SkylerS

I am a first year CC student, but I finished 38 semester units in highschool before going full-time. I have 21 units this semester and am likely taking the same or maybe a little more next semester, putting me well at the units needed for junior transfer. I am absolutely obsessed with science, and in the course of highschool took 10 courses (including the CC courses). In particular I am pursuing physics due to how fundamental a science it is, and the flexibility it gives me down the line for moving into interdisciplinary fields. I want to go to a school with a serious physics program, somewhere where I can get involved with cutting edge research and smart minds.
The MAIN question
I really like it here in california, and would love to stay relatively close to all my family and most of my friends. What colleges excel at their physics programs in Cali?

EDIT:
So far I have 6 colleges in sight
Caltech
Stanford
Harvey Mudd
USC
UC Berkley
UCLA

crizello

What other things are you looking for in a college? Is it only the physics program? do you care anything about the social or physical environment, or the size of the school?

There are lots of great academic programs, but that probably shouldn't be the only factor to consider when choosing a school.

ucbalumnus

You may want to consider other less selective UCs like UCSB and UCSC in case you do not get into the highly selective schools on your list.

For California public universities, use Welcome to ASSIST to look up which courses you need to take to transfer.

If you do not mind going out of state, some good schools for physics like Stony Brook and Minnesota may be worth a look (their list prices for out-of-state are similar to or lower than UC list prices for in-state -- however, if you need financial aid, they may not be as generous to out-of-state students; check the net price calculators).

Pennylane2011

UCSB has a top ranked physics department.