What is Case Western Known For?

What’s Covered:

• Overview of Case Western Admissions
• Unique Aspects of Case Western
• What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at Case Western?

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Case Western Reserve University is one of the top colleges in the United States, ranked at #42 according to the U.S. News & World Report. Case Western is known for their incredible engineering school and over 140 dual-degree programs preparing students for their future! 

In this post, we’ll outline the most important aspects of being a student at Case Western, including academics, campus life, financial aid, and the admissions process.

Overview of Case Western Admissions

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Undergrad Enrollment: 5,200

Acceptance Rate: 29%

Middle 50% SAT: 1350-1490 

Middle 50% ACT: 31-34

Case Western is a selective school, in fact, 92% of students admitted to the Class of 2022 were in the top 20% of their high school class. Students can apply via the Common App where they must submit an additional essay in which they describe an event, achievement, or experience that they are particularly proud of but will not show up on a resume, may not garner any recognition, and does not appear anywhere else on their admission application. Additionally, Case Western conducts optional interviews providing students with the opportunity to present themselves in a one-on-one environment.

Case Western requires students to complete some required courses prior to high school graduation:

• 4 years English
• 3 years math
• 3 years science (2 must be laboratory science)
• 3 years social studies
• 2 years foreign language

The university also recommends that students interested in engineering or the sciences take an additional year of math and laboratory science. While students interested in liberal arts, take another year of social studies and foreign language.

Due to COVID-19, Case Western Reserve University is test-optional for students applying in the fall of 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Case Western offers a variety of admissions options with varying timelines:

• Early Action: November 1st
  • This application option allows you to apply earlier and get an admission decision and financial aid package sooner, without being committed at Case Western.

• Early Decision (I and II): November 1st and January 15th
  • If you know Case Western is your top choice, Early Decision is a contract between you and the university stating that if you are accepted to Case Western you will enroll and withdraw all other college applications.

• Pre-Professional Scholar Program: December 1st
  • You should consider this deadline if you’re interested in conditional admission to Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine or School of Dental Medicine. This means you would be conditionally accepted to one of these graduate schools before you even begin your undergraduate work.

• Regular Decision: January 15th

Case Western is notorious for allegedly practicing yield protection, where overqualified students are rejected or waitlisted. If your stats are well above Case Western’s averages, be sure to demonstrate your interest by writing a strong essay, opening their emails, and potentially visiting campus or attending online events.

Learn more about Case Western and see your chances of acceptance.

Unique Aspects of Case Western

Academics

Pre-Professional Scholars Program

For students who want to pursue careers in medicine or dentistry, Case Western’s Pre-Professional Scholars Program grants both undergraduate admission and conditional admission to Case Western Reserve’s School of Medicine or School of Dental Medicine. Admission to this program is highly competitive and students must submit an additional essay explaining why they are interested in the field.

Pre-Professional Tracks

Case Western supports students on a variety of pre-professional tracks which complement the universities nearly 100 majors and minors, providing students with individualized learning opportunities: 

• Pre-Medicine: In the past three years, over 500 Case Western students have been admitted to medical school. With top hospitals walking distance from Case Western, pre-medicine students can shadow doctors in their areas of interests, get emergency-room experience, or volunteer at places such as Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Reproductive Medicine, Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland, MetroHealth Medical Center, and Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.

• Teacher Education: In the past few years, 98% of teacher candidates completed their license programs and Case Western has had an 100% employment rate among those graduates since 2010. Some of the undergraduate majors that lead to Ohio teaching licenses in secondary education include; Art, Chemistry, French, Mathematics, Music, Physics, and Spanish.

• Pre-Law: Case Western is home to one of the top-ranked law schools in the nation. Cleveland is one of the country’s top legal and business centers, providing students with a variety of internship and networking opportunities. Case Western also allows undergraduate students to take law school courses as part of their upper-division courses. Additionally, some of Case Western’s undergraduate faculty also teach at the esteemed School of Law – therefore students can receive mentorship and support throughout their law school journey.

Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs

Case Western undergraduates also have the opportunity to earn a master’s level degree in less time by combining their graduate and undergraduate coursework. These programs include:

• Accounting
  • Program Time: 4.5 years
  • Degrees Earned: Bachelors, Master of Accounting

• Finance

• • Program Time: 4.5 years
  • Degrees Earned: Bachelors, MSM-Finance

• Social Work
  • Program Time: 5 years
  • Degrees Earned: Bachelors, MSSA

• Law

• • Program Time: 6 years
  • Degrees Earned: Bachelors, JD

Notable Alumni

It is no wonder that Case Western Reserve graduates have gone on to accomplish incredible things in their personal and professional careers. In fact, 81% of recent graduates find a job which requires a degree in their chosen field at top companies such as Accenture, Microsoft, and Cleveland Clinic. 

Take for example some of Case Western’s notable alumni:

• Paul Buchheit (CWR ’98; GRS ’98, computer engineering): Google employee #23 and inventor of Gmail

• Joe (GRS ’95, theater) and Anthony Russo: Producers and directors of Marvel blockbusters and award-winning TV shows

• Stephanie Tubbs Jones (FSM ’71, LAW ’74): First African-American woman elected to represent Ohio in Congress

• Fred Gray (LAW ’54): Civil rights icon who represented Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and victims of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study

• Julie Louise Gerberding (WRC ’77, MED ’81): First female director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Campus Life

Student Organizations

Case Western offers over 200 student organizations, ensuring that students will find something that interests them! Some of Case Western’s organizations include:

• #MeToo: an organization dedicated to reforming the rape culture by providing support groups, educational events, and working with the Title IX office for reform.

• Case for Sight: a vision advocacy group aimed at spreading eye care awareness throughout the CWRU and Cleveland community.

• Consult Your Community: a group of students that work with Cleveland small businesses to tackle business problems and execute solutions, while also gaining consulting-related career development, networking opportunities, and defined skills that they can take into any profession after graduation.

• CWRU Poker Club: a group of individuals who come together in a friendly environment to play poker together. All skill levels are welcome, including those who have no idea how to play. 

Location

Case Western is just a short drive away from beautiful downtown Cleveland, giving students the opportunity to try out new restaurants, watch shows at the largest performing arts center outside Broadway, and cheer on Cleveland’s three professional sports teams. The lively atmosphere of the city ensures that Case Western students never get bored.

Case Western’s Free Access Program also allows students to visit many of the area’s museums for free. These museums include:

• Cleveland Botanical Garden
• Cleveland Museum of Art
• Cleveland Museum of Natural History
• Western Reserve Historical Society
• Dittrick Museum of Medical History
• Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
• Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage

Athletics

Case Western makes sports accessible to all students, regardless of skill, by providing three levels: varsity, club, and intramural. With over 50 different options and more than 5,000 participants, you’ll be able to find something you love. 

Case Western’s varsity teams, including baseball, basketball, and Football, are part of the NCAA Division III. Additionally, Case Western offers intramural teams for many of their varsity sports. Club teams include common sports like soccer and lacrosse, as well as more unique sports like Quidditch, Kung Fu, and Kendo. 

Financial Aid

Case Western provides both need-based and merit-based scholarships. 

While students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships when they apply to Case Western. To apply for need-based aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA should be completed by all U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. 

Case Western meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted undergraduate students. 

Learn more about how much it costs to attend Case Western Reserve University.

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at Case Western?

Case Western admissions are quite competitive, with roughly just one in four applicants gaining acceptance. While the university doesn’t have a minimum test score or GPA range, admissions counselors are taking into consideration your academic background, life experiences, and interests. It’s wise to calculate how your personal chances of acceptance stack up against other students applying to the university.

To better understand your chances of acceptance at Case Western, we recommend using our free admissions calculator. The calculator uses your grades, extracurriculars, test scores, and other factors to determine your odds of acceptance. We’ll also give you tips on how to improve your academic profile to increase your admissions chances.

You can also use this helpful tool to search for best-fit schools based on your chances and other factors like location, majors, size, and more. We’re here to assist you in making your college application process as hassle-free as possible.