Case Western or UMD for engineering

[Anonymous]

FYI - There are 10 NASA sites, one is Cleveland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

My kid did their "visit" online and attended a few other "online sessions to demonstrate interest", got accepted with top merit award.

Schools are free to manage their yield the way they see best fit. Fact is, visit Case and at least 50% of those kids will freely admit case was not their first choice---first choice is most often a T25/elite school but they either didn't get in or didn't get enough merit. So case knows that many who apply have the scores/stats for the elite schools and they have to guess who will attend and who won't. It's not unique to case, all schools except the T10-20 do exactly this.
Also, remember colleges are not aiming to build a class with the top 1600 SAT test takers or the Top 1600 GPAs, it's a holistic look at the entire package and with only a ~35% acceptance rate, there are still going to be a lot of people rejected, including those with high test scores. Test scores are NOT the be all end all. Don't want rejection, apply to Uof Arizona or ASU where acceptance rates are over 90%. Otherwise the fact is Case still rejects more kids than they accept.

[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.

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.

+1000

Case is a school that often even moves their WL before May 1---so if it is your top choice, you might be able to make a decision before may 1. They ask you weekly if you are still interested, they tell you up front what merit/fA you would get if you were to be offered a spot of the WL. They give you ways to demonstrate high interest if put on the WL---and some years their WL really moves, other years not so much. And give you all the information you will need to be ready to make a quick decision if they offer you a spot off WL.

[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

PP Good luck- people report that Case’s admissions is odd and some high stat kids aren’t accepted EA- that was not our experience. My case western student was a 4.8 WPA, 4.0 UW- 1500 SAT (one sitting during Covid). They had visited the campus and did an interview. They were accepted EA and received over $40k in merit aid.

[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.

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.

Just because yield management is a thing does not mean it's not shady. Honestly from what I saw this year they don't even use demonstrated interest from visits or interviews. There seems to be some unknown formula where they guess at the kids likelihood attend.

[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.

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.

Just because yield management is a thing does not mean it's not shady. Honestly from what I saw this year they don't even use demonstrated interest from visits or interviews. There seems to be some unknown formula where they guess at the kids likelihood attend.

This poster who keeps claiming CWRU is "shady" cracks me up. Such an odd word choice.

The fact remains that Case is one of the more transparent schools out there. I have one there, one at a big state school and one graduated from a T-20 and on to grad school. CWRU communicates with applicants, parents and their students constantly. And I mean constantly (dare I say to much?) Of all the universities my kids attend/have attended, Case is by far the most open and transparent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I’m not say the level of the students is worse; I’m thinking the medium bright kids who are there will be more broke.

[Anonymous]

My DS only looked at smaller engineering programs so ruled out places like UMD, Mich, Wisc. What he wanted, and has found at Case, was the ability to major in multiple areas of engineering as well as business. He did not want to have to commit to an area of focus on his application or have to apply to the program of focus after he got in because of limited space. He wanted options and the Case curriculum is very flexible. He also wanted access to hospital internships, particularly biomed engineering, and the ability to do a co-op. He did not want a Greek-system heavy school or one that revolved around athletics. He wanted a place where kids are focused and study during the week and chill on weekends. He wanted a campus in a city, not a suburb. He wanted to be taught by Professors not grad students. He has a job with a federal agency (engineering lab) this summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI - There are 10 NASA sites, one is Cleveland.

+100. The latest Case newsletter actually highlights Case grads at NASA.

[Anonymous]

My nephew got into Case but chose the the University of Wisconsin instead. He got in state tuition and just graduated with his Masters in electrical and computer engineering. He liked the Wisconsin campus better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1 answers the question

[Anonymous]

If your DS is interested in research then it is Case. Here is a list of Universities which are heavy on research…

https://harrityllp.com/college-university-institute-patent-100-list/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If your DS is interested in research then it is Case. Here is a list of Universities which are heavy on research…

https://harrityllp.com/college-university-institute-patent-100-list/

Very interesting. UMD is way down there, even below UMBC

[Anonymous]

Just amazing to me how many people are OK with a school trying to guess whether a kid is interested in attending as part of admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nephew got into Case but chose the the University of Wisconsin instead. He got in state tuition and just graduated with his Masters in electrical and computer engineering. He liked the Wisconsin campus better.

Interestingly, my DC chose Case over Wisconsin this cycle. I am certain in every cycle there are kids who chose Case over other schools and vice versa.