I'm graduating in January and I was wondering what the deal is for us -- is there a ceremony? In Veale I would assume if so, right? Can I do Senior Week stuff next May (not that I would)? Is there anything else I should know?

Anonymous (in post 29054):

I'm graduating in January and I was wondering what the deal is for us -- is there a ceremony?

There is no special ceremony, but you are allowed to participate in the May commencement. That's what I did when my Ph.D. was awarded in January 1993: I marched in the May 1993 commencement and got to shake John Glenn's hand :-)

*Rich*

This is actually *kinda* what I wanted to hear, because I really don't want to go to graduation... but my parents were going to make me. Hopefully they don't make me go to the one in May. I think the only reason I would go is if the speaker is someone famous... because quite frankly, the only reason I want to even get my degree is so I never have to come back. Having to come back 5 months after I have my degree would be painful.

Anonymous (in post 29060):

the only reason I want to even get my degree is so I never have to come back. Having to come back 5 months after I have my degree would be painful.

Was your experience that bad?

My experience was/is painful beyond belief. During my girlfriend's graduation over the past weekend, I decided that I was certain that I have absolutely no pride in either of my degrees from Case. I am not happy to graduate from Case, only to get out.

And why did you decide this?

Because at my girlfriend's school, they have a pre-graduation ceremony that the students and faculty get together. The faculty all stand in a line and the students get to go basically say thanks to the professors. My girlfriend loved most of her professors, and she was in sobby-girl mode when she came out... having to say goodbye to some of her professors and thank them for what they've done for her.

I would say thanks to one professor at Case - Chris Butler. In four years, I can think of just this one professor who I honestly think cares about his classes. There are a couple that I would consider - Laura Hengehold (Philosophy) and John Blackwell (Engineering?) come to mind - and a few that I would have liked to say thanks to - Ignacio Ocasio (Chemistry) and Merlin Donald (Cognitive Science). For the most part, however, I HATE... HATE... and I emphasize HATE... that there are so many professors that clearly do not care about their classes, only their own research. My impression of Case after four years is that it is 100% a business, not a school.

My experiences at two other universities have been much different, where professors have asked me to come in and talk to them whenever I feel like about whatever I feel like, as opposed to the single office hour a week most of my professors at Case offer. Maybe it's just my primary degree (in Engineering). My second degree (A&S) is not too bad, but I'm only doing it to keep me sane.

Either way, I feel Case is probably the least personal institution I have ever been a part of (and I work for the Government over the summers). It has made me despise a field that I once loved, not because of the subject matter but rather because of the apathy of those teaching it, and that is truly an injustice in my book. This University will not see a dollar of mine once I'm gone, I will never recommend Case to any high schooler, and if I become faculty at another school, I will give Case zeros on all of my peer reviews. I think that about sums up my views. One more semester of this, and I will hopefully never step foot on the campus again.

Anonymous (in post 29088):

My experiences at two other universities have been much different, where professors have asked me to come in and talk to them whenever I feel like about whatever I feel like, as opposed to the single office hour a week most of my professors at Case offer. Maybe it's just my primary degree (in Engineering).

Professors are required to post specific, guaranteed hours, but it is my experience in engineering that most faculty are very welcoming outside the formal office hours.

I have likewise found engineering professors to be very accessible and helpful outside of class (and outside of office hours). I can really only think of one or two who I didn't feel should be teaching undergraduate students based on their tendency to focus on research and have confusing, slightly unrealistic expectations. I feel like a big part of having a good experience at Case is taking the initiative to get to know your professors, ask them tons of questions, and get involved in their research if it interests you.

And while yes, there are times when its clear that a professor was asked to teach an engineering core class that is not on a subject of particular interest to him or her, even those classes can be redeemed by discovering the one part of the class that the professor gets really excited about. It was, after all, an animated discussion of recycling in Sweden during a certain otherwise dry lecture class that nudged me toward polymers and materials science.

Then again, I did partially choose my major based on the accessibility of the faculty and abundant opportunities for research as early as freshman year.

Anonymous (in post 29089):

Anonymous (in post 29088):

My experiences at two other universities have been much different, where professors have asked me to come in and talk to them whenever I feel like about whatever I feel like, as opposed to the single office hour a week most of my professors at Case offer. Maybe it's just my primary degree (in Engineering).

Professors are required to post specific, guaranteed hours, but it is my experience in engineering that most faculty are very welcoming outside the formal office hours.

I have a feeling we're in different departments then. I'd agree that the professors I mentioned are welcoming. I know professors in many departments that are accessible... but in mine, they are not. And I hesitate to say anything more specific about my department for my own sake.

My personal final word on it: I'm very disappointed with my professors at Case, and I'm very disappointed with my overall experience at this school (which I refuse to call my school. These four years are and were painful, and if I were faced with the ultimatum, I would rather be a janitor than do it again (nothing against janitors, but low wages and physical labor don't seem like a good fit for me). I doubt many people from OSU, OU, John Carroll, Baldwin Wallace, CSU, Tri-C, or Notre Dame would feel the same.