<p>I've posted for a lot of help over the last few months but I really want to find out some schools that I'd have a good shot at. I have a 31 ACT and a 3.75 UW GPA. I've considered the following as reaches:</p>
<p>Colgate University
Carleton College
Macalester College</p>
<p>I've also looked at:
Lafayette College
Grinnell College
Denison University</p>
<p>But I am not sure of my chances there, so some enlightenment would be good.</p>
<p>I would like to find a small liberal arts colleges that offers a major in physics, with a concentration/minor in astronomy, as I intend to go to graduate school afterwards. A lower percentage of kids in greek life would be ideal, and my favorite place in the country is on the east cost. Straying away from strongly conservative/religious schools would be a good idea for me too but I've heard Denison is also pretty conservative.</p>
<p>Can someone help me find some schools where I'd have a good shot at, because I've only found some reaches that I probably have slim, if any chance of getting in.</p>
<p>Also: for the sake of this search, assume $ is not a factor.</p>
<p>St. Olaf
Trinity University (TX)
Lawrence University (WI)
Beloit (WI)
Kalamazoo (MI)</p>
<p>Holy Cross, Wesleyan (high match-y) and a few others are on the east coast, but the midwest really does have some great physics schools that are not as difficult to get into (think Grinnell/Carleton/Oberlin vs. the comparable Swarthmore/Williams/Amherst).</p>
<p>The first five + Holy Cross, yes. Look through physics course catalogs and make sure schools have:
Newtonian mechanics
E&m
Quantum mechanics
Statistical mechanics
and ideally thermo.</p>
<p>If your goal is grad school, undergrad research experience is paramount so find out which schools will meet your needs in that regard.</p>
<p>With physics as a major, astronomy as a concentration, and graduate school afterwards you would do better to go to a large university, possibly your state’s public flagship. Often large universities, even those that are not especially selective, attract top scientists. Especially in physics you’ll want a sufficiently large physics department – with both undergraduate and graduate student, and a range of researchers and faculty. With the possible exception of Williams and Amherst most LAC have small physics departments with only a handful or two of students in the major. Much can happen in day-to-day conversations, joint projects, and through the breadth of research. And you’re much more likely to find that in a large university than in a LAC.</p>
<p>Holy Cross has strong physics department and the school has good diversity and is well known for having a strong alumni network. HC website is very informative.</p>
<p>maybe also look into Muhlenberg (close to Lafayette, good in sciences, and a bit less competitive admissions) as well as Union College in NY which is also strong in the sciences.</p>
<p>There are definitely some LACs that are strong in Physics and can prepare you well for grad school. Carleton (already on your list), Harvey Mudd, and Reed are among them. Lawrence also has a decent record of PhD production in Physics, and would be a good low match for you. They also offer excellent merit aid. They have a weekend specifically geared for physics majors to visit in the spring (want to say February, but not sure…). They also offer an EA application so you can apply early and know for sure that you have one admission, which takes some of the stress off.</p>
<p>I’ll check out Lawrence, although from a first look they don’t seem to have much astronomy-wise. While it is better to pursue a physics undergraduate degree other than astronomy if you intend on getting a PhD in astronomy I’d still like to have the personal experience and facilities so I could do research in that area.</p>
<p>What would be some larger universities that would have more research opportunities and facilities for this type of thing?</p>
<p>One question - The main reason I had become open to the idea of a larger university was the prospect of having more research oppurtunities, and that they offer BS in Physics. Most Liberal arts schools offer a BA, and on Mizzou’s Physics website, they say a BS is catered more to those that intend on going to graduate school for a professional degree (would be my case) and a BA in physics would be better for those looking into law or medicine. Is there really that much of a divide, and would having a BA over a BS limit my chances from getting into grad school?</p>
<p>And are there decent research opportunities that would fill my resume at a LA college.</p>
<p>BS vs BA won’t matter much. Apart from what I posted on the first page, grad schools mainly want to see a general GRE, physics GRE, good GPA (3.5+, preferably higher, for a good grad school), letters of recommendation from faculty, and of course research experience. </p>
<p>You are more likely to develop close relationships with your professors on a small campus with fewer people in your major, so the small LACs you’re looking into will help you there.</p>
<p>As for the research, it really doesn’t matter what area of physics you do it in as long as you get the meaningful research experience. Getting published would obviously be a plus. Some small schools do have labs, equipment, and willing professors to do this so you can try contacting some of physics faculty at the schools you’re applying to. It is very possible that you will have to do your undergrad research off campus at an REU site or at another institution, though, and there are programs set up specifically for this situation. Once you are at your school, the professors and staff there can help you in taking advantage of these programs and it would be possible for this to be funded by your school.</p>
<p>With an emphasis on East Coast LACs, you might want to look at Allegheny, Goucher and Ursinus, all of which have solid science programs and are matches (maybe even safeties) for you.</p>
<p>Visited umbc’s physics department, toured their physics buildings & labs & met with physics professors & was very impressed with umbc for physics undergrad. Its like the best kept secret. If you’re still Looking for a great physics undergrad opportunity that’s not going to be a reach, check umbc out :)</p>