Just FYI many colleges offer additional grants and scholarships to first generation students . You may want to call the financial aid office or look on the website to see if any of the schools you are interested in have these available . CofC has one called Gateway to Success for first generation , underprivileged or underrepresented students . You may want to find out more about it before you determine a school is unaffordable . I know that CofC and some of the other OOS or private schools are expensive , but it’s important to look at all the possible resources before crossing a school off of your list. Your best value will most likely be an instate school, but not always . Also, most schools offering merit scholarships have early application deadlines so it’s important to get your applications completed and your testing completed in a timely manner( usually by November or December) Each school has different deadlines so you need to go on their websites or on Naviance if your school uses it, to see when those deadlines are or you will not be eligible for aid. This includes your instate schools.You should really ask your GC to assist you through this process because your parents do not have experience with applying to or financing college. Good luck. I hope you find a school that you would enjoy attending and offers you the opportunities that you are looking for.
The broadness of the Marine field is why Eckerd requires majors to take classes in the four major subcategories even though they specialize in one. (Bio, Chem, Geology, Geophysics) Many other programs we looked at merely had an extra course or two students could choose in one of the specialties and called that good enough.
As I mentioned before, there’s a reason they are so well-respected in the field. They have an ideal location for hands on opportunities, respected faculty, and produce respected graduates.
Eckerd also has a J term (three weeks in Jan for soph - seniors) when students take one of their courses. Many marine students get out worldwide to very cool places for hands on study. Other students do too, of course. My guy will be heading to Greece this year to study longevity in the islands. Quite an ideal opportunity for his personality.
@Ghoula : what’s your annual budget - the amount your parents can pay from income and savings ? You MUST know this before you apply to schools.
Then run the npc on several colleges with your parents.
Invest time and, if you can afford a tutor, do, to get the highest possible score you can.
But consider test -optional colleges with excellent biology programs and excellent financial aid policies. Dickinson and Bryn Mawr are two, Bowdoin is one, Wesleyan is one… The odds of your getting a (fully funded )graduate degree and a job in marine biology are much better than from most on your lust, save for eckerd and uncw.
I love Eckerd or CoC but most of their scholarships are test score -based…
Gateway to success is a great program and you don’t need to apply so you can just go for it, but I doubt it’s a full oos tuition scholarship. If it simply waived the oos portion of tuition could you afford coc without loans?
So much good info here. Thanks! My son is in 9th grade but has been wanting to do marine science for about four years. If he keeps up, we are now definitely going to look at Eckerd.
I thought university of NC Wilmington was really good…anyone have thoughts about their program?
@ghoula wrote
The response to this question from @warblersrule was excellent.
I will add my advice too (this from a PhD in cell biology, academic for 15 years, and now a scientist in industry). You would not be wrong in choosing to major in marine biology, depending upon your career goals. Do you plan on getting a masters or PhD? If so, then taking a deep dive into marine biology might be best left for that time. If not and you really know marine biology is your career goal, then majoring in marine biology may be fine… but remember that about 50% of students change their major at least once in college.
What you may be missing by hyperfocusing on marine biology as an undergraduate is achieving a breadth of foundational knowledge in many areas. Here’s an example of required courses as a marine biology major (this one from Eckerd’s website):
Biological Oceanography
Geological Oceanography
Calculus I
General Chemistry I and II
Calculus II
Cellular Processes
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Marine Invertebrate Biology
Marine and Freshwater Botany
Ecology
Organic Chemistry I
Marine Science Junior Seminar
Comparative Physiology
Chemical and Physical Oceanography
Marine Science Senior Seminar
Physics I and II
Off the top of my head, here is what is missing from this core that I think all biologists should understand:
evolutionary biology (evolution is a fundamental concept to all of biology)
developmental biology (embryonic and and postnatal development is fundamental to biology)
statistics (interpreting data relies heavily on statistics, and an understanding of best practices is often lacking in scientists)
organic chemistry II (often required for graduate school admissions)
biochemistry (the workings of proteins and nucleic acids and metabolism are fundamental to life)
computer science (large data sets are the present and future in all areas of biology and knowing how to examine big data sets is an advantage).
