Case Western or UMD for engineering

[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.

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.

If they offer admission to everyone who applies with the 1550+/3.9+UW and 90 % of those kids do not accept, then case has missed out on offering admission to those kids who actually WANT to attend (say in the 1400-1450 range). Because those kids will get admitted elsewhere and get excited about their other schools, accept one by May 1 and move on. So how is it Shady to want to select the students who will actually attend? It's not Shady. That's exactly what college admissions is. It's even done a bit at the T25 level---as in, someone who applies to all 8 Ivies likely has no interest in over half of them. They are all very different schools and someone with Harvard as a best fit is not likely to think Cornell is also a best fit (don't know all the comparisions---my kids were not into ivies). So even a 1600/4.0UW and perfect resume kid has to show why Harvard is for them---if Harvard isn't feeling like they are really the best choice, they will assume the kid is gonna attend another Ivy/T25 and they might WL them or reject them.
It's quite simple that many in the 25-50 range know they are "2nd/3rd/4th/5th choices" for many top students. So they attempt to determine who is a 1st/2nd choice and offer them admission. Their goal is to fill their class by May 1, not need to go to the WL for 50%+ of their class. Case will even offer EA students a chance to change to ED2, and give them they financials and merit first. So if your Tippy Top student really wants case, they can demonstrate that by switching to ED2 and get their acceptance. Otherwise, they get deferred to RD and likely rejected or WL because the school is 99% certain they are not going to attend.

You just want to have all the options to reject 15 schools yourself. But the school's goal is to garner a certain yield. So you both want to play games---it's called the college admission process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Key is your kid wanted to attend case, did an interview and showed good interest for why case was their school. Do that and most of the others would be admitted as well. Even if you "fake it until you make it", if you convince them they are top choice and why it's the place for you, you will likely get in.

[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.

Half of "yield management" is parents/kids being upset that schools do not want to take just the kids withthe highest sAT and GPA. They don't like holistic approach because they think their 1600/4.0 UW is somehow smarter/better candidate than a 1500/3.95UW student, when in reality there is not that much difference. Perhaps the "lesser candidate" interviewed better or has an exciting EC that they are truly passionate about and it shows. Perhaps they are a true leader, not just one who does it to check boxes, etc.

And no, it's not shady. The schools goal is to fill their class with ideal candidates, based on their definitions. Interest and fit are a huge part of that. Someone at the 92% for SAT/GPA is really not any less smart than someone at the 98%---the difference is minimal.

[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.

Very different schools. Kids who pick case are looking for what the PP just stated----smaller, more attention, academic focused vs greek and athletics, ability to pick your major and not have to Apply and compete in the hunger games yet again (college admissions take 2), hospital access (there are 3 within walking distance that the university has great relationships with, etc.

UW is like UMD---huge school, they even let freshman live off campus last year because they over enrolled---Case requires 2 years on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Very different schools. Kids who pick case are looking for what the PP just stated----smaller, more attention, academic focused vs greek and athletics, ability to pick your major and not have to Apply and compete in the hunger games yet again (college admissions take 2), hospital access (there are 3 within walking distance that the university has great relationships with, etc.

UW is like UMD---huge school, they even let freshman live off campus last year because they over enrolled---Case requires 2 years on campus.

I agree with unbolded part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Key is your kid wanted to attend case, did an interview and showed good interest for why case was their school. Do that and most of the others would be admitted as well. Even if you "fake it until you make it", if you convince them they are top choice and why it's the place for you, you will likely get in.

How do you get an interview at Case? Is it part of the application or something you request after you've submitted your app?

[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.

(except nursing obviously because you must start on day 1 to get thru in 4 years).

Isn't that true for engineering as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Key is your kid wanted to attend case, did an interview and showed good interest for why case was their school. Do that and most of the others would be admitted as well. Even if you "fake it until you make it", if you convince them they are top choice and why it's the place for you, you will likely get in.

How do you get an interview at Case? Is it part of the application or something you request after you've submitted your app?

Interview isn't mandatory and slots get booked almost as soon as they are released. If you are unable to schedule a slot, your DS can call the admission officer for your region/school and see if they can accommodate (even if they can't it is a good way to show that you are serious about enrolling if offered a spot)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

(except nursing obviously because you must start on day 1 to get thru in 4 years).

Isn't that true for engineering as well?

No, it is completely open. You don't have to declare a major till you are a junior and you can choose and do multiple majors in whichever school you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

(except nursing obviously because you must start on day 1 to get thru in 4 years).

Isn't that true for engineering as well?

