Hello I’m a rising senior and I received a 2160 on the SAT and I want to go to school for either chemistry or biology. Somebody told me, based on my sat score that I should be looking at schools that rank in the top 50 for science programs. But when I look at my naviance many of these schools have a 3.80 gpa averages or above, whereas mine is a 3.73. So if I was wondering if it makes sense to be looking at these colleges?
Thanks
Your GPA is a barely significant 7 hundredths of a point below the average for the schools you researched, but your SAT score places you in the 97th percentile nationally. The math is in your favor.
“… I should be looking at schools that rank in the top 50 for science programs.”
Is there such a ranking for undergraduate science programs? I’ve never seen one.
No there isn’t a ranking for undergraduate programs, but I’ve just been looking at the graduate programs as I think they probably show how good the undergraduate program is as well.
Just be cautious in how you apply those rankings. By definition, they will exclude colleges without graduate programs. Many of these smaller colleges have excellent science programs and facilities, as well as a propensity for graduating future PhDs. Grinnell, for example, graduates more future science PhDs per capita than, for example, Stanford.
Will do. Thanks very much for the help!