CWRU in Madrid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The merit scholarship brings the tuition of CWRU down to $39k a year. Pitt honors also has merits, but only $5k. So the two schools are close in terms of tuition. UIUC has yet to announce their merit scholarships. But at this stage it is more important for us to find the best fit in terms of academic rigors and peer group. Visited all campuses. Really like CWRU. Pitt is good too. Frankly UMass and Oberlin and VT have the best campuses. Without Madrid, will pick CWRU. But with Madrid it is harder to decide. Worry about falling behind and not fitting in.

"worry about falling behind and not fitting in". That is a valid concern. Definately check out the academic course offerings for Madrid. Will your son be able to take Chem 101/Bio101 or whatever would be typical for his major? The "not fitting in" is also extremely valid concern IMO. He will return to campus knowing only those who were in Madrid. Reality is, unless you are extremely extroverted, it can be challenging to make friends. Both of my kids "core group of college friends" was set within the first 6 weeks. Sure they have many additional friends they have met along the way, but those first 2-6 weeks are key for forming friend groups. Once those groups are formed, it's much harder for a new student to make friends---everyone already has their friend groups and isn't focused on meeting new people, they are focused on academics and college life.

Also CWRU Madrid is a realively new thing. It was not a think for class of 2026 when my kid considered Case. So it's fair to ask questions and make sure you are not a guinea pig and will be set to graduate in 4 years still.

[Anonymous]

Anyone’s kid going? Looking for someone to connect with prior to the semester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised CWRU is wait-listing so many people. DC graduated HS in 2022. CWRU kept emailing DC to apply, even extending the application deadline. DC had not visited or otherwise shown interest. I realize any college can email anyone so more people apply, but it was not particularly competitive to get in at that time.

PP I am sure that your DC was a very strong candidate for any college but CWRU is well known for doing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Case good for both engineering and pre-med?

CWRU is exceptional for engineering as well. Tough classes though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised CWRU is wait-listing so many people. DC graduated HS in 2022. CWRU kept emailing DC to apply, even extending the application deadline. DC had not visited or otherwise shown interest. I realize any college can email anyone so more people apply, but it was not particularly competitive to get in at that time.

It was extremely competitive that year!! However, CWRU has a yield issue. Majority of kids who apply and also those who end up there it’s not the first choice. They are applying to several “higher ranked schools” and hoping to get in. Those that get in elsewhere often go there.

Some years they pull slit from wl ither years yield is good and they don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a freshman? Seems like odd timing. When I was in college, most people studied abroad junior year. Maybe it has to do with how the curriculum is structured in your child’s major?

I loved studying abroad and the city of Madrid and wouldn’t rule it out without strong consideration, especially since the tuition is the same.

Looks like CWRU is copying other universities and has added a Spring start at CWRU that requires the student to attend a CWRU sponsored overseas/different location for fall freshman year. (A la Northeastern, they are the biggest at doing this).

Back off, they are not - you feel the need to do this at each tangent? Really? How sad.

OP, it sounds like a great opportunity. I suspect those without such opportunities might be the ones trying to discourage or concoct "issues".

They are doing exactly that

FYI I’m not the neu basher.

The programs are good but op is right to be concerned about fitting in. That can be an issue for any spring start.

Most freshman have their friend groups by fall break or at least Dec. those kids are not looking to add to it in Jan, so a jan start lid will have to work harder socially

[Anonymous]

We declined the offer. Would have been my kid’s first choice if the offer was a fall admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a freshman? Seems like odd timing. When I was in college, most people studied abroad junior year. Maybe it has to do with how the curriculum is structured in your child’s major?

I loved studying abroad and the city of Madrid and wouldn’t rule it out without strong consideration, especially since the tuition is the same.

Looks like CWRU is copying other universities and has added a Spring start at CWRU that requires the student to attend a CWRU sponsored overseas/different location for fall freshman year. (A la Northeastern, they are the biggest at doing this).

Back off, they are not - you feel the need to do this at each tangent? Really? How sad.

OP, it sounds like a great opportunity. I suspect those without such opportunities might be the ones trying to discourage or concoct "issues".

They are doing exactly that

FYI I’m not the neu basher.

The programs are good but op is right to be concerned about fitting in. That can be an issue for any spring start.

Most freshman have their friend groups by fall break or at least Dec. those kids are not looking to add to it in Jan, so a jan start lid will have to work harder socially

There are other students there from the same school, and they usually form stronger bond and make friends.
So they will already have some friends and connections when they come back in Jan.
It all depends on the students.

[Anonymous]

Do not recommend. Have heard there’s a lot of angry kids and parents in the most recent group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid's major is biology with a premed track. Does not speak Spanish.

100% do it. Intro biology can be done anywhere and is not rigorous enough to not take the perks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a relative who did first semester in Spain with a different school not knowing Spanish and they had a good experience— used it as a base for visiting all over Europe too (low cost airlines mean for $50 you can fly lots of places for the weekend and find a fun hostel)

I actually think it might be good timing for pre-med (if you want a semester abroad) because by junior year it may be difficult to go away and still meet all your requirements?

Actually the opposite for a pre-med bio major. The most important years are freshman and sophomore because those are the years you take the pre-med classes.
You actually get more liberty the final two years.

I would never do this (Madrid) as a pre-med major. People are talking about travel and fun and all that comes along with doing a semester abroad.
Pre-meds that are successful at matriculating to medical school (because statistically the vast majority are not) really have to put their nose to the grindstone out-of-the-gate freshman year. Sure, there are non-traditional students who decided junior year to go to medical school after studying French or modern dance but that is not most kids. If you want to go to medical school, you have to really, really focus on grades from the beginning of college. There is not much grace and your fellow students will be focusing on one thing: grades and medical school. Not finding the best night club and museum in Madrid and catching the next train to Barcelona.

This kids' peers (and eventual competition for getting into medical school from his undergrad class) at CWRU will be putting their noses down to the grindstone. I went to Case. It is a serious pre-med culture.

Extremely school dependent. At Dc’s college, you cannot easily study abroad and graduate on time doing a bio major. The school won’t count the courses like they do other majors. This program would make a ton of sense at DC’s college, because you could delay your bio course and take physics and math abroad and have more time than peers to catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend. Have heard there’s a lot of angry kids and parents in the most recent group.

How about you quit spreading falsehoods about the program and focus on more important things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To study what? If your kid intends to pursue a rigorous STEM major, I would certainly not advise doing first semester Freshman year somewhere else, least of all in a foreign country.

Why? It's the first semester of college. You are seeing more and more schools do this. Northeastern does it alot, SMU does it, Syracuse does it for kids wanting Newhouse and Maxwell. If CWRU is where they want to go I cannot see any significant downside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid received an offer to spend the Fall semester at CWRU in Madrid, before the Spring Semester at CWRU in Cleveland. The offer comes with merit scholarship for 8 semesters. All tuition and room & board pay to CWRU like usual, with the travel expenses to and from Madrid being the extra. Anyone has any experience in this?

I think the smallest, gentlest program might be the best. If he likes Oberlin, maybe that’s good for premeds?

But CWRU is premed central, and it would be a lot of fun to go to Madrid. So, if he wants that, I’d be fine with that, too.

I’ll bet UMass, Pitt and the others are just as hard for premeds but without the CWRU glow.

It really is!