2016-2017 Case Western Reserve University Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members don't see this ad.
30000Feet said:
I was reading about the WR2 curriculum and was interested in getting current students thoughts. I was sort of confused by all the different types of assessments (ie formative/summative)? Are the only graded assessments at the end of each block? If so, what has been your experience going several weeks without an assessment?
Click to expand...

alcoholdehydrogenase69 said:
I'm not a current student, but I believe the formative assessments are through PBL and are informal ways of being assessed so that you can monitor your own progress. Summative assessments are things like exams, which I believe are at the end of each block. If I remember correctly, you get a grade for the summative assessments but its only used as a way to assess yourself since the pre-clinical years are P/F. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong.
Click to expand...

Okay, so it is admittedly confusing (and honestly will be until you finish your first block). Case has several formative (not graded, but often scored in some way -- there is no fail, essentially, but it is required) things and several summative (graded and requires a pass - depends on the assessment, but usually 65%)

Below is a ?non-exhaustive list

Formative (required) assessments:
Performance in IQ
Weekly short essay questions (SEQs)
Weekly multiple choice questions (MCQs) - this has been changed to optional for current M1s, so I can't promise anything
Physical Diagnosis sessions
Professional learning plans
NBME end of block practice exams
Peer Dissection feedback

Summative assessments, all end of block:
Gross anatomy & radiology: 65% pass
Histology: 65% pass
Summative Short Essay Questions (ie content exam): dynamic cut off, probably about ~65% "correct" but it's not graded numerically.

At the end of the day you get a "meets expectations" for each component and then pass the block if that's true of everything. If not, you may have to remediate something, and what that requires depends on what it is. Overall, they give you plenty of opportunities to fix whatever the problem is.

Those are the main things I can think of. Feel free to ask further questions.

My personal opinion is it's nicer to focus on just learning (and any other non class related things like research, social life, shadowing, sleeping, etc) during the block. We usually get a week of absolutely no commitments before a week of all the final exams for the block. You're stressed because there is a lot of content, and you may have procrastinated, but honestly I find it better than having to constantly be worrying about exams. Our blocks are usually 10-15 weeks, depending on the holidays etc. Block 1 is easy and short (5weeks), so it's a nice way to get your feet wet.

Side note: people share study guides prolifically. You will have more than enough ways to learn.

Edit: important: case is a very non competitive environment. You will never know how you compare to the rest of the class unless someone tells you their grade, and for SSEQs the comparison would be even more obtuse because each question is graded as "meets expectations", "borderline", or "does not meet expectations".
 
Last edited:
bearintraining said:
Lecture is not mandatory. Thursday lectures (usually gross anatomy and radiology) are recorded however, as are most lectures that occur after 12noon (which is pretty rare). I have classmates that have essentially never gone to lecture and do fine. I go everyday except for Thursday.
Click to expand...
Great, thanks for the info! For the lectures that aren't recorded, is there still access to powerpoints from the lecture or anything like that, and then students that don't go use those to figure stuff out? Or do they just read through the textbook or something like that?
 
kegar99 said:
Great, thanks for the info! For the lectures that aren't recorded, is there still access to powerpoints from the lecture or anything like that, and then students that don't go use those to figure stuff out? Or do they just read through the textbook or something like that?
Click to expand...
powerpoints are always posted - don't worry! And i'd say that most lecturers do a good job about making their powerpoints informative and not cryptic
 
Finally rejected this morning after being on hold for months. Good luck to all of you still waiting to hear back!
 
how often does the admissions committee meet? Interviewed here last week and eager to hear something 😀
 
Does anyone know if there's one place where most students live, or are they more scattered around University Circle?
 
intellectualedema said:
Does anyone know if there's one place where most students live, or are they more scattered around University Circle?
Click to expand...

I believe it's mostly in Cleveland heights. When I stayed with my host, we walked down overlook road to Case and there were like 20 other med students walking at the same time


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
OSUndisputed said:
Think of something interesting about yourself! At my interview day we had to share one fun fact at like 8:15 in the morning and I was just not ready for it haha
Click to expand...
Haha that also really threw me for a loop especially when the other interviewees had super hilarious ones!
 
protego said:
Haha that also really threw me for a loop especially when the other interviewees had super hilarious ones!
Click to expand...
At my interview, we went around the room and the last guy, mid 40s, said "I was in the Secret Service for Bill Clinton." Needless to say, my hole-in-one was not nearly as cool haha
 
OSUndisputed said:
At my interview, we went around the room and the last guy, mid 40s, said "I was in the Secret Service for Bill Clinton." Needless to say, my hole-in-one was not nearly as cool haha
Click to expand...
well it seems we were at the same interview day lol I was like damn I can't come up with something better, and I remember your hole in one story haha
 
Withdrew, hopefully one of you gets my interview!