In addition, courses that are writing intensive and presentation intensive are absolutely critical. Scientists don’t work in a bubble at the lab bench thinking only to themselves. People often believe science is a great career choice for a person that wants to be alone, thinking their own thoughts. Reality couldn’t be further from this… scientists work in collaborative environments in which pursuasion via written and oral communication are critical. This skill is typically learned by taking non-science courses… the more, the better.
I suggest mapping out a curriculum as a marine biology major and as a major in another area of biology. See what kind of fundamental knowledge you might be missing by taking a relatively deep dive into marine biology as an undergrad. If you plan on going to graduate school in marine biology, I would suggest taking a breadth of courses as an undergrad. This would include a course or two in marine biology. It’s also possible to partake in one of the marine science opportunities at a lab outside of your college (Woods Hole, Duke Marine Lab, etc).
Hope this is helpful and best of luck!
I think the most important advice that anyone can give you is talk to your parents, investigate options with aid at every school your interested in to make and INFORMED decision regarding what is financially feasible for your family. I would hate for you to dismiss a viable option for you because you unfortunately thought that it wasn’t an option based on incomplete information . Also, you are a senior correct? You want to do this soon so that you don’t miss deadlines. Also with net price calculators, they don’t always include merit based scholarships into their calculators, that is why a call to the financial aid office may be helpful to find that out.
You’ve been given a very good description of where you need to begin your academic quest from Warblersrule and Dadof1.
My two cents is that in addition to public colleges in your home state, you should investigate private colleges which have a reputation for good financial aid for kids with your profile, and that operate excellent life sciences departments. In your general region my recommendations would include Gettysburg College, Juniata College, College of Wooster, Allegheny College, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio Wesleyan University among others.
Also, keep in mind that as a undergraduate, you will be encourage to seek research opportunities at summer laboratories such as Woods Hole, Friday Harbor, Dauphin Island etc. Many, if not most, of the undergraduates whom participate at these labs are from “landlocked” colleges. While the premier graduate study marine sciences programs are situated in coastal states, some marine scientists completed their undergraduate education hundreds of miles away from the oceans.
You could have three parrallel lists: one of colleges with marine biology, one of coastal colleges (even if they don’t have marine biology as a major), and finally one with colleges that have strong biology programs.
I don’t think OP’s test scores are high enough for SB yet. And the cost for OOS students is ~$30k/year. If the family income is $48k, I don’t see how OP could afford it.
Hi everyone, hope you’re all having a good day. 
@dadof1 Ah, yes, I understand what you mean. Is it possible in college to take a few courses on the side with your major, say if I took a writing/speech class? Or would I have to minor in it or something? I found on Eckerd’s website that their general biology major has some of the courses that you mentioned not included in marine bio:
Freshman
Fall semester
Cells and Genes or Ecology and Evolution
General Chemistry I
Spring semester
Cells and Genes or Ecology and Evolution
General Chemistry II
Sophomores
Fall semester
Calculus I
Organismal course
Organic Chemistry I
Spring semester
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Organic Chemistry II
Statistics course
Juniors
Fall semester
Principles of Ecology (Integrative and Ecological tracks) or
Biochemistry (Molecular track)
Fundamental Physics I
Spring semester
General and Molecular Physiology or
Comparative Physiology
Fundamental Physics II
Seniors
Fall semester
Synthesis course in your track (see above)
Biology Capstone 1 - Exploration
Spring semester
Synthesis course in your track (see above)
Biology Capstone 2 - Synthesis
So would it be possible for me to double major in general bio and marine bio then to cover all my bases? Does double-majoring increase your tuition cost since you take more classes? Not sure how it works.
@Creekland Hi! Thanks for your continued help, I really appreciate it.
