<p>Hello! I was originally planning on applying to just one women's college, Wellesley, and the rest co-ed, but upon reading what others had to say about Mt. Holyoke and Smith, I think I am starting to consider all of the top women's colleges...but I would really like to know which college has the best science program overall.</p>
<p>What I'm really looking for is a school that will allow me to really pursue the science in-depth. I am planning to major in Biochemistry and I hope to do medical research. Thus, scientific research opportunities and scientific facilities available at a college are very important to me.</p>
<p>Although I love science, I also love English and French. I may choose to double major in Biochemistry and English--yes, they are quite different from each other, but I hope that the college I attend would encourage me to pursue both if I choose to double-major. I would also like to have room to take a variety of courses that may not be included in my major.</p>
<p>With that said, I don't really mind a core curriculum or course requirements as long as it still allows for flexibility and an acceptable amount of freedom.</p>
<p>I would love to hear your opinions and maybe even first-hand experiences. Thank you all very much.</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke has been strong in Chemistry and in English for a long time. They have good facilities but I doubt it would compare to research universities like Johns Hopkins, for example. Brandeis University is also strong in Biochemistry and has good humanities departments and a flexible curriculum. </p>
<p>Be sure you want the cultural environment of a women's college--has many benefits but does not suit everyone. Best advice is to visit your top choices and arrange a meeting with one or two relevant profs.</p>
<p>The following article will give you some insight on how Mount Holyoke has done, historically, with sending it's students on to PH D programs in science:</p>
<p>A brief quote from the article, which will also gives you some insight about research opportunities: </p>
<p>"Since 2000, Mount Holyoke science faculty have been awarded more NSF grant money--$8,122,015--than any other leading liberal arts college, which translates into unique research opportunities for students."</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke still has core curriculum requirements....so you will get a broad liberal arts education, and there are many students who double major.</p>
<p>Hope you get an opportunity to visit the school!</p>
<p>If you are interested in the sciences, you might ask to get a copy of MHC Winter 2006 Voume 11 Vista newsletter about Science at MHC. 2 Quotes from it--</p>
<p>"Ranked #1: MHC's ranking for graduating more women than any other liberal arts college who went on to get doctorates in the physical and life sciences from 1966 to 2004. This puts MHC in the top 2 percent of all colleges and universities--even major research universities with at least double the enrollment."</p>
<p>"Ranked #8:Among all colleges and universities, MHC's ranking (tied with Stanford and Wellesley)in the number of graduates who earned U.S. Doctorates in physics from 1966 to 2004. MHC ranked ninth in chemistry and sixteenth in biology."</p>