Sent from my SM-N900T using SDN mobile
 
When during the day are the actual interviews conducted?
 
mssb9437 said:
When during the day are the actual interviews conducted?
Click to expand...

Most are in the afternoon. You will have lunch from 12-1pm and a tour from 1-2pm. Sometimes a faculty interview will be in the morning if they can't do the afternoon. Student interviews are always in the afternoon because students have class/activities in the mornings.
 
Can you (or any current student) comment on how financial aid works here? Is Case generous with financial aid/scholarship? Are there instances where they may match COA at other programs? Also, what is the timeline for aid awards?

bearintraining said:
Most are in the afternoon. You will have lunch from 12-1pm and a tour from 1-2pm. Sometimes a faculty interview will be in the morning if they can't do the afternoon. Student interviews are always in the afternoon because students have class/activities in the mornings.
Click to expand...
 
alcoholdehydrogenase69 said:
Can you (or any current student) comment on how financial aid works here? Is Case generous with financial aid/scholarship? Are there instances where they may match COA at other programs? Also, what is the timeline for aid awards?
Click to expand...

So, I can't comment on regular financial aid, because I'm international. Generally speaking; however, my understanding is that Case does not give out a lot of scholarship money, and the maximum scholarship was $40K last year. I don't know if that's still true or not. You can try to see if they may match (probably not) - but it can't hurt to ask. (I know folks have done this with other schools).

If you did not get an invitation with your acceptance to apply for a scholarship application, then you will not be considered.

Again - can't comment on the timeline for general financial aid. I think scholarships are probably decided in March (but I don't recall).
 
Hey all! I have a few questions I'm trying to decide on what Masters program that Case Western offers will be a best fit for me. I'm trying to decide between the Masters in applied Anatomy, Masters in Pathology, Masters in Medical Physiology, or Masters in Biochemistry. I want to know which one will stick out more to an admissions committee. My situation is that my undergraduate GPA is a little low and I have been advised by medical school admissions professionals to get a Masters. Please do let me know what you all think also if you know anyone who had done any of these masters please do let me know. I want to know about class size for the programs and how they are. Thanks y'all!!!
 
Kojo90 said:
Hey all! I have a few questions I'm trying to decide on what Masters program that Case Western offers will be a best fit for me. I'm trying to decide between the Masters in applied Anatomy, Masters in Pathology, Masters in Medical Physiology, or Masters in Biochemistry. I want to know which one will stick out more to an admissions committee. My situation is that my undergraduate GPA is a little low and I have been advised by medical school admissions professionals to get a Masters. Please do let me know what you all think also if you know anyone who had done any of these masters please do let me know. I want to know about class size for the programs and how they are. Thanks y'all!!!
Click to expand...

I've been taking courses from the Masters in Applied Anatomy. The first year is rough (it's histo and gross anatomy + electives) and busy but it's useful for your MD (I benefit often). At least these two courses you will learn at greater depth than your MD colleagues.

I don't know the other programs well. I don't think a Biochem degree will help much (we do only 3 weeks of intense biochem).

MSc in path could be useful but you really need to know the normal too. I don't know anything about the Med Phys.
 
bearintraining said:
I've been taking courses from the Masters in Applied Anatomy. The first year is rough (it's histo and gross anatomy + electives) and busy but it's useful for your MD (I benefit often). At least these two courses you will learn at greater depth than your MD colleagues.

I don't know the other programs well. I don't think a Biochem degree will help much (we do only 3 weeks of intense biochem).

MSc in path could be useful but you really need to know the normal too. I don't know anything about the Med Phys.
Click to expand...
Nice! So what is your class size?

