<p>I'm a british student who is about to apply to Universities for entry in 2014. I want to major in Chemistry.</p>
<p>Over the last couple of weeks I have been doing a rigorous University search using College Board and College Confidential (for example) to find Universities that offer aid to international students and offer Chemistry as a major.</p>
<p>I created a list of 18 Universities.</p>
<p>However, after reading posts on the international forum, I realised that it is just as important that the university has a good environment and is liked by students. </p>
<p>So my question is - from a student perspective, could you list the universities that you think are the best in the US. </p>
<p>Every American university and college is different. I have no way of knowing which one you are going to like. That is completely subjective.</p>
<p>Here’s a paragraph I wrote in another thread in this forum:</p>
<p>“Each one has its own character. There are the state universities and the private colleges and universities. There are the older ones and the newer ones. The bigger ones and the smaller ones. The ones in big cities, the ones in smaller communities. There are the prestigious and difficult to get into “Ivy League” schools. There are the community colleges that usually offer two year degrees, which often appeal to folks who need to “catch up” before going to a more difficult university. There are the small colleges who emphasize the so-called “liberal arts”. There are schools that are completely devoted to the visual and/or performing arts. There are those universities which seem to be mostly known for their sports teams. There are schools mostly known for “partying”. Some schools value being prestigious and elite, others value diversity. There are schools affiliated with specific religions. There are schools where the faculty and students are traditionally liberal politically, and others where they are traditionally conservative, and others that attract all political views. And then there are also serious differences between the different geographical regions of the U.S. You should start by thinking about what kind of experience you are hoping to have in the years you will be a college student. In the U.S. what happens outside the classroom is often considered just as important or more important than the actual education you receive.”</p>
<p>curtisdean, I would suggest you take a look at Unistats, which is an independent body (funded by the govt.) that ranks universities on student satisfaction, salary, entry requirements, job prospects, etc. </p>
<p>If you want pure reputation for chemistry, the first thing that comes to most Americans’ minds is probably MIT. Obviously there’s more than goes into a college descision than just that though. For instance, MIT isn’t known for its thriving social scene. It also isn’t necessarily as strong in subjects that aren’t math/science related so if you also really enjoy something like creative writing, that might not be the place for you. </p>
<p>I’d recommend spending some time visiting (if possible) or at least delving into the admissions materials of a wide range of schools (public, private, big, small, sporty, etc). If you have questions about a specific college that you can’t find out from admissions materials (such as “is there a lot of partying at this school?”) feel free to ask on that college’s board (if they have one) here at CC.</p>