I am still struggling trying to choose between CWRU & Univ of Rochester on premed track with Biology major. I was on the waitlist at Case and they just accepted me yesterday. I received good scholarship so cost is not the issue. I am concerned more about keeping up my GPA, research and volunteer opportunities, accessibility to professors etc Would really appreciate your thoughts as I need to decide in the next few hours. THANK YOU.
Please help – URGENT!!!
These are really similar schools, academically. You can’t go wrong–you’ll be ok. Which one did you like better? Is one closer to your home-- that will be nicer at break times.
My DS is a second-year engineering student at Case and is very happy and has made good friends. He works hard but has time for a sport, a girlfriend, and socializing. He won a junior-senior scholarship to offset expenses in the coming two years. He also has a good internship coming up this summer that he got through the co-op office.
Some of the intro classes are taught in large auditoriums, but always by “real” PhD professors. TAs are available for recitations and study sessions. Students are pretty cooperative/collaborative and get together in study groups before exams.
For a premed, there are several hospitals right within walking distance where you can volunteer or intern. Many, many students do!
I’m not advocating Case over UR for you, but it’s the one I’m more familiar with. Ask any more questions if you like!
Thank you for your input! Would you by chance know how it is for premeds as well?
Not directly … but it seems engineers and premeds both need to work hard; they are stressed, but they’re in plentiful company. Sometimes good to go through hard things together with friends’ support. The workload is heavy but manageable, if you’re good at time management. What I said above for collaboration/study groups applies to premeds as well.
World-renowned Cleveland Clinic very close to campus, as well as University Hospitals and Rainbow Babies. Many opportunities there.
Also students have plentiful opportunities to work in professors’ labs. Getting research jobs is very easy, from what I’ve observed!
Also … to be premed … you can major in whatever interests you, as long as you fulfill basic requirements. It’s super easy and non-bureaucratic to change majors or major/minor. You don’t have to declare a major till second year.
Thank you so much! That was very helpful!
Best wishes! They’re both great schools.
Also, how hard is the grading at Case? Is it tough to maintain a high GPA?
I don’t know you or your study habits, so, hard to say! My son went to a solid high school where he worked hard. He’s working harder in college but is very focused and has kept his great GPA.
Edited to add: Going to class is important, probably correlated with GPA. The large lecture courses are recorded so you can review them later, but you shouldn’t skip class and rely on those if you can help it. Professors and TAs will answer questions in office hours or in study sessions.
Also there’s “freshman forgiveness” – you can drop a class right up to the last week without getting a W.
Ok, that’s nice to know. My high school has a pretty rigorous curriculum so hopefully I should be able to keep up a good GPA. Thanks again for your insight! It was very helpful.
After hours of deliberation, I decided on the University of Rochester! Thank you for your comments!
@MIghtyHammer , thanks for coming back to let us know. Congratulations and best wishes. If you have time or energy left, please share what factors went into the final decision!
@MIghtyHammer good choice. congrats!
both are excellent schools with excellent med schools (not that you are applying to med school yet)
both have cold weather and are in cities that have seen better days. you will have similar academic experiences at both schools. it comes down to social aspect and your personality. (IMO)
Honestly, I liked the overall feel of the campus more at Rochester than at Case. When I visited a couple weeks ago, I felt that Rochester had an environment where I could learn and thrive. It really came down to my gut feeling in the end.
Thank you for your input! It was extremely helpful on that nerve wrecking day.