I have plenty of reach schools and backups, but I’m looking for some good, affordable LAC’s for matches.
I’m at the top of my class, doing research & starting clubs & whatnot. I need a few matches that have good need-based financial aid, good science (physics) programs, and are moderately prestigious, with rigorous coursework. Do they exist?
Do they exist? Of course! 
If you give us an idea of match and reach schools you’ve liked we can suggest similar but less competitive schools.
@Sue22 thanks so much! My reaches are Harvard, Princeton, and Cornell. My backups are all the decent state colleges in Florida. I’ve looked at colleges like Wellesley (too expensive), Tufts (same thing), Bowdoin (same thing), and Colby (good aid but idk much else about it) for my matches. I’m evidently looking more into the northeast US region, but wouldn’t mind another location for a great school. Any suggestions?
Are you saying the net price calculator at a school Iike Wellesley isn’t showing sufficient aid?
The Apker Award is conferred specifically for undergraduate research in physics. You may be able to generate some ideas from a list of LACs that have had recipients. Since the sample size is small, use this information only to supplement your other research. The following are national liberal arts colleges that have produced at least one Apker Award winner (researched to 1994, the earliest year for which the American Physical Society provides the college affiliation of the recipients):
Bucknell
Colgate
Franklin & Marshall
Hamilton
Haverford
Harvey Mudd
Middlebury
Mt. Holyoke
Oberlin
Swarthmore
Wesleyan
Williams
(Augustana College (SD), though it is typically classified differently, deserves a mention.)
As you develop a base of schools that suit your academic interests, you can further research their financial aid policies and other aspects of importance to you.
Bowdoin has a 15% acceptance rate; because of that, it’s not a match for anyone. Their need-based aid is pretty generous - I’m surprised that the NPC result was not as good as Cornell’s?
You might be looking some pretty special circumstances, then. What’s the dollar amount that your parents can contribute? And what’s your SAT or ACT score? Are you an NMSF?
Take a look at the midwestern LACs - Oberlin, Grinnell, Macalester. Grinnell has it’s own observatory if you find that interesting and if offers generous financial and merit aid. It also has very strong sciences overall (I can’t speak specifically to the physics dept - you’d need to look at the course catalog and compare what’s offered to what’s available elsewhere.)
Check the size of the department at any LAC you are considering - you want to make sure there are enough faculty there with interests coinciding with yours, so you can do research and can be sure that classes you care about will be offered.
@intparent @hs2015mom the last time I tried the NPC for Bowdoin and Wellesley, their aid didn’t seem as generous as I would’ve liked, but I will need to check again.
As for my scores, my first SAT was 2130 but I’m only an incoming junior and I’m taking it again, along with the ACT. Last year I would’ve qualified for national merit, but this year is when it really counts (NMSF means national merit semi finalist, right?)
@merc81 I have added these schools to the list that I’ve built, and will look more into them and their physics departments. And @ N’s mom, I will definitely look into Grinnell, since astronomy is my main interest within physics.
Thanks everyone, this is really helpful.
Yes, this year’s PSAT is the one that counts for National Merit.
You might take a look at Carleton.
might look at Holy Cross-they have pretty informative website.
have plenty of reach schools and backups, but I'm looking for some good, affordable LAC's for matches.
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I’m at the top of my class, doing research & starting clubs & whatnot. I need a few matches that have good need-based financial aid, good science (physics) programs, and are moderately prestigious, with rigorous coursework. Do they exist?
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What are your affordable back ups? In another thread you’ve indicated that you won’t qualify for much/any aid and your parents won’t pay much.
An affordable school would be one where you know FOR SURE that you have all costs covered with HUGE merit, a small fed loan, and family funds.