Jvhowube

I was recently accepted as an AMS, and I'm very excited. For the past two years, I've worked at a Cancer Center performing research, and science has been a large passion of mine at school. While I also enjoy english, and languages, science seems to be my main thing (although i hope to try many different things in school - i marked down 'undecided').

anyway, i was wondering about the strength of colgate's science/biology/research programs in comparison to larger, typically strong universities and colleges for science, like cornell, tufts, duke, etc. are there many opportunities for a bio major at colgate? i know that they are building a new research facility on campus, which will be ready by 2008, but i am still concerned as to whether colgate is the best place for me to go, considering my strengths.

other than this, the AMS is lookin pretty good!

Jvhowube

come on, someone has to be able to speak to this!!!

hello123

i have the same question.
it seems like the colgate viewbook stresses the strength of science/research, but why are there so few people majoring in science?

ticklemepink

Research is heavily emphasized and professors often take on students from their classes to be their research assistants. Over 100 Colgate students stay at Colgate for the summer to do their own research under a mentor. Colgate really focuses on preparing students for grad schools, not necessarily meds.

There are never many science majors at LACs because so many are drawn to huge universities with med schools and abundant research opportunities (very misleading- all go to grad students!).

existentialpony

Ticklemepink, that was one of the major factors in my deciding on Colgate... I'd have so much more opportunity. For information's sake, I'm (as far as my plans go, at least) majoring in Molecular Biology and perhaps minoring in a science-related major, so I was curious about this question as well.

emi520

i am senior at colgate, and three of my five housemates are science majors: two neuroscience, one chemistry. although i know tons of people who are english majors like me, science plays a huge role at colgate. the new science building will be the largest academic building on campus, and will have cutting edge equipment that is highly competitive with the resources you would find at a large science based university. research is also plays an important role at colgate. as mentioned, we do have many students who stay on during the summer to help professors with research...however these opportunities exist all year long, not just in the summer. because colgate is a liberal arts school, we do not have any science graduate students. therefore, all classes are taught by the professors. this also means that professors ask undergrads to help them out with their professional research instead of asking grad students. so it is a great opportunity! plus, during your senior year you do your own research in your major. one of my neuroscience major roommates is doing a thesis on testing a certain type of vitamin b on rats with adhd...it is a new idea that has never been tested before, so it is really awesome. she has total support from her advisor who is just as interested in her research as she is.

collegeparent

And you've got a brand new, state-of-the-art science building going up -- it'll be not only a cornerstone of the campus, but a testimony to Colgate's fast rising star among the top LACs.

rico06

I am Rico06's father. I was a pre med. I am now a surgeon. I majored in French. Every single class I took at Colgate was taught by a professor. The largest class I ever attended was Psych 101 (~120 students). All of my science classes were small and I interacted directly and at will with the profs. Even the labs were run by the profs. Compare that to my daughter's experience at Princeton (sophomore). Once a week lectures by the profs, the rest is TA's, including any after class communications. She does not know a single one of her profs. As far as recommendations for grad school, I wonder how her profs will know anything about her other than her grade.
If by quality of science education you mean Professor's prestige, the Ivies and large State schools win hands down. If you mean transmission of scientific knowledge, and opportunity to do actual research with the prof from day one, the LAC's stomp and crush the Ivies. I had better opportunities for significant role in research from day one at Colgate than as a Surgical resident at Yale (where I had to climb the pecking order from the bottom). If "Science as a career" is really important to you, getting a significant role in a lab as soon as possible is the way to go. Go for the "Big name" science program in Grad school with published research under your belt. You will be considered as a "desireable asset" rather than just another "applicant". Hope this helps!

jeeshan

I know a prof at Yale and I visited a class he took. He went in like after 20 mins and stayed for just 2 mins and we left. The TA's take a lot of classes and he told me that the university pressurises profs like him too much and wants them to carry on research and go to different places for conferences, etc. as these boost the reputation of the university. He said he simply did not have enough time to teach and do the other work. LAC's on the other hand provide students to interact more with professors.

xLxJxCx

i have a similar question...im really interested in science, as well as math. i know i want to be a math major, and im thinking about double majoring in bio. it seems like the math department is similar to the science ones...theres not a lot of majors per class. does anyone know more about the math program, and if the math classes are also going to be held in the new science building?

crnarybypass007

im interested in majoring in neuroscience @ colgate. ive heard it is one of the top programs in the country but dont really know much about the course of study. any and all details regarding the dificulty/appeal to grad school/successful graduation rate of this major would be appreciated