It will be school dependent. You really can’t know what will take.
Cs in math and Bs in chem won’t help. But it’s why I gave you more schools
UAB is a healthcare power and would be worth a look.
Good luck.
To me, other than budget, the other thing that concerns me is your C’s in calculus and in calculus-based physics.
I am not sure that bioinformatics requires any more physics. Physics is however an example of a science class that uses quite a bit of math, and it would not surprise me if there are more classes that use math in bioinformatics (which I will admit I had to look up just now, but it does seem like a sensible field to me with significant value and applications to areas that will help people in real ways).
However, my understanding is that bioinformatics does require some math, such as statistics. I do not know whether it requires calculus-based statistics, or if you can get by with a statistics course that does not depend upon calculus. Since I was a math major, I took quite a few courses in probability and statistics. However, the requirements for a math major in these areas might exceed the requirements for a bioinformatics major.
When I see C’s in calculus, what I wonder is how you did in the various prerequisites for calculus. There is however a lot here to try to study up on, and I do not know if there is an easy to way to improve skills in this area.
I think that UNC Charlotte is a good university, you should apply, and I think that you have a good chance for admissions and affordability. However, the transfer advisors at your community college (I am guessing that is where you are now) might know better than I what your chances are.
BU looks unlikely to me for either admissions or affordability. To me Virginia Tech seems more likely, but still a reach and still likely to be expensive. Iowa State might be possible, but I do not know why you would choose it over UNCC. Otherwise I have some trouble guessing your chances at the other schools on your list.
My three main pieces of advice, if we ignore cost, would be to include an application to UNCC, make sure that you apply to at least one and preferably two safeties, and see what you can do to improve your math skills.
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Bioinformatics appears to be an uncommon major generally. Note that UNCC offers it as a minor or graduate degree, but not a bachelor’s degree major.
But could you get what you want to learn in a data science, statistics, or computer science major with biology electives? These might be more common majors at various colleges.
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Those are CS majors with subarea focus in bioinformatics.
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Isn’t that what the major includes - here is Pitt’s coursework, which OP is looking at. Here is UAB - maybe a bit less compueter.
Maybe OP should be studying curriculums then…if I’m wrong.
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The missing link for me is what the current college has to offer. It’s very possible that the current college has some adjacent degree program that will get this student to their career goal.
I would definitely check that before I transferred anywhere.
It might be smarter to finish the bachelors and get a masters in this field they want.
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This makes it sound like your current college has this major. If that is the case…why transfer?
I do think your C grades in the courses you listed could have an impact on your transfer admission chances, but that’s my opinion.
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I understand that you really just wanted a forecast of your chances at these schools, and instead you’re getting a lot of commentary that you didn’t ask for.
Sometimes that can be a problem on CC, but in this case it’s very understandable why it’s happening. Commenters are trying to understand the context, and we’re not getting it.
The financial aspect sounds particularly daunting, so of course that’s coming up first. But the larger question is why transfer, and why now? You say this is your fifth semester, so you’re already a junior and it’s late in the game to be transferring. You want to go outside of NC, which means you’re not staying within a university system that can be counted upon to transfer your credits seamlessly. It seems rushed and messy to be trying to transfer in the spring. Have you already applied to transfer earlier, and waited to try again because you didn’t get the results you wanted? Were you planning to stay at your current school until now, but then something happened that made you want to leave? Help us to understand the real problem.
If, as your post implies, the driving issues are truly 1) availability of programming/coursework in your area of interest and 2) “connections”… there may be other solutions. Could you perhaps find a study abroad program that’s strong in your interests, and spend senior fall there? I would’ve recommended junior spring but it’s far too late to get that ball rolling. But if you really need a break from where you are, you could take spring semester off, and then spend a semester or even a full year abroad, and just come back for one semester to graduate.
The “connections” issue implies that you just want to “trade up” reputationally, but I fear that’s going to be difficult because of the math grades, when your area of focus is such a quantitative/computational field. You might have better luck by distinguishing yourself in the next few semesters and then applying to grad programs.
Of course, you’ve already applied to these schools, and maybe you’ll get in… and then it will come back to the affordability question. You’ve asked not to be badgered about this, and that’s your prerogative, but please, especially in these uncertain times in terms of economy and employment, think very carefully before taking on significant debt.
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Hi! Thanks for the response. I’m at a decent top 75 school right now and don’t want to downgrade schools. Ran into some problems with friends and want to leave.
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OP- there are graduate level certificate courses in bio-informatics which are much cheaper than you taking out loans to finish undergrad, or doing an entire Master’s degree.
So- maybe consider sticking with plain vanilla biology as a major, finish as quickly as you can, and then do a certificate program afterwards???
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Thanks for the response! That is an interesting idea.
Are you Pell grant eligible?
Are you at a community college or a 4-year college?
(Some universities prioritize Pell grant students, CC transfers, and veterans).
Run the NPCs : BU could be 8k thanks to financial aid.. and you’re in the clear. To us it’ll mean we can suggest universities similar to BU that meet need.
Or the result could be 60k or 90k - meaning you need merit aid. That will help us figure out where it’s worth your time to apply.
Did you borrow this year’s federal loan (should be 6.5k) or are you able to attend college without loans? If you haven’t borrowed the 6.5k and don’t need them for your current college, you could borrow them and “bank” them for next year.
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I’m sorry, but there is a difference between top 100 and top 200-300. I am not willing to argue with that. I’m not really worried about the cost, just getting into the most prestigious school possible 
We are going to have to agree to disagree on that.
Are you Pell grant eligible?
(It’s a factor that would impact admission chances).
If you run the NPC on BU, what does it say?
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Harvard’s certificate program is just four courses… seems pricey to me (over 10K) but there are similar programs for far less. So focus on finishing strong- bucking up your quant skills- and maybe your answer is just to specialize after you finish your bachelors.
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Are you already a junior? If so, you would be looking to transfer for just your senior year? Most highly ranked schools do not allow for senior transfers.
IMO, you are better off finishing up where you are and figuring out the issue with your friends (or finding new people to hang with).
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I appreciate the insight, but I have to transfer.
Arrange a meeting with an advisor ASAP.
Based on your budget, you do NOT want to have to repeat junior year (i.e. paying 5 years of tuition for a four year degree). Based on your major, you do NOT want to discover that a course you took was the “wrong” course (i.e. you took the Chem course designed for Psych majors or to fulfill a science distribution requirement, but not the Chem course required for a Bio major), etc.
You will have to repeat this at every college you are interested in- but with their Transfer advisor. But better to know upfront what some of the issues are likely to be before you decide you are in love with a college which is going to require you to complete four full semesters there- or even worse- five or six.
Then- you need an actual, granular budget number. Work with your family on this. Transfers typically get worse financial aid than freshman. So know going in to the process how much money you have. Spend 10 minutes looking up the federal limits for financial aid- they aren’t high, so borrowing your way through the rest of your degree is going to be very, very difficult.
If you need to take a leave of absence for Spring semester to give you time to figure this all out- and to make sure you aren’t applying to a random group of colleges which you cannot afford at all- then find out what paperwork is required to do that. You won’t need to file right now, but better to know how to take a leave of absence than to discover in December that you missed a deadline.
Hugs to you. The social stuff can be obnoxious– but unless you are in physical danger (in which case a Dean can help you file a restraining order against the people who are threatening you) it generally passes and gets better. So hang in there. Enlist a health care professional or member of the college clergy if you need a safe space where you can talk and be heard….
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