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ColL 



ege 



The colleges in this country vary from one 

 another in quality to almost the same extent as do the 

 high schools. This variation is perhaps particularly marked 

 in relation to the training offered in the sciences, since 

 good work in the sciences requires more substantial out- 

 lays for teaching and research equipment and often for 

 teachers' salaries than is usual in other fields. Although 

 it will make life much easier for the future scientist if 

 he goes to a good high school, there are plenty of people 

 who have survived an indifferent or even poor experience 

 at this level and gone on to very successful careers. It is 

 much harder, though still possible to do so, if one fails 

 to get a clear idea of what science is all about in college. 

 Most future scientists must make their final career choices 

 at about this stage. During this period, therefore, they 

 should not only lay a solid groundwork of scientific in- 

 formation and habits of thought, they should also gain 

 a clear idea of what it is like to be a scientist. 



Far and away the best way of doing this is to observe 

 real live scientists at work and to participate in some re- 

 search oneself. It is the opportunity to do just this that 

 good colleges offer their students. Poor colleges do not. 

 Clearly the student should give careful attention to the 

 selection of a college. In choosing a specific institution he 



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