My D is interested in pursuing a career in Genetics Research. Appreciate your inputs on best colleges that will prepare you for higher studies and career in the field of Biological Sciences and genetics research.
Thanks and Regards
JonamiD
You can screen this list for suitable possibilities:
http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/lists/list/colleges-to-consider-if-you-want-to-study-biology/117/
In terms of your daughter’s specific interests, look for colleges (by cross-referencing) that offer significant course work in bioinformatics.
This site provides current standardized scoring data:
I would look at some LACs that have strong science programs… it may help your D develop closer relationships with her professors and get better recommendations.
If she wants to go into research, though, where she goes to grad school will matter way more than where she went to undergrad.
And what do you mean by “Genetics Research?” What specific part of “Genetics Research?” That phrase covers so many different and distinct areas that it’s difficult to give good advice.
Thanks for your help and suggestions. She got into UCLA (Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics), UCSD (Human Biology) , U of Washington Seattle (Undeclared) and University Of Pittsburgh (Biological Sciences).
In UPitt she got the Honors College and guaranteed MS admission and got grant/scholarship covering full tuition.
Would appreciate valuable suggestions and guidance from the group in making a better choice.
She is interested in research in Genetics (not clear as of now which particular area in genetics to focus at this point).
Thanks and Regards
JonamiD
I wouldn’t worry about any specific subfields at the moment. What a potential PhD student needs is a good, broad, solid education in the broader foundations of the field she wants to study - for genetics, that would be biology (with some chemistry and math as well). If she can do specific research in an area of interest that’s a cherry on top, but any kind of research is fine. My first research project was on child motor development in children under the age of 2; I eventually moved into research on health education in school-based health programs for adolescents in the 12 to 17 range; my doctoral research was on HIV, substance use, and mental health in young adults in the 18 to 30 range; and my postdoctoral research evolved further still. The point is - her research is going to evolve over time, and the biggest evolution will happen in undergrad as she learns more about her field.
Any of the four universities she has on the table would be a great choice for beginning a career as a genetics researcher. UCLA, UW-Seattle and University of Pittsburgh also all have top 10-20 PhD programs in the field of genetics - which, in some cases, may “trickle down” to undergraduate education in terms of research opportunities and potentially more undergraduate courses offered in genetics because of the faculty talent there (although I would check. Sometimes - often - the best professors don’t teach undergraduate classes at all). And UCSD has top 5 biomedical sciences and biological sciences doctoral programs. At this point, I think she can choose based on other factors.
UPitt sounds like a great deal. (It’s worth noting that they are well-reputed for their biomedical sciences research and have great facilities in that area.) Does she have a preference for location, school type, etc.?
@juliet Thanks a lot for your detailed inputs. No specific preference on location or type of school, even though a peaceful place with lower crime rate will give us peace of mind.
No, she didn’t. UCLA admits to Letters and Science without regard to the intended major, and furthermore those wanting this major must complete the requirements of the pre-major satisfactorily before they are accepted into the official major. In effect she is L&S undeclared for all it matters. See https://www.admission.ucla.edu/prospect/Majors/lsmajor.htm note 1. I don’t know about the other schools…
I say this not to quibble; if your D is good enough to get a PhD in the field then the lower-division pre-major requirements are no big hurdle. I say this to point out the importance for your D of her fully understanding the rules/expectations to get into a PhD program. Truth is, and I believe hat @juillet would agree (although we may see) that just about any college in the country offers sufficient undergrad preparation for a PhD to those willing to look for it.
Some may have more resources than others, but in the end you can’t count on any college to “prepare” you. It is the initiative of your D to get to know her profs so as to get strong and person letters that will make a difference. Her willingness to find positions in research labs so she can show future PhD programs she understand what research involves and knows it is right for her before a 4-7 year stretch in grad school. Her willingness to work hard to get good grades. Her efforts to secure summer jobs in the sciences.
When you ask about “best colleges that will prepare you for higher studies” understand that at the best colleges anyone can mention (or of her choices since that is the universe of choices she actually has) that some students will fall short of the goal. And at the worst of the choices some will succeed. The difference is not what the schools did to “prepare” the kid, it is what the kid took to take advantage of the resources to do those things necessary to be a strong applicant.
@badgolfer Thank You for your comments.
The UCLA admit offer she received has the below
“You have been admitted to the UCLA College of Letters and Science with Pre Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics as your academic major.”
^^^ you need to understand what that qualifier “pre” means. She is not in the actual Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics major. Read note 1 in the link I gave.
Since you can’t get a diploma in “pre-” anything, she actually is a more-or-less undeclared major who has told the school of her interest in eventually applying for a specific major. It really didn’t matter what major in L&S she listed; she could have put History and still would be able to take the same courses and apply to the MicroBio major.
Anyway, this is really an unimportant side note. I hoped to use it as a metaphor to caution you about assumptions regarding colleges “preparing” a kid similar to the way you seem to be assuming she was accepted to UCLA in this major.
@badgolfer Thank you for explaining. Appreciate it.
Since Pitt is giving better scholarship and aid, we are leaning towards Pitt considering the opinion that for undergrad , the college doesn’t make a huge difference (between those she got accepted now)since she is passionate about pursuing academics and getting a PhD.
Thanks and Regards
JonamiD
As someone working towards a Ph.D. in genetics, I can tell you that all of her choices are excellent. She really can’t go wrong either way, but I would definitely lean toward Pitt if all other factors (cost, environment, etc) are not important to you/her. If she wants to get a Ph.D., she should definitely focus on building relationships with her professors and doing research in a lab.
@mademoiselle2308 Thank You very much for your help.
Appreciate if anyone can throw some light on how peaceful and safe Pittsburgh as a city to live in as a student. This will be her first time staying away alone from home. Even though she is super excited of finally living alone away from home, we as parents are making sure that she can have her studies along with fun without worrying much about crime and safety.
Thanks and Reagdrs
JonamiD
Yup. 
My D got into CMU with an invite to join SHS/QSSS.
Since My D is interested to pursue her career in Biology/Pre-Med (at this point), wIll QSSS program from CMU add any value for a Biology Major or Pre-Med seeking admission to med-school?
Thanks
JonamiD