<p>Hi, I've been admitted to the University of Michigan (LSA) and Case Western Reserve University. I was admitted to a few other schools, but I narrowed down my choices between these two. I really only have a little more than a week before I have to enroll, so any advice would be great.</p>
<p>Some info about me:
Cost - Michigan is oos tuition, received 6k. Case is private, received 17.5k.
Location - Cleveland, OH
Future Plans - Undecided, but deciding between Medicine or Law
Hobbies - Love film, Watch/play all sports (from bball, to soccer, etc.)</p>
<p>Honestly, I'm leaning somewhat towards U-Mich because it is further away from home, and I think there are more opportunities available for undergraduates. Although cost is not a large issue for me, do the benefits of attending Michigan, outweigh the extra cost? Also, will either school be more beneficial if I choose to apply to Med or Law school? In terms of fit, I went to a small private high school, but I've felt like I will adjust to most colleges. Still, I'm interested in which school seems better for me, or at least which school seems like I would enjoy more and be more successful at (e.g. gpa). Thanks!</p>
<p>Either school is fine if you apply to Med or Law school, but what is your intended undergraduate major? Fitting into U-Mich may be hard since you come from a private high school. Have you visited both campuses?</p>
<p>Yes, I have visited both campuses. I visited Michigan twice, over the summer and the admitted students day. Also, I’ve visited Case, and did an overnight. Honestly, I never distinguished one school as being far superior than the other. As far as my major, I’m undecided. I understand that you can major in anything, and apply to Med school as long as you take the required classes and the MCAT. Does that also apply to law school? At Michigan, the Screen Arts and Culture interests me - I figure I can do this and take the required med/law classes. At Case, there is no film major, but I think I would major in a foreign language or something (haven’t thought about it too much), and minor in film and media studies. Thanks for responding btw, it’s much appreciated!</p>
<p>I would choose Michigan since its a far better school than Case and its always to good to broaden your horizons in college. Both will be fine for premed/prelaw but a Michigan degree is worth the premium IMHO.</p>
<p>Michigan vs Case --</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Both excellent schools. Michigan probably has the better rep. But Case’s is really excellent.</p></li>
<li><p>Benefits vs. Cost. No one can answer this question. </p></li>
<li><p>Your case – you prefer Michigan. How much of a strain will the extra cost be on your family? If the strain is small – go to Michigan. If it’s great – you have a much harder choice.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>What would you be paying for each?</p>
<p>You got $11.5k more from Case, but Case is $4k more expensive than Michigan. Therefore, the difference in overall cost of attendance should be roughly $7k per year. That is not insignificant, but it may not be large enough to affect your decision. In such a case, I would go for fit. </p>
<p>jolycashy, I am not sure why it would be hard for a student from a private high school to fit in at Michigan. Michigan students usually come from middle-upper income families and many attended private high schools or public high schools in affluent communities.</p>
<p>You can major in anything if you are interested in going to law school and if that is your plan I would recommend majoring in the field which interests you the most and to do something interesting with it. You will get a good education at either school but I think Michigan would be worth the additional $7 per year if you feel a better fit there.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your input. Financially, I’m lucky to be somewhat well off, so the 7k difference is not a huge deal but it’s significant enough to influence my decision a little bit. Some other information about me (maybe help with fit): I’m Asian (Indian) and I’m interested in study abroad and/or internships I can get through the college. Honestly, I’m not much of a partier though I’m pretty outgoing. I love film and sports which is a plus for Michigan. Still, I like that Case is more small and intimate. I like Ann Arbor in that it’s far from home (though only a 3 hr drive), but I like Cleveland in that I’m more familiar with it (and my parents slightly prefer it). Honestly, I think I can fit in at either place, but I’m trying to figure out which is ultimately better for me. Also, will either school be advantageous for me when I apply to Law/Med school, and will either better prepare me to get accepted into a top notch law/med school?</p>
<p>You may get more personal attention at Case, which might be better for law school/med school.</p>
<p>bump… just seeking a little more input</p>
<p>Assuming you do equally well at each, the differences in grad school admissions chances will be marginal at best. Each is well known in academic circles as an excellent school.</p>
<p>With choices between these – Go to the school you feel is the best fit. If it’s a ‘tie’ IMO, Michigan (even if it’s a bit more expensive), but others may differ.</p>
<p>I think for students interested in Medical school, both Case and Michigan will serve equally well. For students interested in Law school, I think Michigan has a slight advantage. I do not think a degree from either will make a significant difference at the end of the day. Since cost is not a concern, I would go for fit.</p>
<p>Both are upper-middle class, Michigan maybe a little more upper. If your parents are well off, you will fit in at both. I recommend UMich just because it has more prestige and in this case, cheaper.</p>
<p>If you want to go to med or law school, you need to budget for the expenses of graduate school. Consider the total cost of attendance for 4-5 years at both Case & Michigan (OoS) for UG, which may sway you towards more financially prudent choices.</p>
<p>Usually the state supported med schools prefer their own undergraduates. Private med schools’ cost of attendance is higher than the state med schools. Currently the job prospects is very challenging for many fresh law graduates. </p>
<p>If your parents are willing to finance your UG education, then consider Case Western; the lower level (Freshman & Sophomore) undergraduate class sizes are smaller at Case, and it is possible to have more personal interaction with the professors conducting research.</p>
Go for Michigan, where you can fit either as premed or prelaw, and its also much cheaper. The package you received from CWRU just reduced it to the same price as UMICH’s