life on the weekends. WHERE DO I GO?</p>

<p>The things i see:</p>

<p>Case is ranked 41..OSU is ranked 56
case may be easier to get research opportunities in since its smaller. OSU is bigger and probably has more opportunities overall and is well recognized worldwide.</p>

<p>Also, Cleveland is gray 364/365 days of the year and is super boring. See: YouTube</a> - Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video: 2nd Attempt
OSU is lively exciting fun, somethings always going on and it isn't depressing like Case. Also I live 20 mins from OSU so that makes it a lot more convenient.</p>

2

<p>Both would be fine for pre-med.</p>

<p>However, it just sounds like OSU is better overall. </p>

<p>As for the $4k more at OSU…well, since you live 20 minutes away, that might be alleviated when you’re an upper-classman and could either commute or find cheaper housing. Also, work over the summer to minimize cost difference.</p>

<p>It just sounds like you’d find Case to be too depressing.</p>

3

<p>Cleveland is much maligned undeservedly and actually isn’t boring…and if you have a car at any point during your UG years there’s plenty to do…the (south)eastern suburbs are in some of the most beautiful counties in Ohio.</p>

<p>Smaller classes at CWRU, lots of research opportunities with both the University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic practically next door. </p>

<p>$4K a year less for a private school of the stature of CWRU is nothing to scoff at… $16K over four years (minimum) is money that can go to Med school. </p>

<p>I don’t know for certain but I would guess that Pre med advising at CWRU would be more personal and better than at OSU if for no other reason than size and the fact that many big schools like OSU often combine advising into things called “pre-healthcare” and can include med, dental and other health related fields.</p>

<p>Anecdotally, my wife just told me that my neighbor’s daughter went to OSU for UG and did well, had a good (32) MCAT and all the right ECs and ended up in the DO program at Ohio U…they blame the OSU advising (or lack thereof) and difficulty establishing professorial relationships to get good LORs…take it for what it’s worth…I don’t think any of these would exist at CWRU.</p>

<p>This is something I would try to determine on the boards for each respective school. If you can’t get the answer, call the two schools and ask them…what does the pre med advising consist of? Do they have a committee? Does it write a committee letter? etc After getting those answers you should be able to make a more informed decision.</p>

<p>Good luck…both are good choices but in this case I think the odds tip to CWRU…</p>

<p>just my $0.02</p>

4

<p>I personally would take Ohio State.</p>

<p>Not only do you have the school itself, but you have OSU Medical Center where you can build relationships with doctors if you choose to shadow them and with other people who work there if you choose the time to do so. With the extensive expansion and such going on, it’s the best hospital in Ohio - and it’s basically on campus. The amount of money OSU has for research is completely endless too. Get involved EARLY, do it for all four years, and it will help you. Look at some profiles of people who have gotten into top medical schools, and their extracurriculars, and you’ll know the path you need to be on in terms of GPA, EC’s, clinical shadowing, and MCAT scores.</p>

<p>There’s no committee at OSU but it just goes to show that like at most big state schools, there’s no hand holding. </p>

<p>The vast amounts of resources that are available at the school are numerous, I’m going to be Pre-Med at OSU in the Fall, and I can tell you that if you’re dogged and resourceful, OSU is going to do great things for you - there’s kids from there that have gone onto great med schools (HMS, for example) but it’s all about what you accomplish, not what is handed to you. You have to seek out the professors to build relationships, you have to do the research about what extracurriculars and classes to take, and be dogged in making sure you get everything you can out of the experience. It’s completely possible to get a good LOR if you take the time to go to office hours and get involved with research with professors you’re interested in your freshman year. Question and challenge your advisors to meet your interests. It’s totally possible to do great things there, a lot of people just don’t seek out the resources. At private schools, it’s more “handed” to you, whereas you have to seek out at OSU. That’s the bigger difference. You’re probably the best judge of which type matches your personality.</p>

5

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<p>Sorry, but The Cleveland Clinic is the best hospital in Ohio and it’s not even close…in fact it’s one of the best in the US…and it is right down the street from CWRU and University Hospital (also very, very good) is right across the street from the heart of CWRU’s campus.</p>

<p>Having had a son go through the process at a school with no hand holding, despite his very favorable outcome, I can say that in all honesty, a little hand holding can be a good thing for most people.</p>

