Can y'all give me science research suggestions?

[creekland]

Ok, I'm switching to guidance counselor mode for my middle son (current sophomore). I want options for me to check out now to be sure he's getting courses over the next two years that they want for him to be admitted. We don't have AP options nearby (yes, we could study for the classes, but testing options are few and far between.) CC classes cost us $630 for every 3 hour course. We don't have oodles of $$, so I want to plan carefully.

He wants to go into science research somewhere, but is not yet certain if he wants biological, chemical, biochem, or microbio. He wants research opportunities at the undergrad level.

He'd prefer a smaller school - and Christian - but we've already talked about how neither of those are likely to happen with his desired goals. Both hubby and I went to secular U's, so we're not opposed to them, he just likes the small Christian school his older brother is going to, but they don't have much in research opportunities. I think when he sees the lab options at other schools, he'll realize his better options (for his goal).

NON cut-throat environment - he loves working with others, not in competition with them. What he loves about older brother's choice is the close academic and personal relationship the prof's develop with their students (REALLY hard to get in a big school, but in labs... I think he'll be satisfied?)

We are right of center politically, and while tolerance and diversity are good, we do not want a school that is mostly to the left politically to the point where students are looked down upon if they disagree. We don't really want FAR right either. No dress codes or other "silly" rules.

We also want merit aid (eliminating the Ivies and a few others) as we'd prefer to save the bulk of our money for grad school assistance.

Then we need homeschool friendly.

We prefer, but don't absolutely need, eastern US.

So far, on our top of the top list of places to check out are:

University of Rochester
Vanderbilt

possibly Baylor (distance issues)
possibly Brandeis (political concerns there)
possibly Rice (but he was really turned off by their alcohol approval policy and political concerns)

Any others we should check out? I watch College Confidential's threads, but I'd love other "personal from experience or neighbor/friend's experiences" thoughts.

[Gwen in VA]

Don't underestimate the ability of well-endowed LAC's to provide research experience for undergrads.

At the LAC my kids attend, many of the science undergrads do research over the summer, and some do it over the year as well. The freshman science profs invite/encourage students to drop by and talk about doing research, even if the students are only "toying" with the idea. All of the students who wanted research experience have gotten it!

I know one student who started doing research with a prof the summer after freshman year, continued with her the following year, and then went with the prof when she went to do a summer research project at a university in England. Talk about cool!

Questions to ask potential colleges --

1) What moneys are available to help fund undergraduate research? (Is student research funded exclusively by prof research contracts, or is there college money available? You want LOTS of college money available!)
2) What percent of students do research? Summer or over the year?
3) Can interested students continue to do research over the years , or is it a one-shot deal and once you've had your "turn", you're done?

If your son is really really motivated, he can look through professors' research interests and call various profs to talk about how open they are to undergrad research assistants. At the university level, not all profs are delighted to have undergrads around -- some would prefer to just deal with grad students.

[creekland]

Don't underestimate the ability of well-endowed LAC's to provide research experience for undergrads.

At the LAC my kids attend, many of the science undergrads do research over the summer, and some do it over the year as well. The freshman science profs invite/encourage students to drop by and talk about doing research, even if the students are only "toying" with the idea. All of the students who wanted research experience have gotten it!



I'd be thrilled to know of LAC's that would meet our ideas of potential matches. I think he'd be happier at an LAC with the student/prof interaction. I just need some names of which ones are good at these sorts of things and he needs to narrow down what he wants to focus on (at least broadly) as most smaller places don't have that wide of a variety. I know Davidson did some research on genetics that he cited in his research paper a year ago, but he's not positive he wants to head toward genetics overall.

Thanks for the questions! They will be helpful.

[skreader]

Hi,

You wrote:


He wants to go into science research somewhere, but is not yet certain if he wants biological, chemical, biochem, or microbio. He wants research opportunities at the undergrad level.

He'd prefer a smaller school - and Christian - but we've already talked about how neither of those are likely to happen with his desired goals. Both hubby and I went to secular U's, so we're not opposed to them, he just likes the small Christian school his older brother is going to, but they don't have much in research opportunities. I think when he sees the lab options at other schools, he'll realize his better options (for his goal).



Have you considered any Mennonite schools? When I was in graduate school, some of my classmates were graduates. I was impressed by them and what they said about their Undergraduate experiences.

