<p>Im a freshman at University of Massachusetts Amherst majoring in biochemistry & molecular biology. Im studying biochemistry and molecular biology because Im interested in a wide variety of biomedical science - pharmacology, stem cells, bioinformatics and genomics, immunology, and bioengineering. Im applying as a transfer student to a few schools who seem to be more well known for biological sciences just because I want to see where I can get in and if I could possibly get into a better program.
What I want to ask is how much does my undergraduate program matter for quality of education and graduate school and job placement. Would going to a school with a better undergraduate program in biochemistry/molecular biology really put me in classes where I would learn more and give me a degree more desirable to employers and graduate schools?
Also, does the strength of the program youre in matter more when youre an upperclassman, and would it make just as much sense to transfer after sophomore year? As a freshman or sophomore in any biochemistry/molecular biology program I would be taking pretty much the same courses - general biology, general chemistry, basic calculus, organic chemistry, and physics - and Im wondering if the better programs really teach this material better than other schools. Is the strength of a schools biochemistry/molecular biology program really shown in these intro courses or does it come more from the level of research being done at the school and the quality of more advanced courses that one would take as a junior or senior?<br>
I want to make the best move for my education, but I also wouldnt want to transfer this early if a better program wouldnt really make that much of a difference, since I am happy at my school and it makes the most financial sense.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input</p>