Colleges for Astronomy, Planetary Science

College Search & Lists
1

Now that I’m going into my junior year I’m starting to think about college more in depth. I know what I want to do with my life, I have some college specifications in mind, and I have 2 years of high school under my belt so I have some statistics. After my freshman year I realized that astronomy is my passion and I further realized my sophomore year that I want to pursue a career in planetary astronomy and science. It’s what I like to do and I light up whenever I read about a new discovery or see a new picture from Mars, Jupiter, or Pluto. :slight_smile:

About me
Gender: Female
Location: Maine
Income: ~$50k

Grades
9th grade:
Geography/Civics: A
Honors Algebra II: C+
STEM Physics: B
Band: A+
Honors French II: B+
Honors English 9: A-
Health: A
Team Sports: A+

10th grade:
World History II: A+
Acc. Pre-Calculus: B
AP Biology: B
Band: A+
Honors French III: B
Honors English 10: B
Team Sports: A+

11th grade (current classes):
AP Language & Composition
AP United States History
Calculus, Lvl. 1
Honors French IV
Honors Chemistry
Honors Band

12th grade (prospective classes):
AP Literature
AP World History
AP Calculus AB
AP French
AP Physics C
Honors Band
Personal Finance or AP Statistics

GPA
Weighted: 3.75
Unweighted: 3.25
Rank: 58/278

Standardized Test Scores
PSAT (10th grade): 1220/1520 (570 R, 650 M)
AP exams: Biology (3)

Extra-Curriculars
Student Council (9, 10, 11-Secretary)
Class Council (9, 10)
Outing Club (9)
Math team (9, 10, 11)
Science Bowl (10, 11)
Jazz Band (9, 10, 11)
Youth Orchestra (9, 10, 11 - principal flute all years)
School Band (9, 10, 11 - principal flute all years)

Community Service
~150 hours during high school so far
Co-coordinator for Children’s Village at local festival, 2 years
Volunteer with local Symphony Orchestra at concerts and events

Awards:
3rd prize in Earth Science, Physics, and Astronomy category at the state science fair (9)
Academic Award (9)
United States Navy Office of Naval Research Medal at state science fair (10)
Academic Award (10)
Rank 1 certificate at District Jazz Festival (10) (Rank 1 is the highest rank)
Rank 1 certificate at State Jazz Festival (10)

Things I look for in colleges
Size: <20,000-25,000 students
Location: Any (rural, suburban, urban)
State Location: New England, eastern Canada, West Coast (Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona)
Financial Aid: A must

Any suggestions on schools is greatly appreciated! I’m already considering a few Ivies, along with McGill, the University of Arizona, and Caltech.

If you comment on this and have a “Chance Me” post, I’ll chance you! :slight_smile:

Thanks!

2

Here is “a list of Astronomy degree granting institutions”: https://aas.org/learn/college-departments-offering-astronomy-related-degrees .

The schools on this list cover a broad range of admissions selectivity, so you might find a few matches. The list contains links to the websites of various astronomy departments that you can explore.

Good luck!

3

A major in physics with some astronomy electives should be suitable for astronomy-based post-graduation plans.

Your high school’s math courses look odd, in that it takes two years to cover calculus through AB. In college, that would be covered in about a semester, so be warned that college math courses will cover material at a much faster pace than are seeing in your high school.

4

Beyond the recommended path of physics with astronomy electives suggested above, for the pursuit of planetary science, particularly with respect to the study of terrestrial planets and the moons of the outer planets, an additional major or minor in geosciences could prove highly valuable.

5

Arizona! Stweard Observatory and the LPL are both amazing student resources. There is an undergrad minor in planetary science, but no major - you’ll have to wait until grad school for that. Great undergrad astronomy program, however it is pretty competitive. UA is great for OOS financial aid, but make sure to work hard for a high SAT score, as your GPA is a little low for the big scholarships. Bear down!

6

Thanks everyone!

@ucbalumnus I didn’t do so well in Hon. Alg. 2 so I had to take Acc. Pre-Calculus. Because of the level of the pre-calculus class my school requires that students take Calculus Lvl. 1 before AP Calculus AB. It’s weird.

@an6rew I’m looking into both University of Arizona and Arizona State! I have been in contact with an associate professor of optical science at UA through my research project (he also works at the Subaru Observatory in Hawaii and I am getting data from an observation project there) and the school looks great!

7

Putting in a good word for Agnes Scot . . .

: )

https://www.agnesscott.edu/physics/

8

Not to be Dougy Downer here but why are you wasting app $ on the Ivies and Caltech?

You’re from Maine and you need FA. Your stats (both GPA and scores) will need to go up a lot to get you aid from OOS schools. Do any public Us in Maine offer astronomy?

9

There’s only the University of Maine and you would have to major in Physics with a concentration in Astronomy. Not what I want to do. I’m considering some of the top tier schools as reaches because they have good Astronomy and Planetary Science programs.

10

With a 3.25 unweighted HS GPA and PSAT (predicted SAT) scores substantially below 700 in both sections, the super-selective schools would be unrealistic unless you are related to someone who donated a building or something like that.

11

Yes, you need to focus on realistic choices, not Ivies and Caltech.

Wheaton College of MA might work. For a small school, they have quite a bit of astronomy and astrobiology (planetary science focused on whether planets/moons have conditions that could support life).

12

Agree that you need to re-think your options. Just because you like a program it doesn’t make you a viable candidate for admission. Your academics are not in the range of Ivy/CalTech schools and McGill would certainly be a reach school. And you are unlikely to get merit aid as an OOS student at UArizona. I would apply to Univ. of Maine even if the program is not ideal.

Try running the supermatch function (on the left under find a college) and then run the net price calculator to see if the options it comes up with are affordable.

13

@ucbalumnus I have been studying a lot for the PSAT so hopefully my score will go up this year. I didn’t study/care about my score last year.

@happy1 I’ll run the supermatch function. Also, I’m legacy for McGill (if that makes a difference).

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Supermatch gives McGill a 80% match!

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@bopper I’m visiting McGill next month for a tour and the open house! My grandfather graduated from there back in the early 1960s.

16

Another plug for Arizona, if you can afford it. One of my kids and I went to Astronomy Camp there a few years ago, and the resources they have are incredible. I loved the campus, too.

I was talking to the professor who runs it, and he says it’s very easy to get into the astronomy major as an undergraduate. It’s getting in as a graduate student that’s tough.

17

@simba9 I think we’re concerned about Arizona because OP is OOS and with a GPA of 3.25 won’t qualify for the best scholarships. According to Big Future, the typical package meets 59% of need.

Obviously she can apply and see where the numbers come in, but she still needs more schools on her list.

18

OP, I doubt McGill cares about legacy, and at the vast majority of schools grandparents don’t count for that.

19

@simba9 One of the people I’m in contact with concerning my observational astronomy research teaches optical science at Arizona.

20

@“Erin’s Dad” Then I have no legacy schools that I’m interested in. My mom went to Washington State University and my dad didn’t go to college.