<p>Can anyone recommend a college in the northeast (preferably closer to NJ) which has a strong Chemistry program? Ideally would prefer a LAC or smaller school (10K or less) which focuses on the undergrad. Do any current rankings exist anywhere?</p>
<p>Consider Haverford, a small LAC just outside of Philadelphia, top-notch academics, very strong on sciences, especially chemistry, with a heavy emphasis on research opportunities for undergrads. Can’t get much closer to NJ than that. Most Haverford chemistry grads go on either to medical school or to top Ph.D. programs.</p>
<p>[Haverford</a> College: Department of Chemistry : Welcome](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/chemistry/index.php]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/chemistry/index.php)</p>
<p>Not sure if you (or the student) are aware of this, but chemistry graduates have significantly worse job and career prospects than chemical engineering graduates. It may be a good idea to do some research on that and whether doing chemical engineering would be just as enjoyable as doing chemistry.</p>
<p>[Post-Graduation</a> Survey and Report | Career Services | Virginia Tech](<a href=“http://www.career.vt.edu/PostGraduationSurveyReport/PostGrad.html]Post-Graduation”>http://www.career.vt.edu/PostGraduationSurveyReport/PostGrad.html)
<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm</a></p>
<p>Clark in Massachusetts has ~2200 undergrads and a decent chemistry program. It’s fairly unique in offering a five year BS/MS program with the fifth year being tuition-free.</p>
<p>Bucknell and Lafayette, both in Pennsylvania, are very good. They offer Chem E as well, should one decide to take the above advice. Franklin & Marshall also offers strong science programs, including chemistry, but does not offer engineering.</p>
<p>“10K or less” requirement would be difficult to achieve, suggest looking at an in-state public school, rather than privates which cost well over $50,000/year.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your input! I really appreciate it and will follow all leads.</p>
<p>@Ucbalumnus and warblersrule - My D would not be interested in engineering. She’s actually interested in forensic chemistry, which she’ll pursue at a graduate level.</p>
<p>@slumom - By 10K I meant the number of students, not the cost. Sorry for the confusion</p>
<p>Holy Cross has very good chemistry program and strong science majors. HC has new science building and offers internships.</p>
<p>busybeemom, Chemistry is a mainstay of the sciences at most LACs so your daughter will have a lot of choices in the NE area. The strength of the department is usually proportionate to the school’s overall academic rigor and its focus on sciences. </p>
<p>I’d recommend that she begin her focus more on the ambience of the school rather than the individual department. LACs especially have distinctive personalities and fit is important.</p>
<p>Finances are also important and need or merit based aid will impact her list. </p>
<p>In addition to some of the ideas above I’d recommend Williams, Wesleyan, Hamilton, Smith.</p>
<p>All of the suggestions so far have been for private schools. Can anyone recommend any “smaller” public schools that have a strong chemistry program, especially in NJ or PA? Cost is certainly a consideration so we have to consider a few financial safety schools in case she does not get good merit and/or aid (will have 2 in college by the time she starts).</p>
<p>What about The College of New Jersey? [The</a> College of New Jersey Home](<a href=“http://www.tcnj.edu/]The”>http://www.tcnj.edu/)
[Chemistry[/url</a>]
They have a forensic chemistry program, too. [url=<a href=“http://www.tcnj.edu/~csiewing/]CSI”>http://www.tcnj.edu/~csiewing/]CSI</a> Ewing: The TCNJ Forensic Chemistry Program](<a href=“TCNJ | The College of New Jersey”>http://chemistry.pages.tcnj.edu/)</p>
<p>Thanks zapfino! I had no idea TCNJ had a concentration in forensic chemistry. When I searched in College Board for Forensic Chemistry, very few schools came up, and certainly not TCNJ. I guess I can’t depend on College Board’s data.</p>
<p>Hi, my D was looking for colleges smaller than Flagship U for chemistry in the northeast, programs that have an ACS major, large department for size of college, modern and vast equipment, strong focus on ugrads, and a close-knit community. The number of majors in an entering class mattered to D (20-50 was D’s ideal). Her list:</p>
<p>Private:
Wellesley
Holy Cross
Bowdoin
Haverford </p>
<p>Public:
Umass Lowell (has forensic option)
SUNY Geneseo
McGill (not close-knit but interesting -and much smaller major than those in the life sciences) </p>
<p>Other programs considered but eventually taken off the list:
Carnegie Mellon (too competitive for her)
Tufts (too close to home)
Clark (no track team)</p>
<p>Hoping she gets some acceptances (and good merit/fa options) this spring!</p>
<p>Good luck on you search …and pm me if you want.</p>