Chance a rising senior planning on majoring in physics [CA, 4.0/1510]

You are very fortunate to have such great public colleges available to you at in-state costs. How do you feel about the size of your state schools and about staying in-state? Those are the main potential pitfalls I could see to your list, if you were wanting a more intimate experience or to go out-of-state. But if you’re happy to stay in California, then I think you’re all set.

If you’re interested (and skilled enough) for varsity college volleyball, these are a couple of schools you might want to check out. And at all but Stanford, you would be likely to receive merit aid (assuming you become a National Merit Finalist for USC).

  • Illinois Institute of Technology (IL): This Chicago school has about 3k undergrads. In the most recent year of data it had 1 person earn a Master’s and 6 earn a PhD in physics, so there should be sufficient depth here for you, too.

  • Stanford (CA): I imagine that no matter how T25 is cut (major, USNWR, etc) that Stanford would make the list. About 7600 undergrads.

  • Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ, just across the river from New York City): About 4100 undergrads, and in the most recent year of IPEDS data had 14 people earn Master’s in physics and 4 earn PhDs, so extremely likely to have sufficient depth for your physics wishes.

  • U. of Southern California: About 21k undergrads here, and National Merit Finalists get half-tuition scholarships and can compete for full tuition scholarships.

For other schools with physics majors and varsity college volleyball for men, here’s a list: College Navigator - Search Results. If you have other desires (like big schools out-of-state) then there are other possibilities, like Ohio State or Penn State. U. of Hawaii is another school that could be very interesting.