<p>I'm a junior in high school right now and I'm starting to look at colleges to apply to. I want to major in biochem as an undergrad and get a masters (maybe a Ph.D too? not sure yet), then get a job in pharmacology. I've been looking at schools like University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (went there for science olympiad nationals a few years back - dorms suck, but they have a good biochem program and I like the location).</p>
<p>I also like UT Austin because they have a good chemistry program as well (but they don't have a biochem major as far as I'm aware) and I like Austin. I have also considered Emory because they have a decent chemistry program and are closer to my hometown (Auburn, AL), but I hate ATL. </p>
<p>I've mostly considered state schools (not schools in my state, though) because they tend to be cheaper. But I've noticed that private schools tend to offer more financial aid. </p>
<p>Auburn University would be my safety school because I've lived here my whole life and want to feel somewhat independent. 99.9% sure I'll get in. My mom works for the university, so I'd automatically get half off the in-state tuition. My ACT qualifies me for free tuition, so I would get the approximately 5,000 from my mom working there to go toward housing, most likely. They have a subpar chemistry school here, so it's not my favorite. I want to go to a big school because I want to be in a marching band and I like college football (life in the south, lol). </p>
<p>Basically what I'm asking is, should I do the financially responsible thing and go to Auburn, then go to a more prestigious school for grad school? And would it be better (financial aid wise) to go to an out-of-state public school or a private school? Because I'm pretty much on my own when it comes to paying for college.</p>
<p>I’d suggest going to the best local/cheaper college you can for your undergrad and switching to a better one for your masters. Unless there’s something wrong with that…?</p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with state colleges, it’s just that because I grew up in Auburn, I feel like I won’t get the full “college experience”. Most of the people from my high school will end up going here, so I’ll know a lot of people already and won’t be able to start off on a new page. I’ll live a mile away from the house I grew up in. I can hear frat parties and the marching band from inside my bedroom. I know my way around the campus. Growing up in a college town (especially a biggish state school) you just become so immersed in the college’s culture that you kind of almost feel like you go there. I just kind of want a new experience. I was born and raised in this town and haven’t done much travelling. I just kind of want to experience another part of the country.</p>
<p>Yup, you’ve hit the same problem I did. I was modestly popular at my high school, had a decent amount of friends, some clubs and ec’s, etc. I really don’t want to stay in my home state either, give me a chance to try and start over totally clean - though for me, I want to go into bioengineering, and Purdue (I live in Indiana) is one of the best in the nation for that. I may seriously end up flipping a coin, you could try that if you like.</p>
<p>Because of the collapse of the job market in big pharma and biology, chemistry, and biochemistry generally, it makes sense to keep cost and debt low when majoring in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry.</p>
<p>Presumably, you can go to Auburn or Alabama for low cost, but you can check out other options as well. Use the net price calculator at each school to get a need-based financial aid estimate from the school, and check each school for merit scholarships that can bring down the net price. Note that most out-of-state public schools are not all that generous with financial aid, though some may have large merit scholarships.</p>
<p>What stats/hooks do you have to make you competitive for scholarships at other schools? Keep AU or UA as safeties and see what other offers you get, then compare and decide.</p>