Hello, my S is an international student from Spain. He has been admitted in NJIT, Stony Brook, University of Rochester, Grinnell College and Middlebury College in the class 2019. He wants to study a BS Physics. He knows that all of them have great Physics programs but he doesn’t know which can be better for his specific major. I would appreciate your advice because the decision is very dificult as he cannot visit the campus and see it
Thank you very much
College Decision. NJIT, Stony Brook, University of Rochester, Grinnell College or Middlebury College
I can’t speak to the comparative strength of their Physics departments, but looking at the schools’ reputations as a whole, I’d pick Middlebury.
Middlebury
I know Middlebury is well know for languages and Grinnell is good at science.
Grinnell or Middlebury based on academics. Middlebury’s location makes it the winner.
Thanks a lot. He really loves Middlebury.
University of Rochester
Wish my D had chosen that one…
Undergraduates should probably choose their college on the basis of the entire undergraduate program reputation and not a single major, especially if they are in a liberal arts & sciences major (like physics). I guess it would be a significant problem if any of these schools had poor offerings in the field, but I don’t think there’s any indication that they do.
Personally, I’d be making this choice between Grinnell and Middlebury, and I’d choose Middlebury, too - better location. University of Rochester is also a great choice.
Physics optics? If so, I don’t think you can beat U Rochester. Physics for some other concentration it probably doesn’t matter as much.
No, @Creekland, he likes more Astrophysics or Applied Physics more oriented to renewal energies. Thanks a lot, your opinions are providing him a greater vision to make a final decision
Check out Middlebury’s fairly new science center and their top notch faculty.Middlebury…you are to be congratulated.
I live right near Rochester and it is known around here as being very strong in physics (especially optics). But based solely on overall academic reputation Middlebury is the clear winner.
Apart from academics, I would think for someone from Spain, Middlebury’s Currier and Ives setting would be quite nice and very different.
Thanks a lot for your answers. Actually we are negotiating his financial aid package. If all goes ok, he will go to Middlebury 
and Grinnell as a second option
Nice choices.
What is a great physics program for someone who is likely to pursue physics beyond undergraduate? Such a program would have a critical size, faculty focused and successful in fundamental research including directing graduate students and publishing significant results, courses that cover the core physics curriculum and courses that go significantly beyond, opportunities for talented undergraduate physics majors to participate in research, and regular seminars focused on modern trends in physics and related subjects. Only two of the colleges on your list meet this bar of physics excellence: University of Rochester and Stony Brook, and of these University of Rochester is the clear choice. Study the course offering at the University of Rochester, the faculty, the research projects. Keep in mind that strong physics undergraduates will be able to take some graduate courses. If you can visit the university and attend a physics class or two, and the weekly seminar, etc.
Thanks @fogcity. These were his doubts. But he also wants to pursue a minor in theatre and he’s yet been recruited in the tennis team in Middlebury, Grinnell and NJIT, and possibly but not 100%sure in SB and URoc.
He did an internet research and found more students with a physics phD in The colleges than in the other three. Also, the great ratio faculty:student, is important for him as an international student.
On the other hand, possibly, the college education is much more a different experience than the physics major he would study here in Barcelona more major focussed, where he was yet admitted last year with a full scholarship.
But really, I post the question because he doubts a lot in his decision because he can not visit the campus.
I think that each answer gives him a different perspective and actually as I posted before he has more clear his decision. First Middlebury, second Grinnell
@jandro: Middlebury and Grinnell are both standouts, with URochester close to equal. Both Grinnell and Middlebury would let him play tennis at a good level, so that’d be another factor in their favor.
I’d go with fit, too: Middlebury if your son is competitive and outdoorsy, Grinnell if he’s more laid back and intellectual.
Grinnell if you like corn and Middlebury if you like cows.
Excellent possibilities. UR is a great science school. Look through the course catalogs there and for Grinnell and Middlebury and see if your son can find the courses he is interested in. All 3 schools will require warm clothing.
Congratulations. He will be able to achieve at any of these schools.