<p>The acceptance rate at Case Western is 75%. However, in college rankings, they are higher or similarly ranked with Carnegie Mellon, Tufts, NYU, Emory, UChicago, and Washington University. They have SAT scores:
SAT Critical Reading: 580 / 690
SAT Math: 620 / 720
SAT Writing: 580 / 680
which are higher than other universities with higher acceptance rates.</p>
<p>I am not sure, but maybe they have a highly self selected applicant pool?</p>
<p>i would assume it’s because they’re one of those “Self-selective” schools that don’t get a lot of applicants, but the people that do apply are competitive students and are really serious about going there. </p>
<p>it’s not exactly a “dream school” like an NYU, who gets a ton of applicants just for their name and location. or Emory, WUSTL, and some of those other schools that are desirable schools for most people living in those respective regions. </p>
<p>however, the quality of education there is definitely elite and they have tons of resources and research opportunities.</p>
<p>They may be hedging their bet on meeting enrollment goals.</p>
<p>In my experience, schools described as having “self selected” applicants are mostly “self selecting” at the yield stage-ie., have low yield rates.</p>
<p>Case is like Rensselaer, Rochester, Stevens, etc in terems of self selection. It is well known as a “tech”, engineering school and not as well known in other areas. Such schools do have a small, strong group of students that seek the sort of programs they are most known for.</p>
<p>Case Western has a recent yield rate of 20.8% (2009 USN&WR Ultimate College Guide).
I’m guessing it loses a lot of cross admits to Carnegie Mellon, and that students in the Northeast don’t see it as better enough or its location attractive enough not to stay more local at RPI, WPI or Lehigh. It may also lose Midwesterners to science and engineering programs at large state flagships.</p>
<p>location, location , location</p>
<p>I agree with blu_g8orade. I think a lot of it has to do with the applicant pool being “self-selected.” Tons of people who may not even be qualified apply to places like NYU. That doesn’t really happen at places like Case Western.</p>
<p>Where, and how, is Case Western “higher or similarly ranked” with UChicago? According to USWorld, Case Western Reserve University is 41st whereas UChi is 8th. On what basis do you consider CWU to be Chicago’s peer?</p>
<p>They are used as a safety for a lot of top students. And like blu_g8torade said, the applicant pool is pretty self-selecting. Most bad students do not want to go to a nerdy tech school.</p>
<p>Ummm . . . because it’s in Cleveland? Frankly, no one outside Ohio sees Cleveland as a desirable location.</p>
<p>As for the comparison group, US News ranks Case Western BELOW every one of the schools the OP names—Chicago, Wash U, Emory, Carnegie Mellon, Tufts, NYU. In fact, Case Western ranks as pretty much the bottom of the private universities in the top 50 US News ranking, which makes it a safety for a lot of applicants who think private is inherently better, but most of them will get into better schools and decide accordingly. As for Ohioans, most calculate that Ohio State or one of the other Ohio publics is more attractive and a better deal. So there you are: Case Western is a school without a natural market. not surprising that it comes out on the short end of the stick at admissions time.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s appropriate to compare Case with those other good schools. I just think they’re not in the same level.</p>
<p>Case Western Reserve University is a VERY good school. The kids that go there were at the top of their classes in HS & are brilliant. </p>
<p>The reason it doesn’t compare as favorably with the other schools mentioned is that is mainly known for engineering, dental, sciences & math, etc. It can’t compare to the other schools because it does not have a strong humanities draw. The last president really tried to get more humanities students which would make it comparable to the other schools mentioned but it will take time.</p>
<p>I would also like to add that with the scholarship money that they are known for it is a much better value than the other public colleges in OH. However, it is on the small side so the kids that want a large university will choose Ohio State.</p>
<p>And I agree completely with mom2ofOH since I have a son graduating from Case next month. It is a very good school but somewhat quirky. You really have to like snow and cold weather cause you’re going to get it. It has an unbalanced M/F population because of it’s strong focus on engineering and science. It is possible to major in a humanities. My son will be getting a BS in Bio and a BA in History.</p>
<p>Scholarship money made Case affordable and a much better experience for my son than OSU would have been.</p>
<p>Case is not as selective as the other schools, but a lot of upper-tiered students prefer to attend Case because of the financial aid (merit and need) they offer and that makes the statistics look high.</p>
<p>@ barrons and bclintonk</p>
<p>I’ve always wondered about why Ohio, and especially the Cleveland (and Cincinnati(?)) areas have this stigma sorrounding them? I’m not from Ohio, but it really does startle me. I googled “Cleveland” and got some pretty pictures, and the wikipedia article doesn’t seem to mention anything blatantly unappealing. Could someone explain to me what the deal is?</p>
<p>Because they are a good safety for applicants to top schools. Because their nerdyish vibe tends to lead to a lower yield, despite the cashmoney they throw at accepted students.</p>
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<p>Historically Cleveland has been EXTREMELY polluted and (I’ve heard) quite dangerous. I’m not sure of its state right now, however; I’ve only really been around the “nice” parts of Cleveland.</p>
<p>@CaddyBJ @bclintonk
Just because U.S. News ranks Case lower doesn’t mean it is indeed lower on the spectrum than those colleges. Look at Washington Monthly’s college rankings. I’m not saying that Case may be ranked higher there but it is an entirely different ranking system. These two rankings show you that rankings are subjectively objective enough to turn the tables on one college or another, and there is no definite way to rank colleges for the public.</p>
<p>As for Case, it is a very good school for engineering, as its engineering program is very good, but not as good for other humanities-related majors.</p>