<p>Can anyone suggest a source that lists colleges (perhaps by major), and ranks them in terms of best undergraduate instruction? Or more specifically, things like: "best teaching professors", "fewest large lectures", "best TAs", "most available professors", "most up to date", "undergratuate research", "undergraduate internships". I'm sure there's no perfect source, but any suggestions would be appreciated.</p>
<p>There really is no way of figuring this out. If you ask me, instruction will be great at any top university. What varries is the expectations of the students, not the quality of instruction.</p>
<p>It’s pretty clear that smaller universities and liberal arts colleges will offer smaller classes, and a program more focused on undergraduates (since most LACs have few, if any, graduate programs.) That doesn’t necessarily make them “better” just different. The book Colleges That Change Lives by Lauren Pope will offer a good introduction to just those kinds of schools.</p>
<p>“Best” professors and “best” TAs is a designation so subjective you’re unlikely to find any such listing. A Nobel-prze winner could be considered “best” which doesn’t mean he’d be best at teaching.</p>
<p>What will your major be? Instruction varies by discipline.</p>
<p>Generally, the more selective the school, the better your classroom experience will be. Smarter students usually have smarter professors. But, it varies from instructor to instructor.</p>
<p>But, it also depends on the style of instruction you prefer. Do you prefer lectures or lots of classroom discussion or lots of group projects or what?</p>
<p>Most professors are pretty good. Some are really outstanding. Some could stand improvement. Full professors are generally better teachers than assistant professors. Once you arrive at school, ask around. Other students will tell you which professors to avoid.</p>
<p>Probably Genetics, Bio-Genetics emphasis, or maybe molecular bio. Would like to be in or near a big and/or exciting city. Doesn’t seem like many of the “smaller” colleges fit that. The ones that do include:</p>
<p>Univerisity of British Columbia
UC Berkeley
UCLA
University of Chicago
Columbia University
Harvard University
McGill University
University of Toronto
University of Maryland
Northeastern University
Stanford University
Tulane University
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>
<p>I’m just worried that many of them have professors that would rather do research than teach (this is what I’ve heard).</p>