This week, Case Western Reserve University welcomed 1,600 first-year and 70 transfer students—selected from a record-breaking 33,000 applicants. Beyond the impressive size of the Class of 2025, they’re unique in another way—this class is joining the university after facing the end of their high school years, graduation, and selecting a university amidst a pandemic.
From changing modes of education to caring for sick family members to losing out on extracurricular activities, the Class of 2025 faced countless other hurdles—and those were not lost on Robert R. McCullough, assistant vice president for enrollment and dean of undergraduate admission.
In his formal welcome to the students on Monday, he said: “Through all of the changes, all of the challenges, all of the struggles, you were asked, compelled, inspired to keep moving forward.”
Now, McCullough said, the students can look ahead to what the future holds as they start this new beginning.
“And so now, here you are. Ready to embrace new adventures. Ready to make new friends. Remembering all of the tough times, maybe a little bruised from the experience, but stronger and ready for all that is to come,” he said.
We look forward to seeing what this new group of students will accomplish at Case Western Reserve. As they get started, take a moment to get to know the CWRU Class of 2025.
Where they come from
Members of our incoming class hail from all around the United States—and the world. In fact, our new students are citizens of 76 countries and speak 67 languages.
More specifically, they come from the following regions:
- Middle Atlantic: 24%
- New England: 7%
- Midwest: 13%
- South: 9%
- Southwest: 4%
- West: 11%
- Outside of the U.S.: 15%
- Ohio: 17%
They also come from diverse educational backgrounds, representing 1,150 different high schools.
Some members of the class bring with them insight into CWRU, with 10% having had relatives who attended the university. Meanwhile, 13% are paving the way as first-generation college students.
What they do
Members of the new class have already shown the impact they can make in their communities through involvement in a variety of activities. Throughout their high school experiences, they participated in the following ways:
- Volunteering: 80%
- Sports: 68%
- Arts: 54%
- Part-time job or caring for a family member at home: 47%
- Student government: 22%
What comes next
Before our new students begin classes on Monday, they will wrap up Discover Week to get to know Case Western Reserve and Cleveland. See what their schedule looks like.
Have advice for our new class of students? Share it in the comments.