<p>Hey, I just wanted to post the question: what are considered to be some of the NE LAC's with the best hard science programs (i.e. astronomy, physics, chemistry, math, etc)? </p>
<p>I know that Swatty and Williams are considered to be great, but what about places like Bowdoin, Colby, and Colgate? What about all of those other LAC's up there?</p>
<p>In math and astronomy/astrophysics, Williams would likely be the best (except for radioastronomy, in which case the 5-colleges have more.) Wellesley also has an excellent math program. Swarthmore has long been known for quality chemistry and physics programs. If you want to do biological research as an undergraduate, there's probably more at Smith than anywhere else - it is a national center for genomics research, and has 40-50 paid research internships for first and second-year students. </p>
<p>The reality is that they will all have fine faculty, coming out of the same graduate schools, very few TAs and, usually, small classes and lots of personal attention at all of them. The price of the smaller classes is, usually, a smaller number of offerings than you'd find at even a mid-size state university, so there are tradeoffs.</p>
<p>I believe Haverford is quite well regarded in the sciences.</p>
<p>There is something to be said for quality of faculty at these various institutions though. While I appreciate minis constant egalitarian defending-of-the-underdog, I have to say from personal experience that more selective schools do tend to have harder-working/better prepared students so that professors may make classes harder. I know you mentioned you want NE LAC, but I had to add that both Carleton and Reed are good for hard sciences. And yes, Swat and Williams are excellent. Amherst is not so strong in the sciences. Bowdoin I know is strong in Chemistry.</p>
<p>Colgate and Haverford are not in New England. Amherst, Bowdoin, Holy Cross,and Williams have strong science programs.</p>
<p>lol, that's right. (Colgate's in NY right?) In what specific areas is Bowdoin considered especially strong?</p>
<p>I was reading NE as 'North East' not New England. Sorry.</p>