<p>I'm a junior at a science magnet school and I want to major in chemistry. Which schools have good chem programs and what should I be looking for when researching schools? If anyone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>If you make a better title, you might attract people to your thread who know something about the topic. Also your question is too broad. There are hundreds of schools…your stats and you financial situation should be addressed in order for people to narrow down a list for you to look at.</p>
<p>As has been said in other science-oriented posts, any of the top liberal arts colleges will have excellent chemistry departments. (Amherst, Williams, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Carlton etc.) Try to visit a small school like that to decide if that’s the setting you want. If not, then the mid-size schools (Johns Hopkins, University of Rochester), large universities, Ivies… it depends on your scores.</p>
<p>Do you possess any alternative criteria?</p>
<p>Consider the following questions:</p>
<p>-Is size a factor?
-Are research opportunities essential?
-Do you find professors teaching the material to be more preferable?
-Is cost a factor?
-Is diversity beneficial?
-Is a particular location a necessity?
-Would you mind attending a LAC?
-Are there particular programs and activities that you find essential?</p>
<p>What is your career goal?</p>
<p>What are your financial constraints? (will parents pay $50k+ for school of choice? Or, do they have a limit as to how much they’ll spend. IF so, find out what that is if you don’t know. Believe me, any financial constraints will have a significant impact on where you’ll need to apply.)</p>
<p>What are your stats? GPA? Weighted/UW…ACT/SAT (include SAT breakdown)</p>
<p>What “non-academic” aspects are important to you in a school? See list below… :)</p>
<p>big
small
quiet
rah rah big sports to watch
honors college on campus?
greek systems as an option
Catholic schools ok?
single sex
co-ed 50/50 split
rural setting
big city setting
collegetown setting
nice dorms
recreation availability
warm weather
cold/snowy weather
regional preference
is regional preference a requirement?</p>
<p>What is your home state?</p>
<p>If you’re interested in eventually pursuing a PhD, this site may help: [REED</a> COLLEGE PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]REED”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College)</p>
<p>For chem, the schools with the most undergrads that go on to earn PhD’s are Harvey Mud, Caltech, Wabash, Reed, Carleton, Grinnell, Wooster, NM Institute Mining & Tech., Franklin & Marshall, and Bowdoin
That could be a place to start if we infer that all of these schools have good chemistry programs.</p>