My son is an international student planning to apply to STEM in liberal colleges. He is interested in Biology as the major with Mathematics and Computer Science as the minors. He plans to do at least masters post his bachelors if not a PhD. We want to decide between Amherst and Bowdoin in terms of suitability especially for ED1. Any guidance would be appreciated.
If your son’s interest in biological sciences extends to neuroscience, note that Amherst established the nation’s first undergraduate major in this interdisciplinary field. Amherst would be superb for research opportunities in any discipline. Note, however, that Amherst does not offer minors.
For your son’s interests in mathematics and computer science, he also may want to consider Hamilton, at which he could choose biology as a primary major and data science (which combines mathematics and computer science) as a supporting major.
Can you share more about him?
When I look at rank (one rank), for Bio, Bowdoin was 25th and Amherst 60th. Of course, there are different elements of the subject - does he have a specialty?
Both are fantastic schools that will place well in grad school - but they are not the same - so a lot will depend on what your student desires from just a living day to day POV.
You might contact each school’s biology department and ask for outcomes - i.e. where did their students go after graduation (whether to jobs or grad school and a list of those schools).
Good luck to your son.
Thanks much for your reply. His interest are more on molecular Biology at this stage but may be too early to sub-specialize in my opinion.
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His current interests seem to be in molecular biology. However, may be too early to decide at this stage. Thanks for suggesting to contact the department. Will certainly do so.
BTW Amherst or Bowdoin were chosen also partly because they are need blind. It will be useful to have some financial aid. Not sure how is Hamilton for providing financial assistance to international students.
Hamilton meets the demonstrated financial need of all accepted students, irrespective of national origin.
Haverford also may be of interest.
OK. Thank you. I believe admissions process is need aware though. Unlike what Amherst and Bowdoin claim 
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Just curious - why these two schools - and I’m not a bio expert - but I looked up rankings in molecular and many a school shows up, but neither of these - and on another rank, neither is ranked high in biology.
They might both be fantastic - I don’t know - but I’m not finding 3rd parties saying so - so why did you choose these two schools? Just curious - again, they’re wonderful and I’d ask the department for outcomes, etc.
There are 7 schools - but while a college can turn you down based on a need aware policy, it doesn’t mean they will. So you can certainly mix in schools that are need aware that will meet full need for international.
Are you sure your student has the academic credentials to gain admission to these schools?
“Now Bowdoin joins Harvard University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Dartmouth College, and Amherst College in including all students, regardless of citizenship, under its need-blind admissions policy,” said the university in a press release.
These being excellent schools and are also need blind is definitely a factor in considering for ED1. He is of course applying to many other for Early action and regular decision. Any thoughts or comments on this strategy are welcome as well.
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He has a 4.0 UWGPA and 1480 SAT with a few extracurricular activities including starting a foundation for internet addiction support. However, these are certainly Reach schools for him without doubt.
It makes sense - if and only if you are sure how the college sees your need. In other words, many think they have need -but the college doesn’t agree. So you might look at the net price calculator but that might not work for an international student. So perhaps the aid office can give you a pre-read…I don’t know but I’d ask.
What’s your budget?
There will be other schools that may be within budget, such as publics, but certainly not with the pedigree of these.
Are you applying to all 7 that promise to meet need ? You might also add Washington & Lee and go after the Johnson Scholarship. You might look at the SMU Presidential - this one, I’m not sure if international students are eligible - but they are for the Johnson at W&L.
Good luck.
Upto 30K per year would be comfortable for us. More can always be managed by tapping into other sources but ideally would not want to
It may be reasonable to assume that some colleges have become excessively competitive for international applicants because of their need-blind policies. If you concur, you may want to consider this as you assemble a college list. Additionally, if you can pay a substantial amount toward college costs, this may be considered favorably by need-aware colleges.
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Out of the remaining, we will probably go for Dartmouth but not others. Based on the research they seem to be too much out of reach!
I think at @merc81 brings up a great point - in that at $30K+, you are not asking for a full amount so a need aware might be ok. A school like Franklin & Marshall will be an easier admit.
But don’t forget, while you may be comfortable at $30K a year but have other sources to tap - the colleges may say your need isn’t as much as you think. Hence, I would see if you can get an estimate - if you ED. You may think you have a need that you, in fact, don’t have (according to the college).
With a 4.0 and 1480, I would apply wide and to basically anywhere.
There’s - and I just looked at one - a school like Mizzou - you’d be high 30s with Auto merit.
A school like Arizona - would come in just over $30K with $22K international merit (auto).
I just picked out two - with research you could find a lot more…so there are schools that will work but you have to find them…and they exist.
Thanks much for a detailed reply! A couple of questions if I may:
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For ED1 doesn’t it make sense to go with Reach school where you won’t have regret of accepting especially if they provide financial aid that you need.
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Is there a database that you would suggest for doing this research? I am using some publications but they are dated 2018.
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It makes all the sense but what if you don’t get in? You don’t want to be blackballed at other schools. I’d at least ask for a pre-read - they may not offer. Or use the net price calculator but I’m not sure how accurate that would be international.
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What research? Student outcomes? Email each school department and ask? Or are you asking for affordable schools?
I’d find low cost publics (U of Central Arkansas, Arkansas State, Southern Illiniois), etc - and just start comparing price + merit and see where you are.
The issue, with this of course, is your student is looking at doing a Masters/PHD - and these schools might not get you there. A strong flagship though - meaning a University of and you can see the ranks - should be ok. Low cost (I don’t know for international) might be a Florida or Florida State for example.
Others may guide you much better here.
The issue is money - your odds may be better for future opportunities at a top school. But if you can’t afford it, how do you go?
Definitely check out W&L and Johnson in this regard.
Good luck.
Edit - just as an example - I looked at U of Wyoming - look on a map - it’s isolated - it’s not Amherst or even UNC - but it’s not a bad school at all and it’s $38K a year minus $7500 in merit. So yes, there’s transport and other costs - but this is the kind of school that can work for you.
@tsbna44 thank you for your detailed replies and very helpful information!
I think I might have misrepresented the information so just want to clarify:
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He definitely would want to go to a place which will allow him to get into a strong program for MS + PhD. There is always an option to do bachelors in India and then come to US for graduate studies if things don’t work out in good colleges.
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As far as the financial constraint goes it is soft constraint. Other sources like grandparents can be requested if required but the preference is to keep costs within 30K, but not at the cost of going to a school which will hurt his chances for truly top notch school for graduate program.
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On the lower ranked Universities side he is looking at Penn State and University of Washington at Seattle for research universities and University of Richmond or Colorado College on the liberal colleges side.
Any comments, critique and suggestions of course very welcome!