Hope College (MI)?

[creekland]

Hope College (MI) has been brought to my attention for my future medical researcher wannabe who also would like to attend a Christian college, but wants research available to undergrads. Does anyone have any info about the college itself (other than scores and stats which I can get on collegeboard.com)?

As a Christian college, is it more on the liberal or conservative side of things? Has anyone been there and liked or disliked it? Any thoughts on their pre-med? What's Holland, MI like?

[MachWing]

With your interest in being a medical researcher. Check this link out... http://www.hope.edu/academic/hhmi/

The Hope website has lots of other good stuff, too. I started in the natural sciences, but after a philosophy of science class (good class) -- I changed my major. I still love the sciences though. Hope -- sciences plus Christian -- a good fit.

Best to you.
MachWing

[Jane in NC]

I have a dear friend whose daughter graduated from Hope a couple of years ago as well as a family member who lives in Holland--so I am a bit familiar with the school and town. One of the amazing things about Hope is that undergrads in majors like chemistry indeed have opportunities for research. I would read what Loren Pope has to say in Colleges that Change Lives.

Holland is nice town on Lake Michigan. Hope has been buying real estate in downtown which allows for students to live off campus in apartments but be in walking distance.

As far as the liberal/conservative thing goes, I think that students at Hope come in all flavors.

[tenoraddict]

My dad went to Hope! It was a long time ago, obviously, but he loved it. Holland is a great little town, and western Michigan in general is gorgeous. I can't really speak to the liberal or conservative nature specifically, but I agree with Jane that you'll see a spectrum, even at a Christian college.

Have you looked at Calvin, in Grand Rapids, MI? A young friend graduated from there recently and is now at Northwestern U getting her Masters in some sort of brainiac scientific research field (and she was homeschooled, too!).

[Anna]

Calvin College is HUGE compared to Hope. If your child prefers smaller colleges have her focus on Hope or Hillsdale.

[creekland]

Thanks all. We're still at the beginning part of looking for this son since he's a sophomore. He wants to be a medical researcher, but is not at all certain which aspect appeals to him the most (from molecular to biomedical engineering) so he wants a school where he can do some hands on throughout his four years (more or less) to get a feel for what he really likes. Then he added that he'd like Christian and small - he likes the school his brother is likely to go to (but it's not a medical research school).

I had told him he's pretty much going to have to go larger and secular to get what he wants for a career, then someone mentioned Hope as a possibility so I thought I'd ask about it. Otherwise, the University of Rochester is probably his current #1 choice.

We more on the conservative side of life, so if choosing a Christian college, we would prefer that. If selecting a secular school, it's important that it's one that respects the conservative view. U of R gets a green light for tolerance when I last looked.

We saw Calvin as a Christian college fair this past year, and while they do research, it didn't seem to be much.

[creekland]

Calvin College is HUGE compared to Hope. If your child prefers smaller colleges have her focus on Hope or Hillsdale.

Does Hillsdale do medical research? I've heard 'of' it, but that's all. I admit to not knowing much about it (similar to Hope actually - I've heard of it, but don't really know anything about it).

[Anna]

If he wants to do medical research, check out Univ of MI. My dd tells me that they have excellent medical programs. She thought their Ann Arbor campus heads up their medical research but she's not sure. Contact UofM and ask them. A state college might be your best bet for the field he wants to study.

[Anna]

Does Hillsdale do medical research?... I admit to not knowing much about it (similar to Hope actually - I've heard of it, but don't really know anything about it).

If you're just looking for a great conservative college which does not accept gov't funding, Hillsdale is one of the best in the country, hands down. Academically, Hope does not really compare at all to Hillsdale.

Again, you may have to lean towards state schools for the best research programs but call the colleges in question to get your questions answered.