The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach – they’re sharing their college experiences as well. Molly earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Case Western Reserve University. She lives in North Jersey and specializes in algebra tutoring, psychology tutoring, statistics tutoring, and several other subjects. See what she had to say about her experience at Case Western Reserve University:
Describe the campus setting and transportation options at Case Western Reserve University.
Molly: Case's campus is the best of both worlds: it was definitely a unique and defined campus setting, but we had restaurants and shops right by campus. The campus itself felt safe; although, being Cleveland, some of the nearby areas weren't so safe. Case Western Reserve University has "Greenies"—shuttle buses that take you around campus – but lots of people have bikes. You don't need a car if you live on campus and have a meal plan, but it's very helpful if you like to explore the city!
How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
Molly: Most professors, advisers, and TAs are very responsive to email. Everyone has regular office hours and is willing to meet to discuss any questions.
How would you describe the dorm life—rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?
Molly: I really liked that all freshmen were required to live in the dorms in the same area (North Residential Village or "north side"), so all of my friends and classmates were nearby. By sophomore year, students are more spread out across Greek houses and dorms throughout the campus. The two dining halls on campus always have plenty of options, and "L3" and The Jolly Scholar and the Denny's All-Nighter on campus are open later.
Which majors/programs are best represented and supported at Case Western Reserve University?
Molly: Case's campus is heavily dominated by engineering and hard science majors, although music and nursing are also popular majors. I ended up studying psychology and getting a minor in marketing. While those departments were smaller, with fewer courses available and fewer students, I did get a great education. One thing that was common across all majors at Case Western Reserve University was that everyone was eager to learn and studied hard.
How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life?
Molly: I joined the cheerleading squad my first semester and rushed a sorority my second semester of freshman year—both of these were great opportunities for me to make friends. About a third of the campus is Greek, but there are plenty of opportunities for other on-campus activities. You're definitely not "missing out" if you're not Greek.
How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services?
Molly: I did not find the Career Center extremely helpful. Their resume/career search advice was well-intentioned but in some cases felt outdated. In terms of recruiting, the vast majority of companies that recruited on campus were for engineering, finance, and computer science majors.
How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges?
Molly: The main library (Kelvin Smith Library, or "KSL") is right in the middle of campus. There's plenty of space and resources to study. Other areas, like dorm lounges, can get crowded and rowdy on occasion, but most dorms have "study rooms" that are designated quiet areas apart from the general lounges.
Describe the surrounding town.
Molly: Over my four years, Cleveland definitely built itself up quite a bit! Right next to campus are two grocery stores, a few restaurants (Panera, Chipotle, Starbucks, etc.), a UPS store, a Verizon store, and a convenience store, but if you're willing to bike or take the "Greenie,” the Coventry area is more lively, with cute boutiques and places to eat, as well as the Grog Shop for live music. Downtown Cleveland didn't seem to be as much of a destination unless there was a specific event.
How big or small is the student body at Case Western Reserve University? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Molly: There are about 4,000 undergraduates at Case. Class sizes ranged from 12-15 in small seminars to 300 in introductory chemistry lectures, but the bigger lectures were always broken into smaller review sections. I was generally pleased with my class sizes.
Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Molly: In my sophomore year, I took a statistics class for social science majors. I've always excelled in math courses and did extremely well in this class from the beginning, easily understanding the material. In fact, the professor was so impressed by my work that he asked me to start tutoring two of my classmates! It was very rewarding to work to help them understand the material; it also helped me learn about how others can have different learning styles from my own.
Check out Molly’s tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
