So far I have:
SF State (Don’t necessarily want to go here but my counselors require we apply here or another CSU)
Howard University
University of Washington
Occidental College
UC Santa Cruz
UCLA
UC Berkeley
Barnard College
I’m a junior, some basic stats:
GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.3 weighted
Rank: 4/120
SAT: 2000
EC’s:
Started and lead 100% student run tutoring program at school (4 years, Tutor for 1 year, director for 3 years)
in my city’s Youth Commission (2 years)
Member of Acapella Club (2 years)
Event Director in my school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (4 years, director for 3 years)
Student Enrollment Team (2 years)
Student Gov (1.5 years)
Youth Church Choir (
AP’s
AP World History (4), waiting on scores for APUSH, AP Lang, AP Psych and AP Physics 1
I’m black, female, middle class and live in California.
Thanks!
*This is my goal score. I haven’t gotten my first SAT scores back yet, and I’ll be re-taking in October.
Are all these affordable? Depending on actual SAT you could get a full ride at Howard, seems you should at least get tuition. Whereas at UW you will be full payer at OOS rates. I find the list odd myself.
How much can your family afford? Since you are in-state California and if you are in need of financial aid, the UC’s and Cal states would be the most affordable. UCLA/UCB might be a slight reach with that SAT score. If you can get a 2100+, you would have a better chance. You might get some merit aid from Occidental but probably not enough to offset the high cost. UW as an OOS will be pricey. Not sure about the rest of the schools. I would add UCI/UCD or UCSB as Match schools if your SAT is near your goal.
Any of the other woman’s colleges interest you? Top notch educations and typically generous with financial aid if needed with acceptance rates more forgiving than coed institutions of similar quality.
@xraymancs I want to major in Physics, to be a high school science (maybe math) teacher.
@Gumbymom@BrownParent Not totally sure about financial aid. I’m pretty sure I need it, but how much I don’t know. Would the grants/loan forgiveness that I’d receive from teaching offset some of the costs for the pricier schools?
@doschicos I’ve been so enthralled with Barnard I haven’t looked at the other women’s colleges, lol. I really like the balance Barnard seems to have between women’s college and coed, small LAC and big research university. It’s also in an urban area.
@charmandquark - Check out Bryn Mawr. Stunning campus in a great suburban location with stores and restaurants to walk to, and a commuter train station within walking distance that will get you into Philly in 15-20 minutes (the college provides free passes). It’s in a bi-college program with Haverford College which allows you to take classes and even major at Haverford, plus extra-curricular options on both campuses which gives you access to a coed experience. Bryn Mawr is also part of the Quaker Consortium which allows you to take classes at UPenn and Swarthmore. The acceptance rate is higher than Barnard so it gives you another option.
Another all female college to look into is Wellesley.
Check out Scripps. All of the Claremont colleges are literally right next to each other, so despite going to a small women’s college, you would be part of an undergraduate community of 5000+. The consortium offers lots of opportunities (like being able to take physics and math at Harvey Mudd!) It’s also pretty close to LA.
Occidental might meet your demonstrated need. They met it for our household; unfortunately, our EFC was very high, and my son chose a less expensive option.
For physics, I think you will be able to get a solid degree at anyof these universities. However, given your intent of being a high school teacher (a great choice, by the way!), make sure that you can find a program that lets you get a teaching credential along with the physics degree. If you have a particular state in mind, then it might even be most efficient to study in that state so your student teaching and credential are immediately applicable.
There is a real need for high school physics teachers. I know that in the Chicago area all of our Physics Education majors find good jobs almost immediately upon graduation.
@doschicos Oooh I kinda like Bryn Mawr. I hadn’t though about going to Pennsylvania for school. I’m going to look into it more. Thanks!
@Ynotgo Oh, sweet, that’d be perfect. I’ll consider UCSB as well.
@lalalemma I was considering going to one of the Claremont colleges, but according to google maps it’s nearly an hour away. Do you know if it is easy transporting from the Claremont colleges to L.A? (With the exception of UCSC) I’m trying to apply to schools that are in pretty urban areas.
@xraymancs Thank you! & Oh, that’s good to hear. I worry a little bit about finding a job after college (as most people do)–hearing that is comforting.
For Physics, Lawrence is excellent (one of the standard-bearers in the discipline at the undergraduate level and a top producer of PHDs) and their R1 program, that matches a student with alumni who work in labs at big “R1” universities is excellent. I believe that it could be a safety due to your academics + the boost from urm + geographical diversity, which should result in excellent merit/financial aid.
UArizona has an excellent physics department, but the honors college there is rather lackluster (unlike ASU). And since, as an undergrad, 2/3 of your classes will be outside physics, I don’t know if it’s worth it for you or not, look into it.
Urban colleges you may want to consider: Macalester, Agnes Scott (there’s even a partnership with Georgia Tech), Rice, URochester…
Look into Colorado College: its structure is unique, but I believe it’s very beneficial for science.
Rather than SF State, apply to Sonoma (excellent for teacher education, prettier and more residential and SFState, and a REAL safety for you) as well as Cal Poly SLO (a CSU so your GC would be pleased… but it’s become even more selective than UCSC… shhh… don’t tell your guidance counselor.)
@MYOS1634 I wish I could switch out SF State for Sonoma, but my choices are SF State or CSU East Bay (would East bay be a better option?) because those two CSU’s give first priority to students in the local area (ie: me). I will look into these colleges nevertheless tho, thanks!
Well, you’ll have priority anyway due to your grades… or do you mean your school forces you to apply to either one?
Talk with your GC to see whether s/he’d allow you to apply to Sonoma State, taking your grades and scores into account. I mean, you should even qualify for ELC and Top 9% in State, so you can’t be shut out of the UC system!
