Hi all! I got into both UofR and CWRU and want to get your opinions on where to go. I’m planning on majoring in the humanities on a premed track, and am in particular interested in early assurance for the med school at UofR. UofR gave me 12k a year and CWRU gave me 23k a year. Honestly, neither of the schools were my top choice because of the common stereotypes I hear: CWRU is a nerdy, overly competitive student body and that Rochester is a dead campus/city in the middle of nowhere. I’m not saying that I believe this, but if someone can clarify these stereotypes as well as give their input on which school is a better fit for me, it would be appreciated. Thanks!
Have you visited either school? Can’t say I’ve heard either stereotype personally. Students I know who choose between the schools choose CW if they like a more urban school in general and URoc if they like an urban school with a campus bubble. My own lad chose URoc and the place is far from dead. He was involved in oodles of things on campus (various clubs, attending events offered, etc). We wondered if he ever slept. He graduated a couple of years back, is in med school now, and definitely loves his school.
Come over to the CWRU forum http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/case-western-reserve-university/
and read some of the faqs!
Case is awesome for premed!
But what are the net costs for each college and would you have to take loans?
I did go to an admitted students weekend for Case and really liked the campus! I’m attending an admitted students weekend for UofR in April. Even with the tunnels, I’m worried it’s going to be a long and insanely cold winter if I did end up enrolling. I’m from NJ, so I’m used to the cold but the idea of upstate NY weather is terrifying!
Case ends up being around 44k/year and rochester is around 63k/year including room and board for both. I’m not taking loans for college.
Though Rochester receives winter snow suitable for the adventurous, at 5 °F warmer on January mornings than a location such as Portland, Maine, there’s nothing remarkable about its temperatures.
If money is not an object, pick whichever school appeals to you the most. Both can help you reach your goal and IME the vast majority of students who head off to college end up enjoying where they go even if it’s not originally their #1 choice (as long as they don’t get into too much debt or go to a school way too easy for them and they get involved while at college). I know students who went to both of these schools and enjoyed their time.
I wouldn’t worry about winter. It’s 4 years of a new experience. It’s not where you have to spend the rest of your life. My lad almost didn’t apply to U Roc due to the thought of winter there and now tells folks it’s the best decision he almost didn’t make. He also adds, if you want pre-med, tis better being at a school where it’s easier to study. His brother chose a FL college with a beach. He feels it’d be a lot harder to buckle down and study on many days there.
I have a student at UofR and while it is certainly not a party school, she does not find it “dead.” It seems to be a vibrant community of students very engaged in their studies but not competitive with each other. They seem to be a pretty happy bunch. When I have visited, I see lots of smiling faces. There appears to be something entertaining to do every weekend. The weather is terrible but doesn’t bother most students and the weather is pretty similar to Cleveland. Pick the school you where you feel you fit in with the people best.
According to USNWR, Cleveland Clinic is ranked #2 for medical centers nationwide, following Mayo and preceding Johns Hopkins. As you don’t have a strong preference for either CWRU or Rochester, I’d follow the money and go to Case. There is actually a lot to do in Cleveland and CWRU is nicely situated near museums, restaurants, parks, rock and roll hall of fame, etc.