No, it is completely open. You don't have to declare a major till you are a junior and you can choose and do multiple majors in whichever school you want.

That usually happens in a major that is not impacted, which means it's not that popular there. You could not do that in an impacted major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

(except nursing obviously because you must start on day 1 to get thru in 4 years).

Isn't that true for engineering as well?

No, it is completely open. You don't have to declare a major till you are a junior and you can choose and do multiple majors in whichever school you want.

That usually happens in a major that is not impacted, which means it's not that popular there. You could not do that in an impacted major.

Take it from an alum and 2 kids at case that is not the case. You can apply as a psychology major and graduate as a chemical engineer or something else. It happens at Case all the time. But they will weed you out if you are not prepared. For example, some may go there to pursue premed but weeded out after struggling with organic chemistry. Same goes for engineering. At the end everyone finds what they are good at and pursue that.

[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.

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.

If they offer admission to everyone who applies with the 1550+/3.9+UW and 90 % of those kids do not accept, then case has missed out on offering admission to those kids who actually WANT to attend (say in the 1400-1450 range). Because those kids will get admitted elsewhere and get excited about their other schools, accept one by May 1 and move on. So how is it Shady to want to select the students who will actually attend? It's not Shady. That's exactly what college admissions is. It's even done a bit at the T25 level---as in, someone who applies to all 8 Ivies likely has no interest in over half of them. They are all very different schools and someone with Harvard as a best fit is not likely to think Cornell is also a best fit (don't know all the comparisions---my kids were not into ivies). So even a 1600/4.0UW and perfect resume kid has to show why Harvard is for them---if Harvard isn't feeling like they are really the best choice, they will assume the kid is gonna attend another Ivy/T25 and they might WL them or reject them.
It's quite simple that many in the 25-50 range know they are "2nd/3rd/4th/5th choices" for many top students. So they attempt to determine who is a 1st/2nd choice and offer them admission. Their goal is to fill their class by May 1, not need to go to the WL for 50%+ of their class. Case will even offer EA students a chance to change to ED2, and give them they financials and merit first. So if your Tippy Top student really wants case, they can demonstrate that by switching to ED2 and get their acceptance. Otherwise, they get deferred to RD and likely rejected or WL because the school is 99% certain they are not going to attend.

You just want to have all the options to reject 15 schools yourself. But the school's goal is to garner a certain yield. So you both want to play games---it's called the college admission process.

They are guessing who wants to attend. If they really want to know who is interested they should have a why us essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

If they offer admission to everyone who applies with the 1550+/3.9+UW and 90 % of those kids do not accept, then case has missed out on offering admission to those kids who actually WANT to attend (say in the 1400-1450 range). Because those kids will get admitted elsewhere and get excited about their other schools, accept one by May 1 and move on. So how is it Shady to want to select the students who will actually attend? It's not Shady. That's exactly what college admissions is. It's even done a bit at the T25 level---as in, someone who applies to all 8 Ivies likely has no interest in over half of them. They are all very different schools and someone with Harvard as a best fit is not likely to think Cornell is also a best fit (don't know all the comparisions---my kids were not into ivies). So even a 1600/4.0UW and perfect resume kid has to show why Harvard is for them---if Harvard isn't feeling like they are really the best choice, they will assume the kid is gonna attend another Ivy/T25 and they might WL them or reject them.
It's quite simple that many in the 25-50 range know they are "2nd/3rd/4th/5th choices" for many top students. So they attempt to determine who is a 1st/2nd choice and offer them admission. Their goal is to fill their class by May 1, not need to go to the WL for 50%+ of their class. Case will even offer EA students a chance to change to ED2, and give them they financials and merit first. So if your Tippy Top student really wants case, they can demonstrate that by switching to ED2 and get their acceptance. Otherwise, they get deferred to RD and likely rejected or WL because the school is 99% certain they are not going to attend.

You just want to have all the options to reject 15 schools yourself. But the school's goal is to garner a certain yield. So you both want to play games---it's called the college admission process.

They are guessing who wants to attend. If they really want to know who is interested they should have a why us essay.

PP that is a pointless exercise. My high stat DC wrote 14 why us essays out of 20+ schools she applied to. All were well thought out. 5 of those schools put her on waitlist and the rest rejected her. She got off from 2 of the waitlists (both ranked higher than Case) and then decided to decline those offers and ended up accepting Case which did not ask her to write a why us essay.

[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.

My DS with a 36 ACT got into Case with 40.5K annual merit.

[Anonymous]

I’d go B1G ten UMD.