Monday marked the first day of class at Case Western Reserve University for the 2026-27 academic year—and for the newest first-year and transfer students of our community, the start of an exciting new chapter.
To discover why incoming students chose CWRU as the place to begin (or continue) their academic journey in higher education, we spoke with several individuals who shared their thoughts.
Read on to hear their perspectives.
Chigozie Ibegbu
Areas of study: Neurosciences and biochemistry
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
‘When I learned that [Case Western Reserve University] was ranked as an R1 university and heard about the many easily available opportunities the university offers to pursue your goals, such as research, I became even more certain that CWRU was the place I wanted to attend.”
Sailakshmi Rayaroth
Area of study: Biology
Hometown: Santa Clara, California
“I chose CWRU to pursue my undergraduate degree because of the collaborative environment and endless resources available to students. I've seen and experienced the welcoming culture of both students and faculty as well as the close access to highly reputed health institutions such as UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and Cleveland Clinic.”
Maxim Dalat
Area of study: Mechanical and aerospace engineering
Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan
“I knew that I was interested in engineering from a young age, and CWRU allowed me to study both mechanical and aerospace engineering at the same time, which most colleges do not recommend. I also like the close, tight-knit community and the opportunities that offices provide for internships, study abroad programs and co-ops.”
Vanya Mittal
Areas of study: Biochemistry and neurosciences
Hometown: Clark, New Jersey
“I chose Case Western Reserve University to pursue biochemistry and neuroscience because CWRU provides many opportunities for research and volunteering as well as many resources to support students in their studies. My deciding factor was the ability to explore many different interdisciplinary fields in STEM and the humanities while also being a pre-med student.”
Manuella Glover
Areas of study: Political science and business management
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland
“I absolutely loved the campus, its location and the wide range of resources available to students. The deciding factor for me was how welcomed I felt from the moment I stepped onto campus. The basketball coach was incredibly kind and our conversation made me feel like I could truly see myself being part of the CWRU community. I immediately felt a sense of belonging, and that experience really stood out to me when making my decision.”
