Best school for physics major?

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>I love physics! I took honors level junior year, and I am taking AP next year. I've loved it for years before though, from watching television shows about the universe to reading books by Stephen Hawking. I'm pretty good at math, but I can't memorize anything, I can usually figure it out though.
So, what I'm trying to ask is: what's a good school for a physics major with my stats?</p>

<p>Superscored SAT: 730CR 720M 800W (should I retake?)
GPA: 4.31W/3.87UW (top 5% in class, my school doesn't rank)
Decent extracurriculars, president of a few clubs; lots of community service.
I can get great recs from counselor, math teacher, physics teacher, and English teacher. </p>

<p>I'm also probably going to become a National Merit Finalist (eventually...)</p>

<p>So I want to go somewhere where I can get a full ride. I might get some financial aid, but it's doubtful.
I've visited Princeton, MIT, BU, and NYU. I didn't like NYU, but I mainly went there because my friend was interested. I liked Princeton the most, but as you all know, they don't offer scholarships. BU is my next favorite, and they have the trustee scholarship - I'm just not sure if I could receive it.
My mom loved MIT, and wants me to go there, even if I have to take out loans. (she was the one who wanted me to accept a full ride in the first place - now she changed her mind)
I've received letters in the mail from U of New Mexico saying that they could give me a full tuition for NMF status. I went to a Duke TIP program at Texas A&M after freshman year, and liked that campus too, and I know they give money for NMF too. </p>

<p>I'm not interested in Alabama at all. :( </p>

<p>I really liked Princeton because of their traditions and the kind of secluded campus. </p>

<p>I didn't like NYU because it was really urban. I think a lot of it for me is the appearance of the campus, I need to feel comfortable there. I like European/old style architecture and lots of trees! :)</p>

<p>I also want to be near a larger city, at least within an hour or so (by train or bus). </p>

<p>So yeah, any suggestions will be truly appreciated! Thanks in advanced!!</p>

2

<p>I would say that schools like Princeton/MIT are definite reaches for you, even if you have great essays.
Honestly, if you’re willing to take out loans for MIT, you should be willing to take out loans for a school like Princeton as well.
You have good shots at schools like Cornell and Penn. UChicago is also strong in Physics, but they probably won’t offer you much money.</p>

<p>However, since you want aid, you should be looking at top LACs as well, like Harvey Mudd (for science), Amherst, etc.
What state are you from?</p>

3

<p>My husband’s nephew went to U of Chicago for physics. He’s now getting his PhD at Stanford. Knowing his family’s financial situation, I can’t believe he didn’t get a sizable scholarship.</p>

4

<p>If you’re NMF, you’ll get many offers for free rides, almost entirely from state universities. That’s really your best bet for a free ride – although your stats are enviable, they’re not likely to earn you a free ride at a school you want to attend. This CC thread lists universities that offer full tuition scholarships or better to NMF applicants. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-39.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-39.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Speaking as a long-time physics professor and undergraduate advisor. You can get excellent physics training at just about any university and if you do the right things, you can get into outstanding graduate programs. The physics curriculum is more or less the same everywhere from Liberal Arts Colleges, to Tech schools, to large State Universities. If graduate school is your eventual goal, make sure that you can get a solid research experience and good personal recommendations from faculty as well as a full curriculum (for example, a school that offers a full year of quantum mechanics each year is going to be better for your graduate school prospects than one which offers only a single semester once every two years). </p>

<p>Since financing is an important consideration for you, look at that first then choose the physics program which best fits you from the ones which can meet your financial need. You will have a better chance at getting good scholarships from smaller schools which are eager to attract good students but which are not usually the first choice for the very top students. You should look at the smaller [Association</a> of Independent Technological Universities: AITU](<a href=“http://theaitu.org%5DAssociation”>http://theaitu.org) schools and see what special scholarship programs are available.</p>