Case Western or UMD for engineering

[Anonymous]

My DC picked Case Engineering over UMD engineering (honors), instate. Case (with the highest level of merit) is more expensive than UMD (no merit, in state), but it is the right fit for this Child. They like being in the city and the campus. They go to the art museum and like the restaurant choices. The Think Box (maker space) is amazing, and my child uses it frequently.

Case is a very serious school (their words, not mine) and DC was not interested in the big ten life (not into tailgating or greek life). My other child- non engineering major (math and computer science), loves everything about UMD and is living their best life.

You know your kid, they are both great schools but have a very different vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC picked Case Engineering over UMD engineering (honors), instate. Case (with the highest level of merit) is more expensive than UMD (no merit, in state), but it is the right fit for this Child. They like being in the city and the campus. They go to the art museum and like the restaurant choices. The Think Box (maker space) is amazing, and my child uses it frequently.

Case is a very serious school (their words, not mine) and DC was not interested in the big ten life (not into tailgating or greek life). My other child- non engineering major (math and computer science), loves everything about UMD and is living their best life.

You know your kid, they are both great schools but have a very different vibe.

As someone who has lived in both places and has friends/relatives who have attended both schools, I have found that this post really sums up the key considerations.

[Anonymous]

The vibe at these schools are so different I can’t imagine someone having a hard time choosing. Just visit both.

[Anonymous]

I know many kids who chose UMD engineering and are very happy there. Lots of very smart kids (not "medium bright" as the PP called them) go there. Got into MIT, but could not pay the tuition. UMD is very competitive now, and its reputation is growing. Case has a nice campus, but it's in Cleveland.

OP, it's your kid's choice. Either school will be fine for engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Case Western is big on yield protection. At my kid's HS they waitlist all the high stats kids. I'd almost want to say that with a 35/36 ACT its better to go test optional.

Ditto at our high school. It was off-putting to my high stats kid. If Case had offered huge merit, my kid might have gone there, but my kid just rejected the wait list, so we'll never know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC picked Case Engineering over UMD engineering (honors), instate. Case (with the highest level of merit) is more expensive than UMD (no merit, in state), but it is the right fit for this Child. They like being in the city and the campus. They go to the art museum and like the restaurant choices. The Think Box (maker space) is amazing, and my child uses it frequently.

Case is a very serious school (their words, not mine) and DC was not interested in the big ten life (not into tailgating or greek life). My other child- non engineering major (math and computer science), loves everything about UMD and is living their best life.

You know your kid, they are both great schools but have a very different vibe.

As someone who has lived in both places and has friends/relatives who have attended both schools, I have found that this post really sums up the key considerations.

Same! I do think the Case student would get much more personalized attention from professors and career services. This might be very useful for an introverted/ nerdy kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC picked Case Engineering over UMD engineering (honors), instate. Case (with the highest level of merit) is more expensive than UMD (no merit, in state), but it is the right fit for this Child. They like being in the city and the campus. They go to the art museum and like the restaurant choices. The Think Box (maker space) is amazing, and my child uses it frequently.

Case is a very serious school (their words, not mine) and DC was not interested in the big ten life (not into tailgating or greek life). My other child- non engineering major (math and computer science), loves everything about UMD and is living their best life.

You know your kid, they are both great schools but have a very different vibe.

Thank you for this! Have yet to visit, but on paper Case looks perfect for DD. I feel like UMD can be overwhelming for a quiet kid. She is just interested in the best engineering program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case Western is big on yield protection. At my kid's HS they waitlist all the high stats kids. I'd almost want to say that with a 35/36 ACT its better to go test optional.

This admission cycle my NOVA kid chose CS at UMD ($10k merit per year) over Case engineering ($30k) as well as BU ($25k), Lehigh ($30k) WM ($0), Ohio St. ($16.5k), UMN ($25k) and Pitt ($0). Really enjoyed our visit. He was deferred to RD from EA. He was bitter about the deferral. He would have liked to get out of the DMV, but think he made the smart choice.

I agree. CWRU might have been an option for my kid too but the deferral crossed them off.

I don't understand the "deferral crossed them off"? If you kid wanted to go and would have accepted in EA, what was the "better offer" from a RD school that swayed them?
It's not like they were Waitlisted--that I can understand. After May 1 most kids move on

I was the first poster that chose UMD, with my kid it was an ego thing. Thought he was being a bit sensitive. Oh well.

He was it seems. Especially since Case is known to do that---it's one way they can make sure you are really interested. They often keep asking those "deferred" if they are interested/will switch to ED2/etc. IMO, case is a better deal if you are not in-state MD pricing, and even then, I'm not a fan of huge schools where you cannot switch majors/select what you want as a major/minor/double major/etc. Which means I'm a huge fan of the 6-8K sized schools who allow you to pick your. major (except nursing obviously because you must start on day 1 to get thru in 4 years).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case Western is big on yield protection. At my kid's HS they waitlist all the high stats kids. I'd almost want to say that with a 35/36 ACT its better to go test optional.

This admission cycle my NOVA kid chose CS at UMD ($10k merit per year) over Case engineering ($30k) as well as BU ($25k), Lehigh ($30k) WM ($0), Ohio St. ($16.5k), UMN ($25k) and Pitt ($0). Really enjoyed our visit. He was deferred to RD from EA. He was bitter about the deferral. He would have liked to get out of the DMV, but think he made the smart choice.

I agree. CWRU might have been an option for my kid too but the deferral crossed them off.

I don't understand the "deferral crossed them off"? If you kid wanted to go and would have accepted in EA, what was the "better offer" from a RD school that swayed them?
It's not like they were Waitlisted--that I can understand. After May 1 most kids move on

I was the first poster that chose UMD, with my kid it was an ego thing. Thought he was being a bit sensitive. Oh well.

He was it seems. Especially since Case is known to do that---it's one way they can make sure you are really interested. They often keep asking those "deferred" if they are interested/will switch to ED2/etc. IMO, case is a better deal if you are not in-state MD pricing, and even then, I'm not a fan of huge schools where you cannot switch majors/select what you want as a major/minor/double major/etc. Which means I'm a huge fan of the 6-8K sized schools who allow you to pick your. major (except nursing obviously because you must start on day 1 to get thru in 4 years).

Thanks for your opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case Western is big on yield protection. At my kid's HS they waitlist all the high stats kids. I'd almost want to say that with a 35/36 ACT its better to go test optional.

Ditto at our high school. It was off-putting to my high stats kid. If Case had offered huge merit, my kid might have gone there, but my kid just rejected the wait list, so we'll never know.

Same, just a huge turnoff. Mine got an offer of merit from the waitlist but then rejected the waitlist on their first silly weekly check-in. I'd be wary of sending my kid to a place that is so into rankings that they across the board accept lower stats kids. Before anyone makes an accusation of sour grapes, someone posted data on this from a HS in California at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If cost is the same, which would you choose and why?

US News lists UMD as #19 for engineering. Case Western isn't listed in the top 37 so guessing it's further down the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC picked Case Engineering over UMD engineering (honors), instate. Case (with the highest level of merit) is more expensive than UMD (no merit, in state), but it is the right fit for this Child. They like being in the city and the campus. They go to the art museum and like the restaurant choices. The Think Box (maker space) is amazing, and my child uses it frequently.

Case is a very serious school (their words, not mine) and DC was not interested in the big ten life (not into tailgating or greek life). My other child- non engineering major (math and computer science), loves everything about UMD and is living their best life.

You know your kid, they are both great schools but have a very different vibe.

Thank you for this! Have yet to visit, but on paper Case looks perfect for DD. I feel like UMD can be overwhelming for a quiet kid. She is just interested in the best engineering program

Then that would be UMD.

UMD is large enough where they can find other quiet kids to hang out with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case Western is big on yield protection. At my kid's HS they waitlist all the high stats kids. I'd almost want to say that with a 35/36 ACT its better to go test optional.

Ditto at our high school. It was off-putting to my high stats kid. If Case had offered huge merit, my kid might have gone there, but my kid just rejected the wait list, so we'll never know.

Same, just a huge turnoff. Mine got an offer of merit from the waitlist but then rejected the waitlist on their first silly weekly check-in. I'd be wary of sending my kid to a place that is so into rankings that they across the board accept lower stats kids. Before anyone makes an accusation of sour grapes, someone posted data on this from a HS in California at some point.

They don't "across the board accept lower stats kids". They do what all schools do---they attempt to determine who will actually attend if given an offer of admission. Fact is many kids with a 35/36 ACT and 1550+ SAT are also applying to T20 schools---so if Case thinks they will get into one of those, then they might not offer a spot unless you have shown huge demonstrated interest. It's what all school in the 25-50 range do. Their goal is to fill their class and calculate yield, not offer spots to kids who want to go elsewhere and will likely get in elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case Western is big on yield protection. At my kid's HS they waitlist all the high stats kids. I'd almost want to say that with a 35/36 ACT its better to go test optional.

Ditto at our high school. It was off-putting to my high stats kid. If Case had offered huge merit, my kid might have gone there, but my kid just rejected the wait list, so we'll never know.

Same, just a huge turnoff. Mine got an offer of merit from the waitlist but then rejected the waitlist on their first silly weekly check-in. I'd be wary of sending my kid to a place that is so into rankings that they across the board accept lower stats kids. Before anyone makes an accusation of sour grapes, someone posted data on this from a HS in California at some point.

They don't "across the board accept lower stats kids". They do what all schools do---they attempt to determine who will actually attend if given an offer of admission. Fact is many kids with a 35/36 ACT and 1550+ SAT are also applying to T20 schools---so if Case thinks they will get into one of those, then they might not offer a spot unless you have shown huge demonstrated interest. It's what all school in the 25-50 range do. Their goal is to fill their class and calculate yield, not offer spots to kids who want to go elsewhere and will likely get in elsewhere.

That's all rather shady, yes? Other than visiting (privilege) you are at their mercy on how they track DI. Given the demand for T20 schools it's bold to assume these kids are getting in there either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case Western is big on yield protection. At my kid's HS they waitlist all the high stats kids. I'd almost want to say that with a 35/36 ACT its better to go test optional.

Ditto at our high school. It was off-putting to my high stats kid. If Case had offered huge merit, my kid might have gone there, but my kid just rejected the wait list, so we'll never know.

Same, just a huge turnoff. Mine got an offer of merit from the waitlist but then rejected the waitlist on their first silly weekly check-in. I'd be wary of sending my kid to a place that is so into rankings that they across the board accept lower stats kids. Before anyone makes an accusation of sour grapes, someone posted data on this from a HS in California at some point.

Would it have been a turnoff if it were a T-10 or T-20 school? I can understand admission offers are not fair but as others have said yield management is a huge part of the admission process. If you are so easily turned off by a deferral or a waitlist offer then it sort of wasn't your first choice and they guessed it right.