I will be applying to college soon as an intended physics major. I have the grades, scores, and extracurriculars for Ivy League and other top schools. However, I do not qualify for any need based financial aid and do not want to graduate with more than $100000 in debt. For science, is it worth it to go to a strong state school like Stony Brook and try for the honors college or would the top tier college education be better i terms of quality for the cost?
Are you planning on going to graduate school? I’d save the Ivies for that. But you might want to apply and see what happens - the financial aid works differently there. At Harvard, your family can make $150k and you’d still only need to pay 10% of that.
There are private schools better than Stony Brook when it comes to total experience where you can try to get merit. If you have stats near Ivy League level there are schools better than Stony Brook.
I heard that Stony Brook had a physics program that is top in the country. I think it was ranked about 22nd in the country
Maybe, but no college experience, commuter school and nothing going on at campus.
Have you visited? One of my portfolio companies is doing clinical trials there and I visit once a quarter. That company is also doing trials at Wake Forest and I visit there too. I couldn’t imagine attending SB unless it was necessary financially.
Please look at schools like Case Western, Rochester, RPI etc to see what merit money is available.
How do you know you don’t qualify for need?
I would apply to Alabama, Clemson and University of South Carolina to get a big merit package, perhaps a full ride.
Ok thanks
^^^ I don’t agree at all.
First off, Stony Brook is NOT a commuter school. The college is experience is very prevalent there, as I’ve heard from those who go there.
Our salutatorian this year didn’t get accepted into any of his top schools which included Ivies and privates like MIT. It’s risky. Instead, he’s going to Stony Brook Honors, is in-state and got a full-ride there. He’s majoring in their top-notch physics program and will graduate with no debt and can go on to an ivy league grad school.
You should also apply to university of Southern California. They give out merit based scholarships in January. Great school and you can get a nice package.
Stony Brook is a great place for physics. Definitely apply to Stony Brook and seriously consider it.