Coincidentally today I actually received a nice booklet from Eckerd in the mail (I love when colleges send me these!) and it definitely made me consider the college even more. Not only are they quite established in the marine bio field like you said, I’m sure they’d also provide me with excellent activities that I’d never get around here (paddleboarding, windsurfing, beach trips…sounds like heaven!!) If I do decide to travel all the way to Florida, I think it would definitely give me the full “Florida experience.”
The only thing I’m really worried about would be how much financial aid/scholarships I’d get, being the school costs $50K/year to attend. I’ll try to do an NPC tonight with my parents.
Also…general question… is grad school significantly cheaper to attend compared to undergrad?
PhD programs are usually fully funded, which means your tuition is paid for and you get a stipend and health insurance. The generosity of stipends varies considerably. Some master’s programs are funded; some are not.
Graduate students are also eligible for fellowships like the GRFP ($32K per year).
Any PHD program worth attending will PAY YOU to attend. They’d pay for your tuition and fees, and would give you a fellowship (highest honor - you get a stipend and don’t owe them anything :p) and/or a TAship (you work for your stipend). The better universities have nice stipends, the lower-end universities have lower stipends, so it’s in your interest to get the highest grades in the most complete program (“most rigorous curriculum”), as well as get research experience with a professor and do research (preferably, that you present at an undergrad conference or even that you can co-publish with a professor).
Eckerd offers a competitive “research assistant” position to select freshmen admitted EA, for example. Apply (and it’s paid, to boot). Then, as a sophomore, move on from assisting and observing, to designing your own research while assisting, and finally jr/sr year working on your own research and presenting it at an undergrad conference.
Regarding the sequence you listed, the Eckerd curriculum would look like this
Freshman
Autumn Term + Project
Fall semester
Cells and Genes or Ecology and Evolution*
General Chemistry I
Social Science
Human Experience 1
(+ If admitted to Honors program, you can take an extra class for free)
Winter Term: not required for freshmen, additional costs (except for Leadership&self discovery practicum/ this specific Winter Term course is included in freshman tuition if students are selected for this course, you only pay for room&board; highly recommended apparently.)
Spring semester
Cells and Genes or Ecology and Evolution*
General Chemistry II
Human Experience 2
Calculus I (or, if you took AP Calc => Calc II)
(+ if admitted to Honors Program, you can take an extra class for free)
Sophomores:
Fall semester
Organismal course
Organic Chemistry I
Statistics course or Calc II (if you don’t take Stats then, you must take it elsewhere over the summer)
Arts/Communications/Media
Winter Term:on campus or abroad (can be foreign language for FL requirement if you haven’t tested out, or “Writers In Paradise” Literary Festival, where you’ll meet famous writers like Dennis Lehane which counts for “Humanities” requirement)
Spring semester
Genetics and Molecular Biology*
Organic Chemistry II
MS 289 Marine Invertebrate Biology
Environmental Perspective
Juniors
Fall semester
Principles of Ecology *
Biochemistry
Fundamental Physics I
Global Perspective or Ford Scholars Course
Winter Term: Field research or project (on or off campus)/If Ford Scholar, funded field research
Spring semester
General and Molecular Physiology or Comparative Physiology*
Fundamental Physics II
MS 311 Marine Mammalogy
Humanities (if not taken during Winter Term) or Ford Scholars Course (counts as a gen ed)
Service Learning
Summer (if Ford Scholar): Funded research
Seniors
Fall semester
Synthesis course in your track (see above)
Biology Capstone 1 - Exploration*
2 advanced classes of your choice
Service Learning
(If Ford Scholar, research colloquium)
Winter Term: Finalizing thesis/article + preparing for comprehensive exams
Spring semester
Synthesis course in your track (see above)
Biology Capstone 2 - Synthesis*
1 advanced class of your choice
Quest for Meaning
It’d be very difficult to combine this with the Marine Science major, unless you replaced the first year bio classes with the first year Bio/Geo applied to Oceanography classes that form the 1st year sequence; sophomore would be ok, and then I’m not sure since there are many different classes junior and senior year. I starred the big differences and that’s one class per semester that would need to be switched, at a minimum. I think you’d be better off with a Marine Science Major + “complete what’s missing” from the Biology major? Perhaps @Warblersrule can weigh in on whether the above program is better, or the required Marine Science + requirements is a better program.
