<p>you can major in physics in undergrad and specialize in nuclear physics at the PhD Level.</p>
<p>My parents still seem to believe that Purdue or Indiana University is still the best choice.
How good are they when it comes to Physics in comparison to Lawrence and the others?</p>
<p>How can you be certain you want to study physics when you’re only a sophomore and have such limited exposure to the world of opportunities that await you in college? </p>
<p>You don’t have to tell anything you are uncomfortable with. And you certainly don’t want to make the reader uncomfortable, like the girl in another thread who mentioned her mother’s miscarriage!! Ug. That is not the point at all. You do NOT want to talk about things from when you were a young child, except to set the stage for something else. No one said to go for sympathy.</p>
<p>You have nothing meaningful ever in your life? Friendship is not meaningful to you? You have never done something you are proud of? Never gone outside your comfort zone to try something new? Never learned something that surprised you? You have not values that are meaningful to you? Not skills? Things you are curious about that you explore. Something that you actually DO to demonstrate that you follow up on your interests?</p>
<p>One guy shared his essay here about a special room where people hung out a school that was meaningful to him.</p>
<p>What is MYOS talking about criminal events?</p>
<p>dang, I started answering from your last answer to me before I read the thread. Ug you are a sophomore? I don’t give essay advice to sophomores, you are too immature to be writing your essay yet. And it shows.</p>
<p>I can advise you to spend the year doing something you can be writing about. Something a little more strenuous than reading Wikipedia articles. If you can’t get involved with something at school or some enrichment, then at least look into citizen science projects and see how far you can get with something. Deep active involvement in will naturally give you things to write about. No one cares if you are white or not, Ugly.</p>
<p>My daughter didn’t even write directly about her extracurricular activity. She wrote about what she does to prepare for it and the people she interacts with before and during. Good bye. See you next year.</p>
<p>^ I tried to give an example of a short paragraph that can be placed in the “additional information” box of the CommonApp. This should NOT be part of the essay.
What you write about is something meaningful to you. If an aspect of physics is meaningful to you, that’s a perfectly fine topic.
Now that you’ve explored wikipedia, look at Khan Academy, EdX, and Coursera: you’re going to love those (and they’re entirely free). If you’re interested in a specific area of physics, this is what you can do what would really enhance your college application: ace your Physics classes this year and next; elaborate a research plan (on a SMALL, LIMITED topic) and approach your physics teacher to see whether he’d support you for an Independent Study on it senior year. Then, senior year, pursue the project to the bitter end. :)</p>
<p>Google “where do science PHDs come from” 
Yes, Lawrence produces a higher percentage of PHDs than Purdue. They also have the R1 project - type “Lawrence R1 project” and explore.</p>
<p>Your parents 1° know Purdue and being familiar with a school means people assume it’s better than others they’re not very familiar with (your parents probably also think Purdue is better than Williams, Pomona, Reed, HarveyMudd, Caltech, Olin, etc.) 2° they don’t know Lawrence and you’re just hearing from a bunch of internet strangers so why should they trust us: do your research and show them what you’ve learned between now and junior year, but start talking about a variety of colleges right now and show you’re serious about finding the right school 3° they are right, Purdue is a very good school. </p>
<p>Do apply to Purdue AND Lawrence AND a bunch other schools. Then see where you get the best “bang for your buck”. If it’s Purdue then it’ll be Purdue. If it’s Lawrence, then, Lawrence. Or HarveyMudd or RPI or Earlham or any other school. Don’t get attached to ONE school, learn about a bunch of them. Fill out the “request information” forms there.</p>
<p>Typically, you’d have:
- 2 schools you’re 100% sure you can get into, like, and can afford (you’d have run the net price calculator beforehand, as to know the net cost to your family. Each college calculates differently).
- 3-5 schools you’re pretty sure you can get into, because you’re near/at the top 25% mark for stats (GPA, ACT/SAT), you’ve demonstrated interest (if it matters to them), and you’ve run the net price calculators so you know the schools are affordable.
