what's it like?

<p>Tell me about Case Western... why did you apply? Is it your first choice? Why? Why not?</p>

<p>We live about 30 minutes from Case Western and we absolutely love it. People who live in OH regard it highly (actually we basically consider it to be our Ivy) and it is obviously regarded highly since it is in the top 50 universities in the US. We know many people who are currently students there and people who have graduated from the college. We have never heard anything but positive things about it. It is located in one of the coolest areas of Cleveland. The Cleveland Art Museum, Severance Hall (Cleveland Orchestra), Cleveland Instutute of Music & Art, The Natural History Museum, & the Cleveland Botanical Gardens are just steps away from the campus. Playhouse Square, Little Italy, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Flats (restaurants & bars) and some quaint shopping centers (+ several malls) are also very close by. Since you can ride the rapid transit or take the bus for free everything is very accessible. </p>

<p>Case is very well known for pre-med, dental, engineering, nursing, & business degrees. The Cleveland Clinic is not far away & University Hospital is mixed in with the campus. However, my son is going to go there for an Art History & French major with a minor in studio art. The art history courses are actually taught in the Cleveland Museum of Art. How cool is that? We have heard very positive things about the liberal arts part of the school. You can also get your master's degree in 5 years which is very good if you plan on getting your PhD.</p>

<p>Do not believe everything you hear about nothing to do, Cleveland being safe, or the food. There is plenty to do all the time if you choose to do it. The area is quite safe but again I wouldn't go out at night anywhere without someone else with me. The food is much better because they got a new food vendor. The other thing to remember about their food plan - you can apply points & the cash portion at several nearby restaurants, etc. I have never heard of another food plan that does this.</p>

<p>First choice, see above! Also, can't wait to take classes with people who want to learn, and pick from the great variety of classes offered. By the way, there are people who stay in their rooms and play computer games all the time so if you are that way you will be fine. If you want to have fun there are also sororities & frats which I hear are know how to have fun. A really good mix of students.</p>

<p>The school itself sounds appealing, but my concern would be that the enviroment might be too urban for my outdoor-loving kid. How far away are recreational activities? Do the kids take advantage of those kinds of things - have outdoor ed clubs and such?</p>

<p>ASAP - I am not sure about outdoor ed clubs, but maybe look to see on their website. Martin Luther King Parkway is located on one side of the campus which is just gorgeous for walking, roller-blading, etc. We have at least two or three skiing places w/i a short distance of Cleveland. In Shaker Hts., there are some beautiful lakes which you child could get to easily via the RTA or Rapid. Of course, if it is sports your after, we have the Cavalier's, Browns, and Indians. The arena's are very accesible to the campus. The lake is very close also. The best thing to do would be to come to the campus, and check it out. I'm sure that Cleveland must have a visitor's website and I would recommend driving around. Good luck!</p>

<p>In reading their catalog, I saw that CWRU owns a 390-acre farm which is 10 miles from campus. I have no idea how often students go there or use it or if there is transportation to it.</p>

<p>From their web sites:</p>

<p>
[quote]
The University Farm is a Case-owned, beautiful 389 acre property that includes within its boundaries forests, ravines, waterfalls, meadows, ponds, and a self-contained natural watershed. The Farm is the site of several buildings designed for educational, research, and recreational purposes. </p>

<p>• five picnic areas, two of which are covered</p>

<p>• playing fields for volleyball and softball</p>

<p>• a five-mile, all-weather trail available to hikers, joggers, and cross-country skiers; used by CWRU’s cross-country team</p>

<p>• an interpretive nature trail </p>

<p>• two ponds for fishing

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href="http://www.case.edu/farm/fac/picnic.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.case.edu/farm/fac/picnic.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.case.edu/farm/fac/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.case.edu/farm/fac/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.case.edu/farm/fac/Valley%20Ridge%20Farm.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.case.edu/farm/fac/Valley%20Ridge%20Farm.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.case.edu/pubs/cwrumag/summer2001/features/fieldofdreams/index.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.case.edu/pubs/cwrumag/summer2001/features/fieldofdreams/index.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.cwru.edu/farm/Description.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cwru.edu/farm/Description.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.cwru.edu/farm/Location.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cwru.edu/farm/Location.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.cwru.edu/farm/Education.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cwru.edu/farm/Education.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Interesting! Thanks, T990.</p>

<p>Thanks. So I think of Case as a school where you're either an engineer - or you're not. And that's about it. Is the school dominated by science/engineering types? Is the undergrad business school any good? They brag about being 25th best in the country, which doesn't sound too terribly impressive.</p>

<p>topcat0214, visit the place, meet the faculty & students, listen to a class, then decide if its impressive.</p>

<p>I read comments that the CWRU business program is rated higher than its engineering. And that on the Humanities side, the classes are smaller and the faculty is more friendly than on the engineering side. I've seen it rated highly for music and for dance. It seems the student quality of life is improving as they change the campus. Forbes magazine says the workload is second only to MIT.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.studentsreview.com/OH/CWRU_c.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.studentsreview.com/OH/CWRU_c.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The school is dominated by graduate students; outnumber undergrads something like 5,000 to 3,500. Hence it is a serious school; not a big party school.</p>

