How does my list look?

<p>I'm looking for schools where I can do bio research as an undergrad. My stats are strong (GPA 4.8, rigorous curriculum, SAT CR 800, M 800, W700) but I'm not sure if my ECs are compelling. I'd like to be in, or near, a big city.</p>

<p>We're CA residents, so my safeties are UCSB, Davis (not big cities!) My matches are UCSD and Berkeley (I don't want to go to LA or Irvine) The schools I really like right now are reaches because they're so selective: MIT and Stanford.</p>

<p>What else should I consider?</p>

<p>Northwestern or Rice</p>

<p>Consider Johns Hopkins, Georgia Tech, and University of Wisconsin - Madison.</p>

<p>I'll second Rice.</p>

<p>As a CA resident, I would strongly urge you to go to a CA school...you have some of the best universities in the country at in-state rates. You should be in at UCSD for sure, and probably Berkeley. MIT and Stanford are good schools, but I wouldn't say that they're better than Berkeley...not enough to be worth the extra tuition.</p>

<p>UCSB would be a good safety.</p>

<p>As for the other suggestions, Rice could be okay. I still think the in-state deal would be better, but if I were you, this would be my first pick out of the non-CA schools. </p>

<p>UWM might not work, because it's not in a big city (and honestly, I don't think it's any different from what you'd get a CA state school). Same with GA Tech.</p>

<p>Your qualifications look good for undergrad research but nevertheless the UCs may have all research done by grad students unless you have a special entry. So check each school specifically for that opportunity.</p>

<p>Otherwise your best chances of doing actual undergrad research in biology is to attend a liberal arts college where there are few if any grad students, assuming that such a school is, or can be made, affordable. With your current stats many such schools would be availanble for you; you therefore need to think abuot other fators suchas cost, closeness to home, whether you wold prefer urban or rural areas, etc.</p>

<p>duke is an excelllent choice....duke has everything that th uc's and the ivies don't....a pretty good basketball team! and duke is the best pre-med school</p>