Anonymous wrote:My son is a first year at CWRU and he did not do his first semester in Madrid, I’m in a group with other first year parents, a few of whom had children participate in this program. This was the first year for the program so while there were some kinks to work out, most of the parents said their children enjoyed the experience. I think there were about 25 CWRU students this past fall.

However, there is one (annoyingly) vocal parent who has done nothing but complain about the program. Her child is premed and she says they are essentially behind a semester with the premed requirements because none is the Madrid classes count toward the premed requirements. I wouldn’t have expected those classes to count towards the premed requirements but who knows what she was told. She also complained about the food and the fact that her daughter didn’t have access to a kitchen to cook her own food.

I do take everything she says with a grain of salt but just wanted to put that out there. All of the other Madrid parents have been lovely.

I would take the complainer's issues with a grain of salt. Anyone complaining about the food in Madrid has bigger problems. And the food is so cheap! I don't think studying abroad is for helicopter moms. They might want to sit this one out.

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".

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.

Nonsense. I say go for it, if your kid is independent and capable, OP. I would love to be an 18 year old in Madrid (or most anywhere in Europe). What a great opportunity, and a trip of a lifetime!

Is Case good for both engineering and pre-med?

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.

CWRU was a "safety" according to Naviance for my kid, and a "hard-target" according to college-vine. So I guess it is getting more competitive in this cycle.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:thanks. sometimes the noise on these threads is tough, every kid is different and it's a lot to navigate and decide. very personal decision.

Pre-Med. There were other schools on the table, but my kid really likes Case and it's the best fit we think. The Spain piece will go by fast. I actually think the idea of being with a smaller group of students experiencing the same new environment is a good fit as well. We did a lot of research and it seems like a well constructed program.

Thanks for the information, PP. My kid is also planning pre-med as such Case seems like such a good fit. Too bad that she is not offered the fall starts, but the spring admit with this Madrid first semester. Right now she is inclined to choose between Pitt-honor and UIUC if Case does not pull her off the waitlist for fall. What other options does your kid has if you don't mind sharing. Perhaps my kid may have a last minute change of heart and decide to go Madrid too?!

OP here. My kid just told me she has chosen the option to remain on the fall waitlist and declined the Madrid+spring admit offer. She is happy with her other options, which include UIUC and Pitt-honors. But if CWRU gives her the fall admission later, she will take that. What are you kid's other options, PP?

My child had a similar offer last year at a couple schools, not CWRI though. He was not at all interested. I’ve seen it work for some kids though. Your child would have to be onboard. It can be a good experience but it is not traditional and IMO they must be mature to handle the perhaps bumpy road.

Anonymous wrote:UIUC alum. I knew people who started pre-med and the classes were known as weed out classes. My friend’s dc switched majors and career plans after organic chemistry.

I can’t say enough good things about Pitt. My dd is not pre-med but she has friends who are. There are so many hospitals through UPMC that it seems there would be lots of opportunity to get the shadowing hours.

Thanks for the insight on UIUC premed. I thought there is a hospital on campus or next to campus too for shadowing opportunities for UIUC. But I agree that Pitt has a lot more hospitals nearby, perhaps only CWRU or BU can compete in terms of hospital accessibility.

Anonymous wrote:thanks. sometimes the noise on these threads is tough, every kid is different and it's a lot to navigate and decide. very personal decision.

Pre-Med. There were other schools on the table, but my kid really likes Case and it's the best fit we think. The Spain piece will go by fast. I actually think the idea of being with a smaller group of students experiencing the same new environment is a good fit as well. We did a lot of research and it seems like a well constructed program.

Thanks for the information, PP. My kid is also planning pre-med as such Case seems like such a good fit. Too bad that she is not offered the fall starts, but the spring admit with this Madrid first semester. Right now she is inclined to choose between Pitt-honor and UIUC if Case does not pull her off the waitlist for fall. What other options does your kid has if you don't mind sharing. Perhaps my kid may have a last minute change of heart and decide to go Madrid too?!

UIUC alum. I knew people who started pre-med and the classes were known as weed out classes. My friend’s dc switched majors and career plans after organic chemistry.

I can’t say enough good things about Pitt. My dd is not pre-med but she has friends who are. There are so many hospitals through UPMC that it seems there would be lots of opportunity to get the shadowing hours.

thanks. sometimes the noise on these threads is tough, every kid is different and it's a lot to navigate and decide. very personal decision.

Pre-Med. There were other schools on the table, but my kid really likes Case and it's the best fit we think. The Spain piece will go by fast. I actually think the idea of being with a smaller group of students experiencing the same new environment is a good fit as well. We did a lot of research and it seems like a well constructed program.

Anonymous wrote:My child has signed up for the Madrid program this fall. Excited about it. I had doubts at first, but it works for us.

Good for you!! I think my kid will decline and opt to remain on the waitlist for fall admission. Really like CWRU, but health issues cannot be overlooked for my kid. Hope that she will still get off the waitlist for fall. What major is your Madrid bound kid?

My child has signed up for the Madrid program this fall. Excited about it. I had doubts at first, but it works for us.

My DD is a second year at a fairly highly ranked med school. College can be pretty intense for a premed focused on getting in. Your student will need more As than Bs at a good college, mostly full As in required courses, and then have either serious research to show or some other impressive EC.

Of this list, I'd pick CWRU if your kid loves STEM and could start in the fall. But missing first semester can throw off getting started on required courses, and getting into the flow of trying to find a lab to assist in, etc. Also, CWRU isn't a great place to be if your DS later decides that med school and STEM isn't for him. It's weaker in everything else.

Of your other choices, I would go with Oberlin. My DD went to a fairly similar SLAC and she looked at Oberlin (alas, on WL), and it does very well with STEM. At her SLAC, my DD had research opportunities from literally week one of freshman year, knew most of her professors very well, had a more collegial relationship with classmates (harder to be cutthroat when you actually know and care about others in your classes), and was very well prepared for med school. I'd definitely focus on Oberlin. I also am pretty sure they give merit.