Best LACs for Biology

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello, everyone :)</p>

<p>As the end of my sophomore year draws to a close, my college search steps up a notch. I know what I want to study in college - Biology (either Micro- or Cell) with either a double major or minor in Spanish (if my interest develops into a major, I'll probably focus on literature). Also, it should be known that I do intend to go to med school after college!</p>

<p>Earlier this year, I had been mainly focusing on research universities; I knew little about LACs. Now that I look more closely into the idea of an LAC, I really like it. (Which kind of makes me feel like I'm betraying my dream school, Cornell). I like the small, homey atmosphere, which, yes, is strange, considering how much I like Cornell - obviously, I like other aspects of Cornell (resources, breadth and depth of courses/fields of study, location, etc.). I also like how the focus is on teaching with LACs; I really value good teachers, and I'm sure I'll value great professors even more. </p>

<p>So, without further delay, here are my main criteria:</p>

<p>Location: US Northeast (triangle of Ohio, Virginia, Maine) - I'd really like to stay in this region - I probably won't go to the West Coast, or down South. </p>

<p>Atmosphere: Intellectual, close-knit, small or no Greek life, student organizations are a plus, co-ed, diversity would be nice (I would like to stay away from super-elitist schools), I'd prefer a college that is NOT known for its drug/alcohol/party scene</p>

<p>Financial aid: I'm going to need a lot of aid. My parents make a combined $55,000 annually, and we don't really have any savings for college. Plus, assuming I go to med school, I'll be amassing quite the debt in my twenties. </p>

<p>Advising: I'd love a high school guidance counselor feel with great pre-med advising.</p>

<p>Academics: strong biology department, offers Spanish as at least a minor, small classes, rigorous to very rigorous</p>

<p>I'm confident I'll be a competitive applicant to top schools (LACs or research universities), so, if you go by USNews rankings, the list should be inclusive of schools in the top ~25. </p>

<p>Sorry if I've been unclear at all; my attention hasn't been solely focused on this. Just ask if you want me to clarify anything. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I really like Bowdoin, now that I’ve started to look. Does anyone have any opinions to help me? :)</p>

3

<p>Swarthmore fits all of your criteria :)</p>

4

<p>Thank you! :slight_smile: Swarthmore and Bowdoin are two that have really stood out to me.</p>

5

<p>Bard College might be a good fit. 90 percent of the students that apply to medical school are accepted. Pretty good chances. Also, because the school itself is so small, you have your own pre-med advisor. They even help you prepare for the MCATS!</p>

6

<p>You should look at Bowdoin, William, Amherst, Swarthmore for sure, since they have the best aid. I’m not sure about Swarthmore, but the others are loan free, need blind schools, so you would probably be set (financially) if you get into any of those, and of course they are the top LACs, so they would be great for getting into med school as well. Not to mention, these are probably the most diverse, since they have the finances to offer more financial aid.</p>

<p>Middlebury is another good one that meets your criteria, really good financial aid, i got full need met but like $1000 loan/year in my package so not as good but still fantastic.<br>
Colby is full need, but not need blind, so it might be a little difficult to get in if you have high need, but if you do you’ll prob get as good aid as at AWS.<br>
Bates is also good, but there are loans in the package, more like $5500/year. Bates, Colby, Bowdoin tend to attract an outdoorsy crowd, I believe. </p>

<p>I’m not sure about the pre-med advising at any of these colleges, but I would assume any top liberal arts college is good in that aspect.</p>

7

<p>Williams fulfills all of your requirements. My son is did his undergrad at Williams and graduate at Cornell. He really liked the outdoorsy activities and great natural beauty of both campuses. I’d also add Hamilton to your list.</p>

8

<p>muhleneberg college, best all around LAC (IMO)</p>

<p>they also have two great options for med school for those who qualify
[Muhlenberg</a> College| Temple School of Medicine Early Assurance Program](<a href=“http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/admissions/Temple4-4.html]Muhlenberg”>http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/admissions/Temple4-4.html)
[Muhlenberg</a> College | Drexel University College of Medicine](<a href=“http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/admissions/Drexel4-4.html]Muhlenberg”>http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/admissions/Drexel4-4.html)</p>

9

<p>Thanks, everyone! </p>

<p>I also forgot to mention that I don’t want to go to a college that’s predominantly (or affiliated with) one religion. I don’t practice a religion, so I think it would be a little uncomfortable for me to go somewhere where one religion is a big part of campus life – again, I’m totally fine with diversity (especially in religious practice). Thanks again! :)</p>

10

<p>IBObsessed,
I hear you but many schools have a former or super super super lose connection to a church or something. including the ivy league schools. schools like muhlenberg or hendrix another school you should check out (no frats) amazing bio program happy students etc…, are in no way religious . it is not like it was say in 1875 or whatever. there are some religious schools out there muhlenberg is not one of them. if you do not think muhlenberg is a school for you, that is cool but…do not let a religious affiliation scare you off.</p>

11

<p>A small research university might meet all of your needs. Consider Tufts, Brandeis, U.Rochester. Also Carnegie Mellon, Case Western - but these are less LAC-like and more science/technology focused.
See which ones people are suggesting meet 100% of need.</p>

