Waitlists and decisions

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Recently I have been waitlisted to Reed and accepted to the University of Washington in Seattle (into the Honors Program as well). Though I have long wanted to go to Reed, upon evaluation I have found the University of Washington full of many different opportunities (perhaps more than at Reed). I am planning on pursuing a biology/molecular biology major, and am not sure whether I should a) even try to get off the wait list for Reed, and 2) if I miraculously get off the wait list, whether Reed really is better than UW for a Biology major. I would like to, in the future (if this has any relevance at all) pursue a PhD. Any thoughts? :slight_smile:

2

Congratulations on getting into the Honors Program at the University of Washington. I see that biology is the top prospective major for students in the program (biochemistry is #7): http://depts.washington.edu/uwhonors/apply/freshman/faq/

Interesting pair of schools. Reed is a very unique college that is well known for its high percentage of students who go on to earn PhDs, including in biology. Washington is a major research university that also produces many students (by number) who go on to earn PhDs in the biological sciences (and I bet more than a few Reed and UW students end up meeting each other in UW’s graduate schools). Washington’s particular strength in the biological sciences is reflected in the following:

http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/nrc41.html#area13
http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/nrc1.html#RANKBYAREA

http://www.shanghairanking.com/FieldLIFE2015.html

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/biological-sciences-rankings

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/genetics-rankings

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/biology-biochemistry?page=2

http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2016/biological-sciences#sorting=rank+region=+country=257+faculty=+stars=false+search=

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2016/subject-ranking/life-sciences-0#!/page/0/length/25/country/93/sort_by/rank_label/sort_order/asc/cols/rank_only

http://nturanking.lis.ntu.edu.tw/Default.aspx
http://nturanking.lis.ntu.edu.tw/DataPage/countries.aspx?query=LifeSciences&country=USA&y=2015

At Washington, you would get to break in the new biology building starting around the end of your sophomore year:
http://www.biology.washington.edu/life-sciences-complex

You have a strong academic profile, and I’m sure you would do very well at Washington. The Honors Program will enrich your experience there and make some aspects of it more like a smaller college. Still, if I were you, I would apply to get off the wait list at Reed, if only for the sake of having another good and very different option. Why not? If you get off the wait list, you can make you decision at that time depending on how the spirit moves you.

Congratulations again, and good luck!