Liberal Arts College for Biology

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey! I want to go to a LAC and I want to major in Biology with a BS! I also want a smaller school! </p>

<p>ACT Composite: 31
32 Science
30 English
34 Reading
9 Writing
35 Math</p>

<p>SAT:
640 Reading
650 Math
560 Writing</p>

<p>I play recreational basketball. I am in a volunteer group (National Beta Club), a political group (VP of Young Democrats), environmental clubs (RiversAlive! and Adopt-A-Stream), and Spanish Club.</p>

<p>I really wants a smaller liberal arts school that has a strong science (biology) program. I do NOT want a school in a big city. </p>

<p>I would LOVE any suggestions!!</p>

2

<p>You should be able to find many very good schools that fit your profile. I’m a big fan of Elon in NC for involved students who want a smaller liberal arts school. </p>

<p>To be completely accurate, the purest among us will argue that Elon is not strictly a liberal arts school because many students (business, dance, communications…) can graduate without fully adhering to a strict liberal arts curriculum.</p>

3

<p>Might look at Holy Cross-very good biology program with new science building.</p>

4

<p>People have been suggesting Berry and Furman? Does anyone know if they are prestigous enough for the high ranking graduate schools?</p>

5

<p>It would be a bit of a reach but Grinnell might be interesting. I think the science facilities are supposed to be impressive. I don’t know about bio specifically but you might want to look at some Pennsylvania liberals schools with median SAT’s around 650. Lafayette and Franklin and Marshall, for example.</p>

6

<p>I heard Holy Cross was great (from a college counselor). She also mentioned Brandeis had strong sciences.</p>

7

<p>Agree with Holy Cross and Brandeis and Tufts is also very strong.</p>

8

<p>Ursinus in PA – it is featured in Colleges That Change Lives – check the book and website out as you may find other schools in it that meet your criteria</p>

9

<p>Consider Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. I was looking for a small school too, and I like that Rhodes is in Memphis but that Memphis isn’t an overwhelming experience like some bigger cities. Memphis is #19 in the country for size so it has everything a big city has to offer but it’s got a small southern feel.</p>

<p>Biology is consistently one of the top three major at Rhodes, which is perhaps surprising since it’s a liberal arts college. but the reason it’s so popular is that the faculty are great and because Memphis is a great place to study biology (especially if you’re pre-med). Between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, The Med, and U. Tenn. Medical School, Memphis has a lot of resources and opportunities for anyone interested in medicine.</p>

<p>With a 31 on the ACT you would also fit in very well with the average student here. Give it a look.</p>

10

<p>Kalamazoo, Earlham, St. Mary’s College of MD.</p>

11

<p>

Furman is more known for chemistry, but I’m sure biology is decent there. I wouldn’t recommend Berry to most people…it has a very beautiful campus, but it’s not very strong academically, and it’s quite conservative relative to the other schools mentioned.</p>

<p>Could you be a little more specific in what you’re looking for? Right now all we know is that you want a non-urban LAC with a good biology program, which fits literally dozens of colleges. :eek:</p>

<p>Nevertheless, a few suggestions that haven’t been made yet:
[ul][<em>]Allegheny
[</em>]Bates
[<em>]Beloit
[</em>]Bowdoin (possible reach)
[<em>]Bucknell
[</em>]Colby
[<em>]Connecticut College
[</em>]Davidson (reach)
[<em>]Hendrix
[</em>]Hope
[<em>]Lawrence
[</em>]Oberlin
[<em>]Reed (Portland too big?)
[</em>]St. Olaf
[<em>]U Puget Sound (Tacoma too big?)
[</em>]Whitman[/ul]</p>

<p>Small universities:
[ul][<em>]Case Western
[</em>]Clark
[<em>]Trinity (TX)
[</em>]Wake Forest[/ul]</p>

<p>I’m biased toward colleges with good organismal offerings, so someone with a molecular bent may suggest a slightly different list.</p>

12

<p>Per Hitch, Grinnell has outstanding bio facilities, the largest class is 25 (even intro bio), no distribution requirements, good finacial and merit aid, and is located two blocks from the center of the small college town of Grinnell (pop. 9,000). Lots of money for research and internships. Palatial sports facilities - they are really just astonishing. Walk on sports teams too, so you can play basketball (albeit you’d have to be pretty good to play-the team does very well competitively). </p>

<p>ACT of 31 would do it assuming your grades are good and you are in the top quarter of your class. Make sure you visit and interview - demonstrated interest counts.</p>

13

<p>Thanks for all of the comments!! I just wanted to add some more information for all of you! I am in the top quarter of my class and my high school was listed in Newsweek Magazine’s “America’s Best High Schools”, so I guess we are considered competitive? My unweighted GPA is somehwere around 3.75 and my weighted (from AP classes) is a 3.95…Anything else you all need to know?! Any questions?! Thank you!!</p>

14

<p>Oh and im also in some other things like Physics Club, Future Business Leasers of America, Peer Tutor, Varsity Math Team, and Science Olympiad.</p>

15

<p>[biology</a> | St. Lawrence University Academics](<a href=“http://www.stlawu.edu/academics/programs/biology]biology”>http://www.stlawu.edu/academics/programs/biology)</p>

<p>St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY</p>

16

<p>Anyone else?</p>

17

<p>Some school like Wake Forest or Tufts that were mentioned seem good for you yet you need to really raise your SAT scores. Are you a junior/planning on taking them again?</p>

18

<p>I believe Wake Forest is SAT optional!</p>

19

<p>^Wake Forest is test-optional. They also take the ACT in place of the SAT.</p>

20

<p>Would Grinnel be a reach?</p>