- then you add schools that you’re not sure you can get into but you really like. There’s no fixed number, it can be as many or as few as you wish or can afford.</p>
<p>Demonstrate interest: for instance, start reading the Physics Department’s website at all the colleges named in posts above then email the Physics dept at each of them. Start politely and ask questions showing your interest for the subject (Dear Professor Z, My name is … and I am currently a sophomore in high school in the town of …, Indiana. I have been passionate about physics since I learned about … in my … class. I have been told about your college and your department, so I am curious about the students and the major there. What high school classes would be expected from a prospective physics major? Are there activites or clubs that would feed my interest? Can I be put in touch with a current major? What are the first classes a freshman would take and how is it different from what I would find at my local university? The class PHYS 103 looks very interesting because …, is there a way to learn a little on my own about the concept…? …?.. Thank you. Sincerely, …" PLEASE don’t copy/paste this, it’s just an example of a format: greetings, introduction, examples various types of questions; don’t forget the thanks at the end.) At smaller schools, demonstrating interest can play a role in your admission decision. Plus you’re likely to learn interesting things.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634, moderators don’t have anything to do with post numbers. You can use the “Contact” link at the bottom of the page to request them. We have been asking for them for awhile now!</p>
<p>BurgerMan, have you looked into Rose-Hulman? Your stats would be within the range of their admitted students, and it makes sense for an Indiana student interested in physics. You might get some modest merit money. </p>
<p>Thanks MaineLonghorn, I will. ;)</p>
<p>@Finlet, I actually live fairly close to Rose, but their tuition and fees calculator isn’t really useful, but it seems to be incredibly expensive even with merit aid and other grants. </p>
<p>Not only does UMass Lowell offer good out of state scholarships but they have a small nuclear plant on the school grounds. You may want to check the school out.</p>
<p>You know what’s funny? Honesty. Truth. — Hilarious. The best improv comes when you try to be “true,” not “funny.” Humor happens when you exquisitely describe life. But, to do that, you have to observe really, really closely. Read a bunch of David Sedaris for examples. </p>
<p>You should definitely be professional because it is a college app and you want to come off as serious about the school; however, it’s also important to show who you are to see if the school is a good fit for you </p>
<p>This won’t be yet another high school essay. Nor, something to amuse friends. Not read by hs teachers who know you and can assume you were trying out some new approach or are a nice guy who’s insecure. </p>
<p>Try to remember you are applying to college. For now, just look at the prompts and think about them. Too much clever falls flat. Unbridled self-revelation can fall flat. Too much dry is, well, dry. Wit is fine, when it is intelligent. The whole point of the big essay is to let them see your ability to choose a topic, reflect and have them like your insight. Not sell something, depress them, make excuses, go over something already shown in your ECs, make them smack their heads, etc. </p>
<p>They want to see what personal attributes come through, the ones they like, want and need. The topic should be relevant to a college app review. (So no, not what happened in 1st grade.)
A year from now, we will tell you more. In the meantime, grow a bit and make sure your ECs are good.</p>
<p>If you hand it to another adult and they find it funny, then go for it. If not, and it sounds either condescending or juvenile then I’d avoid it. If it is part of who you are and your writing style, I don’t see why you shouldn’t write from that perspective. My friend who is somewhat the class clown and sarcastic let that voice show in her essay about losing her dead dog, which actually turned a serious topic funny. It depends on the person, but you could try sharing it with some people and see what they think.</p>
<p>Actually, the Wiki thing could have an angle, but you have to wait to hear.
Dead dogs don’t usually go over well. It’s your college app.</p>
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<p>Your essay reads like Elliot Rodger’s psychotic manifesto before he massacred all those people. </p>
<p>I would definitely REJECT.</p>
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<p>Your essay reads like Elliot Rodger’s psychotic manifesto before he massacred all those people. </p>
<p>I would definitely REJECT.</p>