<p>MrsP,
I think it's very important to start by understanding exactly what constitutes a "good" undergraduate science education, both overall and in a particular science. That gives you a framework of understanding to help you compare and evaluate individual programs. </p>
<p>Professional organizations are one good place to find details about education standards, and many have journals or sub-groups focusing specifically on education in the field. </p>
<p>For example, if you're interested in Chemistry, you should familiarize yourself with the standards set for undergraduate college chemistry programs by The American Chemical Association's Committee on Professional Training, which accredits chemistry programs. While not every program will be accredited (always a plus if it is), if you know what the standards for a quality program are - what types of courses should be taught, what type of facilities should be on hand, even what type of library resources should be available - you can use that as a yardstick for looking at all programs, and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. You can find out about ACA standards and ACA accredited schools at: <a href="http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/acsdisplay.html?DOC=education%5Ccpt%5Cprograms.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/acsdisplay.html?DOC=education\cpt\programs.html</a> </p>
<p>There are similar professional organizations for EVERY conceivable field of science - I've collected hundreds and often share them on my blog - and you can learn quite a bit by perusing their websites. I would also recommend googling the terms "undergraduate chemistry education" and "undergraduate science standards" "undergraduate science education" and "undergraduate science research" to familiarize yourself with just what constitutes a "good" program before you start digging into college websites.</p>
<p>Every college will say they have a "good" program, but what you need to know is what exactly "good" means in the broader context so you can make informed decisions and not just buy that "we have a good science program" at face value. It's not enough to just ask "faculty" for their opinions - you have to know which questions matter, and be able to put the answers in context. The same goes for "undergraduate research" - every school and every faculty member will say they have opportunities for "undergraduate research" but what you want to know is what type of undergraduate research really matters and counts most?</p>
<p>Find out what questions to ask, and what mattters most first. Then start asking questions.</p>