<p>Physics majors (and math majors) get into smallish classes fairly early at a strong research university--if they themselves are strong students.</p>
<p>Second Weenie's point. Maybe the child is not the sort of person who wants to go to a large public. If not, given the need for merit money, he is will need to choose a "lesser" school--that is, one at which he is one of the better/best students in the applicant pool. There, he is likely to receive special attention and have a good chance to do really well, which is likely to open up all sorts of opportunities for him in the after college life.</p>
<p>With regard to posts #18 and # 20: my son was admitted to those high-ranked publics tokenadult is referring to but chose instead to take a very large merit scholarship to a private university that offered much more contact with professors, guarantee of laboratory research experience, better advising (including willingness to tailor an unusual set of majors across different schools), and an in-place masters-in-four program for selected students.</p>
<p>As a graduate of several different very large public institutions, I'm pretty familiar with the pros and cons of those kinds of schools. I think smaller schools have a different set of pros and cons, and each student needs to consider the options as they relate to his/her individual situation, preferences, and financial considerations.</p>
<p>There are no pat answers.</p>
<p>I suggest St. Olaf, but as people have discussed above, there are lots of options.</p>
<p>I want to make clear, having gone to one of the largest universities in the country, with many high school buddies who majored in physics, math, computer science, or electrical engineering, that "math and physics classes with hundreds of kids for years" is NOT the experience at a large research university. Most students bail out of math and science classes as soon as they have completed requirements for their major, and most classes in most majors after the first year are smallish--sometimes very small, even at a huge research university. The best way to be sure about an issue like this is to visit the actual college and see its class sizes and talk to current major students. </p>
<p>I agree with the comment above that St. Olaf is a very strong college for a would-be math major, and, yes, it is not a research university but an LAC.</p>
<p>And if the OP's son becomes one of those who decides to switch to (for example) economics, then what? The point is that the large university may work out--or may not. Just don't eliminate "lesser" schools until you have thought about it.</p>
<p>Have you considered Northwestern? Don't know how good they are in physics/math -- I know a young woman interested in science (biology/chemistry) who went there with great merit money.</p>
<p>I don't think Northwestern gives merit aid.</p>
<p>Northwestern University does not have any merit-only scholarships. Last year they introduced one that combines financial need with "merit" considerations, I believe.</p>
<p>Local kids are quite happy with Carlton in Minnesota and Lawrence in Wisconsin for similar majors. I know Lawrence gives very good merit aid.</p>
<p>Grinnell gives plenty of money. I had a friend who got a full ride there (and I do mean a FULL ride), with a 28 ACT, an unimpressive class rank/GPA, solid B-to-C essay writer (I edited like 5 of them), and I'm pretty sure it wasn't entirely need based since her parents owned a few restaurants and had a damn nice house. I've always wondered how she got so much money.</p>
<p>I have a friend teaching Bio at Miami of Ohio. His dept would love to have a student like this, so I suspect the other sciences would as well.
Look inot Lawrence as well.</p>