<p>So, ya, senior here with a list of schools to apply to.</p>
<p>UW Seattle (Safety 1)
WSU (Safety 2)
(no order from here)
Northeastern
Santa Clara
Villanova
University of San Diego
Loyola University in Maryland</p>
<p>I'm interested in a biology/biochemistry/molecular biology, maybe a chemistry major (with a minor in computer science). I want to go into scientific research later on (Masters/ph.D in lieu of an MD). All of these schools (with the exception of WSU) are in the best cities across the US for biomedical/biological research.</p>
<p>So ya, how are the classes here? I mean, Boston/Cambridge is the best place as far as it's biomedical/medical industry goes.</p>
<p>Well conveniently I am a biology major at Northeastern, taking an elective molecular biology class, and suffering through Chemistry 1/2 (I say suffering because I don’t like Chemistry in general). We are a research university and yes every research university in the Boston area is connected with each other, basically. MCPHS, Tufts med and Harvard med are down the street; and my professors have written textbooks, in fact, my Molc Bio prof is the head of the pre-med department, so if you have taken AP Biology and passed the test and decide to take BIOL 2299, you’ll most likely have her as a professor.
Honestly, I love my classes, all except Calculus for Biology/Biochem majors, because it’s taught a bit differently than basic calculus, as it’s supposed to be related to the usage of calc in the bio field. Most of the students in my classes are premed, personally I am not, but I can feel the tension and pressure coming from them- med school admissions (If you’re interested) are stressed from day 1 of orientation.
Oftentimes in my classes (which are Molc Bio, Chem 101, Psych 101 [elective], and Calc for Bio 1) they recommend getting involved with research as an undergraduate if you are interested in it for graduate school or anything really. It’s easy to get into labs if you show you’re interested and gives you a heads up to what lab work is really like.
Also, because of co-op at NEU, you’ll be in the biomedical field sooner than anyone else your age, guaranteed; and that’s if you don’t work in a lab as an undergrad!
I love love love northeastern and highly recommend it, because as i’m typing this i’m also studying for my bio midterm. It’s really an awesome school and we have SO many connections to research, and every professor would love to talk to you. I feel very welcome in the scientific community around Boston.</p>
<p>I’m a senior neuroscience major, applying for cell bio/cancer bio phd programs next year. I’ve been happy with most of my classes, which usually cover the material well and grade fairly. There’s also a good amount of flexibility within your major to tailor it more toward your interests, which is great for science majors looking into graduate school.</p>
<p>Research opportunities are what really set NU apart from a lot of similarly-ranked universities, I think, and research is #1 priority when it comes to graduate school. There are a few real badass professors/lab groups (some nanotechnology stuff, drug targeting, neuroscientist Joseph Ayer’s ridiculous robot-brain bee project), but otherwise research here isn’t extremely overwhelming. But, co-op connects you with really impressive labs and companies around Boston… Brigham & Women’s/Harvard Med school is a major co-op employer, and there are tons of research co-op jobs at some top biotech companies in Cambridge. I don’t think there’s a better city to be a science major–there are opportunities literally everywhere. I’m constantly seeing jobs or internships offered that I would take in a second if I didn’t already have a great research position.</p>
<p>Northeastern itself isn’t really significantly better than most of your schools listed. Any decent sized research university will give you a fairly equal education in the sciences and the chance for substantial research, but I do think the research opportunities through NU co-op are going to be better (maybe slightly, maybe significantly) than what you’ll get at many other schools.</p>