I’ve been accepted to both with a sizable scholarship but I’m wondering what college would be best for someone going into biology. I really like that OWU offers a microbiology major and seems to offer students decent research opportunities but, I’ve also heard Juniata has " a great science program" without anyone ever specifying what’s “great” about it. From what I’ve gather about OWU it seems to have more of collegey mainstream career-focused/party vibe and Juniata more intellectual hipster/geeky. I’m more of the latter. I really don’t like the rural environment Juniata though. Can anyone give me more insight into the type of students at these schools?
Right now, I’m thinking OWU maybe better academically but Juniata is a better personality wise…but I really don’t know enough about the bio program at Juniata to fairly judge it.
Overall, which college do you think is a better fit for someone serious about science but also sorta geeky hipster?
I’ve also been accepted to Lewis & Clark, Kalamazoo, and Reed but without massive scholarships. Reed is exactly what I’m looking for but I don’t think it’s possible financially.
Juniata has an excellent reputation in the pure sciences. Both of the people I know personally who are Juniata graduates went on to get their PhDs, one in geology, the other in physics. The latter is a Nobel laureate.
If one’s science program isn’t way above the other’s, and they have fairly equal success in placing graduates in jobs and in grad school, then I would pick the school that would suit my personlity.
If your ideal is Reed, then Juniata may be better for you. OWU is a bit more sporty/outgoing and Juniata is indeed a bit more geeky, in that it attracts many students who are into science.
Huntington is rural and economically depressed - although friends can easily up to State College.
Wooster would be a good compromise - did you apply there?
The natural sciences at Ohio Wesleyan are no joke; they are very rigorous. You will get excellent academic preparation at OWU. OWU may be more diverse culturally, as I understand that the school is very popular with international applicants.
I’m the parent of a quirky, geeky, creative, extremely happy OWU freshman. He is not at all sporty and has made wonderful like-minded friends this first year. His interests are in the humanities, but his friends seem to be in both science and humanities fields. And his teachers (in a wide variety of fields since he is fulfilling some gen ed requirements) have all been fabulous.
Please take my comments with a grain or bucket of salt. My father in law taught chemistry at Juniata for years. He actually started the science in motion program which is in many states now. But I sat in on a few of his classes and it was no joke. They are very serious about their sciences.
As others have mentioned Huntingdon is very rural. Honestly I don’t care for the town because it’s too isolated for me. But as a previous poster mentioned, you can easily get to state college. My in laws still live in Huntingdon but have season tickets to quite a few penn state teams.
Have you visited both schools? Maybe that will help you decide? Apologies if you have already visited. The Juniata campus is quite pretty and a close but community.
Good luck
Juniata is known for having a strong science program. Plus for jobs/grad school opportunities, Juniata has a slightly stronger name. IMO, anything with a Wesleyan in it gets blurred into one giant category of “unrelated colleges with the word Wesleyan in them.” Visit both and see how you feel. I think once you would visit Juniata, you would like the vibe since you assert it fits your personality.
OWU is definitely strong too but the vibe is different. Seniors get some days off to visit colleges (ask your guidance counselor)- make good use of them.
I’m going to try to visit but it’s a 10hr drive and I’m not sure it’s an option right now. MYOS1634, why would Wooster be a good option? I haven’t heard much about it. I still have time to apply (apps are due feb. 15)
If I could find a juiniata in a less rural environment (preferably urban) I think i would go for it but it’s probably too late.
Were are students more motivated?
Well, not right now 
Wooster tends to attract more academic-type students, who hope to go on to grad school and are interested in the original research requirement for graduation.
What about Dickinson, would you have the stats for it? (It’s test-optional, too, and has good financial aid.) Dealdine 2/1.
Check out deadlines for Denison, Lawrence and Beloit, too. Check their deadlines.
What are your stats?
ACT: 32
GPA: 3.88 unweighted
I need to be able to get merit scholarships.
I’ve already applied to Beloit. I’ve heard it’s somewhat of a party school- which is a huge turn off for me.
Wooster sounds interesting. I like the original research aspect.
I don’t know who told you Beloit is a huge party school but either they didn’t know what they were talking about, or they confused it with another school. Beloit doesn’t have a party culture (even its fraternities are nothing like fraternities at public universities) and is mostly quirky/geeky. While obviously there are parties on all campuses, Beloit wouldn’t come to mind when one says “party school”.
With these stats you’d be eligible for quite a bit of merit at many universities.
It’s too bad you didn’t apply to St Olaf which would probably be a good fit.
Dickinson will be a good fit though, and you don’t need to go test-optional.
Case Western is geeky and in a city.
If you’re a girl, Agnes Scott and Simmons are in cities. Agnes Scott is much better for the sciences (and has a partnership with Georgia Tech.)
Is Muhlenberg still taking apps? A 32 would land great money. That is a great school for Bio.
I believe Muhmenberg has a 2/1 deadline.
St. Lawrence is another. The science facilities are fantastic.
I like hearing about all these colleges but at the same time I really don’t want to start all over.
Hearing about all these colleges that “could be a good fit” makes it even more confusing.
I will look a little deeper into Beloit though but I think it’s pretty similar to Juniata if I’m not mistaken.
Is anyone familiar with University of Puget Sound?
Yes, UPS is a great school. However, it’s not very good with financial aid, especially if your family makes less than 60K a year. It does have some merit aid.