Case Western Reserve University Top Questions

The university has a great name, which in my opinion is being tarnished by it's lack of selectivity in admissions. Parking and housing are both horribly and ridiculously overpriced - as is the meal plan. The entire area has been under construction since I got here 3 years ago and it's not going to be over for another few months at the earliest. The Greenies (shuttle buses) are also VERY unreliable in the sense of they have no schedule, so don't count on them for anything unless you can check the next arrival time - my smartphone with internet is my new best friend because it tells me when the next one is arriving.

Case tries to be in league with Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, Emory, etc... and fails miserably. The pretentious SAGES program is not fooling anybody, and dumbing down the student body by lowering admissions standards is not helping. The Weatherhead School of Management may have a Frank Gehry building, but a nice building does not mean a great program. I seek transfer.

If you care about your degree first and foremost, consider Case. If you care about having fun first and foremost, look elsewhere. Only serious students need apply. You may think that partying and academic achievement are not mutually exclusive. And they aren't, but the parties are very subdued compared to what you see at a state school (believe me, I know. I've been to state schools during their parties). If you think you can drink yourself silly every night and graduate from this university, you're sorely mistaken.

Forwarning, it SNOWS in Cleveland. Cleveland on the east side of Case is a depressed area, and it is cloudy and cold most of the winter. Although the desire to not go outside in winter helps students to focus on studies, it also leaves people getting worn down, aching for spring, and disliking Cleveland. I recommend staying and working on Campus during a summer when it is quieter, warm, sunny, and every minute of your day is not consumed with homework. It lets you connect with the Cleveland community and actually explore of campus. I didn't learn to apprciate Cleveland until I stayed for a summer. Case is a good school, and will well prepare you for Graduate school or the working world.

In general campus life has been improving over the four years I have attended and despite the large percentage of stereotypical students there are normal, fun, intelligent people at this campus.

this survey was a lot longer than 10 minutes

A lot of students transfere after their first year because they can't handle the work load. Case has one of the highest work loads in the country but it's not impossible to get through it. If you are hard working and willig to put the time in to study and get the most out of your education, then Case is definetly the right fit for you. College is what you make of it, and Case I think at least, is one of the best places to expand your mind.

The weather is terrible here, and the road construction worse. So if you come, make sure you have sturdy shoes that are waterproof (like rain boots or hiking boots), a warm winter jacket (like a ski jacket), hats, gloves, umbrella (very important), and a water resistant or water proof bag or backpack.

I think I've said enough, possibly too much already.

I'm really happy at Case, I think the student population is diverging from the stereotypical "Case Nerd" much quicker than the administration would like to believe. People need to realize that you can come to Case and have lots of fun, just don't expect it to be like going to Arizona, Michigan State or Ohio State as far as a party scene. There are plenty of parties, you just need to look. Also, Case administration doesn't really care about the US News and World Report rankings, our ranking is traditionally lower than our peer schools because we admit so many people. Case realizes many of their applicants apply to the Ivies, Johns Hopkins, WashU, etc., so they must admit lots of people and give out scholarships to fill classes. Not a bad thing, just doesn't look good with US News.