<p>Is the Princeton Biology department strong? (In relation to the college, of course. After all, it's Princeton!)</p>
<p>I was choosing academic interests on Common App and I was surprised they didn't have a general biology choice, only Molecular Bio and Ecology / Evolutionary Bio... Does that mean I will be limited in what I can learn in biology?</p>
<p>Or am I mistaken somehow?</p>
<p>I think our mol bio department is whatevs compared to our other departments.</p>
<p>When you start learning real biology, you’ll realize that the only 2 important aspects of biology are ecology/evolutionary biology and molecular biology. “General biology” is a waste of time.</p>
<p>I was hoping to build up my background in general biology though… I just find it surprising that Princeton doesn’t even offer that when it’s known as one of the top academic institutions?</p>
<p>Oh, I had no idea general biology was such a prestigious course. Dang, all the community colleges around my neighborhood must be incredible academic institutions.</p>
<p>If you come to Princeton and major in a biology field, you’re expected to have gotten a 5 in AP Biology. That will count as your “general biology,” otherwise, you can take EEB 211 which is “The Biology of Organisms.” From there, you will also take “Intro to Cell/Mol Bio,” and then you can decide whether you want to major in EEB or Mol Bio. A “general biology” major would be pointless because it’s basically just a less specialized, combined version of those two departments, which are actually incredibly different fields.</p>
<p>I’m saying that it’s a rather fundamental subject. Perhaps Princeton splits it up because it finds regular biology a waste of time, but I find it odd that they would narrow our choices.</p>
<p>Oh ok, thanks, that makes more sense. I guess it’s Molecular Bio for me then. Also, you said Princeton’s biology program was “whatevs” compared to its other departments, but would you know how good it is compared to other schools?</p>
<p>Ecology and Evolutionary Biology basically is general biology. Molecular biology covers the things that happen inside cells, and EEB is everything else. However both biology departments allow you to take courses from the other department for credit towards your degree, so you really have a ton of freedom to pursue a more general education in biology if that is what interests you. </p>
<p>As for strength, both bio departments are ranked in the top 10 for U.S. News graduate school rankings.</p>