Re AP credits, BC has a rather odd policy that from a combination of AP credits and college classes taken in high school you can get 24 and only 24 credits, no more, no less.
“At most elite graduate schools, PhD students are as brilliant as faculty, and are probably more in touch with undergraduate students, making them more effective teachers.”
Not all three of these schools are elite at the graduate level for Biology. The OP should also keep that in mind.
This. There are far worse places to study biology than these three.
That said, note that many students end up changing their majors, often more than once. Of pre-meds, I’d estimate that <10% of freshman pre-meds actually make it to medical school. Only about half of those taking the MCAT ultimately apply to med school, and many more drop out before the MCAT. A student would do fine at any of those three, but Michigan is the strongest across the board.
Alexandre, the 3% figure refers to the percentage of undergraduate courses that are taught by GSIs only.
The percentage of all undergraduate courses taught by some combination of faculty and GSIs is 24%. The percentage of lower division courses taught by some combination of faculty and GSIs is 34%. The percentage of all course discussion (or other forms of close student-instructor engagement) conducted by GSIs may be even higher than these numbers suggest. http://vpcomm.umich.edu/gsi-sa/teach.html
In my view, a discussion leader is performing the role of a teacher (all the more so if s/he also grades and comments on papers or exams). Of course, discussion sections may not be as common in biology as they are in some other courses. Moreover, Michigan may not be too different from UVa or possibly BC in its use of GSIs (TAs).
The bottom line for me is that you cannot automatically assume superior PhD programs automatically do (or don’t) translate to superior undergraduate instruction. So I agree with harvardandberkeley: “If the costs are the same, then visit and go with best personal fit.” Especially when the comparison is between 3 strong schools.
“The bottom line for me is that you cannot automatically assume superior PhD programs automatically do (or don’t) translate to superior undergraduate instruction.”
I completely agree tk. However, superior PhD programs usually translate to superior research opportunities and facilities available to undergraduate students. To most undergraduate students, those resources mean nothing and will never be exploited. But to resourceful, self-starting undergraduate students, Michigan has more to offer.
“So I agree with harvardandberkeley: “If the COSTS are the same, then visit and go with best personal fit.” Especially when the comparison is between 3 strong schools.” For the majority of undergrads, I agree. But for those who really want more, Michigan has an extra gear that BC, and to a lesser extend, UVA, do not have.
And u will need that extra gear to go past the panhandlers and through the mob protesting because the Biology Department feeds its lab rats domestic cheese.
My son got into Wisconsin yesterday. It wasn’t really on our radar – although he loves Madison. But it would cost us about $80,000 less over 4 years. Also, in Chicago at least, Wisconsin has a great reputation. So, I think we have to give it some serious consideration.
Biology is certainly a UW strength.
Wisconsin is excellent in biology, however this might give one reason for concern: