College Choice: Williams/Caltech/Stanford/Princeton/Penn

College Search & Lists
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<p>Hey everyone! I would really appreciate it if you would give me your opinion about school choices. I want to major in biochem/biophysics or a similar program and go into a PhD program after graduation. Research is really important to me, so I want to go somewhere where research is available and prioritized. Right now I’m leaning toward Princeton, and I especially like their integrated science program and the molecular biology major. Does anyone have any more info on these programs? I was invited to the Vagelos scholars program at Penn, so how does this compare with my other school choices? Another priority for me is a feeling of community, so I think I would really enjoy Williams, also. For this reason also, I don’t know how much I would like Penn or Stanford. </p>

<p>Sorry for rambling! Any advice would be appreciated:)</p>

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<p>With your intended major, Stanford sounds like the most ideal choice.</p>

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<p>timeless- what specifically about Stanford makes the program better?</p>

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<p>You’re most likely to get into a PhD program going into CalTech.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08311/nsf08311.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08311/nsf08311.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
[REED</a> COLLEGE PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]REED”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College)</p>

<p>Furthermore, 80% of CalTech’s undergraduates conducted research under the university’s SURF program alone. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.surf.caltech.edu/history/SURFAR2010.pdf[/url]”>http://www.surf.caltech.edu/history/SURFAR2010.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>CalTech is the clear academic winner by a wide margin, but the environment admittedly isn’t for everyone.</p>

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<p>For an undergraduate education, I think LACs are best if you can afford it. Williams has a great physics department and needs student researchers. They use undergraduates as graduate students aren’t available. Of course there are many discussion on this forum that differ and feel a research university is best. I have one child at Williams and one at a research university and the opportunities are greater at Williams. Of course, the research university is not any of the ones you mentioned.</p>

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<p>sentiment, can you please explain why you state that Caltech is the clear academic winner by a wide margin over Stanford and Princeton?</p>

<p>thanks</p>

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<p>^I think my links are self-explanatory. -.-</p>

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<p>^^^ sentiment, sorry but I can’t seem to conclude that Caltech is the clear academic winner **by a wide margin **over Stanford and Princeton by simply reviewing your links.</p>

<p>would you kindly explain?</p>

<p>thanks</p>

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<p>Could I have your opinions about the Princeton chem department? I have heard from some that it is not “the best”, but it seems that with the new Frick building and new faculty members, the program has improved. What about physics? I am leaning toward molecular bio, but I might decide to change to bio or chem.</p>

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<p>I really can’t speak to much except for Penn, having spent two summers there for various programs and in the labs. The Vagelos Program looks like a pretty good program if research is a priority–which it apparently requires. All I can say is that if you’re worried about not having a sense of community at Penn, don’t be–it certainly doesn’t have that LAC feel, but it does have a wonderful social scene without losing too much rigor. You might not know everyone in your class, but you’ll certainly know a lot of people, even those outside your major or college.</p>

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<p>Vagelos is a tremendous opportunity in a school that is already strong in the field. Still, Stanford is pretty cool. Probably should depend more on “fit” than anything.</p>