<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am a high school senior who is very interested in swarthmore. However, as a prospective chemistry/biochem major, I was puzzled to find that only 1.1% of the degrees are chem... (while it is over 10% for bio).</p>
<p>Can anyone comment on the strength of the chem program?</p>
<p>In addition, it is possible/accessible for freshmen/sophmore to engage in research?</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your feedbacks.</p>
<p>You answered your own question. The "biochem" is a national trend, pulling majors out of chem and into bio. Swarthmore also has Engineering pulling majors from Chem and Physics.</p>
<p>Chem majors at Swarthmore really like the department. The small department is an advantage when it comes to paid research and lab positions.</p>
<p>ID basically has it right. Small departments have great advantages, like availability of research, TA, lab jobs in the department, close relationships with professors, etc. The small departments really love and care about their majors. </p>
<p>The downside is in breadth of course offerings. Peruse the Course Guide (TriCollege</a> Course Guide) for the last couple of semesters to get an idea of what's offered in a typical year. If you're really enthusiastic about a specific sort of chem and want to focus on it and take lots of classes in it, you might be disappointed. Otherwise, I'd say not much to worry about. You'll have a great experience.</p>
<p>the thing about swat chem is that it's SO SO small.. but i think you're almost guaranteed a top grad school if you want to go.. it's not hard finishing top 2 among 4 students is it?</p>
<p>Graduate/Professional School for the past 4 years
• MD, Medical School, University of Pittsburgh, PA<br>
• MD, School of Medicine , University of Rochester, NY<br>
• J.D., Law School, Harvard University, MA
• PhD, Chemistry, UC Berkeley, CA
• Ph.D., Chemistry, Yale University, CT
• Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA
• Ph.D., Chemistry, Columbia University
• PhD, Microbiology Graduate Group, University of California Davis, CA </p>
<p>look at the phd chem programs swatties went.. berk, berk, columbia, yale</p>