College help?

[sprtzgrl380]

I'm seriously thinking about majoring in biology when i get to college.. i want to do genetic research, forensic science, or biomedical engineering... I'm seriously thinking about going to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy New York... has anybody gone there or is gong there and can you tell me if you like the college and your experience? or if you major in biology or any related sciences, what college you would recommend... i need to make a list of colleges to visit this summer.. I've been doing tons of research but it is nice to get some primary sources.. thanks

[JetLi]

utsa

[travisR]

ok here is my advice... First off realize that majoring in Biology and majoring in Biomedical Engineering are very different things. My suggestion is to stay away from the general biology degree and go with the Biomedical Engineering. It makes you WAY more employable. When in doubt in college majors get specific. If you want to do Genetics Major in Genetics.
As far as colleges go It can really be up in the air as to what is the best. And it only matters to a point. Most employers aren't gonna be able to tell the difference between University of Ohio and the University of Wisconsin so just pick one that your gonna be happy at.

[ladyC]

Right now I attend VCU as a forensic science major. You can't major in Biology to become a forensic scientist. It is a major on it's own. They make you choose a track before your sophomore year. You will either complete the forensic chemistry or biology. I chose the biology track. It depends on what you want to do with it. Biology is usually for health majors like pre-dentistry,pre-therapy etc... It you want to do biomedical engineering you would not be a biology major, but an engineering major. The fourth link I have included is to help you choose a major. VCU is a good school if you like diversity, and want to attend a large college. We also offer free tutoring for almost all subjects. Good luck I hope you are happy with whatever you choose.

[bro ho]

yeah i would not recommended just biology as a major. To much stuff to learn and you never really get good at anything. I was a Biochem major and when it came time for me to get a job it was really not that difficult and I was able to get a position as a research scientist with the NYS Department of Health.

I think RPI would be in excellent choice for a bio person right now. I live 5 min away from RPI and they just recently built a new Bio Tech center and they are throwing loads of money at it. I am sure with this new center there will be plenty on undergraduate research opportunities which i think is the most important thing to look for when looking at a school if you are going into a science. You absolutely need to have some solid research under your belt if you want to get into a good grad school or get a good job when you graduate.

Cons to RPI is that it really is disturbing how big of a dork fest that place is.

May I also recommend my alma mater of Union College as an excellent place for Biology or Biochemistry. Because it has no grad program there will be no grad students or postdocs in your lab. This results in you being the main focus of your research adviser which is a huge plus. At some bigger schools i have noticed the undergraduates sort of become the lab bitch and you don't want that.

[Kaos]

I have to agree on the dork fest at RPI but love the campus there! and its not like you won't find some cool people there either to hang with, plus there's other colleges close by that you'll mingle with if you go at at night.