<p>I want to go into the field of biology, but I don't have a specific career path/branch of biology in mind. I may go pre-med, but there's a strong possibility that I will want to major in something that leads to a different career path, such as computational biology or molecular biology.</p>
<p>I really want to explore my options in college, so I definitely want a school that would offer a lot of research and shadowing opportunities. I don't necessarily need to go to a school with every science major, just a school that can give me exposure to every type of science. </p>
<p>Other factors:
1. Cost is not a major concern
2. Distance from home is not a major concern
3. I'd like to go to a medium sized school (5k to 15k undergrads)
4. I'd like to be in a urbanish/urban area
5. I'm a high-stat applicant (2300+ SAT, etc.) with decent ECs, so don't rule out schools because of selectivity (although I probably have too many reaches as it is so it would be wise to avoid top 10s)</p>
<p>Here's some of my current list (in no particular order) to show you what I was thinking about:</p>
<ol>
<li>Duke University </li>
<li>WashU in St. Louis</li>
<li>Northwestern</li>
<li>JHU</li>
<li>Emory </li>
<li>University of Virginia (OOS)</li>
<li>Georgetown (I've heard that it's good for pre-med but not research)</li>
<li>Tufts (I don't know how available research/shadowing opps are)</li>
</ol>
<p>~Safeties~</p>
<p>I'm fairly confident that Duke, WashU, Northwestern, and JHU fit my qualifications, but I'm not sure about the last 4 on my list. </p>
<p>Again, if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears. Thanks!</p>
<p>I like this list. I think GU is the weakest in terms of science. Tufts will have the research opps in Boston. Emory’s bio program is strong and it’s in the city. UVA hospital is a big deal; there are start-up biomed firms and big pharma down there. You really cannot go wrong with this list. </p>
<p>I like your list! You need a true safety though.</p>
<p>I think your chances at UMich are very strong, almost safety strong (and cost isn’t a concern!). I don’t know how they are for biology, but I know they are a strong research university. It fits almost all of your criteria except that there are around 25k undergraduates. Worth looking into.</p>
<p>Finally, I’m a bit biased, but Brown. Obviously a reach but it definitely fits your qualifications. Incredibly strong research programs, biology department is good, premed community exists (+special program called PLME if you’re interested), and the open curriculum so you can adequately explore the sciences (and humanities/other subjects).</p>
<p>If you’re curious about attending college in Michigan, then take a look at Michigan State University and its Lyman Briggs School of Biological Sciences. Absolutely world class!!!</p>
<p>I have two safeties that are in-state public schools with guaranteed admissions for someone with my grades. I don’t feel the need to add any more to be honest.</p>
<p>I was considering UMich but I’ve heard that it’s large and impersonal (more so than private schools) and that it lacks diversity. Also, I’m not too keen on a big party school (which is why I kind of prefer WashU over Duke right now.)</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion! I may add Brown to my list, but I’ll do a little more research before I officially add it. Do you have any suggestions for schools that are more “match category”? I feel like I have 4 Reaches, 3 High Matches, 1 Mid-Match and 2 Safeties as of now and that’s not really balanced. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt: Around 13,000 students total, 1/2 undergrad, urban area (Nashville), they like high stat applicants, they offer a degree in Molecular Biology.</p>
<p>Brown: Around 8,000 students, 6,000+ undergrad, semi-urban (Providence, RI), Ivy League, they have a Center for Computational Molecular Biology (including offering B.S. in Computational Biology with 4 different available tracks: Computational Genomics, Biological Sciences, Molecular Modeling, and Applied Mathematics and Statistical Genomics). Good reputation for students being able to put together their own program of study instead of just checking off pre-selected requirements for a major.</p>
<p>Both are good research universities that place their students well in graduate programs, including medicine.</p>
<p>URochester, BC, BU, Brandeis seem like they’re all low matches for you. I would be shocked if you didn’t get in to all of them, but admissions are weird. I’ve heard good things about URochester with regards to the sciences, but I didn’t really research it, since I wasn’t a fan. You may like it though.</p>
<p>BC is preppy. Like, really preppy. And catholic. But you’re also applying to Georgetown, so I’m guessing this isn’t really a big deal. I hear BC places well into med school, but I’m not sure how strong their research is. It’s 9k students and in a good area of Boston.</p>
