<p>are any of these LAC's good for physics?</p>
<p>Whitman College
Occidental College
Union
Bard
Denison
Muhlenberg
St Lawrence</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Don't forget Harvey Mudd.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd's a bit more competitive than the schools the OP mentioned!</p>
<p>The only LAC I know anything about on the list is Occidental. Most of their science programs are sound, particularly biology. Bard and Denison immediately make me think of creative writing, but I'm not sure about their science programs. :)</p>
<p>quote:</p>
<p>The 3-2 engineering program allows qualified students the opportunity to study at Occidental for three years, completing their undergraduate experience with an additional two years at either the California Institute of Technology or Columbia University. At the end of the five years, the student receives two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in the Combined Plan from Occidental and a Bachelor of Science in the selected field of engineering from the engineering school. In essence, it's the best of both worlds: an undergraduate experience which covers both the liberal arts and sciences as well as engineering. </p>
<p>In contrast to many engineering programs, students choosing the Combined Plan do not commit themselves in the freshman year exclusively to an engineering major. This flexibility is particularly advantageous to capable students whose abilities and interests span many fields. There are three course sequences to choose from, depending upon the student's career goals. Most students follow the recommendations of </p>
<p>the Physical Sequence, with its greater emphasis on physics.</p>
<p>However, those students primarily interested in pursuing chemical engineering should follow the Chemical Sequence, while those who prefer computer science or operations research should follow the Computer Science Sequence.</p>
<p>Suggest looking into whether the subsequent transfer, to Columbia or Cal Tech, is automatic, or rather is it contingent on after-the-fact acceptance by the engineering school. Subject to minimum grades at the first school, recommendations,etc.</p>
<p>The one case I looked at like this I found that subsequent acceptance at the engineering school was highly contingent, and ought not be counted on.</p>
<p>My understanding is that many students who come in thinking they will do a 3-2 program never complete the program, partly because it's hard, socially, to switch colleges in the middle like that.</p>
<p>I agree w monydad. Sometimes you need to jump through hoops, getting permission from the LAC after being well into the LAC. It may not be an automatic transfer, and you could have some obstacles.</p>
<p>What about Lafayette?</p>
<p>You might want to look at how Occidental will let you take some classes at CalTech.</p>
<p>union is good</p>
<p>What you get out of a good LAC's physics department is probably largely up to the individual - Try searching around the websites of the various schools on your list to get some sense of the department at each. For instance, I tried Denison and this is the first thing I pulled up -</p>
<p>Quote:</p>
<br>
<p>If I follow the recommended curriculum, achieving at least the minimum GPA for those courses, will I automatically be accepted into an engineering school? In other words, could a student possibly go through the three year program and then miss out on the goal of completing his or her degree at Caltech or Columbia? </p>
<br>
<p>To qualify for the program, a student must meet all of Oxy's requirements for graduation (save for the completion of a major). Then with a strong academic record and a letter of recommendation by the Liaison Officer on behalf of the faculty,</p>
<p>he or she is automatically accepted by Columbia.</p>
<p>Caltech, by contrast, reviews the applications themselves. </p>
<p>However, we never submit applications to Caltech unless we truly feel the student is up to the challenge -- and in the last many years all of the names we've submitted have been accepted for admission. But it's not automatic. </p>
<br>
<p>If I follow the recommended 3-2 curriculum but then elect to stay at Oxy, will I still be able to graduate after four years? </p>
<br>
<p>A student working to enter the 3-2 program can switch to any major the College offers during the first or second year, and to most physical science majors during the junior year. In addition, advisers will insist that juniors take courses which will enable them to graduate at the end of the fourth year should they decide for whatever reason to stay at Oxy. </p>
<br>
<p>Of those accepted into the 3-2 program, what percentage go on to complete the two-degree program? </p>
<br>
<p>So far, 100%</p>
<p>Whitman has 3-2 programs similar to Oxy's as well as traditional Physics major
:
3-2 Engineering and Computer Science programs with:</p>
<pre><code>* California Institute of Technology (CA)
* Columbia University (NY)
* Duke University (NC)
* University of Washington (WA)
* Washington University (MO)
</code></pre>