<p>So, I havn't had the most desirable results in my college admissions this year, as I assume lots of others are in the same position. Since I didn't get into any of the colleges I was hoping to go to, I would very much appreciate anybody's opinion on where I should go based upon anything; setting, prestige, cost, etc. I got into SDSU, Calpoly San Luis Obispo, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, and Occidental College. I'm still waiting for Vanderbilt and NYU, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I havn't visited any of the campuses yet but I'm planning to. I applied as a Biology major, but I'll probably change it to Physics. Thank you!</p>
<p>I went to CMC and grew up in CA and know a little bit about most of the schools you applied to. If you’re really focused on Physics, UCI might be a good fit. My DH went to Harvey Mudd for Undergrad and majored in Physics and did some summer research with a bio-optics group there. He ultimately got his PhD in physics from Caltech, but really liked the people and research at Irvine</p>
<p>You have some enviable choices. I’m more familiar with Davis and Santa Barbara than most of the other schools on your list, and have heard only good things about them.</p>
<p>David Gross, who shared the Nobel Prize in physics in 2004, is a member of the faculty in Santa Barbara.</p>
<p>I’d start by eliminating the CSU’s. Then I choose the UC you like best among the three and spend some time there and at Occidental.</p>
<p>Personally I’d go with Oxy if money isn’t an issue to avoid the UC red tape and financial crisis. And Nobel prize winners tend not to be teaching undergrads at UCs.</p>
<p>I’d definitely go with Occidental. (In fact, even if NYU and Vanderbil panned out, my choice would still be Oxy.) I think the quality of the undergrad-focused LAC experience at a school like Oxy is hard to beat. So, that’s the coice I would make.</p>
<p>If you’re really leaning toward physics, check out the special program UCSB offers to UG in the major within its College of Creative Studies. [College</a> of Creative Studies, UC Santa Barbara - Physics - Home](<a href=“http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/physics/]College”>http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/physics/)</p>
<p>Thanks guys, I appreciate your feedback. Oh and thanks for the link Jazzymom. I had never heard of this program and I’m definitely looking into it.</p>