Yeah well I’m a senior so it doesn’t really matter what I get on my exams this year unless those guys take super late LOCIs lol. I don’t really expect much out of those two, I’m applying because my parents really really want me to take some airballs. I got a 5 in calc AB and A in Calc 2 so idk I think that’s fair game. I’m not sure why people are saying that it’s strange I’m talking multivariable calculus based off of some stuff that happened 3 years ago… it’s just the next in progression after taking Calc 2 last term
You need to make sure that every admissions committee knows this so they can properly evaluate your academic history. Self-report these AP scores or send official ones if accepted.
What is more relevant is that you have a solid understanding of precalculus math because you will need it in more advanced math and math-based courses as a math, physics, or engineering major.
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You’re in better shape than you realize. Not a bad GPA, very nice SAT, and the fact that you will not be asking for fin aid, which signals that you will be full pay, will make you VERY attractive to schools that need money. So, with that in mind, Brandeis is a likely for you, probably Northeastern (they massage their stats, they’re not really as selective as they make themselves look on paper, and they like full pay - well, doesn’t every school?), probably Rochester, probably Case Western. Your chance at NYU is better than you think, applying as full pay. I don’t know why they’re letting you ED to Chicago, but not to NYU?
Consider some highly selective LACs for physics: Swarthmore, Reed, Williams, Wesleyan, Bucknell, Carleton. Your not needing fin aid puts a big thumb on the scale for many LACs - yeah, yeah, I know, they’re need blind… but they all need money, and they’ll figure it out, if you let them know somehow through your essays that you don’t need fin aid.
You’ve got to pare your list. Way too many schools on here. Even if app fees are not a consideration, it’s a LOT of essays to prepare, a lot of apps to send out.
Just out of curiosity, aside from pleasing your parents, what do YOU want to study, what do you love learning?
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What do you want to major in - engineering or math/physics. There are plenty of great engineering schools that you’d easily get into.
Engineering is not very rank sensitive - you’ll make the same whether you go to a top school or not so top - in most cases. Published salaries are very - not wide spread.
For example, Alabama reports $82,657. Michigan $86,076 Purdue $83,182 - so you don’t need the best name to do well. Companies pay by location - but as an example, my Bama kid interned with Ga Tech kids - but also Tennessee Tech, UTK, Mississippi State and more. Same with this job, etc.
So - forgetting your parents and their desires - what are you wanting to major in? I want to know what you want - not your folks.
You don’t have a selectivity by major issue, etc. but if you want to be an engineer, why would you go to Brandeis, as an example
It so happens I know of someone who studied physics at Brandeis and then got a Masters in engineering. They actually took classes at Tufts (I guess there is an exchange) as a pre req for the grad degree - classes Brandeis didn’t offer.
Well because my parents don’t think NYU is prestigious enough to ED. They also don’t want me going to a small LAC. I don’t know why but it’s genuinely not worth arguing with them on this, I’ve tried and it escalated to some really embarrassing stuff…
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Oftentimes, parents are misinformed & lack knowledge of the reality of the college admissions landscape today. But, if parents control 100% of the budget, there is not much you can do until you achieve self-sufficiency & full independence.
I don’t really want to study engineering but if I end up going to a safety for a science degree my parents are going to say that’s not worth the ““investment.”” Yeah prestige might not matter when applying for grad schools by a huge amount but afaict R2s/non doctoral schools are at a structural disadvantage (less upper div and grad course availability, less resources, less specific calibration for rigor and LORs) and if I decide I just want to get a job out of undergrad by the time May rolls around I feel like it’s best to have something lined up? It’s also probably not that hard to switch from EE or ChemE or whatever to physics, math, other natural sciences anyway.
I mean they’re aware, they just literally don’t want me to have a chance to be bound to something like NYU because there are many plausible scenarios for where a less prestigious-name-brand school could be preferable. I’m aware that’s the case for the T20-10 too though. I think they just want me to go to Purdue or Davis or something
(Since that’s basically the extent of what’s plausible)
In most cases, it’s easier to switch from engineering out than outside (science) in.
But if you don’t want to study engineering, it doesn’t matter.
Why do you need to ED ?you have a favorite, I must be at that school? Otherwise, don’t ED - no one needs to ED.
For example, RPI is great in Physics. Not on your list but Arizona is world renowned. Colorado is very good. For LACs, a Franklin & Marshall is excellent as an attainable school for you. Kalamazoo - a safety.
RPI is on the top PhD feeder list for Physics and you are a shoe in. Grinnell and Rochster are too. Know what else is - a school like NM Mining - public school, WUE, and very good. Mid size that’s excellent would be Florida Tech and School of Mines (Colorado) - which has a stellar rep, very popular with near top kids.
A UCD isn’t seeing your test - so it might not be as easy an entry as you think.
There’s really many ways to skin this cat - but “prestige” may not be so in Physics.
Yeah I know about UC test blind stuff, really annoying, but the average enrolled student at my HS for Davis has like a 3.9-4.0 UC capped consistently so it’s kind of a toss up
To be honest I know that a lot of schools are “good PhD feeders” but in my opinion that shouldn’t be an ugrad deciding factor… like a lot of this stuff is largely incidental, a lot happens between choosing something to commit to and the time around which you would apply to grad school, and it’s just not a metric I think is wise for me to put too much stock into.
Check out Ohio University Honors Tutorial College
Yes to this. I think with your stats and full pay you have a strong chance of getting in to NEU for an alternate entry where you can transfer to Boston after 1 semester or 1 year. At my kid’s school the acceptance rate is 45%, but it’s almost all alternate entry programs. For BU we used to have a high acceptance rate, including with slightly lower GPAs, but for the last 5 years only the kids who ED get in to BU…except for alternate entry programs. I know they have a spring start option and a guaranteed transfer option for second year.
Don’t major in a discipline you aren’t interested in. In college, don’t ever take classes you have no interest in unless they are required to graduate - waste of your time & money. You can major in math and physics & still pursue an engineering discipline in graduate school. You can also minor in engineering if minors are offered by the college/university.
You may not want to ED anywhere to avoid getting bound. Apply only EA or REA to apply early.
Do you really plan to apply to 36 colleges? (And yes, I know the UC application is for all but you still have to pay the application fees for each one).
IMHO, you need to narrow down your college options. I just think there are too many for you to do a great job with every application.
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Doesn’t sound like there’s a lot of wriggle room here because of parental preferences. My advice would be to just focus on your matches. Spreading yourself too thin could just result in a trainwreck come next spring.
asteroidtt should narrow this down to 20, including any potential merit aid targets.
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@asteroidtt do you require any merit aid to attend any college? Or are your parents willing to fund any college to which you get accepted (some are almost $100,000 a year).