<p>I’ve been researching Tufts University, but I can’t figure out what their strongest major is/if their biology field is pretty good. The same goes for Pepperdine University, Harvey Mudd, Georgetown University, University of Notre Dame and UCSB. I know Harvey Mudd has a good technology program, but is it the same for general biology? I’m not sure if I want to go into biology or pre-med though. I also know UCSB has a good marine biology program, but I want to focus more on the human body, maybe even more specifically on neurobiology.</p>
<p>Mudd’s is actually not as good as it is for physical sciences and engineering. Georgetown for politics, international relations and politics. Notre Dame for business. UCSB for parties. lol But UCSB is a fantastic school. I would go there over Tufts or Pepperdine for sure.</p>
<p>To the extent you can correlate Graduate School Biology rankings with undergraduate programs in Biology, here you are:</p>
<p>USNWR Biology Rankings - Graduate School
46. UCSB
56. Tufts
71. Notre Dame
92. Georgetown</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd would rank above the group and Pepperdine would rank probably last or just below Notre Dame</p>
<p>Let me repeat OP.</p>
<p>Mudd’s IT or comsci is actually not as good as it is for physical sciences and engineering. Georgetown for politics, international relations and politics. Notre Dame for business. UCSB for parties. lol But UCSB is a fantastic school. I would go there over Tufts or Pepperdine for sure.</p>
<p>If the OP is a California resident, UCSB would be far cheaper than the alternatives (at full-pay rates that is, and possibly after aid as well). That may be reason enough to go with UCSB if it otherwise meets your needs. </p>
<p>I would not necessarily pigeon-hole Georgetown, ND or Tufts as strong only in one or two niche areas. They are all highly rated, selective schools with comprehensive liberal arts and science programs. Whether any of them offers enough to be worth a big price premium over UCSB would depend on the what the OP really is looking for and what s/he can afford after likely aid if any. Although, I would think that someone with a realistic shot at any of these 3 schools might have a shot at other private schools better known for strong biology programs (e.g. Hopkins, Cornell, WUSTL, Duke, Chicago). Or perhaps at one of the other UCs.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd is a fantastic school filled with brilliant students who have academic qualifications equal to or better than most Ivy league students. Although the school is particularly renowned for its engineering programs, I have never heard anything disparaging said about the biology department. Of course, the school is also well known for grade deflation (whether true or not), so potential med school applicants may wish to beware.</p>
<p>Georgetown, Notre Dame, and Tufts are each superior schools with excellent biology departments (despite also having noted strengths in other areas). You can’t go wrong with any of these three.</p>
<p>UCSB is a very good research university with distinguished alumni and strong science departments. You would probably do very well as a graduate from this school. Compared to the other four above, however, its students are not at all as academically impressive. In addition, it remains to be seen how the State of California’s current fiscal problems and catastrophic budget will negatively affect funding and resources at all of its state schools.</p>
<p>I would second that Harvey Mudd is not the best school for pre-med. I’ve heard that there only been like 6 4.0’s handed out over like a 5 or 6 year period.</p>
<p>Georgetown’s Biology major is indeed strong, but you may also want to explore the Human Science program. “Distinguished from a traditional Biology major, the Human Science department allows students to study the application of scientific discoveries in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics to human health. Human Science students also study genetics, immunology, biotechnology, microbiology, pharmacology and pathophysiology.”</p>
<p><a href=“http://nhs.georgetown.edu/academics/BSHS.html[/url]”>http://nhs.georgetown.edu/academics/BSHS.html</a></p>
<p>[Georgetown</a> University Department of Human Science](<a href=“http://nhs.georgetown.edu/humanscience/dept.html]Georgetown”>http://nhs.georgetown.edu/humanscience/dept.html)</p>
<p>While i consider Harvey Mudd the best school in the united states (yes, better than all the ivies including MIT and Stanford), it doesn’t seem to be a fit for you…especially if you want to do premed. However, if you’re interested in electrical engineering/mechanics/petroleum engineering (the majors that are booming now), go to Harvey Mudd!</p>
<p>"I would second that Harvey Mudd is not the best school for pre-med. I’ve heard that there only been like 6 4.0’s handed out over like a 5 or 6 year period. "</p>
<p>Wrong. There have only been 5 or 6 4.0’s handed out over the history of the school.</p>
<p>The College of Creative Studies at UCSB offers an exceptional biology program. Last year’s Nobel laureate in medicine is an alumna of the program. Admission is highly competitive. </p>
<p>[College</a> of Creative Studies, UC Santa Barbara](<a href=“http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/]College”>http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/)</p>