<p>So I was accepted to all of the schools I applied to (Notre Dame, Boston College, Villanova and Penn State- I got into University Park and applied to Schreyer Honors College, but that decision isn't available until February). I intend on majoring in Biochemistry. Being accepted to all of these schools are great, but it didn't help narrow my choices at all! Which school would offer the most opportunities for a major in biochemistry?</p>
<p>Well, ND just built a new science building a couple of years ago - Jordan Hall of Science with great labs I have heard - definitely visit ND though please - college isn’t just about rankings and which school is ranked higher - it is about experience which ND is best at and also networks - ND’s is the best!</p>
<p>Yeah I know college isn’t just about rankings, and I definitely plan on visiting ND and BC in January (I already visited the other two!) I would really like to have opportunities for research or some lab work so that I can have the best education in science as possible by the time i leave my undergrad… so a new science building sounds great :)</p>
<p>I do remember there being a lot of talk about being able to get labs and help out professors - definitely bring this up with the admissions officer you talk to and make sure to say you are admitted - that changes everything. Also, make the first move - ask if you can talk with the Dean of Science - it can’t hurt to see if s/he is available - you want to make an educated choice. </p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>Departmental rankings are only moderately helpful in deciding on an undergraduate school, because they are mostly focused on the strength of the graduate program. Are you absolutely certain about biochemistry? (Most high school seniors haven’t had enough exposure to all of the sciences to be in a position to make this call.) Do you plan to continue for a PhD, or apply to medical school? Figure out what you want to do with your undergraduate degree, and then contact the department at each of the schools you are considering to find out what percentage of its graduates have gone on to PhD programs or medical schools (and which ones). Ask specific questions about research opportunities. For example, instead of asking “Are there opportunities for undergraduates to do research with faculty?” ask instead, “How many undergraduates have YOU supervised in research projects over the past three years?”<br>
It may take a while to find the person who has this information, but if they tell you “we don’t keep statistics like that”, that’s a red flag. Faculty in a solid department ALWAYS know this stuff, especially with regard to placement in PhD programs. </p>
<p>And I would not suggest that you try talking to the Dean first. Deans are busy people. Start with one of the recently hired faculty members and go from there.</p>
<p>I’m fairly certain about biochemistry. I definitely know that I want to go into the sciences. When I took high school chemistry, I absolutely loved it, so I decided to take a higher level chemistry class my senior year to see if I still liked it as it got harder and if I was still good at it. Biochemistry seemed more applicable to the kind of future I could see myself having (i.e. research, which I would get a PhD for, or professional school such as dental school). So it is not 100% certain. The possibility of switching a major is there, but I think biochemistry is what I want. Thanks for all of your help!</p>
<p>biochem is probably the second hardest major at ND, biochem engineering being the 1st; i have a friend who’s a biochem major… nearly died in his first wave of finals last week.</p>
<p>If you’re willing to spend tons of hours on work, go for it; but you should think about it a little more.</p>
<p>Btw, pick ND; we get a lot of students into great med schools</p>
<p>Yeah I definitely know that biochem would be an extremely intense major, but i really enjoy it so I think it would be worth it. We will wait and see if i still feel the same after my first semester, but I think I will have the dedication to tough it out and study hard… I’m kind of leaning towards ND right now… it seems like a wonderful school</p>
<p>^tralada - I know that I have said this before, but I was in a very similar situation - I was accepted to a really great school and Notre Dame and I had to make a tough decision, but when I visited Notre Dame it was decided for me - it just felt right, so visit. Plus, please realize, and this goes for all students, you are all going to get accepted to great universities and colleges in their own right, you will have options and if you visit the schools, you are very likely to love a college to which you are accepted. Good Luck and God Bless on the journey!</p>
<p>I’m a sophomore chemistry major at ND, so I can give some insight into the biochem program as well. First off, I can tell you that all three chemistry professors I’ve had so far have been absolutely top-notch teachers and I’m sure the same goes for the biology professors as well. Both majors are very small by ND standards as well, with biochem at about 25-30 per year, and chem at 10-15. As far as research goes, there are a lot of opportunities to start working with a professor in their lab as early as spring of freshman year. I myself am looking to start working in a lab next semester. I would highly recommend visiting ND if you can and talking to someone in the chem and biochem department if you can. I think you’ll find that it’s an excellent program, and I definitely recommend it.</p>
<p>I would remove BC from your list in case you decide to go into engineering. I only had one friend that majored in biochemistry and he ended up switching to engineering (now has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering). This was at Penn but I think you should choose a college with an engineering department if you think there is any chance you might switch to engineering.</p>