CKQ College Profiles: Case Western Reserve University

Each quarter, the College Knowledge Quarterly will feature a different U.S. college or university for families to get to know a bit better. The aim is not to tell you about a school you know well (or at least you think you know well), but to introduce you to a school you may have not considered a viable candidate before. In this edition, we are pleased to feature a school that has earned a splendid reputation in the world of STEM, while maintaining one of the most unassuming names in the country: Case Western Reserve University.

“Case” (U.S. News ranked T #42 – National Universities; Forbes ranked #100), is a medium-sized, private school in Cleveland, Ohio, serving approximately 5,400 undergraduate students in an urban metropolis, just a short distance south of Lake Erie.

Case Western Reserve University is best known for its work within the disciplines of Engineering, Biology and Business – three of the most popular academic disciplines in the United States today. With so many of our students interested in one type of engineering or another, Case is a great midwestern alternative to schools on either coast that are more difficult to gain admission to without sacrificing talented professors, great labs, or a top-notch academic reputation.

Another area of strength at Case is the financial aid. While the very high cost of attendance can throw you (around $73,000/year) They are one of approximately 80 U.S. schools to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, and the overwhelming percentage of that need is met with free money (not loans or Federal Work Study programs).

A few other points of interest on the academic front are that a small student/faculty ratio allows for a good deal of student/teacher interaction; the school has a strong Co-op program; and approximately two-thirds of the students complete some type of research or independent study during their time as undergraduates. Nearly all students will complete a senior Capstone Project to graduate.

Students rave about the balance between the geeky nature of the student body and the abundance of Greek life and parties and other clubs and events students partake in. That said, students also comment that there isn’t a lot of school spirit and athletics (while they exist) are not common followings of the bulk of the student body.

The campus is attractive and offers a welcoming environment for students of all walks of life. It’s in a good spot in Cleveland, near the city’s cultural center and has lots of museums and other attractions nearby.

It's also a school that advocates a ‘work-hard, play-hard mentality’. Students on the whole are definitely on the nerdy side and dedicated to their craft, but are also clever, quirky and social. The school offers ways both educational and social to take advantage of all of these characteristics.

Case is, to its credit, diverse, with less than half the population identifying as White, nearly three-quarters of the students coming from outside of Ohio, and a fairly good balance between men and women in a school with a STEM-dominant focus.

All of these values and programs, the stellar financial aid, and the access to a major city (in a good neighborhood) keeps the admission standard high at Case Western. The admission rate last year was 30%, the average admitted student had a 3.75 unweighted GPA and the middle 50% ACT scores were a very strong 30-34.

According to the admission office, rigor of high school curriculum, academic GPA, standardized test scores, extra-curricular activities and class rank are the most important factors in the admission decision, followed by application essay, character/personal qualities, an interview, racial/ethnic status, letters of recommendation, talent/ability and volunteer work. Other factors include: first generation students, alumni/legacy, letters of recommendation work experience, and demonstrated interest to the college.

According to the Collegeboard, the school offers a total of 70 majors, has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11-1, and operates on the semester system.

Case Western Reserve University offers an Early Decision 1 application; it is due by November 1st, along with an Early Decision 2 application, due January 15th, an Early Action deadline of November 1st and a regular admission decision deadline is also posted for January 15th.

For more information, please visit: http://case.edu/