Kalamazoo College vs UCSD: Is spending more money for research experience and brand worth it? [biology pre-PhD]

College Search & Selection
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Finally the final (I promise unless the VISA gets rejected :-)) update! We have decided to go to College of Wooster. Wooster worked with us to reduce the COA substantially.

Here are the pros and cons as they finally worked out for us for K vs W decision:

Kalamazoo College Pros

  1. Nicer people, administrators
  2. More responsive and friendly professors
  3. City life
  4. Chicago just a train ride away
  5. Many college conducted social activities
  6. Flexible curriculum, easy double major + more interesting classes possible
  7. Study abroad well integrated in the curriculum
  8. May be easier for external internships due to city location
  9. Another large University nearby, college town vibe
  10. No Greek life
  11. Seems well integrated in the grad program at UMich

College of Wooster Pros

  1. Strong thesis focus
  2. On almost all academic parameters slightly better than K for STEM
  3. Semester system, easier to get internships in summer
  4. OSU Agri lab nearby for internships
  5. Data Science major which is better as second major than Math
  6. Dorms plentiful and available in summer
  7. Some summer classes are available
  8. Large international student population
  9. Majority students are out of state
  10. Gives a vibe of a better funded college
  11. Low Greek life
  12. More diverse and may be slightly better grad school targets possible.

For us it was an extremely difficult decision to choose between these two, especially because of the very cordial nature of communication (almost relationship!) with K people. However, eventually availability of Data Science as second major (BCMB first major) instead of Math, lower COA and soft assurance of paid biochemistry lab work weighed the decision in favor of W.

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