12

<p>Zobroward, I’m fine with historical or loose connections; I just want to avoid connections like Notre Dame or Georgetown. And it’s not the connection I don’t want. I don’t really want to go to a place where students are almost religiously and/or culturally homogeneous. I do appreciate your help, though. :)</p>

<p>And BeanTownGirl, I actually have looked at those schools. I like Rochester, mostly because I’d probably be able to commute (so I’d save a ton), and I really like Brandeis (one of my friends, whose stats are similar to mine, whose parents make more money than mine do, is going there on a full ride - I also like how small it is and the diversity).</p>

13

<p>

Because Muhlenberg is relatively poor compared to top LACs, its financial aid is weak. Additionally, its largest merit scholarship is only $16,000, and most are $4000.</p>

<p>Tuition
Williams: $46,330
Haverford: $45,018
Wellesley: $43,824
Muhlenberg: $42,470</p>

<p>% of need met
Williams: 100%
Haverford: 100%
Wellesley: 100%
…
Muhlenberg: 92%</p>

<p>Average grant
Williams: $40,511
Haverford: $39,702
Wellesley: $38,393
…
Muhlenberg: $23,328 </p>

<p>Average indebtedness
Williams: $12,749
Haverford: $14,171
Wellesley: $14,189
…
Muhlenberg: $25,858</p>

<p>I think IBObsessed is best off applying to (a) highly selective colleges with excellent financial aid and (b) colleges where his/her stats place him/her well above the 75th percentile, making merit aid a strong possibility. </p>

<p>IBObsessed, here’s a list of loan-free colleges. Several liberal arts colleges, such as Amherst, Conn College, Davidson, and Lafayette, would be loan-free for you. Since you plan on attending medical school, keeping debt down is a must. </p>

<p>[FinAid</a> | Answering Your Questions | No Loans for Low Income Students](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/questions/noloansforlowincome.phtml]FinAid”>http://www.finaid.org/questions/noloansforlowincome.phtml)</p>

14

<p>Vassar, Wesleyan, any of the 7 sisters if you’re female. Haverford, union, Hampshire, Sarah Lawrence, Dartmouth, Oberlin, Kenyon.</p>

<p>If you wanna look west: Pomona, Reed, Pitzer, Occidental, Willamette.</p>

15

<p>Mount Holyoke if you are female.</p>

16

<p>Sarah Lawrence focuses on visual and performing arts, some humanities, and psychology; its biology offerings are relatively limited, although it does appear to have the pre-med set of courses.</p>

<p>Dartmouth is one of the most heavily fraternity/sorority schools in the US (about 65% of eligible students are in one), so it may not be a good fit for the “small or no Greek life” and “NOT known for its drug/alcohol/party scene” criteria.</p>

<p>Given how broad a field biology is, it would make sense to check the course offerings (catalogs and schedules) at the various schools to see how well their biology departments match your interests.</p>

<p>The five college consortium in Massachusetts includes the large University of Massachusetts - Amherst, so students at the four other schools (small LACs) may be able to take advantage of a larger course catalog. Same with Barnard with respect to Columbia (however, Barnard does not meed to “co-ed” criterion).</p>

17

<p>If you’re willing to extend your geographic area a bit, then please consider Grinnell College. Merit aid, plus need-blind and meets 100% demonstrated need. Very strong in sciences, among the more diverse LACs, great advising, intellectual and close-knit community…</p>

18

<p>Again, thanks everyone for your help! Also, it should be known that I’m a male (but regardless, uninterested in single-sex colleges). </p>

<p>I’ve found that I’m most interested in Swarthmore. I especially like how students are able to take classes from some of the best schools in Pennsylvania, and their Honors program seems fantastic!</p>

19

<p>

</p>

<p>I agree with this advice.</p>

<p>Full-need, need-blind LACs in the OP’s preferred “triangle”:</p>

<p>Amherst College
Bowdoin College
College of the Holy Cross
Hamilton College
Haverford College
Middlebury College
Swarthmore College
University of Richmond
Vassar College
Williams College</p>

<p>As for LACs where merit aid is a strong possibility, the OP may need to look beyond that triangle. Here are some selective LACs that award merit scholarships:</p>

<p>Colorado College
Davidson College
Dickinson College
Gettysburg College
Goucher College
Grinnell College
Muhlenberg College
Rhodes College
University of Richmond
Ursinus College</p>

<p>Some of these are a bit less selective than the first group, so they might make good match/target schools. </p>

<p>As for which are the best in biology, that’s hard to say. There’s no reliable department ranking for LACs. You could look at PhD productivity ([COLLEGE</a> PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]COLLEGE”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College) or <a href=“https://webcaspar.nsf.gov/[/url]”>https://webcaspar.nsf.gov/&lt;/a&gt;). Swarthmore and Haverford do well by that metric, and also meet the OP’s other criteria.</p>

20

<p>Medical school (the OP’s intended goal) is somewhat different from PhD programs in terms of undergraduate preparation, so the ranking of the schools for the OP’s medical school goal may differ from that of a student whose goal is to go on to a PhD program.</p>