Was accepted so far to:
ASU, Barrett honors college - physics major
CU Boulder (honors pending) - physics major
UMD Freshmen Connection (so no chance to honors) - physics major
All public universities’ tuition will be considered in-state
Not sure I actually want to study physics or what I want to do after
Deferred by Duke, Northeastern and U-M
Well you have desert and a renowned honors program - if that interests you. Not all honors programs / requirements interest people.
Secondly, you have suburban with snow at CU.
You have UMD Off hours. Near DC but not in city. But it’s still UMD.
Take the major out - you can change although the ‘what’ you change to may be impacted.
Look at ASU Honors. Do the requirements appeal to you ? Same with CU. All Honors are not the same. Some kids apply to Honors at some but not the others. So make sure they fit you.
Any budget issues ? You say all are in state but in state costs and living costs will be different. CU will be pricey off campus. ASU Barrett charges $2k per year.
Have you visited all ?
There’s no wrong answer although I’d personally lean against UMD. But if you want to be in that part of the country, it doesn’t mean you should. In fact, if you got into UMD regularly, would you choose it ? If so, that might be your answer then.
Good luck.
Interesting comments regarding the University of Maryland which is an increasingly competitive school for admissions and offers some outstanding programs.
ASU-Barrett Honors is interesting, but CU-Boulder may (just my impression as I have not researched this yet) be a better university for physics (CU-Boulder is better for physics according to the Fiske Guide To Colleges).
Based on US News rankings for physics:
U Maryland & CU-Boulder are tied at #17.
U Arizona is about #35.
ASU is at #50.
@publisher - thanks.
U of Arizona wasn’t on the list - but if it was, I’d choose it - top rate physics. Of course, there are various rankings. This is #8. Often times the US News are grad school - but even if not, they are simply peer rated, a popularity contest, so I give little credence to it.
I think in large part the student - depending on where they live - it might matter.
But my comment was I’d eliminate UMD was purely based on Freshmen connection - which is a Spring admit - but not exactly as they do live in dorms but take late in the day classes.
Nothing else - given the major, I think all three are solid - with ASU known for planetary sciences.
Barrett means something to many - so that might be a reason.
But there’s no bad choice - or as I said there’s no wrong answer - it was just a preference not to be placed in a back up program which is why I noted that. In fact, I asked if you got into UMD regular, would you accept it ? If so , that might be the choice even with the Spring (but off hour fall) admission
Thanks
Great list: 2025 Best Physics Schools. Thanks.
U Arizona is ranked #5.
U Maryland is #23.
CU-Boulder is #44.
ASU is not listed among the top 50.
I mentioned U Arizona because it has a strong undergraduate program in physics and applications are still being accepted. Also, Tucson is a great city / college town. The honors dorms are fairly new (less than decade old).
ASU-Barrett Honors College would be a wise choice if there is a reasonable possibility that the OP might change his major.
Are you instate for UMD? If not, I’d take it off the list. For Freshman Connection/Spring Admit, there’s no honors, no scholarships, and TBH, not worth full freight if OOS. S25 took it off the list based on this (plus no direct admit for majors in this model either).
I would choose CU Boulder. If they have a 5 in EM and they’re strong in physics, they can take 2170 first semester
Thank you, all public schools for him would be in-state tuition
Also, he did got in direct admit to physics
All ?
Direct admit at all 3? Even UMD?
Same comments above and you might throw in an app to Tucson (U Arizona)
Good luck.
How is he getting in state at these schools? Military? Interested because I am looking into getting in state for my kid at CUB (we are OOS).
Yes, physics direct admit in all three
yes, VA educational benefits
Which do you like ? No bad choice.
He has no idea… Still waiting to some RD and defferals, but wanted to get an opinion among these three. Honestly, Barret at ASU right now would be the cheapest with the mertit offered. But my son is dettered by its overall ranking.
Rank is irrelevant and ASU is well known for space physics and Barrett is a top 3 honors.
The campuses are vastly different. He will be there four years.
Outcome wise they are likely the same. They are three large flagships.
U.S. News ranking methodology is crap but it sells magazines.
These three schools are substitutional - not in admission chances but in reality.
UMD is an alternative admission but not a huge deal.
U of Arizona - still can apply - would be stronger than all for Physics - but what’s that mean ?
He’ll get the same job or into the same grad school out of all these.