Expert: Sue Kayton - 9/19/2010

Question
QUESTION: Dear Sue:

I'm a Latin American student who wants to pursue an undergraduate program at an U.S university or college. I would like to major in neuroscience, genetics, geology or related. I would like to know which are the best colleges/universities in these fields.

Thanks.

ANSWER: The best universities in these fields are also the most difficult ones to get into.  Unless your grades and scores are excellent, you may want to look at universities that are excellent, but not the best.

For geology and mining, the Colorado School of Mines is the most prestigious.  For earth and planetary sciences, MIT is the most prestigious.  

For neuroscience and genetics there are many more top universities, including Stanford, University of California Berkeley, Rice, MIT, Johns Hopkins, University of California San Diego

What other fields are you considering?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Those are the ones i'm considering the most.

My school grades are very good. I'm in the top ten of my class and I'll present the SAT in october.

I would like to know which are my chances to get a scholarship in the universities you mentioned.

Thanks a lot.

Answer
These universities offer scholarships based on two considerations.

1)  Financial need
2)  US citizen or permanent resident, or non-citizen.

Most do not offer merit-based scholarships.

Visit the school websites for more information.

Keep in mind that these universities are VERY difficult to get into.  They accept fewer than 10% of applicants.  Most of the applicants are in the top 10 of their class, yet still fewer than 1 in 10 are selected.  So definitely apply to other colleges that are easier to get into.