Good universities for biology?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I just wanted some input as to what universities you think are the best in the nation if I want to major in biology. Here are my stats, if you want some more info:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.5 weighted
SAT - 2250
SAT2s:
Math - 800
Bio - 780
US - 770
APs:
Euro - 5
took Bio, Physics C Mechanics, Calc BC, and US, still don't have results, and am taking Stats, Enviro, Gov, Econ, and Lit next year.</p>

<p>What universities would you say have great biology programs, good research opportunities, and would be a good fit for me, based on my stats? Thanks :)</p>

2

<p>Try these, providing a good basis for advanced bio grad school:</p>

<p>[Percent</a> of PhDs per grad, Bio and Health Sciences](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/swarthmore/369277-question.html#post4436852]Percent”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/swarthmore/369277-question.html#post4436852)
The Life Sciences column at [COLLEGE</a> PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]COLLEGE”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College)</p>

3

<p>Duke, Rice , and Princeton all offer strong biology programs</p>

4

<p>WUSTL
Brandeis</p>

5

<p>Your problem is that nearly every college/university has a biology department and many, many, many of them are very good. Therefore, you need to establish some preferences first, like location, environs (rural, urban, small town) and size.</p>

6

<p>If you’re interested in medical research opportunities, Rhodes has a partnership with St. Jude and several other hospitals, all within 10 minutes of campus here in Memphis. Pretty hard to beat opportunities as far as undergrad research goes. Your stats make Rhodes pretty much a safety.</p>

7

<p>The University of Wisconsin has the most funding for biosciences research in the US and a number of top rated bio related departments. The facilities are virtually all new or expanded. Biochemistry, mole bio, zoology, and microbial sciences are all very strong.</p>

<p>[WIDS</a> - Discovery Home](<a href=“Discovery Building | Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation”>http://www.discovery.wisc.edu/)</p>

<p>[Biochemistry</a> Phase II | Biochemistry | UW-Madison](<a href=“http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/biochem_phase2/]Biochemistry”>http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/biochem_phase2/)</p>

<p>[The</a> Microbial Sciences Initiative](<a href=“Microbial Sciences Building | University of Wisconsin-Madison”>Microbial Sciences Building | University of Wisconsin-Madison)</p>

<p>[Zoology</a> Major - Department of Zoology - University of Wisconsin - Madison](<a href=“Department of Integrative Biology – College of Letters & Science – UW–Madison”>Department of Integrative Biology – College of Letters & Science – UW–Madison)</p>

<p>[Wisconsin</a> Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health](<a href=“http://www.med.wisc.edu/facilities/wimr/wisconsin-institutes-for-medical-research/957]Wisconsin”>http://www.med.wisc.edu/facilities/wimr/wisconsin-institutes-for-medical-research/957)</p>

8

<p>

Excellent advice. Virtually all of the top ~100 universities and top ~50 LACs have biology departments strong enough for your purposes. </p>

<p>While the suggestions so far are good, it’s a bit like asking which people are rich and getting Bill Gates and Oprah as answers. Yes, they’re rich, but there’s quite a few more than that.</p>

<p>The only thing to be cautious about is that some biology departments choose to specialize. Johns Hopkins, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon devote all their energies into molecular biology, for example, so they may not be the best choice for someone interested in organismal bio. (The reverse is rarely the case, as molecular/cellular bio is more popular these days.)</p>

9

<p>Thanks for the advice! As for location, I prefer either coast… in or around the New England area preferably, or staying in California. I want a school that’s either suburban or urban; no rural, far out areas. And I want a relatively small to medium-sized population. I also want a school that’s geared towards research and gives undergrads good research opportunities. Anything that pops into mind with those qualities?</p>

10

<p>Like I said, Brandeis.</p>