<p>I totally disagree that it is a sink or swim feel. Everyone has been very helpful. One of the most surprising things has been the willingness of everyone (especially the upperclassman) to help. That being said, your son will have to make it known that he needs help. He can not expect people to just reach out to him.<br>
My daughter was during her first semester, a varsity swimmer. She had to drop because she either needed to drop a class or drop swimming to keep up. She decided to keep her 16 credit hours and drop varsity swimming. So she was struggling in one of her classes because of that. She met with each of her professors to get feedback in places that she needed help. She meet with tutors (some better than others). She goes to most if not all of her SI groups, which is an option group with students in the class and run by one or more TA’s (although they are called something else). Here she can also ask questions on homework and get additional feedback and assistance. She has used every resource available and feels comfortable in asking for help. Sometimes, she is the one helping another student as well. So it is very collaborative. But again, that is because she makes a point to reach out, ask for help and be a part of the extra (optional) parts of the class work.
She likes some profs better than others but again, that would be the case anywhere. As long as your son is willing to reach out to others…I think he would find CASE to be a great place to live and study.
I’ll add…on the personal feel note; yes, it is small enough to feel part of a community. My DD mentions that even though you may not know everyone, after a while, you recognize faces and see pretty much everyone. It also means when someone new shows up on campus, you sort of know that they are a stranger. Which for me is a plus because I was concerned sending my D away so far and by herself to cleveland. I want to make sure she is safe and knows her community fairly well.</p>