What school is best for me?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a high school junior planning for college (obviously, hence being on CC).
Anyways, I'm interested in going into biotech, or biomed research, or perhaps other forms of research science. I've done a lot of research on good schools but would like some more input. I am a good student with a challenging schedule and a 4.0 unweighted. I also have many ECs that I'm extremely involved in (TSA-tech club, MAO - math club, etc). I have estimated my SAT scores to come out 2200+. Any suggestions on schools would be excellent.
Also, if you have any suggestions on what I can do to better my chances, I would appreciate that.</p>

<p>Please and thank you =].</p>

2

<p>I have estimated my SAT scores to come out 2200+. Any suggestions on schools would be excellent.</p>

<p>What is your PSAT? Will you be a NMSF?</p>

<p>How much will your parents pay each year for your education? </p>

<p>Will they pay $50k+ each year for the school of your choice?</p>

<p>What is your home state?</p>

3

<p>mom2collegekids has raised some very important points. </p>

<p>In answer to your question, schools with strong undergraduate biomed. and biological sciences programs include </p>

<p>Washington University in St. Louis, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins University. You can’t go wrong with MIT, either, for biotech =)</p>

<p>I’m a current WashU student, and have been the lucky recipient of several research opportunities in biology. Here is some more information from the WashU threads:</p>

<p>" Research- You really can’t find better-stocked and cutting-edge biology laboratories elsewhere. WashU IS one of the top places for science and hands-on undergraduate research. This school has got the money rolling in to fund its numerous research projects (think millions of federal funding), and a good amount of that money goes to fund undergraduate research. Besides scientific research, my peers also are active in original humanities research, such as helping to transcribe the writings of an early English writer or to research the underpinings of a health problem in medical anthropology. Every semester there is an undergraduate research symposium, and the projects displayed I’ve seen are always the acme of quality. </p>

<p>For science whizzes: I actually was (and still am!) crazy about science, and applied for WashU just for that reason. The hard sciences offerings at WashU are top-notch. I have done at least three independent research projects in the lab so far, starting my freshman year; a large proportion of undergrads do research in every department (engineering to basic research) WashU also has one of the top number of undergraduate funding for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Foundation. It’s really hard to go wrong with the WashU science program, and every year, WashU undergrads attend top graduate school programs (for example, I know several undergrads who eventually got into WashU biology department for graduate school as well as to Duke, Stanford, UNC, etc). The professors here are at the forefront of their research but are really caring teachers as well! " </p>

<p>You may have heard that WashU is one of the “top colleges for a premedical education” and I think that reputation is in part attributed to the strength of its biology department and pre-health faculty.</p>

<p>One caveat though: Like every private school, WashU comes with its sizeable price tag. If $45,000 a year at a private university is a financial consideration (it is for most people), be sure to check out the financial package offerings of the college.</p>

4

<p>Update: Today, Washington University in St. Louis just won a $14 million grant to expand on the genetic causes of cancer</p>

<p>[Washington</a> University wins $14M grant to expand center on genetic origins of cancer - WDAF](<a href=“http://www.fox4kc.com/news/sns-ap-mo--genomics-grant,0,3791971.story]Washington”>http://www.fox4kc.com/news/sns-ap-mo--genomics-grant,0,3791971.story)</p>

<p>Statistics also show it is ranked #4 in terms of National Institutes of Health funding. </p>

<p>As a future scientist, it’s helpful to be aware of how much funding a school gets for research: When professors write and apply for grants, a portion of the money will go towards undergraduate research (to fund you in your own project).</p>

5

<p>Thanks, that was helpful so far. I will check out Washington University</p>

<p>My PSAT is 220, and I do qualify as a semifinalist in FL (at least I think so since the cuttoff is usually 213). My family can’t really afford the 50,000 schools, but I do look towards scholarships and FinAid(maybe), but I wanted to set the money issues aside and just look at the schools.</p>

6

<p>I second zenith602’s suggestion!!</p>

<p>Schools with famous biology and medical research: </p>

<p>Washington University in St. Louis
Johns Hopkins
Harvard
MIT
Duke
also University of California Berkeley</p>

<p>Please let me know the whole list of where you decide to apply to, since I am also interested in other schools with top science programs.</p>

7

<p>^^^</p>

<p>NO, to UC Berkeley…no FA and no merit.</p>

<p>I know that the OP says he doesn’t want to consider $$, but it’s silly to include schools that would be absolutely impossible. UCB costs $50k and no aid to a Florida resident.</p>

8

<p>Oh right. Ooops sorry, I forgot OP is Florida resident. I think it’s much easier to get into UC Berkeley as a CA resident, but extremely difficult for out-of-staters. </p>

<p>It does have a great science program, though :D</p>

9

<p>Actually, I was considering UC Berkely and UC SD which I head has a good biotech. But I don’t know if it is going to be financially worth it. But so far MIT has topped my list for years (i used to be into astrophysics), but I want to keep my options open… =)</p>

10

<p>I also know that Carnegie Mellon Has a good tech program, and Perdue is also good with biomed. Also I’ve heard some things about pomona, but I don’t know too much about it.</p>

11

<p>Actually, I was considering UC Berkely and UC SD which I head has a good biotech. But I don’t know if it is going to be financially worth it.</p>

<p>So, are you saying that your family could pay $50k per year if you/they thought it was worth it?</p>

12

<p>No, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying it’s not worth it if I end up paying more than I would at a different, better school. Besides, I am looking into scholarships, this is serious consideration for me since I don’t qualify for hardcore finAid but I also can’t afford the thick price-tags…looking into other things such as private scholarships and institutions with merit aid. However, I do want to keep my options open. I do know someone going to UCB but he is a Calif resident and he got a little aid. Whatever college I do choose to GO to, then I will need to consider the financial problems. Right now I just want to see what colleges I want to look into and apply to. I don’t want to restrict because of money, there’s always options. And there is always UF when it comes down to it, and I could esstially go there fullride, so I have my safety.</p>