<p>Big idea, missed by many: go look at the online course catalogs, to see the variety and depth of what’s offered in your major interests. See who teaches, what that person’s background and research interests are, how involved he or she is in the field. It’s an interesting starting point. You’ll find schools with blah and schools with courses and field opps that intrigue you.</p>
<p>The Amherst quote is good. Be prepared for a wilder ride than you expect, in the pre-med classes. After you narrow your list a bit, it might be wise to get feedback from kids who’ve been through those schools’ bio and chem classes.</p>