Comparing Liberal [Arts] Colleges for study in Biology

My son is an international student from India. Can you please provide reviews/pros-cons of doing Biology/Biomedical sciences as the major/concentration with supporting subjects from Mathematics and Computer Science at the following colleges? Post bachelor he wants to do research career with MS/PhD in a research University.

Unweighted GPA: 4.0
SAT: 1480
EC: Teaching assistant at school in Biology, Started a foundation for internet addiction support, started math club at the school, held an international competition in mathematics through the club

Thanks a ton for your help.

Grinnell, Bowdoin College, Hamilton, Carleton College, Vassar College, Davidson College, Haverford College, Colby College, Wesleyan University, Colgate University

All excellent schools - no bad choices here.

My suggestion would be to look at the course catalog for each college being considered. Look at courses offered, general requirements for graduation, and requirements for majors and minors. See if they all appeal equally. Schools differ in these things, including directed research, etc.

Also consider things like Jan Plan, study abroad, etc as these often provide opportunities for internships or very focused field study.

This will be about fit as well as where your son ultimately holds an acceptance.

3 Likes

Thank you! Yes will do what you suggested.

1 Like

Thanks @merc81 for the corrections.

1 Like

The Wesleyan biology department footprint is pretty big for a LAC; it branches out into molecular biology/biochem (MBBC) and together is referred to as the Life Sciences Major:
https://www.wesleyan.edu/bio/for_majors/life_science.html

3 Likes

Agree here. Biology is a broad field, and different departments may have different subarea emphases. So checking for subareas of interest may be important, particularly with smaller departments.

3 Likes

Those are all very good colleges. Great place to learn. For biology, the graduate degree matters more than the undergrad. To get into the good PhD programs, its preferable to do some undergrad research. So pay attention to how many of the students do research projects.

Also note that many of these colleges are need-aware towards international students. This means they take ability to pay into account when deciding admissions. Would you be able to pay in full? Or will you need to apply financial aid? If yes then please consider some backup options, as financial aid for internationals is difficult.

2 Likes

Thanks @circuitrider. Will definitely research more for final short list.

True that. Unlike large research Universities we have to account for subareas at undergraduate stage itself.

Yes we would be applying for financial aid. Based on calculators built for US citizens family contribution is coming to @25k usd which is affordable. Understandably the calculators may not accurate for international plus the need aware status.

3 Likes

Since you are considering liberal arts colleges, you might want to investigate Washington and Lee University in Lexington Virginia. Its academics are stellar, but what sets it apart is that they provide financial aid for international students, and they are making great efforts to increase their diversity. This means your son’s international status, which could be an obstacle at some schools, might be an asset for admissions here. Furthermore, 10% of each class are Johnson Scholars,. That’s a merit scholarship where everything (tuition, room, board, a $7000 stipend, other costs) are fully paid by W&L.

My son is a sophomore there, and has several international friends, from Estonia and Spain, but many other countries are represented.

6 Likes

@cinnamon1212 that is great to know. Will definitely investigate the Biology curriculum there and try to include it in the final short list.

I have a friend and research collaborator who is a biology professor and does research at W&L. My friend is an awesome scientist, teacher, and person!

5 Likes

As an approach to consider for your further research, it might be interesting to look into the bioinformatics course offerings and modules at your son’s schools of interest. These courses and modules enhance molecular biology programs, in particular, and should be especially appealing to a student with a preexisting interest in computer science. Also, as suggested in your other topic, quantitative analysis in general seems to relate to your son’s combination of interests, and can be found in various forms, such as through data science programs (e.g., available as a major or minor at Hamilton and a minor at Davidson) or through interdisciplinary research hubs (e.g., Wesleyan’s Quantitative Analysis Center). For a moderately selective college idea, look into Wheaton (MA).

1 Like

Thanks @ColdWombat . That is encouraging.

@merc81 Thank you for your support on multiple threads! Considering feedback all around and some online research, which is still continuing. Now we are considering W&L, Hamilton or Grinnell for ED1. Any thoughts and pointers? Again Mathematical Biology/Bioinformatics/Data Science or similar areas would be of interest. Lab research work starting early in the program would be certainly preferred. Also considering the profile mentioned above would you think the three schools should be considered Reach or target for ED1 so to say? One challenge with W&L is ED1 deadline is 1st Nov, which could hurry things a bit.

1 Like

Grinnell. Strong in biology, math and computer science. Excellent lab facilities and associated research opportunities, of which both are supported by a notably high endowment. Flexible curriculum would allow your son to concentrate mostly in natural sciences and math, if desired. Tends to produce futue PhDs. Lots of international students.

Hamilton. Strong in core sciences and math and also broad in these areas (e.g., offers majors in geosciences and statistics). Its data science major, in particular, would pair well with a biology major for your son’s range of interests. Excellent research opportunities. Thesis required for biological science majors. Curriculum even more flexible than Grinnell’s. Graduates achieve well across a variety of fields.

Based partly on their low overall acceptance rates, both of these schools may represent reaches for your son. An ED application may offer a greater advantage at Grinnell, however, in that I believe it enrolls substantially fewer student-athletes.

1 Like

W&L would be a reach as well. Applying ED would drastically reduce your chances for the Johnson.

3 Likes

Have you considered the locations, weather, and travel required to get to these schools (and any of the schools on your list)? These 3 schools in particular are remote. Hamilton and Grinnell will have cold winters with not insignificant amounts of snow, if that’s a concern at all.

IMO of your original list Colby is doing very interesting things in bioinformatics, CS, data science, and adjacent AI. I second the recommendation of Wheaton for a less reachy school.

5 Likes

@merc81 thank you for specific information for these. Will definitely look further and then decide. In general what should be the philosophy? Should one go for a Reach school for ED or a target school? Albeit I understand that most of the schools above might be reach schools since they are top LACs. We have been thinking of going for a Reach for ED1 and some safeties for RD and EA.