The ones listed below are Mennonite colleges and universities. They emphasize the Liberal Arts but all have majors in biology & chemistry.


1) Goshen College
http://www.goshen.edu/admission/quickfacts/


They have Biology & Chemistry majors
http://www.goshen.edu/bio/Home
http://www.goshen.edu/chemistry/Home

They identify as a Christian community and do not allow smoking or drinking in campus.

http://www.goshen.edu/studentlife/master_files/Student%20planner%20text%20for%2008-09.pdf


2) Eastern Mennonite University
http://www.emu.edu/admissions/facts

Biology is one of the most popular majors there
http://www.emu.edu/biology/

~ 1/2 the students are Mennonites & half not
http://www.emu.edu/admissions/christian

3) Bethel College in Kansas
http://www.bethelks.edu/bc/aboutbc/fastfacts.php?urlid=265

http://www.bethelks.edu/academics/index.php

4) Bluffton University
http://www.bluffton.edu/about/more/

Biology
http://www.bluffton.edu/catalog/0708/courses/bio/index.html#major

Chemistry
http://www.bluffton.edu/catalog/0708/courses/cem/index.html#major

Campus standards of behavior:
http://www.bluffton.edu/studentlife/livingoncampus/standards/

I hope your son finds some schools that he likes

[creekland]

Hi,

Have you considered any Mennonite schools? When I was in graduate school, some of my classmates were graduates. I was impressed by them and what they said about their Undergraduate experiences.



Thanks for the suggestions and links. I'll have him look at them to see what he thinks. As of our discussion last night, he thinks he's heading toward microbio. We'll hopefully have him take a cc class in that in the fall to see if it inspires him or if he'd rather head elsewhere.

[choirfarm]

[QUOTE=creekland;1659247]
possibly Baylor (distance issues)
QUOTE]

I can't help with the distance issues, but I will say he could do plenty of research there if he wanted to. My dh's best friend/best man at our wedding did a lot of research at Baylor as a biology major. It enabled him to go to Southwestern Medical School's MD/PHD program where you do 2 years of med school, then 2 to 4 years of research and then your last two years of med school. It prepared him quite well. He was interested in research though. Dh despises it and didn't do any at all, other than lab projects in class. His friend was always working on weekends and at night checking on various research projects.

Christine

[Lisa in TN]

Washington University in St. Louis emphasizes undergraduate research and is strong in the sciences.

http://ur.wustl.edu/

[creekland]

Washington University in St. Louis emphasizes undergraduate research and is strong in the sciences.

http://ur.wustl.edu/

Thanks! I wish some of these top level undergrad research places weren't IN cities, but I suppose that's how it has to be to some extent (esp since they tend to have a top notch hospital with them).

[Luckymama]

You said he prefers smaller schools-----under 2000 or up to 5000? or even up to 10,000?

(Deep into college research with junior son....... I've got lots of lists going :) )

[creekland]

You said he prefers smaller schools-----under 2000 or up to 5000? or even up to 10,000?

(Deep into college research with junior son....... I've got lots of lists going :) )

His brother's school has roughly 1000 students... I've convinced him he really ought to look at schools up to 10,000 - then narrow his focus. My Alma mater has 24,000, and while he likes it when we visit there, he considers it larger than his ideal.

Mainly, he would love close contact with profs and other students from the start. He's an in depth people person. Barring that overall, at least within his desired field... and enough peers spiritually (protestant Christian) and politically (center right) to not feel like he's the odd one out all the time. We're not teetotalers, but we're also not the get wasted types. Party schools don't interest him (and yes, I do mean him, not me). Social drinking doesn't bother him, but he can take it or leave it.

Think of the stereotypical scientist in the lab loving even the most minute discovery (and wanting to share it) who also enjoys in depth conversations and is at home at either the pizza buffet or the wine and cheese tasting and you'd have him pretty much pegged. This kid tends to study for fun - on his own - and loves others that do the same. I sort of wish my other two had inherited whatever gene is responsible for that...

[Susie-Knits]

Valparaiso - my oldest will be attending next year. It fit his criteria of a small LAC with great professional studies. Top 371 college (Princeton Review) with great financial aid and undergraduate research opportunities. Lutheran.


Auburn is a great research school but way too big for my son.

Just a thought.....