<p>Hi, so I'm still trying to search for more colleges; unfortunately, I don't really know that many, especially ones that are known for their science programs. So any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>So about me I guess...
GPA: 3.89 (freshman - junior); 3.92 (sophomore - junior)
SAT:1900-ish (still waiting for another score)
ACT: Didn't take it
SAT Subjects: I'll be taking Math 2 and Bio (confident that I can get at least 700 for Math 2 and 750 for Bio)
AP classes: 5s on Biology, Calculus AB and English Language; taking 4 more APs for senior year
EC: Not too much - the best I can say is working in a university lab and president of a club/organization</p>
<p>Yeah, nothing to get excited over. One of my essays expands on why I lack extracurricular activities if that helps.</p>
<p>So far, I've been thinking of applying to Scripps, Pomona, Pitzer, Bowdoin, and 4 UCs (LA, SD, Irvine, SB). Along with 2 CSU for backup. I would prefer colleges near California because of personal reasons, but I think I can deal with east coast schools. </p>
<p>I'm interested in the sciences, especially research since working in a stem cell lab has been very fun so far. However, a school focused on general sciences would be fine too. </p>
<p>I also come from a low-income family (so I expect to get no to little financial backing) and will be the first in my generation to go to college.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Oh and I’m also thinking of USC and Williams but I highly doubt I will get into either haha.</p>
<p>If you are a California resident, UCs and CSUs are likely to be good with financial aid – check their net price calculators / financial aid estimators on their web sites.</p>
<p>If not, then they will be difficult or impossible to afford if you are from a low income family.</p>
<p>Which particular sciences?</p>
<p>I am a California resident, thankfully! Sorry, I should’ve posted that earlier.</p>
<p>And to be honest, I’m not entirely sure. I’m leaning toward Biology but I’m immensely enjoying AP Chem right now…</p>
<p>Note that biology and chemistry tend to have not very good job and career prospects, so you may have to prioritizing minimizing cost and debt. Chemical engineering does have better job and career prospects than chemistry, though.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html</a></p>
<p>Biology is a very broad field; you may want to consider which areas of biology you are most interested in and check faculty interests and course catalogs at each school to see if the school’s strongest subareas are those you are interested in.</p>
<p>For chemistry, use ACS approval as a baseline: [ACS</a> Approved Undergraduate Programs](<a href=“American Chemical Society”>American Chemical Society)</p>
<p>For chemical engineering, use ABET accreditation as a baseline: [Accredited</a> Program Search](<a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramSearch.aspx/AccreditationSearch.aspx]Accredited”>http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramSearch.aspx/AccreditationSearch.aspx)</p>
<p>UCLA has freshman profile information here: [Profile</a> of Admitted Freshmen - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/Adm_fr/Frosh_Prof.htm]Profile”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/Adm_fr/Frosh_Prof.htm) . But note that UCs may admit by division and sometimes by major.</p>
<p>Note that CSUs admit by major. For example, for fall 2012, San Jose State was much more selective for chemistry and biology than it was for chemical engineering: [SJSU</a> Admission](<a href=“http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/admission/rec-1045.html]SJSU”>http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/admission/rec-1045.html)</p>
<p>I don’t think I am cut out for engineering though; I entered the research program instead of that.</p>
<p>And thank you for the advice! Do you have any specific recommendations for colleges by any chance? They do not have to be specifically oriented for chem though.</p>