<p>Hello, I'm a new member of this forum, and I really need help!</p>
<p>First of all, I know I want to study in biology. Specifically, I want to study biotechnology/genetic engineering (basically manipulating genes). Is there a difference? From what people have told me, there isn't one, but I can't be sure. Going off of this, I want to make sure I go into a university that is famous for genetics, but after scouring the internet for months, I've gotten no answers. Every single college I've found is all businessbusinessbusiness and the occasional English or Engineering school, but regular engineering and genetic engineering are obviously different, and there seems to be no universities that have biology as their niche. I also can't find a biotech course that goes past a bachelor's degree. Is there any school anywhere that goes deeper than this, or do I have to get a Masters/Ph.D in general genetics and do something or another to go into genetic engineering or biotech? I'm just so confused right now it's not even funny. D:<</p>
<p>I'm in California, so I'd also like to know why the UC system is different and what that means. I might not have a problem getting INTO a school (I'm a junior with a 4.6 GPA in International Baccalaureate, I'm female, I'm hispanic, I head a couple of clubs and do a lot of community service, I'm probably going to be valedictorian or at least salutatorian. Not trying to brag, just giving the information so that my ability to get into a school can be assessed) but my issue is I simply don't know where to GO. I can potentially go out of state or even out of country because I'm in IB.</p>
<p>I'd also like to know what the difference between public-research colleges and liberal arts colleges are. I'm confused about that, sorry. I've been trying to do research about universities online, and honestly it's doing more harm than good, seeing as it gets more complex the deeper I look. D:</p>
<p>EDIT: Really, I'd just like to know what major I should do, biotechnology or genetic engineering, their differences, and what universities would be ideal. I don't care how far it is, I'm just looking at options right now.</p>
<p>I can’t help you with your main point, but here are a few links explaining the differences in style and philosophy between universities and liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>Zchryevns: Thank you very much! Those articles were very helpful. :D</p>
<p>Mom2Collegekids: Ummm I haven’t gotten them in yet but I found it to be easy. I finished everything except math; I still had about two to five math questions to do, though, since they were time-consuming. I MIGHT get the National Merit Scholarship, but I’m not getting my hopes up just yet. </p>
<p>EDIT: However, judging from my scores last year, I’m in the 99th percentile in Critical Reading, 98th in Writing Skills, and I believe 95th percentile in Math.</p>
<ol>
<li>Biotechnology is a broader field than genetic engineering, though these terms often are used interchangeably. Here are a couple of links for you to checkout that will help you understand the differences.
<a href=“https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Biotechnology[/url]”>https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Biotechnology</a>
<a href=“https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Genetic_Engineering[/url]”>https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Genetic_Engineering</a></li>
<li>From what you’ve indicated, I take it that your main interest is genetics. At the undergraduate level, there are several pathways to study this. All universities that offer biological sciences will offer coursework in genetics, but the extent to which you can specialize in genetics at the undergrad level will vary, depending on the university. You also will find that universities offer genetics in several different departments and majors, depending on the departmental structure of a particular university. So, here are the more common options:
Biology Departments-Some biology departments will offer tracks within their biology majors that allow you to specialize in genetics.
Molecular Biology Departments-This is one of the more common majors for students interested in genetics.
Genetics Departments-Some universities have genetics departments that offer an undergraduate major.
Zoology Departments-Some zoology departments will offer tracks within their biology majors that allow you to specialize in genetics.
Botany Departments (or, Plant Sciences, more common in land grant universities with colleges of agriculture)-If you’re interested in plant genetics, this is where you’ll find such course. In this case, you might major in botany or plant sciences.
Biotechnology majors/tracks: Some universities offer a biotechnology major or specialty track at the undergraduate level, but this usually would be offered under one of the other departments listed above. Even when a university has no specific major/track labeled as “biotechnology”, one or another of the types of departments listed above might offer one or more courses in “biotechnology”. Probably none of these majors/tracks are titled as “genetic engineering” so that’s the wrong term to search.
Some other variations: sometimes Biochemistry is combined with molecular biology; sometimes cell &/or developmental biology is combined with genetics or molecular biology. Sometimes, you find certain genetics topics taught in microbiology departments. </li>
<li>It’s hard to believe that you haven’t identified any universities “that have biology as their niche”, as you say. Biology is a core discipline at most schools and you will find strong departments in biology (or its various subfields) at a wide range of colleges and universities, ranging from liberal arts colleges to private universities, to public universities.
There is no undergraduate ranking of departments, but graduate rankings give some idea of the better departments, for example…
[Genetics</a> / Genomics / Bioinformatics - Biological Sciences - Graduate Schools - Education - US News](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-biological-sciences-programs/genetics]Genetics”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-biological-sciences-programs/genetics)
[Molecular</a> Biology - Biological Sciences - Graduate Schools - Education - US News](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-biological-sciences-programs/molecular-biology]Molecular”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-biological-sciences-programs/molecular-biology)</li>
<li>At the bachelor’s degree level, I suspect that biotechnology positions are limited to roles such as lab technician. Do you have any interest in graduate study?</li>
<li>“I’m in California, so I’d also like to know why the UC system is different and what that means.” I have no idea what you mean by this; you need to clarify this.</li>
<li>Liberal Arts Colleges vs. Public Research Universities: Liberal arts colleges usually offer study at the bachelor’s level in traditional disciplines of humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, i.e., they don’t offer vocational types of majors and don’t have graduate or professional schools. Those that favor liberal arts colleges point to their smaller size, focus on teaching, faculty-student interaction, etc. Research universities offer graduate and professional degrees in addition to bachelor’s degrees. While they offer greater breadth and depth of majors and coursework, their larger size usually results in larger classes, less interaction with faculty, etc. Their reputation stems from their graduate programs and faculty research accomplishments. A public research university is one that receives state funding and is under some level of state control, e.g., the various UC campuses, as opposed to a private research university, e.g., Stanford. That’s really a very abbreviated explanation of the differences, which really doesn’t do justice to the topic. There are many threads on this forum that go into much more detail on this topic, and you can do a search for some of those on your own.</li>
<li>As for what major you should do, my recommendation is to avoid premature overspecialization at the undergrad level. You can still do a major or specialty track in genetics, while getting a broad background in supporting sciences and other areas of biology. What department or major in which you do this depends, in part, on what university you attend. You can get a sound background for further work in genetics at schools ranging from liberal arts colleges to research universities in any of several departments or majors. If you are thinking about grad study, a number of the better liberal arts colleges have a very strong track record in preparing students who successfully complete graduate degrees; in other words, you don’t necessarily have to go to a research university or major in a department specifically labeled as “genetics”.</li>
<li>Don’t overemphasize a specific department or major. As I indicated, there are multiple pathways to what you wan to do. Instead, focus on finding the best schools to which you have a reasonable shot at admission and that area good fits for you in terms of quality, affordability, and personal preferences (size, region, urban vs. rural, etc.).</li>
</ol>