<p>Any opinions/insight about the biology/biochemistry departments at these two?</p>
<p>Earlham sounds like royalty.</p>
<p>Both are extremely strong in biology, although their focus is generally geared toward organismal and environmental biology rather than biochemistry. It’s possible for a biochemistry student to get a good grounding at either, though, and if I recall correctly, Whitman does offer a biochemistry track of sorts. </p>
<p>Lawrence, Hope, U Puget Sound, and Willamette would also be worth checking out.</p>
<p>I want to start by making a comment about selecting a college generally. It is important, in addition to finding a college that is strong in the area in which you might major, it is also important, even essential, to select a college which has values, life perspectives and social climate with which you are comfortable. There is a good chance that you will change your major, even slightly, once you start college. A good first year program will make you question life goals and get you thinking about the big question “How can I serve this world?” If you want to read what Earlham has to say see: [Earlham</a> College Mission Statement](<a href=“http://www.earlham.edu/mission.html]Earlham”>http://www.earlham.edu/mission.html)</p>
<p>My second is about Earlham’s science program. First I must say I am an Earlham graduate ('65) and majored in biology. I thought I was going to teach high school biology but for reasons I won’t go into hear I wound up as Science Librarian at Earlham, and then library director at Berea College and then Earlham. I am now retired. Earlham has a broad biology program. Historically it was strong in natural history/organismal biology and produced many graduates who went on to work in natural resources in state and federal government and for environmental groups. Many went on to get master’s and doctorates in some aspect of biology. For the past thirty years the lab side of biology, including biochemistry, has developed and now is well balanced with the field side of biology. Earlham’s program is well coordinated between chemistry and psychology and the faculty has just approved a neurosciences major. So Earlham has a biology major which can emphasize field or lab, biochemistry, or neurosceince. </p>
<p>Earlham is noted for three things in its biology program: (1) heavy emphasis on student research, (2) flexible scheduling that allows students to participate in off-campus study programs, including biology programs in Costa Rico, Galapagos, East Africa, and South America and (3) a large number of graduates go on to advanced degrees. On this final point Earlham has the 8th highest percentage among all colleges and universities in the U.S. of its biology graduates who have gone on to an advanced degree in the life sciences and 7th among all colleges and universities that go on to get medical degree (See: [Public</a> Affairs | What’s Excellent About Earlham](<a href=“http://www.earlham.edu/publicaffairs/content/excellent/hedsc.php]Public”>http://www.earlham.edu/publicaffairs/content/excellent/hedsc.php).) At the same time the program is not dominated by a medical school direction; every student gets the support and direction to pursue her/his interests in the life sciences. For example the senior seminar allows each student to join a group and work on a significant topic of her/his selection. The work in this seminar is largely self-directed and is the culminating experience in a program that emphasizes doing science as you learn science.</p>