Midwest schools offering engineering physics?

College Search & Selection
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<p>My son will be a hs senior this fall, and plans to major in engineering physics (he thinks!). His scores so far are: ACT 36, SAT II math 2 800, SAT II physics 800, AP physics AB 5 (he got 222 on the PSAT, so he hasn't topped every test!). His unweighted GPA is 4.0, weighted GPA is 5.321, and class rank is 6/195. </p>

<p>He has taken several honors and AP classes, plays varsity tennis, is 4th board on the chess team, plays trombone in the community band during the summers, volunteers at the local nature center during the summers, was captain of the Academic Challenge team that made it to the state competition for the first time in recent history, and is currently working on a research project under the guidance of local college physics professor (at Eastern Illinois University). I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging - I really just want his info out there so we can get some accurate advice.</p>

<p>We live in Illinois, so he obviously will apply to the U of I, but we're at a loss as to where else he should be considering. We really don't want him too far away, as travel costs would severely interfere with our ever seeing him again! Also, the U of I seems so huge that I'm worried he'll have trouble getting the classes he wants, and will get overlooked (he's not very outgoing or aggressive - too polite), especially at a place with such a strong graduate program.</p>

<p>Also, I was hoping that a smaller place, without maybe such a good reputation, might want to woo him with scholarships (every parent's dream!) and treat him like a star student in their program. But he'd also like to have the option of getting into an excellent graduate program (like U of I) in either physics or engineering.</p>

<p>My alma mater, Harvey Mudd, is out (way too far away), as is Rose-Hulman (not enough women). I'm actually discovering that there aren't that many schools that even offer engineering physics, which he's interested in because he loves physics but thinks he'd rather apply it than teach it, and wants to keep his options open as far as grad school (engineering or physics). Or maybe he'd want to get a job with just a BS.</p>

<p>Maybe we're looking for a university that doesn't exist?</p>

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<p>Take a look at these:</p>

<p>Northwestern
Carnegie Mellon
U Michigan
Rice</p>

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<p>Northwestern doesn't really have "engineering physics". But I wonder if he'd be interested in their "engineering sciences and applied math". Northwestern</a> University - Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics The engineering school has 8 departments in the top-20; so it's one of the top among privates. </p>

<p>Integrated</a> Science Department is another great program for hardcore science students.</p>

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<p>I think Notre Dame has engineering physics, but I'm not certain.</p>

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<p>The Midwest has 4 ofr the top 10 Engineering Physics departments:</p>

<p>Cornell University (not exactly Midwestern, but not too far from Western PA and OH.) Generally speaking, Cornell is considered the best in EP.</p>

<p>Pennsylvania State University-University Park</p>

<p>University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign</p>

<p>University of Michigan-Ann Arbor</p>

<p>Given his stats, he will most likely get a good merit scholarship (possibly even a full ride) from all of the state schools. He may also want to give Cal (second in EP only to Cornell), Caltech (amazing EP offerings), Harvard (very strong in EP), MIT and Princeton (also very strong in EP) a shot.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all your suggestions. Maybe we've been too restrictive looking for engineering physics programs specifically. </p>

<p>Northwestern has "engineering sciences" and Carnegie-Mellon and Rice have "applied physics." I don't know enough about the fields to know if these will be as flexible as an engineering physics degree (my major was chemistry).</p>

<p>All of the schools suggested have awesome reputations, and rightfully so. But I wonder if there are any "sleeper" schools where he might get just as good an education (maybe even better, if it's a smaller school or department and they might be more willing to focus on him as an individual), and that he could use as a backup school. Do you think that Bradley might fit the bill?</p>

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<p>Your son sounds like a prodigy. Congrats! FWIW, Wisconsin-Platteville has an EP program, if your son is interested in a smaller school with closer faculty interaction.</p>

<p>Engineering</a> Physics</p>

<p>Sometimes it's remarkable what smaller schools can do. Here's an article about a very exciting nanotech spinoff from Platteville in which another young prodigy is playing a big role:</p>

<p>The</a> Wisconsin Technology Council Newsroom</p>

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<p>MudderTurnedMom, Engineering Physics is such a small majjor that even at large universities, it will provide students with an intimate experience.</p>