<p>Biology is a large field with many different specialties. For example, I was primarily interested in ecology and marine biology, and Duke had the most to offer me in that area, followed by Cornell and Princeton. For someone interested in evolutionary biology and paleontology, you have Chicago as the best, followed by Harvard and Yale. Each of the universities would move up or down in a ranking depending on whether you’re wondering about genetics, biophysics, neuroscience, cell biology, etc. Cornell, Duke, and Stanford are probably the most well-rounded of those biology programs, but the others are extremely strong and stronger in certain areas. </p>
<p>You’d be fine at any of those universities for biology; they’re all great colleges with very strong biology programs. I certainly wouldn’t choose based on a “ranking” of “best” biology programs…I attended Duke for undergrad and am at UCLA for my PhD and am reminded every day of just how different the two universities are. I’m sure each of the others is distinct as well, and some of them are likely better fits for you than others.</p>