<p>I want to study biology and hopefully go on to grad school to do research. Does anyone know if the usnews rankings for grad programs correspond to their undergraduate counterparts(, as UNC is ranked lower overall but is ranked higher in biology than Vanderbilt)?</p>
<p>I have a full scholarship for Rutgers but I do not qualify for FA for the other schools, so I'm wondering if it's worth it to spend per year the extra 40k for UNC or 60k for Vanderbilt if I plan to go to grad. Does undergrad matter regarding applying to grad school/job prospects in the long run?</p>
<p>Also, which school is more "southern," UNC or Vanderbilt?</p>
<p>UNC-CH is more “southern” simply because they have a high proportion of in-state students. </p>
<p>Once you have a graduate degree, it seldom matters much where you did your undergrad work. </p>
<p>Is there a particular area of bio that interests you? Look at the course offerings at the schools you are considering and see if one stands out. </p>
<p>Be aware that a bio major has poor employment prospects at the BS level, so grad school is pretty much a foregone conclusion. Most PhD programs are funded, so your out-of-pocket expenses should be minimal if you are accepted to a good program, and you could spend your $ on undergrad. On the other hand, if med school is a possibility, you should minimize undergrad expenses as there are seldom scholarships to med school. Can you afford to be full-pay as an undergrad?</p>