Perhaps you could email both the Head of Dept for Marine science and the Head of Dept for Biology, and ask each whether it’s feasible to double major, or if it’s possible to major in their subject and minor in the other, and how often students attempt that. (Start your email with Dear Professor …, not the typical “Dear Sir, Dear Madam”.)
@ghoula I would not suggest double majoring in science. I would try and set your goals to achieve a breadth of courses (science and non-science). If marine biology really is your true love, then majoring in this field might be appropriate for you. Just be open to colleges that don’t have a marine biology major, especially if you plan on going to graduate school.
As warblesrule mentioned, PhD programs typically pay students a stipend plus their tuition. The first year stipend comes from being a teaching assistant. Once a mentor is chosen, you would receive a research assistant stipend if the lab has sufficient funding. If not, you might have to continue being a teaching assistant. In general, I would not worry too much about paying for graduate school in the sciences.
A bigger issue for you right now seems to be paying for undergraduate school. You might find your family needing to put together $25,000/year or more to attend some private or out of state colleges. Have you discussed with your parents how much they are willing to pay for college? Given their earnings of $48,000/year, I suspect it won’t be enough to cover $20,000/year (after you take out the maximum student loan amount).
Best of luck to you!
Others answered the grad school question, so there’s no need for me to restate that one.
For Eckerd with us, all I can say is they were pretty darn close to our EFC. I can’t say if they will be for you or not. Is your EFC affordable?
If you are sure about Marine Science, they are difficult to beat. They are also decent with Environmental Science. If you prefer Bio, many schools are good, including Eckerd if you like tropical or estuary types of specialties as that is what many of their profs were researching. Undergrads are involved in the research if they choose to be.
Their J term opportunities are also quite interesting. Last I knew Elie Wiesel (author of Night) taught one of them. My son didn’t do a J term with him, but he had a (single) class where he was a guest speaker and was quite impressed.
That said, many colleges have interesting opportunities for trips abroad or special speakers - even famous profs - so wherever you go, be sure to take advantage of what’s offered.
Eckerd is just a gem of a school when it comes to Marine Science and deserves to be mentioned for those interested in the field. It’s a nice little (green) LAC otherwise too - in a great location next to the water as a bonus. We’ll be visiting in about 6 weeks to watch their fall play. My youngest has a nice (main character) part in it. Flights from BWI to Tampa are generally very inexpensive with Southwest. ($88 - and 2 bags free) Not sure where you are in PA though to know if BWI works.
So what are some schools (preferably in PA or bordering states) that will give me a “breadth of knowledge” in their bio program to keep on my radar? I’ll apply to East Stroudsburg as a safety, but what are some others?
Dickinson, bryn mawr, muhlenberg
Juniata, and I’ll second both Muhlenberg + Dickinson. Someone else had mentioned Gettysburg. Yes to them as well. I’ve seen students go great places from Franklin & Marshall too.
I’m sure there are some I’m not thinking about, but those all come to mind as schools I’ve personally seen students go to and do well in with science degrees (along with Pitt and Penn State).
I strongly second Juniata and would add Allegheny, which is very strong in the sciences. (When I did the calculations a couple of years ago, slightly more than 1/3 of its students were science majors – more than any of the top 60 liberal arts colleges.)
Ohio Wesleyan has very good offerings in biology, botany, and zoology.
Here’s a third vote for Juniata bio (http://legacy.juniata.edu/departments/biology/) and Gettysburg too.
Here’s the Juniata Net Price Calculator: https://secureweb.juniata.edu/admission/calculator/aid_calculator_new.html
Yeesh, why are they all so expensive?? Is that typical of LACs? Not sure I want to pay that much for staying in state! Maybe I’ll just stick to Pitt and ESU.