Can you recommend me some schools? Physics and English?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi!
I'm currently a high school junior. My grades are pretty good - my high school doesn't have an IB program, but I've got all As except I got a B one semester in my advanced math class last year (This was stupid. If I would have done the homework, I would have had an A). Every math, science, and English class offered at an advanced level, I've taken at an advanced level. I took the AP World History test and got an A in the class and a 4 on the test. My PSAT from last year was a 196 (I feel much more confident about it this year) and my projected ACT is in the 30s according to the PLAN. I'm a white female.</p>

<p>As far as extracurriculars go, I work with a professor at my state university for the Intel ISEF science fair and will do this senior year as well. I also play the violin and do youth orchestra. I've gone abroad twice for violin. I'm in National Honor Society and will have over 150 hours of volunteer service by the end of high school. I play no sports. I can get VERY strong letters of recommendation.</p>

<p>I'm not sure if I want to go to a large university or a liberal arts college, but I'm thinking liberal arts. I'm just scared of having no idea of what's going on in a large class and then not being able to do anything about it or get help. I want to major in both physics and English or major in physics and minor in English. I'm more interested in the astronomy/space and plasma physics side of physics than like, lasers and optics or whatever. I would like an opportunity to do research and have an internship. I'm thinking I would like to go to grad school, too, but obviously I'm just in high school and that's way far from now! </p>

<p>I would like the school to have a study abroad program (to England), an orchestra, and some sort of running group (I don't want to be on a team, but intramural is fine). I don't want a huge party atmosphere with tons of drinking. I don't want the political climate to obviously be one way or another. I want a good mix of political views, but if it had to err on one side, as I'm sure most campuses do, I would go with a liberal campus over a conservative one. I'm not a huge fan of hot weather, but otherwise I don't care where the campus is.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>The physics major curriculum core is fairly standard, with junior/senior level courses in:</p>

<p>quantum mechanics
electromagnetism
analytic mechanics
statistical and thermal physics
advanced lab
electives</p>

<p>However, especially if you look at smaller schools, you need to check (in the course catalogs and schedules) frequency of offering (needed courses offered once every two years can be inconvenient if you miss a semester studying abroad at a school without the equivalent course offered), as well as whether the astronomy and astrophysics elective courses are available.</p>

3

<p>Have you considered Reed?</p>

4

<p>I’ve heard of Reed, but I haven’t seriously considered it. I’ll definitely look into it!</p>

5

<p>Get of copy of Rugg’s Guide from the library or your guidance counselor and copy the section that lists the best colleges for Physics. They will be grouped according to how difficult they are to get into. It’s a good place to start your research.</p>

<p>Also, read some of the discussion in CC about class sizes. It’s not as simple a concept as you think…</p>