<p>I've narrowed down my options to wesleyan, northwestern, and macalester. Macalester is giving me the most money, so I figured I'd go there since they're all good schools, and I know I want to go onto grad school and want to have the least debt as possible. Northwestern and Wesleyan are hardly giving me any money. </p>
<p>Anyway, I hope to major in biochemistry as an undergraduate to pursue similar graduate work. Eventually I envision myself doing commercial research for, say, a materials/drug/pharmaceutical company. </p>
<p>I hear the biochemistry/molecular biology department at Wesleyan is pretty amazing, and that Wesleyan (among the liberal arts schools) gets the most money for research development.</p>
<p>Wesleyan does indeed have an awesome program in biochem/molecular biology and the cool thing is that you can get a masters in 5 years with the 5th year tuition free for certain programs. Check out the wesleyan site to see if they offer a ba/ma prog in biochem, i think they do.
Of all the schools that I was considering, Wesleyan was giving me the least money too, but things worked out and you have to think in the long run. While it might seem like a lot now, in the long run, it might not be that much.
Macalester is also a good school.
In the end it's up to you. If you want a more preprofessional school feel, then go to NU (it also has a really good program in biochem), whereas if you want a more intellectual feeling on campus, I seriously suggest you look into Wesleyan a bit more.
Hope that helped, good luck :-)!</p>
<p>I ended up (well, my parents ended up) deciding on Macalester because of affordability among the nicer schools I applied to. I think I would've picked Wesleyan, but it wasn't really my choice when my parents intervened. Oh well, I'm sure I'll be happy. :)</p>
<p>also, thanks for all your help... I ended up talking to a student who is majoring in biochem/molecular biology at wesleyan, which definitely convinced me that the school was for me. However, parents made things so difficult. Oh well, I can always transfer if I'm unhappy.</p>
<p>If you transfer you normally don't get finaid that's as good, that's what i've heard.
Can't you convince them that you'll take the loans and pay more back after you've graduated? You can take student loans too, I'm just going to say that if you really think that it's the place for you then you should not second guess yourself. I'm not saying you won't like macalester because it's an awesome school, but if you can afford it then take out the option you want.
How big is the price differential if you don't mind my asking.
I sent my deposit into wes yesterday and my dad's annoyed about it now and he's trying to advocate lafayette and try to reverse the decision. Ack!</p>
<p>The cost difference was about 6k/year. Believe me, I've tried to convince my parents... I almost had them 3 days ago. But now that it's the eve of May 1st, there's really no convincing them unless Wesleyan somehow delivers cash to my door. :(</p>
<p>That's about how much it will be for me!
Lafayette costs around 14k after finaid and scholarships and wesleyan's around 20-22k after finaid (without factoring in my program that only kicks in around sophy year). So I know how you feel. You'll have awesome opportunities at each school, just as far as people go I like wesleyan a lot more.
I bumped into a freshman at wes who was considering macalester and he said he was really glad that he picked wes. There are orgs that will give you student loans, and as someone once told me that when their parents made the sacrifice to help them into the school of their dreams they paid their parents back with a trip abroad now and then when they became established. Wes has an awesome program in the sciences and gets so much funding for it.
You have to do what you have to do though, if you honestly LOVE wesleyan tell your parents that you'll make up the difference.
I'm considering grad school so i know what you mean, the debt is going to be horrific.
Congrats though, macalester is an awesome school too. You're lucky to have such an awesome option.</p>