Hello Punchap,
While Case's automatic scholarships are very number-oriented, there may still be scholarships that you could be in the running for. I am a little confused about your timeline. Are you deciding on whether to apply to Case at all? Or are you in and deciding whether you would rather go to Case or OSU?
I'm not sure exactly what kinds of questions you would like answered. Off the top of my head, advantages and disadvantages I can see between OSU and Case:
Case - small school. Mostly small classes, except for intro bio and chem and premed requirements that tend to be large (and by large I mean maybe 150 max).
OSU - large school. Obvious consequences.
Case - again due to small school, easy to get the classes you need. I'm never been locked out of a class I needed due to too many people. I had to take a different class only on electives, and only because the time schedule conflicted, never because of too many people.
OSU - I have heard of quite a few people have trouble getting into classes due to the sheer size of the school.
Case - Most of the profs are pretty approachable. They're more or less easy to find, and always have office hours. While a few have been more wrapped up in their research than teaching, these are only a few in my experience and I've found many more that are good teachers and have no problems explaining things to their students or talking to students outside of class. Many times it's up to you to make the effort though.
OSU - now here I can't speak as I have no experience.
Case - Cleveland. Boooooo...sucky weather, and nothing to do on campus. Well, not nothing, but hard to find things to do. Not your college town atmosphere. You can find things, but you gotta get out there and drive. Campus is pretty in the summer though, and if you like museums they are everywhere. Literally. Turn around, and there's a different museum behind you.
OSU - great campus, and High St. is lots of fun.
I think that Case prepares you decently well for pre-med. Of course again a lot of this depends on you. If you're willing to work hard and study hard, you can do well. Case graduates do get into places like Hopkins, Wash U and Columbia, as well as all the Ohio schools.
There are also opportunities to volunteer at the University Hospitals which is right on campus, the Free Clinic (also very close to North Campus and gives you lots of hands on experience) and if you can get out there, the Cleveland Clinic.
I also have numerous friends researching in the bio and chem labs on campus, as well as a great many at University Hospitals. Case also offers a great summer research program at Case, and one in conjunction with Metrohealth (well worth your while, by the way, it was great). As far as I know, it's very easy to get started. Get here, email a few people, get a couple names, make some new connections and you've got somewhere to go.
There are ways that you can get involved on campus, with a little personal effort. Though as a premed you're gonna be busy working your posterior off with classes and trying to maintain your gpa as well as volunteering, researching, etc., I've kept sane by being in some organizations ("being" meaning taking an active role in, not just being on the membership list).
Case is not perfect. I gripe and moan and complain all the time. But as far as quality of premed undergrad education goes, I guess I can't complain too much. It got me where I am going. I think that OSU also has a great undergrad program, if you are in the Honors program (just seems to offer a few more opportunities and distinction from the 10,000 other undergrad masses). I think Case had a little more to offer for me though. I think we are very highly regarded in the Midwest and especially around these areas. We have a most impressive new president, and our school is working on improving a lot of things. Our campus is being expanded and hopefully will be better and more student friendly. Though my friends and I like to scoff about the Case Western Reserve University robes we will have to buy tomorrow for graduation, I really do believe that in a few years, Case will be somewhere we would have been...yes, maybe even...proud...?...to have been a part of. (Now I must run and hide for shame of admitting that...j/k.) Seriously, improvements are coming.
While I also liked OSU, really the choice is yours. If you have any specific questions referring to Case, feel free to ask me. It's a little hard right now because I don't know you or what you're looking for. You may well be the type that would do better at OSU.
One thing though, Buckeye football cannot be beat. Our Spartans don't even come halfway close. 😀
