I’m currently a ninth grader and while some might think I shouldn’t be worrying about the collge I apply to yet, or even be so sure that physics is what I’d like to study, I must inform you that I have done extensive research of topics I take interest in, as well as taken courses through both MIT’s open courseware and Yale’s.
I would most like to pursue a Ph.D in quantum mechanics, and I take special interest in quantum field theory and, not surprisingly, string theory. However, while I am certain of the branch of physics I’d like to study, I’ve no clue which colleges/universities I should apply to.
As for current education I’m enrolled in the IB program at my high school and I will begin officially taking physics and calculus next year.
And for future education I’ve heard great things about Princeton and MIT so those would definitely be on my application list, but I’m unsure of where else I should apply.
You “shouldn’t be worrying about the college [you] apply to,” but learning about colleges could be as appropriate a hobby for you as any. For its strength in physics and math, think about Cornell as one more college to look into.
Without high school grades, test scores, and EC information, and information on what your family can/ is willing to pay, it is pretty premature to make a list. Your state flagship might be a great choice. If you can afford it and can get in, Harvey Mudd is a school you may not have heard of yet. There are a lot of schools that can get you to a physics PhD program. For now you should be focused on getting great grades and actively pursuing your EC interests, there isn’t much else you can or should do in ninth grade.
Just a heads up, but most people here aren’t going to gve you serious suggestions because of your age. (Next time just leave out that part ) However, you sound exactly like a friend of mine. She’s also obsessed with Quantum Physics. I think she probably has it more together than most physics majors lol. I’m not really in that realm, as I’m more of a bio person myslef, but she loves MIT. She also likes Cambrige and CalTech. I’ve also heard my physics teacher reference UC Berkley before too.
I understand why you think it is premature but I feel as though I should start early and explore my options further than most people do. The list would of course be altered as I go through high school but I thought it would be good to begin now. I always see seniors breaking down towards the end of the year because they don’t know what they’ll do. Thank you for your suggestions and time.
The thing is, so much can happen over the next three years of your life. You could excel in high school and be competitive for, say, MIT. You could not do so well and end up wanting to go to a community college. You could encounter financial issues and have to pick colleges based on that. You could even change what you want to do or where you want to do it, suddenly preferring an LAC over a big state school or vice versa.
Any recommendations you get right now will be practically useless in three years. Have you SEEN how much college costs? And it’s only going up. If that doesn’t stop, many people’s options are going to be severely limited by affordability. And we can’t know anything about that three years in advance.
I guess you somehow feel picked-on because of your age. That’s not it. What is driving the answers you’re getting is a) you have not yet done ANY of the things on which colleges will judge you for admission, and b) it’s impossible to predict the college climate so far in advance. The former is like me saying “How good of a pro basketball player would I be? I don’t play basketball, but I’d still like to know.” The latter similarly requires a crystal ball.
“I am not a big fan of the way others have responded” (post 4)
Btw, OP, I wasn’t suggesting (post 1) that you shouldn’t be learning about colleges. I actually stated that it could be a good hobby for you and accordingly suggested one school.
Turning on your respondents can be a bit of a thread-killer, and I don’t recommend it unless you are certain of poor intent. You are free to read past posts which you don’t find helpful.
This list has MIT, UC Berkeley, UChicago, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, Princeton and UC Santa Barbara. Add Harvey Mudd, Columbia, and Cornell, and that’s a pretty good starting list (but very, very ambitious)
) However, you sound exactly like a friend of mine. She’s also obsessed with Quantum Physics. I think she probably has it more together than most physics majors lol. I’m not really in that realm, as I’m more of a bio person myslef, but she loves MIT. She also likes Cambrige and CalTech. I’ve also heard my physics teacher reference UC Berkley before too.