<p>I live about 25-30 minutes west of Case, my school usualy sends a few there every year. I was there last week for the yearly robotics competition they have and they've been done alot renovating since I was last there (part of the reason was the VP debates, couldn't get tickets but that's another story). But overall it's a great and very serious school. The area is so-so, at night I probably wouldn't walk around the area alone (although you probably shouldn't be walking anywhere alone at night).</p>

<p>D is a junior at Case and loves it. She is liberal arts and currently in Amsterdam for Spring Break taking a class there with about 20 undergrads and 50 grad students. It is not an engineering school only. My daughter has many friends who are in the nursing program and sciences. Case is putting stronger emphasis on liberal arts with new president, I feel. I am surprised at changes in her short time there, things i was not even aware of till I read it on CC, like Sages for everyone, etc... Daughter is always able to meet with professors during office hours or by email, never had a problem with this. I am impressed with Case security, if something happens on campus, students immediatly get an email informing of the incident and to be alert. The students do study hard but they also have a great sense of humor. I love the Little Italy and Coventry area too! D loves the library,as it should be.</p>

<p>I admit nearly total ignorance about Case - am trying to get a handle on whether or not it would be right for my younger son. He's interested in business/marketing/advertising. He's fun-loving, but I don't think he'd like a school that's dominated by frats and tons of partying. But the students can't be all serous all the time. His top choice right now is probably Michigan (we're in state), but he's also fallen in love with Denison. So I'm looking for schools that are like Denison in that they're not so huge, have a pre-professional orientation, good academics, lots of nice midwestern kids - but not exclusively regional. Case seems to meet some of these criteria, but I'm wondering about the social life. Also, is it really the hardest workload next to MIT? For all majors?</p>

<p>I'm a student at Case now, there is a social life if you want there to be one. There are lots of bands that play on campus, movies or plays to go see, and clubs to get involved in. There are people that complain that there is nothing to do, but it is because they don't take advantage of everything that Case has to offer.
Workload is hardest in engineering, but tough all around</p>

<p>topcat0214 - I know several people who have graduated from the business school and they are doing quite nicely. I think it would be best for you to come to the campus & see it for yourselves. Sometimes just the feel of the place can help you decide whether or not it is for you. Yes, it is well known for the academics & you do have to study. On the other hand, the students aren't serious all the time and know how to have a good time. I assume that your son is a junior because the application for the 2005 year should have been sent in by 1/15. If you call the admissions office I'm sure that they would give you the number of a student (or will take your number) & have a student in the business program call you or e-mail your son. You can also call them or e-mail them and ask them to send information about their business courses. Good luck! By the way they are also very well known for nursing, pre-law, pre-med, pre-dentistry, etc. Note: If you click on the search button, and click on advanced search you can put in Western Reserve (don't put in Case because it will bring up too many random things, i.e., in case) & it will bring up a lot of information elsewhere on this website about Case.</p>

<p>Thanks. Trying to figure out if it's worth a trip. It's not so far -- but it's an overnight at least. Any thoughts about merit aid?</p>

<p>CWRU is well known for their generous merit aid. And the great thing is that they let you know your merit amount along with the admissions letter, instead of weeks later like most other schools.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Case’s undergraduate biomedical engineering program is fourth in the nation, with overall undergraduate engineering programs at number 33, up from 38.</p>

<p>Case’s general management major is ranked number 21 and management information systems comes in at 19, while overall undergraduate business programs are ranked 25th in the country, up from 27th last year.

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href="http://admission.case.edu/admissions/news/news_story.asp?iNewsID=461&strBack=%2Fadmissions%2Fnews%2Fnews%5Farchive%2Easp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://admission.case.edu/admissions/news/news_story.asp?iNewsID=461&strBack=%2Fadmissions%2Fnews%2Fnews%5Farchive%2Easp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>FYI:</p>

<p><a href="http://bestfouryears.com/CaseWestern.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://bestfouryears.com/CaseWestern.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>topcat-you should definitely visit. That was what sealed the deal for me. I will be a freshman this fall at Case. I'm a biology major, chem and music minor on a pre-med track. I'm also swimming on the women's varsity team. I was accepted at Dartmouth, Notre Dame, Emory, and Case. I chose Case over all of the others because of the variety of opportunities it offered, the students, and financial aid. I could get an excellent science education, but also pursue my interests in music and swimming. The students are focused on learning, but also having fun. Also, I was offered a great merit scholarship (19400) and a lot of need-based financial aid. I live in Indiana, and Case is only about 6 hours away. Hope this helps a little!</p>

<p>How is the computer science program. Do they have a major in computer sc ience.</p>

<p>


I believe they might be trying to improve the qualilty of the student profile in the Humanities and Arts, and also trying to attract a more national student body.</p>

<p>Here are some interesting quotes from the President:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Case’s $126-million residential complex, a stunning departure from traditional college housing, sets a new standard nationally.

[/quote]

[quote]
We’ve welcomed the largest and most national first-year class in the history of Case Western Reserve University... The incoming class of 1,150, which has brought the highest SAT scores in the university’s history, represents a 50 percent increase over the size of last year’s group. Members of the class come from 40 different states, including Alaska.

[/quote]

The full text is on line here:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.case.edu/menu/president/welcome05.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.case.edu/menu/president/welcome05.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>