I’m having trouble choosing between San Jose State and UC Davis. Currently, I am attending community college and hoping to transfer for a BS in chemistry. My goals is to become a cosmetic chemist in the future but idk what school what help me best accomplish this. What school would you say is better?
Since the UC application just opened and the Cal state application has not opened yet, I am assuming you are applying for Fall 2022?
Cost constraints?
Have you visited both campuses?
Have you looked at the course requirements and electives available for each schools BS program? Does one school offer more courses of interest vs. the other?
Do you have the transfer requirements completed/in-progress for both schools?
If you are applying for Fall 2022, there is no reason to make a choice now. Apply to both and see if you are accepted to both and then determine which school will be the best fit.
For this goal, you’ll have to go to grad school regardless of which undergrad school you choose. Either can give you a solid undergrad education in chemistry. But it’s worth doing a deep dive into the course offerings and the research interests of faculty, to see whether there are particular opportunities of interest at one or the other. Otherwise, go with what’s most affordable, if there’s a significant difference, or with what you prefer in terms of “fit factors” if there isn’t. As Gumbymom says, apply to both and take your time deciding.
The only specialized undergraduate program in the country, for cosmetic chemistry, is at the University of Toledo. I don’t know if you’d want to consider trying to transfer into this program, but the UofT does offer auto-merit to OOS transfer students, which at its maximum eliminates 90% of the OOS differential. BSPS in Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design (PCOS) < University of Toledo Of course, this is worth considering only if you are super-focused on this specialty and want a program that will connect you to the field with an undergrad degree. (If you consider it, do careful research into employment outcomes for grads of the program - I personally have no idea whether it would pay off in opportunities, or not.)
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I’ve been watching some videos about this career and for the ones I’ve watched, they didn’t go to grad school. As for the courses, neither really have any classes that relate to formulation and such. I was more so wondering which school would be best in finding opportunities to get into this field. Thanks for the help.
Preferably, I would want to go to the school that costs less and is closer to home. I have looked at the course requirements and did not see any specific courses of interest for either. Also, I do have transfer requirements in progress for both schools. I’m just not sure which school would give me the best opportunities. I’ve looked at the research focus and I don’t think I’ve seen one related to cosmetic chemistry.
I would look at the career center website for each school and see which employers regularly recruit for internships/jobs.
Again, if you are applying for Fall 2022, I would not limit your search to these 2 schools since this is a NIche specialty and few schools will offer cosmetic chemistry specific courses. Getting a BS in Biochem could be fulfilled at any number of UC’s and Cal states along with private schools (if affordable). If you are using TAG for UCD, then you have a guarantee of admission as long as you complete the TAG course and GPA requirements.
From little research I have done regarding Cosmetic Chemistry, it does seem like Graduate school is necessary for this particular emphasis so budget for 6 years vs. 4 years when looking at schools.
Assuming you can meet the GPA threshold and have mapped ALL of the required classes, I’d use TAG to secure a spot at Davis but, also apply to a few other schools as well. That way you’ll have a couple to choose from. SJ, SF, Sac are pretty accessible and all worth an ap.
apply broadly and good luck