<p>I was recently accepted off Tulane's waitlist with a $17,000 scholarship.
Basically the grant non loan money is the same between the two.
Only difference is Case offers a perkins and work study.
I have yet to visit Tulane, but from what I've heard it sounds as if its a better fit.
I want to major in poli sci, pre law and/or journalism. I would be in Tulane's honor program. I live in pittsburgh, so obviously case is a lot closer, 2hrs, while I would have to fly to NOLA.
Unfortuantly I do not qualify for need based at either school.
I was able to attend an admitted students day at case, but I wouldn't be ablt to do more than a 1 hr tour at Tulane.
Any opinions about where I should go?</p>
<p>Hi Tiff90;</p>
<p>First and foremost I think it depends on your area of academic interest. On a general note, Case Western Reserve is considered to be top-tier in many popular academic fields (e.g., business, medicine, engineering and law). Although students sometimes complain about difficult classes, I’ve heard nothing but great things about Case’s campus, faculty and social environment. To be sure, Tulane is a very good institution, but apples to apples I think that Case Western Reserve is the better choice. </p>
<p>Best of luck,</p>
<p>Case Western is known for having a very narrow focus on certain subjects. It's solid in the sciences, engineering, and the like. But I wouldn't say that it's really a social studies oriented school (which is what you're studying!). It may be well known for its sciences, but that doesn't mean much if you're studying politics. ;)</p>
<p>Tulane is more well-rounded, and you even say that you feel like it's the better fit. Go there.</p>
<p>Academically these schools are pretty close, but socially they're completely different. If you self-identify yourself as a nerd and are completely OK with that, I'd go to CWRU. Otherwise I'd say pick Tulane.</p>
<p>Hi tiff90;</p>
<p>Just a few points to make regarding the comments above. I certainly agree with "world changer" that you should consider strongly the school that best fits your persona. However you should also consider carefully the positions of both Universities. </p>
<p>The methodologies used by various publications to rank Universities are imperfect. But rankings can offer limited insight into a school's particular strengths and weaknesses. Case and Tulane are ranked relatively the same in Law. Neither school is in the top 50 global Universities with regard to the social sciences (The Times). Both schools offer roughly 10 undergraduate majors in the social sciences and therefore share a similar focus on the topic.</p>
<p>As for overall University rankings, US News ranks Case Western Reserve #41 and Tulane #50 in America. The Times ranks Case #85 in the World whilst Tulane is ranked #218. </p>
<p>This does not mean that Case Western Reserve is a "Better School" than Tulane. As Igellar stated, academically the two are pretty close. Rather it implies that Case is indeed highly regarded overall, not just as engineering and natural sciences (nerdy) University. </p>
<p>Either way you go, it appears that you are looking at two very good Universities.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies!!!
I don't feel case is social enough, tulane is definately more social from what I heard. I guess I don't have as much of a feel for Tulane since I haven't visited yet.
I've applied for a FA re evalutation at both, and case outright said they will not offer anything else.
I'm still trying to get down to Tulane when I have the time and money so hopefully then I'll have a better idea. My parents are definetly pushing towards case, probably because it's a lot closer. Unfortunatley I haven't been able to communicate to my parents that tulane has better social sciences and law. Students at case are not very impressed with the poli sci or pre law, but my parents are too enthusiastic about tulane.
Any advice how to convince my parents? They put down the deposit at case the same day I got off the waitlist, and my mom and I visited case, but not tulane.
THANKS!</p>
<p>Tulane is in a very nice area that was little damaged by Katrina. It is fully recovered and would be much more of a fun new experience than case. NOLA is still unique in the US.</p>
<p>Given your academic interests, I would have to caution against going to Case. And I say this as a Political Science major who is transferring from the university to a better institution. While Case has its academic strengths (such as BME), it is not a good school for somebody interested in Political Science and related disciplines. While the professors in the department are all at least decent, and in some cases excellent, that is about the only good thing that can be said for it. There is no access to research, the course variety is highly limited, and the focus is set on American politics, with little in other sub-specialties. </p>
<p>As for pre-law, the advising is pretty weak, though there is a decent PAD chapter on campus. The Mock trial team is decent, and there is of course also Debate and Model UN, though they fail to deserve much note. As far as pre-law offerings, I don't think Case is either noteworthy or fit to be condemned.</p>
<p>Journalism does not exist as a major here, and the opportunities to persue it are limited. The English department is weak, and you'd be hardpressed to construct any sort of curriculum to fit your interests between it and other CAS departments. Moreover, the paper on campus is highly unprofessional, poorly edited, and an affront to serious journalism. So even the non-academic offerings there are scarce and underwhelming.</p>
<p>Add to all of the the largely dead, unduely Greek social scene, and it can make for a pretty poor college experience. If you wanted to have no life and study BME, Case would be an ideal choice. But, as that is clearly not your situation, I must advise against going in the strongest possible terms.</p>
<p>Interesting to hear your views from a first persons perspective gprime, thanks for sharing them </p>
<p>As a curious observer on the issue, I would appreciate it if you could shed some light on the following question regarding Case Western Reserve and its Political Sciences program: </p>
