I have a 3.8 GPA, ranked in top 15 percent of class. I am in primarily AP/Honors/Accelerated courses. ACT is 26(retook and am expecting to get at least a 28). I am an Oregon resident. Naturally, getting institutional scholarships is important to me as well as the ability to do research. So far I am thinking of South Dakota School of Mines, St Martens University, University of Idaho, College of Idaho, Hendrix, Carroll College, and University of Portland.
I have so far only visited School of Mines and was a big fan, however the town is questionable. I am open to any suggestions or comments please! I guess something important is that the college has good graduate placement because I want to go on to get my PhD.
If you want to get a PhD, a main objective of your undergraduate experience should be performing research as an undergrad before applying to grad school. Ideally, this will be done at your undergraduate college but can also be achieved through summer research programs. Graduate placement will be about four things: GPA; GRE; research experience; and recommendations from faculty (especially from your research mentor).
I personally know an undergrad who went to a highly respected Ivy university to study molecular biology after going to what many CCers would consider a third rate LAC. He was accepted because of excellent grades but most importantly because of an absolute passion for science and demonstrated aptitude for research through summer research programs.
I highly suggest visiting each college. When doing this, look at the research labs (not the teaching labs). Do the labs look used… do they have reagents sitting on the shelves and benches (for molecular biology, look for blue or red cardboard Qiagen RNA/DNA isolation kit boxes)? Is there dirty or recently cleaned labware sitting around? Or are the benchtops dusty and labware coated with crusty residue suggesting it hasn’t been used in months? Do the labs have proper equipment (cell culture incubators and hoods; centrifuges; gel electrophoresis equipment; lots of pipettes). Are the labs occupied with people doing work? For universities with biology graduate departments, it’s important to know if how many undergrads do research… labs may be active but full of grad students.
Ask the colleges what percentage of undergrads perform research and in what year of college. Ask the college how much monetary support they give to their professors and undergraduate students for research supplies (you can’t do research in molecular biology without having money).
Personally, I am a fan of LACs for a science undergraduate degree. Professors are there to teach/mentor undergraduates, not to seek their next research grant. Hendrix is a good choice. Other LACs in the south to consider are Rhodes, Sewanee, Eckerd, and Rollins. I don’t know about the biology departments at your other choices. Sounds like you are from the northwest… check out Lewis and Clark… some interesting research there (especially the spider lady).
Cost of attendance at your undergraduate school is equally important as fit. However, your graduate school tuition and living expenses will be paid for by any reputable university.
Once last comment. The future of molecular biology is high content data. Knowledge of bio, statistics, and computer science is the future.