Hello I am an incoming Senior who is uncertain of which colleges I should apply to. I have taken multiple tests and received my scores. Could you suggest some schools I could get into with my scores, My interests lie in STEM more specifically physics. I want to attend only a private university or liberal arts college. Many thanks.
SAT: 1480 both times super score to 1500
SAT Subject Test 780 Math II 770 Physics
ACT 32. But will retest so maybe 34 at least.
AP testing Calc AB/BC 5, Physics 1 4.
In Science Olympiad won 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th in my events.
Working with Professor in robots this summer
GPA (preferably unweighted since weighting systems are so variable)? Home state?
What is wrong with public schools? There are a bunch of them that are very good at STEM.
I have a 3.7 unweighted, from California, and at public schools I am just a face. I want a environment where I can interact with Professors directly and easily.
For physics check the Physical Sciences column of http://www.reed.edu/ir/phd.html
Nine of the schools are small.
Reed, Whitman, Lawrence University, Carleton, St Olaf, Grinnell, Haverford, Rhodes, Hendrix, if you get 33-34 Cal tech (reach for all).
Run the NPC on all of these and show results to your parents.
Hamilton, Haverford, Carleton, Grinnell, Reed.
Of course you can try the top private schools in CA for starters - Stanford, Cal Tech, Pomona, Claremont, Harvey Mudd but without a hook, all are going to be reaches, Stanford a super reach. If you have legacy, URM, first-gen, family context, that could help.
In addition to LACs, look at smaller research U’s like Case Western, U Rochester, Rice, WashU