<p>BU is kind of the opposite of BC culture wise. Branded as the “lesser” school by some, (and especially the BC kids), it is still a pretty good school with a strong enough premed program, and I think their research opportunities are fine as well. It’s a little larger than what you’re looking for (18k, but only by 3k).</p>
<p>I don’t know much about Brandeis except that its research and biology programs should be good for you. It’s also mainly Jewish religion wise. I hear it’s a good university though.</p>
<p>@FCCDAD I didn’t know that Brown’s Molecular/Computational Biology programs were so strong. That definitely makes me consider putting them on my list. I’ll also look into Vanderbilt, as it seems to have a lot of the characteristics I want in a college. </p>
<p>@enigmaticescape I’m was a little hesitant to add BC to my list because it seems like its Bio department doesn’t offer much in terms of research (because it’s mostly undergrads), but maybe I’ll reconsider applying. BU and Northeastern are a little too urban for my taste, however I do see their appeals for other students.</p>
<p>I never heard of URochester before, but I’ll look into applying because it seems to have strong research opportunities and excellent medical school placement. I’ll also check out Brandeis when I get the chance. Thank you for all your advice! You’re really good at finding matches haha.</p>
<p>I know a lot (I guess) about colleges because I had to go through that whole research process last year. I’m also a Massachusetts resident and there are a lot of good schools around here/in New England. Also I can corroborate that Tufts has great med school placement and research opportunities. I’m not a future biology (or any science major), but my best friend in high school was biology/neuroscience/premed, and she had a very similar profile (high stats/full pay), so yeah. Atmosphere wasn’t really important to her, so she went for strength of research programs and medical school placement, and I assure you, she’s done her research. I believe she ended up applying to MIT (only because she had a great hook), UCB/UCLA (since she’s lived in Cali since a kid) and Brown PLME early. She intended to apply to URochester, WashU, Northwestern, JHU, Rice and BU but she ended up only applying to Yale, Stanford, and UPenn due to early results. Rice might be worth a look?</p>
<p>Rice is similar level to Duke and JHU overall and for biomedical and also for premed generally. It does have the added hook of being next to the largest medical center in the world. Probably is a little weaker in Bio than those two, but stronger in emerging areas of medical nanotechnology if that is of interest.</p>
<p>@enigmaticescape Is Brown’s early decision not binding if you apply to PLME (similar to BME at JHU)? If not, how did she apply to MIT, UCB/UCLA, and Brown early? </p>
<p>@2018RiceParent How selective is Rice? I know that it’s a top-tier school, but I don’t know if it’s the type of school that has crapshoot admissions (which I want to avoid at this point). </p>
<p>@shadow97: It’s binding. However, to get in, you have to get into the regular school first, and then they consider you for PLME I think? It’s possible to get into Brown, but not into PLME. Brown is ED and you can apply to schools EA as long as the EA programs are not restrictive. UCB and UCLA don’t really have an early process/it’s not on the common app, the deadline is in November every year (but you get the results in March), but its deadline is around the same time as other early applications. MIT is EA and non restrictive. Thus you would be able to apply to both.</p>
<p>Might look at Holy Cross-top25 LAC with strong science programs and new science building. HC has a great pre-med program and its alums include Nobel Prize winner, med school deans, President of AMA etc.</p>
<p>I also agree with @par72 Holy Cross (if you are ok with a LAC) looks VERY interesting, and a little easier to get into than most of the schools on your original list.</p>
<p>@2018RiceParent That’s a good comparison. If I find that I like Rice better than JHU, WUSTL, or Northwestern I may replace one of those schools with Rice because I don’t want to have more than three or four high matches/low reaches. </p>
<p>Is it harder to get into Rice if you’re not from Texas? According to the Rice freshman profile, 46% of Rice students are from Texas, which probably means that it’s harder for someone like me (from the Northeast) to get in. </p>
<p>I didn’t really want to apply to any LACs because I visited one (Wellesley) and found that the small and intimate setting that most LACs offer wasn’t a great fit for me. </p>
<p>Rice got more selective this past admissions round, but I think the bulk of the increased applications were for engineering.</p>
<p>One advantage of Rice for a true biology major, is there are more hospitals outside their front door than anywhere else in the world. Incredible research opportunities.</p>