<p>Two US Presidents (Garfield, Hayes), the Prime Minister of Romania (Ciorbea), the President of Ecuador (Palacio) and a host of US Congressmen (the most recent of which was US presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich) have all been closely associated with Case Western Reserve as Alumni, Members of the Board, etc. Why do you think their Political Sciences and other Social Sciences programs are so weak? It seems to me that - given such respectable political pedigree - Case Western would be a decent place to pursue a Political Sciences degree.</p>
<p>I’m just curious. I've never attended Case Western Reserve as a student. I completed both my undergraduate and masters degrees elsewhere. But frankly what I’ve read in formal publications and heard from others who have studied at Case is vastly different than what I’ve read here.</p>
<p>Tiff90:</p>
<p>I hope that your parents recognize and respect your decision to attend Tulane. The decision is yours and yours alone to make. It's difficult when parents have such vicarious integration into their kid’s life that they fail to make judgments based on the direction their grown son or daughter wishes to take. </p>
<p>I've seen plenty of friends suffer from similar situations where their desires to attend certain universities or to enter a certain career were masked by their parent’s checkbook. In almost all of these situations when the parents got their way my friends were miserable. In fact one of my friends who went to a university his parents wanted him to attend over his own choice ended up getting a second Bachelors degree at the school of his choice afterwards. To this day he still feels that his first degree was a complete waste of time.</p>
<p>A second bachelor's degree at a different college? That's very unusual. Was he a full time student the second time around? How did he pay for the second bachelor's degree?</p>
<p>Hi again;</p>
<p>From what I know, my friend was a full-time student throughout his time at both institutions. This is what happened, upon graduating from high school his parents told him they would only pay for his schooling if he attended University X. They had also recently bought him a new car. Condition number two was they would take it away if he didn't go there. So he went to University X. after graduating, my friend decided to enter the workforce; as a server at a restaurant! He had a computer sciences degree from a very good university but simply did not want to enter this field. After about a year, he went to his university of choice and just recently finished his second bachelors. I can't say who paid for the second degree.</p>
<p>This is one example, but I have a number of other friends who have been "frustrated" with their parent's influence on their life post high school. It's sad because this influence is usually exerted in the form of finances from the parents to the kids in some way. Many high school grads have a choice to make early on if they want to accept mom and pop's funding or not. If they do, they will be dealing with an oversight committee (some parents are much more graceful than others of course) for many years to come as they make their way through school. If they don't, they end up flipping the bill for school but gain complete autonomy from parental nagging.</p>
<p>My parents aren't really sold on Tulane, think its too far(would cost $1,000 a year for airfar).
They feel case is offering better aid, but really just offer 1 more loan and a work study. I feel it wouldn't be too difficult to get a job at Tulane, but I can't convince my parents, especially since they put down the deposit at case.</p>
<p>You seem like you're more for Tulane with the exception of the distance. I wouldn't worry that much about the distance; go where you feel comfortable (and it seems as if you're more comfortable at Tulane.)</p>
<p>Several years ago, it was VERY difficult to get a job on campus at Tulane, although the off campus jobs were plentiful. Also, since Katrina you need to confirm how many classes there are in the social sciences, political sciences areas at Tulane, not all areas are up to speed.</p>
<p>Have your parents seen Tulane? Taking them along on a visit to New Orleans might be an effective closing technique in selling them on Tulane as the better place for you. </p>
<p>New Orleans is a very unique place with a flavor unlike anywhere else in the country. Some won't like the old hippies who hang out in the French quarter and some will be turned off by the poverty in too many areas in and around New Orleans and some might even be turned off by the wealth of the students that go to Tulane. </p>
<p>But some (probably many more) go to visit Tulane and fall in love with its beautiful campus and neighborhood. Experience NOLA first-hand and you can’t help but feel its energy, creativity and spirit. Not all is peaches and cream as New Orleans is pretty poor and in need of a lot of help following Katrina, but there is a large and growing service element tied to the Tulane experience. I think that this is an additive experience for Tulane students and can help them shed or minimize the party-school stereotype that sells the school far too short.</p>
<p>Hawkette, if the parents are concerned about Tulane costing $1,000 / year for airfare, then I can't imagine the parents are going to actually want to pay that airfare to come visit NOLA in the first place?</p>
<p>pizzagirl,
I thought about that when I posted and I agree that it's a legitimate concern. My (perhaps inaccurate) interpretation of the OP's situation is that the parents would prefer their child to be a few hours away rather than 1000+ miles away and that they may be using the financial cost of getting to Tulane as a way to deter the student's interest in attending. But if they can pull it off, Tulane and Case Western and New Orleans and Cleveland are about as different as it gets in the USA and seeing both really could help all concerned (student and parents) make an informed decision. </p>
<p>Southwest flies into New Orleans and they might provide some cheap fares. Another alternative is to drive or include New Orleans as part of a family vacation this summer. All less than ideal I know, but still worth consideration if the family can handle it.</p>