College Search

College Search & Selection
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Hey everyone rising senior from Rhode island and just wanted somewhat of an overview on the whole process of college application.

Stats-
3.4 uw 4.0 W GPA
Took ap’s last 2 years and honors all 4 years.

1410 SAT

for EC I did varsity tennis for 4 years and JV cross country4 years. Did science olympiad for 2 years although never won anything. Did indoor track for one season. 50 hours of volunteering at the local YMCA and held a job for junior and senior year. I regret not joining Student council and the astronomy club but why cry over spilled milk.

I’m looking to major in physics but not quite sure yet.

Some safties I have are URI, Penn State, Drexel

Matches I have UMASS Amherst, U conn, RPI, Brandeis,

For reaches, i have U of Rochester, Colgate, WPI and maybe CWRU

If I could get maybe chances on if I would get into any of these colleges and recommendations for good physics colleges in my range. I don’t have many filters as to location and such. Anything works

Thanks

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I like your list. Braindeis might be a reach - slight. WPI - less a reach I think. Nonetheless it’s a solid list as is. You are asking for more so…

You have a mix of large (Penn State, URI), mid-size, and then small. So it’s hard to know what you’d like.

You might look at - larger schools - Miami of Ohio, Indiana (or Purdue), UNH. Pitt might work.

Mid Size - Syracuse, Elon, Denver, Hofstra. Lehigh may be a stretch.

Smaller / LACs - College of Wooster, Franklin & Marshall, Clark, Dickinson, Kalamazoo. There’s so many that are great!!

Good luck

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Penn State is not a safety for an OOS applicant.

Look at the Common Data Sets for the schools that you are interested in, and check out the numbers is Sections C9-C11; that might give you an idea where you are compared to recently matriculated students at those schools (and give you a rough idea of your admissions chances).

What financial constraints do you anticipate having in regards to paying for college?

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I can’t chance you, but you have a fairly balanced list. Does your school use Naviance or Scoir? If so, those will be your best sources for categorizing schools (along with your HS GC).

Are all of these schools affordable? Be sure to run the net price calculators to get COA estimates. NPCs may not be accurate if your parents are divorced, own a business, or own real estate beyond a primary home…are any of these your situation?

You might also look at U Maine (tuition reciprocity for RI residents), U Vermont, UNH, Clarkson, Pitt, Maryland. Are you interested in liberal arts schools?

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For schools strong in physics that may be within your indicated range, look into Reed, Grinnell and Lawrence.

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Due to GPA (not sure about rigor, you’d need to add up honors and AP courses all 4 years and end up with 15+?) you may be offered a branch campus at Penn State. Seems a bit expensive for the 2+2, even if you do end up with a PSU degree at the end. The residential branches are Erie (Behrend), Harrisburg, and Altoona so be sure to designate one as your 2nd choice when you apply.
Look at majors in College of Mineral Sciences and College of Ag in addition to Eberly (science).

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Based on latest US News rankings which certainly isn’t the be all end all predictor for admissions difficulty. It
may give a rough idea . Of course you then have to factor the overall competitiveness of the school. Colgate and CWRU agree are reaches and u-grad only I believe. Only found graduate rankings but u-grad should be similar.

Physics Ranking:

25 - Penn State
44 - U Rochester
56 - UMass & RPI tied
61 - Brandeis
71 - UConn
91 - Drexel
146 - URI & WPI tied

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For lots of reasons, I don’t recommend drawing inferences about undergraduate programs based on graduate department rankings.

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2021 Best Colleges for Physics - Niche

This is your physics rankings - as if they matter.

Bottom line -with a 3.4 undergrad, you’re unlikely to get into some schools on the list, but that’s why you have reach schools - apply and hope - as long as you have targets and safeties you are good.

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Reed sounds good but do you think I actually have a chance of getting in. Their Common data sheet does not detail much gpa information.

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This information may be helpful: Admission Statistics - Institutional Research - Reed College. Note that 57% of attending students graduated outside of the top tenth of their high school classes, and a significant amount (32%) graduated outside of the top fifth of their HS classes.

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how much of a reach would you say U of Rochester is.

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what are your thoughts on Bucknell’s physics program and as a school in general. Reed really sounds good but those stats make it seem like very out of my reach.

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It’s a reach. But so what. U have 20 common app slots. U can use them all. So apply. As long as you have your targets and safeties.

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As a school in general, Bucknell has a reputation for high-quality education overall. It is located in a small town in central PA, has a pretty campus, 35-40% of students involved in Greek organizations, and lots of drinking. (I have friends with a couple of kids there, so I hear about it.)

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But it is not the most secure institution in town. :wink:

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I looked at their requirements. A bit stronger than a middle-of-the-road LAC. It’s weak in labs.

However, they have an honor code.

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Whats an honor code… is that just the regular I promise to not cheat etc etc. And do you have any recommendations for physics schools that might fit my range?

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