6

<p>@eadad, I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say that it’s not even close. Both are great hospitals, and both are great schools (even the USNWR rankings aren’t that different.) Both have great medical schools as well. I agree with you that a little hand holding is nice, but all I’m trying to say is that if you find a good advisor, some good professors, they will be just as good of a support system that would be handed to you at Case - it’s not something that really should be a deal breaker unless the OP feels that he/she is really incapable of seeking out resources, which I think is highly unlikely. While it’s nice to have that handed to you, the OP seems to be more concerned about the environment Case provides. You can get ANYTHING you need at Ohio State, and the academic difference (and difference in opportunities) is not significant enough to choose one over the other. Both are great schools that are similar academically, and for pre-med, it comes down to fit. If the OP feels that he/she would thrive in an environment like OSU with large amounts of resources, lots of people, and a city like Columbus (which he seems to be leaning towards) I don’t think that it would be a foolish decision to make. Thriving in college is based largely on where you feel most at home.</p>

7

<p>Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University are partners in medical school; they should act accordingly: An editorial </p>

<p>By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board
Published: Monday, October 26, 2009, 4:54 AM Updated: Monday, October 26, 2009, 5:07 AM</p>

<p>If this were a movie, the leading man and the leading lady would have figured out by now that they’re meant to be together, the credits would be rolling and an uplifted audience would be headed for the exits, still dabbing at misty eyes.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, it’s real life in Cleveland’s high-powered medical neighborhood, and a wider community that wants to see the Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University and their jointly run specialty medical school all succeed together strongly suspects that “happily ever after” hasn’t yet arrived.</p>

<p>The vibe from the Cleveland Clinic, its strongly rumored pursuit of the University of Pennsylvania Medical School as a partner for its clinical research-based medical school having come to naught as of last week, is that it will continue to cast longing glances in every direction but that of CWRU.</p>

<p>What comes next is going to sound awfully familiar to habitual readers of this editorial page, but at least give us credit for trying to tap into a new image for what has become at least an annual word of advice to the Clinic:</p>

<p>The girl next door couldn’t be more right for you. She wants it to work out. The two of you came to this dance together, and all of your friends and neighbors would love to see your relationship go the distance.</p>

<p>But, Clinic, if you keep going down this road – first, you tried to run to the arms of Columbia University, then you cast your roving eye on Penn – it’s going to be far more difficult than it should be to make the most of the partnership you already have: a 50-year agreement to run your medical school in conjunction with CWRU’s School of Medicine.</p>

<p>Go ahead. Really commit. You’d make yourself, CWRU and the whole region stronger.</p>

<p>It’s time to stop looking for other partners. You’ve already got one. That’s why the joint-venture medical school has such a tongue-twister of a name: the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.</p>

<p>Put the perceived slights and the old arguments behind. Make it work. Leverage the great minds, the research capacity and the considerable prestige both institutions have by really pulling together.</p>

<p>Accept a happy ending.</p>

<p>Source: [Cleveland</a> Clinic and Case Western Reserve University are partners in medical school; they should act accordingly: An editorial | cleveland.com](<a href=“http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/10/cleveland_clinic_and_case_west.html]Cleveland”>Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University are partners in medical school; they should act accordingly: An editorial - cleveland.com)</p>

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<p>In fact, after decades of collaboration, Cleveland Clinic started its own medical school - Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine back in 2005 shunned away from Case.</p>

8

<p>Thanks a lot for the input guys. I know that i can be successful at either school and the bottom line is which school would prepare me for and help me get into med school. I know that if I apply myself i can get into med school from either undergrad. I just want to make sure i’m not making the wrong choice by not taking the money and going to Case if its a significantly better school (which doesn’t seem to be the case - but correct me if i’m wrong). I just feel like the same opportunities are there at OSU and its a school that people actually want to go to. Nobody walks around and says “i want to go to case western” but you will definitely hear people say they want to go to OSU. </p>

<p>IS CASE ACTUALLY A WAY BETTER SCHOOL THAN OSU?</p>

9

<p>A “way better” school? I doubt it. </p>

<p>*I want to go to medical school so I’m planning on pre-med/bio. Also would like research opportunities. Plan on studying hard obviously but also would like to go out and party and have a social life on the weekends. WHERE DO I GO?
*</p>

<p>I can’t help but feel that since you want the “social side” of the big college experience (and maybe some rah rah football games as well), that you’ll feel that you’re missing out if you go to Case. </p>

<p>Tell us more about yourself…</p>

<p>How social are you?</p>

<p>Do you plan on dating in college?</p>

<p>Do you plan on attending any sporting events…like homegame football games?</p>

<p>Do you plan on attending a party or go to an off-campus hangout once a week or so? </p>

<p>Are you the type to be pro-active and ask profs about research opps or to apply to various research opps at your own college or during the summer at other colleges (such as REU experiences)?</p>

<p>Are you the type to be pro-active and to seek out pre-med info/advising?</p>