What is the best college in Indiana for Pre- Med/ BioChemistry?
Can someone that has gone to a college in indiana or has studied Biochemistry or pre med tell me what college you think is best in Indiana? Thanks Also can you give me some pros and cons of the university? Thank You
Higher Education (University +) - 2 Answers
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1 :
Ball State University, University of IN. a friend is at BSU doing premed and bio chem and loves it. He has an internship for the summer and will be taking MCAT classes soon. You need to visit any college you think you want to go to. Meet with admissions and the head of the bio department. take a tour of the campus. You will get feel for the school and the department and know if it is right for you.
2 :
Well, it depends on what you mean by "best," (e.g. best research, best teaching, best for getting into medical school, most affordable, etc.), but whatever you mean, it would be hard to come up with accurate and measurable criteria for determining "best." What is important is what you consider best for you and for your goals in life. Some factors (e.g. size of campus) may be a "pro" to some people but a "con" to others. Here are some factors to consider: State schools such as Indiana, Purdue, Ball State or IUPUI may be more affordable unless you get a scholarship. Earlham and Rose-Hulman would also be good choices if you prefer a smaller, private school. Notre Dame is very prestigious but extremely selective. If you cannot afford to live away from home, see if you can attend a branch campus of IU or Purdue. Some (public and private) offer merit scholarships to students with high grades and ACT/SAT scores. Financial aid is also available to persons who can demonstrate need. Visit the campuses. Take a tour. Meet with a health professions adviser on campus (e.g. the HPPLC office at IU, see last link). See if you can sit in on an introductory science lecture. If possible, spend the night in a dorm, try the food, sample the social life. Ask yourself if the campus's level and type of social life would be an advantage or disadvantage for you. Talk to some current pre-med students. If you plan to visit during the summer, some offices (departments, health profession advisory service) may or may not be open; ask ahead of time, e.g. this week. Look at the departmental web sites (see examples below) and find out the general education and major requirements for each program and compare them. Note that Purdue offers two different biochemistry degrees, one from the College of Agriculture and one from the College of Science. Purdue also offers a Biological Engineering concentration in Chemical Engineering. Also note that IUPUI's web site is under construction and you may need to call them to get information about their program (BS in chemistry with a biochemistry option). Consider whether you'd prefer a bachelor of arts (more breadth of education) or a bachelor of science (more depth). A B.A. is fine for medical school purposes, but a B.S. is better if you are considering a career in research and is also good as a pre-med major. Note that at schools that do not offer a biochemistry major (e.g. Butler) a double major in chemistry and biology or a major in one and a minor in the other would be about the same. You might also be able to do an individualized major at a school that does not offer an undergraduate biochemistry major. Is it important to you that the curriculum be certified by the American Chemical Society? Ask youself whether you want to take a foreign language, and if so, for how long? Would I find the subject matter required for the degree interesting? Would I be able to get high grades with this curriculum? Some colleges provide information about the grade distributions in their classes. Ask if that information is available. Realize that you will need at least an A- average to be competitive for medical school admission and that pre-med courses are not easy A's. Find out what type of biochemical research is being done. Would you find it interesting? Are there good programs for undergraduate research (e.g. the STARS program at IU-Bloomington). Check the school's web sites for information about extracurricular activities such as clubs, volunteer organizations, sports, recreational facilities, part-time jobs, and special programs such overseas study, internships or co-op, service learning, etc. Find out if any themed housing that appeals to you is available. Find out what you may and may not bring with you to your dorm room. Find out about the academic support available to you. Are the professors accessible? Does the class size matter to you? Are there honors programs available? Will you be taught by professors or by graduate students or postdoctoral fellows? Would that make a difference to you? Is there tutoring available (free or for a price)? Are there academic support centers or academic floors int he residence halls? Does the size of the library matter? If you will be learning a foreign language, what support is offered (e.g. floor in a dorm where that language is spoken, coffee hours in that language, etc.) I think if you research the schools carefully and know yourself well enough to know what is right for you, you will be able to make a good decision.
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