Sent from my MHA-L29 using SDN mobile
 
Kojo90 said:
Hey all! I have a few questions I'm trying to decide on what Masters program that Case Western offers will be a best fit for me. I'm trying to decide between the Masters in applied Anatomy, Masters in Pathology, Masters in Medical Physiology, or Masters in Biochemistry. I want to know which one will stick out more to an admissions committee. My situation is that my undergraduate GPA is a little low and I have been advised by medical school admissions professionals to get a Masters. Please do let me know what you all think also if you know anyone who had done any of these masters please do let me know. I want to know about class size for the programs and how they are. Thanks y'all!!!
Click to expand...
One of my friends recently was accepted into the Phys Masters program and from the people he talked to it seems like a good way to spend a gap year or two before med school because they prep you with Step 1 style exams and (someone correct me if I'm wrong on this) I have heard if you meet certain requirements for the program and certain metrics you should receive an interview for the school of medicine
 
buckeyegal1129 said:
One of my friends recently was accepted into the Phys Masters program and from the people he talked to it seems like a good way to spend a gap year or two before med school because they prep you with Step 1 style exams and (someone correct me if I'm wrong on this) I have heard if you meet certain requirements for the program and certain metrics you should receive an interview for the school of medicine
Click to expand...
Nice! Can you get me in contact with them via email or whatever?

Sent from my MHA-L29 using SDN mobile
 
Kojo90 said:
OK cool what is MSTPs? And how are the professors and interactions? Do y'all have classes from professors who teach in the medical school?

Sent from my MHA-L29 using SDN mobile
Click to expand...

MSTPs are MD/PhD students that have their first and second years with the university program students.

We generally have very good professors who want to teach, want students to succeed, and are experts in their field.
 
bearintraining said:
MSTPs are MD/PhD students that have their first and second years with the university program students.

We generally have very good professors who want to teach, want students to succeed, and are experts in their field.
Click to expand...
Good deal. Thank you!

Sent from my MHA-L29 using SDN mobile
 
bearintraining said:
MSTPs are MD/PhD students that have their first and second years with the university program students.

We generally have very good professors who want to teach, want students to succeed, and are experts in their field.
Click to expand...
I have an additional question. I see that the program can be completed in 9 moths. Do they let you extend it out to become a 2 year program if you want to spread the classes out? Beacuse online it said something about there are multiple curriculum tracts but I only could find a sample curriculum showing the 9 month route.

Sent from my MHA-L29 using SDN mobile
 
Kojo90 said:
I have an additional question. I see that the program can be completed in 9 moths. Do they let you extend it out to become a 2 year program if you want to spread the classes out? Beacuse online it said something about there are multiple curriculum tracts but I only could find a sample curriculum showing the 9 month route.

Sent from my MHA-L29 using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what you are referring to. MD/PhD programs (MSTP) are generally 8 years: 2 years preclinical MD, 4 years PHD, 2 years clinical MD.
 
About second look weekend, when can we get to cleveland? I know it's on april 7-8 but I would be flying there the day before so I was wondering if they offer somewhere to stay the night.
 
Does anyone know the timeline of decisions? I interviewed the last week in Jan and was wondering when I might expect news. In the packet it said 3-4 weeks, but it seems people's experiences on here vary. Any thoughts?
 
Meeko1212 said:
Does anyone know the timeline of decisions? I interviewed the last week in Jan and was wondering when I might expect news. In the packet it said 3-4 weeks, but it seems people's experiences on here vary. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I heard back in 4.5 weeks. Hoping for good news for you!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
PeruvianMD said:
About second look weekend, when can we get to cleveland? I know it's on april 7-8 but I would be flying there the day before so I was wondering if they offer somewhere to stay the night.
Click to expand...

You could try asking if they can let you pay for an extra night before the event. I don't think the school offers student hosting for extra days for second look ( it's not really a fair expectation of current students.)
 
Is it true that the alternate list here is actually just a waitlist for the waitlist? Got alternate list status back in December and wondering after glancing back at some of the previous threads
 
tacosandpizza said:
Is it true that the alternate list here is actually just a waitlist for the waitlist? Got alternate list status back in December and wondering after glancing back at some of the previous threads
Click to expand...
I thought it was the actual waitlist because people were accepted off of it last year. I could be wrong though.
 
Accepted just now! Interviewed last week, super surprised/impressed at the fast turnaround!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Accepted! Interviewed in January. Man Case, just when I thought I had made my decision...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

chilly_md
2024-2025 Case Western Reserve
16 17 18 19 20
Replies
974
Views
265K
crspunky
C
chilly_md
2023-2024 Case Western Reserve
16 17 18 19 20
Replies
967
Views
275K
internationalgirly
internationalgirly
chilly_md
2022-2023 Case Western
10 11 12 13 14
Replies
651
Views
220K
CWRU.Sman
CWRU.Sman
wysdoc
2024-2025 Western Michigan (Stryker)
11 12 13 14 15
Replies
743
Views
137K
wheattrout
wheattrout
chilly_md
2024-2025 Boston University
21 22 23 24 25
Replies
1K
Views
265K
an2five
A
Top