Colleges with great Biology: Please suggest?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hey.
So I decided I really want to major in Biology...probably on the animal behavior or neurobiology track.
I would love some suggestions of schools that have a great program and great research opportunities, but also schools that I can get into.
My stats:
3.8 unweighted GPA/4.7 weighted.
30 ACT
780 Biology SAT II
740 Literature SAT II
AP Scores: 5 on AP Bio, 4 on Psych, Lang, and Human Geo.
Varsity swimmer for 4 years.
in a church youth group.
Board member of NHS
Been on 4 mission trips.
Editorial Intern at a national student success company.
I will have taken 8 (maybe 10) APs by the time I graduate. I have taken all honors and AP. </p>

<p>I really want a school with a pretty campus, that gives good financial aid, that is known for a great community feel, has internship and research opportunities, and is not too big.</p>

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<p>*I really want a school with a pretty campus, that gives good financial aid, that is known for a great community feel, has internship and research opportunities, and is not too big. *</p>

<p>What state are you in?</p>

<p>Many, many schools have good biology programs. </p>

<p>Do you know how much your family will pay? </p>

<p>Do you know if you would qualify for the FA that you need? FA is based on family income and assets.</p>

<p>If you have a good amount of need (determined by income/assets), I think DePauw may be a good choice.</p>

3

<p>from what you said, definitely check out Emory</p>

4

<p>Holy Cross, Tufts.</p>

5

<p>Thanks guys!</p>

<p>I have an interesting financial situation…my parents can’t pay much out of pocket at all. However, my grandma started a bond when I was born, so with that were able to pay 15,000 a year. Meaning I wont get much financial aid, so my hope is merit scholarships.</p>

<p>Tufts and Emory- I feel like I couldn’t get in with my stats, but I do like the sound.</p>

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<p>University of Rochester is an awesome school especially known for being a small research university. My friend turned down Cornell for URoc because of campus feel and better fin aid. It has great merit aid and meets need based, too.</p>

7

<p>Emory, Rice, Northwestern, UVA</p>

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<p>Thanks guys!
I llike UofR a lot.
Schools like Rice and Northwestern are big reaches for me thoug, so I wouldn’t get merit.</p>

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<p>I think this thread got on the wrong track when you stated that you needed financial aid…when actually you need merit scholarships…that is very different.</p>

<p>The above-mentioned schools are not going to give an ACT 30 merit because the score isn’t high for the school.</p>

<p>For example the middle quartile range for URoch is…</p>

<p>ACT Composite: 29 - 32</p>

<p>So, an ACT 30 is at the 50% mark…not the place to be for merit. To get good merit from the schools that give good merit, your scores need to be in the top 10-15% of the school. So, in this case, the ACT would probably have to be an ACT 34+</p>

<p>The same for the other above-mentioned schools that give merit. Your scores aren’t high enough.</p>

<p>**Look for schools that have mid ranges of like…</p>

<p>ACT 22-28 or so. Then, an ACT 30 is considered high.**</p>

<p>Soontobesenior…</p>

<p>It sounds like you’re going to have a high EFC because of the education bond and family income…so you’re looking for merit. If so, then you need to look at the schools that will give an ACT 30 a large merit scholarship. </p>

<p>Is your goal med school or vet school or research?</p>

<p>Since the bond will pay $15k per year, then you need a merit scholarship that pays either full tuition or close to it, so that the $15k per year will pay for room, board, books, etc. A small student loan could cover any gaps if necessary. </p>

<p>Can your parents contribute anything? $5k per year? more? less?</p>

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<p>soontobesenior -</p>

<p>I’d give little weight to posters on CC who tell you what specific colleges will or won’t give you in merit aid. If you meet the profile for what a college is looking for (major, ECs, personal qualities), they may well offer you aid, in spite of your ACTs. No CC poster knows enough to predict that.</p>

<p>You do need some financial safeties - but go ahead and apply to the colleges you’re interested in, and see what happens when the FA letters come out next spring.</p>

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<p>While I appreciate the financial advice, I’m pretty aware that schools that I am only in mid range for are not likely to give me merit.</p>

<p>I really need advice about the actual programs of schools. People always ask for more info on what kind of schools people want, so I was only listing that schools that give good finance would be awesome.</p>

<p>BUT I really just want to know about schools that have great programs because majoiring in bio is a recent decision for me because prior to this I looked into psychology programs. So thank you for the financial advice, but no worries, I completely understand!</p>

<p>Do you guys know about great programs, despite the finance? My first step is to find schools, and then I promise to look at the realism of costs. Haha, but I can’t get to that step until I have schools to look into.</p>

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<p>Also, my goal is research. definitely not med or vet.</p>

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<p>Occidental, though I don’t know about their financial aid.</p>

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<p>haha no worries about financial aid, just need namesof programs for now.
Thanks!</p>