College bio depts likely know that there are an oversupply but they’re in a corner. They know that many/most are premed. They have profs hired to teach and don’t want to have to fire some because they’re steering students into other majors.
I think the SUNY schools are given a bad rap. They are good schools and a bargain for instate residents. My dd attended SUNY Buffalo with the intent of using their bio program to link to the partner med school. We’re not NYorkers. We’re from California where she got into the UC’s but wanted a change, and Buffalo offered a full ride (merit) at the time.
She ended up in engineering and works for an international engineering firm. The SUNY degree did not hurt her job prospects when she returned to California to find a job. She works in California.
@Creekland @merc81 @twogirls @DadTwoGirls just curious, what’s the opinion on Washington University in St. Louis for biology research? Would it be a better ED than johns hopkins?
I would post your questions regarding research under the school specific threads where other students may respond. Both schools are outstanding and I assume will allow you to get involved in research (I have no direct experience). Have you visited?
Read http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/2083835-faq-divorced-parents-financial-aid-and-net-price-calculators.html to get an idea of what you need to consider with divorced parents, including how to use the net price calculators.
But you need to find out how much they will actually pay, so that you do not get an unpleasant surprise next April when all of your admissions are too expensive.
In terms of your academic interests, I’d regard WUStL and JHU as equivalent.
"The SUNY degree did not hurt her job prospects when she returned to California to find a job. She works in California. "
That’s very anecdotal, it is much much easier to get a job in CA by going to a college in CA than NY. I agree that the SUNY’s could be underrated, I grew up in NY in the 80s but when I applied, there were like only 4 top SUNYs - Buffalo, Binghamton, S/B, Albany, not sure if that’s changed.
“Why not biostatistics, bioinformatics?”
I’d agree with adding something quantitative if you can or using electives to take these kinds of classes, since it looks like you have aptitude in math .
OP - you’ve gotten a lot of good advice on colleges, my only recommendation is that these days, even if a college is not #1 but in the top-3 or 4, you’re better off applying ED. Maybe apply to an EA college as well (UMass-Amherst). Good Luck!
I consider WUSTL and JHU equivalent as well. Pick whichever one you like better if drawn to those two.
However, I’m saying they’re equivalent without looking at the specifics of what’s being researched or how likely undergrads can get into research at either one. I have no experience with that part and don’t care to do the research for it. That’s your job. If anyone reading has first hand info, it would definitely be helpful if they share, but that’s not me. 