That list ^ seems to be more a reflection of how big schools are and whether or not they offer graduate degrees.
If you mean #18, FWIW it tells you how many physics majors they have.
For example, Carleton shows 24 physics degrees granted, Macalester 12.
(BTW AIP has compiled the same roster data available for multiple years, so no need to rely on just one year).
You may draw conclusions from that , which may or may not be correct, about likely availability and frequency of relevant courses. You can also if you choose connect that with second AIP conclusion of post # 19.
Or not. It’s up to you.
It’s not clear that you’ve assimilated the information posters have offered. Haverford, as with Reed, meets the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students.
You opened your thread by noting an aversion to cold weather. Dartmouth’s winter temperatures register less than 2 °C warmer than Carleton’s, yet you’ve eliminated Carleton based on climate.
In considering LACs in general for physics, those that appear in a Princeton Review sampling, “Great Schools for Mathematics Majors,” (e.g., Haverford, Hamilton, Reed, Carleton, Grinnell) may also offer among the most rigorous physics programs.
Also note that Bryn Mawr is very well ranked in mathematics and you can walk between Haverford and Bryn Mawr and cross register. Bryn Mawr offers a PhD in physics and mathematics even though its an LAC. However, I still like Carlton College better, as its twice as large, and more friendly than the east coast schools in my mind. At Carlton , there is a quarter system, and you can only take three classes per quarter for a total of nine classes, typically. Carlton is supportive for study abroad in all majors, if that interests you. Its easy to fly to Minneapolis from anywhere. Philadelphia feels more dangerous than Minneapolis to me. However Haverford/Bryn Mawr is in a small very safe suburb on the train line. U of Penn , you can cross register from Haerford might be another benefit to Haverford, Penn is truly superb in physics for some advanced classes.
Minneapolis only gets the polar vortex cold every third or fourth year. Its not that much colder than Phili, really. Minneapolis is sunnier as well compared to some east coast locations.
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Can you defend this statement? Northfield/Carleton is, on average, 18 degrees colder than Haverford on January mornings.
*Carleton
Carleton is a trimester - but yes, 3 semesters of 3 classes each, thereby adding up to an extra class per year over many LACs 2 semesters of 4 classes each.
Minneapolis is much colder than Philly according to average monthly temps during the school year. I think Minneapolis is a great city and Carleton is one of my favorite LACs but it’s also at least an hour away from Northfield/Carleton. Carleton is not a commuter train ride away.
I think that Minnesota is sunnier and somewhat less windy. The east coast has humidity and it makes it feel cold. Its not always about the exact temps in fact. Everyone I know loves Carlton. There is no way that “the weather” is a reason to go to a school near Philadelphia, its just not that different. OP will be studying and having fun at Carlton. Carlton is much more relaxing in vibe. Carlton has less snobby kids and a better mix from east and west coasts and everything in between. I just like Carlton much better than Haverford, in spite of a few advantages that Haverford may have, so weather is just not the thing for a budding physicist to worry about, I think.
Also the snow is sort of more fun at Carlton in some ways. Less slushy/dirty/brown compared to philadelphia area.
Have you considered Williams? According to their viewbook, “Over the past 20 years, no other college’s alumni have won more Apker Awards from the American Physical Society, the highest honor for undergraduate physics research in the U.S.”
, Williams College is the tippy top for physics, math and chemistry. I see those undergrad physics majors are traveling to REU sites with their Williams College professors who travel to do physics research every summer, at places like U of Maryland and others. Williams also offers the very top summer MATH REU, if your interests are theoretical physics, super hard to get in, but I bet being at Williams helps. Williams is hard to fly to, but so excellent in the sciences, I would consider it. Williams is very sporty in spite of its freezing cold and grey location. There is something about cold that attracts physicists I guess…
Haverford provides 100% demonstrated need to only 5 international students, I found it myself. Also Reed is not that explicit about giving Need based financial aid to intl students.
For me what was unclear was what you meant by not being able to “afford” to apply to Haverford. If they were to accept you, they would meet your need on a basis equal to that for accepted domestic students.
@HasifAmed, I think you have to understand that small liberal arts college accept very few internationals during the ED round. The number depends on their internal admissions strategy and though that information isn’t readily available you can assume that the number of internationals accepted ED WITH AID is on the average under 20 each year. Factors that are at play are, for example: what percentage of their class do they fill during ED, what is their targeted international enrollment percentage, what is their budget for international aid?
My advice would be to worry less about the weather (you’ll survive) and concentrate on LACs that admit a relatively high raw number of internationals and that offer aid to a relatively high percentage of internationals. If the college is academically rigorous, it will have a respectable physics department.
Some LACs with relatively high budgets for aid to internationals are Macalester, St. Olaf, Trinity (CT), Amherst, Grinnell, Middlebury, Dickinson, Colgate.
If you are female: Mt. Holyoke, Smith
OP, this is where you have to sort out your priorities. If your overall goal is to go to the US for undergraduate no matter what, AND you need a lot of financial aid to do that, then your priority is to find the school mostly likely to take you and give you aid- not to dream about picking the “best” school for your subject.
The fact is that the physics program at most US colleges and universities will give you everything you need to get into graduate school. The APS has standardized the undergraduate physics major for just that reason. What is different between different schools is things like extra classes beyond the required core, more resources (in terms of lab equipment, personnel, budget for conferences, etc), and possibly people. The people part is not a given either- you can find superb teachers at a wide range of universities, just as you can find talented, motivated students at a range of universities. At the level of college/university you are looking at the the differences in the programs are much less important than the challenge of paying for your degree.
On the other hand, if you have a good, affordable option at home, and only want to go to the US if you can get into something top tier, that’s fair. But you have to decide what your priority is.