<p>I was only planning on applying to universities next year, but I'm starting to consider the possibility of adding a LAC to the list. The only qualms I have about LACs are the lack of research opportunities (?) and the small size. </p>
<p>I want to major in molecular biology; which LACs have strong biology departments and would offer adequate research opportunities. (Only suggest colleges on the East Coast please :D )</p>
<p>And I read somewhere that the majority of LACs do not have any research going on at all... is this true?</p>
<p>In a word, yes. LAC students have no problems getting into science graduate programs or winning research-based scholarships like the Goldwater or NSF. </p>
<p>The research done at universities is more likely to be cutting-edge and more diverse in nature, to be sure, but in short, yes, LACs certainly have research opportunities available.</p>
<p>For molecular biology, I highly recommend Haverford, which has a joint program with Bryn Mawr.</p>
<p>About LACs - that’s definitely not true. The main focus of most professors at top LACs is research - as a matter of fact, one of my undergraduate professors at my small LAC told me his job was about 60% research. They are expected to teach full loads of classes, but most of the professors (especially those in the natural and physical sciences) continue to perform some kind of research.</p>
<p>Huskem55 is also right. At my small LAC, I started doing research as a sophomore undergraduate with a professor. I and one other sophomore were her only research assistants, so she had lots of time to devote to me. Here at Columbia, my graduate institution, the undergraduates work with us graduate students and the post-doc in my lab. They don’t work directly with the professor in my lab - he reserves his time for us graduate students, the post-doc, and his research.</p>
<p>What I suggest you do is investigate LACs within your size requirements and go to the biology departments websites, and look at the kind of research the professors are doing. I just checked out Wesleyan’s website and most of the professors have their areas of research posted on the website. They also have personal lab websites that further describe their work. I would hunt around for the schools you’re interested in and look at that kind of information.</p>
<p>Wesleyan is a great place for science. I think if you are interested in science an LAC could potentially be a great place to go. Though there are fewer research opportunities (although still quite a lot at most LACs), you would also have smaller class size, and closer relationships with professors.</p>
<p>Rhodes has a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major as well as a traditional Bio major. The most esteemed research opportunities for bio undergrads are internships with research scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, about 5 minutes away from campus. There are lots of other opportunities, though, both with local faculty, with faculty at U. Memphis, and in other venues.</p>
<p>The advantage at LAC’s is that undergraduates are the only possible assistants for professors doing research since there are no graduate students. Maybe less cutting edge or fewer topics to pursue as compared with universities. By the way, Middlebury has wonderful science facilities and departments.</p>