Chance me! Junior from Midwest, FRC robotics leadership, State music honors, trying to get into top 10 school for physics [MO resident, 3.9 GPA, 30 ACT]

If you need aid, focus on colleges that meet 100% of need. You may want to check out some of the schools listed here: Top Feeders to Ph.D. Programs. Look at schools like Rochester and some of the smaller schools like Grinnell, Reed, or Kenyon - all have well regarded Physics programs that will set you up quite well for undergrad AND they meet full need.

Highly ranked out of state public schools are unlikely to grant you enough aid. For example, UCSB is an example of a school that is highly unlikely to grant you enough aid to make it financially possible for you to attend. It’s a separate time-intensive application as well so I personally think it’s not worth it unless your parents are rich.

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