After taking all my intro science and math courses at Washington University in St. Louis last year, I discovered that my true passion is not for biology/medicine, but for physics. I love my school now, it is my home. But part of the reason I chose it (though the main one was the awesome atmosphere) was for its prestigious medical school, highly ranked biology program, and diverse research opportunities in the life sciences. I am discovering now, however, that the physics program at WashU is not as highly respected. There are only a few physics labs whose research interests me, though there are some. There are a small number of physics undergrads. Just, all in all, it is not the best physics school that I have the capability of being at. My biggest worry is that all these factors will mean I won’t be able to go to graduate school with whatever professor whose research interests me because I went to a undergrad school that is “low ranked” in physics and they are at a “high ranked” school in physics.
My family thinks I should transfer. I have good grades and am not opposed to the idea of it, however I have a strong community of friends here and I don’t want to loose that. So my real question is, how much more helpful is it to select a school with a top physics program for graduate school? That is, how much will it help me to get into a top graduate program by transferring to a school like MIT, UT, etc. over just staying at WashU?
What I really want to know is whether or not the boost that I get by going to a top physics program is worth loosing my friends, but I guess only I can answer that…
Or maybe is it just as easy for me to get into a top physics grad program from WashU?
Thanks so much.
Just as easy, IMO. PhD programs pretty much don’t look at the ranking of physics undergraduate programs. They care more about potential and the work that you did as an undergrad given the resources that you had.
For instance, here’s a list of all of Caltech’s PhD students:
http://www.pma.caltech.edu/GSR/gradclasslist.html
Many from abroad, but you’re not going to tell me that WashU offers physics students less opportunity than Cal State-Fullerton, Nevada-Reno, and Oregon St., are you?
OP, I would recommend you stay at your current school. At least it has a physics program.
I go to a local school and I initially applied here for bio, and the school itself is made up of something like 70% bio majors. Now that I want to do physics I’m basically forced to transfer out, since they don’t offer the major here. I was doing some research on schools and your school came up on some lists, it’s definitely not unheard of, so even prestige-wise you should do fine. Don’t worry about it.
Me though… Well since I have to transfer out, I figured I might as well apply to top physics schools. After doing a lot of research though, I realize that the undergraduate physics curriculum is basically the same everywhere (especially since I’m a self-learner) and what really differentiates schools is the opportunities they offer and the people you meet, but more importantly how you as a student take advantage of such things.
Since I’m in dire need of courses and opportunities that my current school doesn’t offer at all, even though I have some nice stats and essays, I really feel like I’d be happy just taking what I can get. I’m really pushing the envelope where I am currently.
That being said, I’m still personally applying to elite schools because it’s another shot at the admissions game, which I heavily neglected during HS, so I’m finding some excitement in it now. I would say if you don’t really feel the need or desire to transfer though, don’t.
Also, unlike you OP, I haven’t had much luck making friends where I am currently. 
So for me I have no real reservations about getting out there and being surrounded by new people.
Btw, I’m also interested in going to graduate school for physics at a top university. Like PurpleTitan mentioned, it’s possible to get in from a “low-ranked” university, you just gotta do your best and play your cards right given what you have available. Best of luck to you.