Physics Major [CA, 3.96, 1460, needs full FA on $20-80k family income]

College Search & Lists
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Hi, I want some help looking for a college that fits this criteria. My SAT score is 760RW/700M. I understand my math is on the lower end for my major, but I plan on submitting regardless, because I feel I’ve excelled despite circumstances. My major might change, and I’m open to LACs. :slight_smile:

  • Completely need-met, even if income changes drastically. My family makes 20k a year now, but it will be increasing to ~80k by the end of next year.
  • I’d like to live on campus, I don’t want to live in a triple unless it’s fairly big. I’d also live on campus during the summer if possible, but this isn’t a dealbreaker.
  • Smaller to medium school (5k-7k students), preferably close to a big city but not necessarily in it. I want “downtown” life and good public transportation. I’d like to be able to walk to places without a car.
  • Easy to befriend professors, small enough that you see people you recognize, but not so small that you can’t run into new people.
  • Good research opportunities, internships, and jobs on campus for students.
  • More artsy/LAC vibe. Not super interested in STEM-rigorous schools like CalTech and MIT.
  • Strong study-abroad program and hopefully (?) a good amount of middle-eastern students.
  • Preferably somewhere that leans colder, but not too cold and definitely not icy or snow all the time.
  • Lastly, good food!

I’m considering Pomona and CMC right now! I don’t feel like I’m okay with going to a womens’ only college, but my mind could be changed.

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And maybe a nitpick but I’d like a pretty campus. Not a dealbreaker, but yeah. Harvey Mudd was on consideration, except I think I’d get depressed looking at how ugly their buildings are.

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HMC, CMC, and Pomona are adjacent, so you can look at buildings at any of them if you attend any of them: Map – The Claremont Colleges . However, HMC may be too much like “STEM-rigorous schools” that you are “not super interested in”.

CMC does not have a physics major, although some physics is included in its integrated sciences major: Academics: Departments, Majors and Programs | Claremont McKenna College

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Look at Kenyon in Ohio if you’re open to the Midwest. A beautiful campus in a hilly area, a very artsy vibe but also strong in Physics (it’s on the list of top feeders for Ph.D. in Physics, relatively to its size).

(It’s more rural than you want but Columbus is under an hour away). It’s also smaller than 5K, but you said you’re open to LACs and they tend to be smaller.

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Would you possibly qualify for QuestBridge? It’s definitely something to look into, given your financial need. The deadline is September 26 so please do get on this right away. Dates & Deadlines | QuestBridge

I think there are schools that meet much of your description that are incredibly hard to get into (off the top of my head, places like Columbia, U Penn, U Chicago, Rice, Princeton, WashU, Northwestern, Brown, Duke, Tufts, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Yale, etc.) All of them I believe have <10% acceptance rates, which makes them long shots even for students with incredible stats and stories. But many if not all of them are QuestBridge partners. If it’s not too late, do look into this program.

Beyond those reachiest reach schools (and what you’ve said really makes me think you’d like several of them), there are options that are slightly easier to get into but might suit.

If you change your mind about women’s colleges, Smith is part of a coalition of schools and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need w/out loans (but it’s not in a city). They have a much higher acceptance rate. Wesleyan does the same for people below a certain income threshold (which I believe you’d qualify for) and while still quite a reach, they’re easier to get into than, say, Princeton or Rice.

In the next tier of acceptance level, you might consider a place like Oberlin, which has the artsy vibe you like, a strong physics program, funds for research and summer internships, and is located in a very walkable college town. I think it’s closer to what you’re describing than Kenyon.

In/near proper cities, you might try Case Western Reserve, University of Rochester, Macalester (not nearly as large as you’re seeking but city location could make up for it), Occidental, or maybe even Reed. (One note of caution about Reed: their physics program is reputed to be incredibly intense.)

But above all– check out Questbridge.

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Wesleyan University also has the distinction of being an LAC that has produced multi-year Apker prize finalists and winners in the doctoral institution division (Wesleyan has a small number of doctoral programs of its own.) So, all of those R1 universities were their competitors in the years that they won.

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This was originally posted on CC for another OP with an interest in physics. Some of the suggested colleges may be suitable for you as well:

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Look at Franklin & Marshall - and at every school you need to run the net price calculator to see if they agree with your financial assessment. Berea may be another.

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Linking to OP’s previous thread for reference Chance Me - CA, Low-Income, 3.96UW/4.2 W for Ivy Leagues/UCs (Business OR Biology)

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I recently went on a tour to UCLA and I was a super big fan of the small “town” feeling of a college and how green it was, except I didn’t like how many students there were. It felt like I was really small and lost myself in the crowd, and I’m not really a fan of that and how big the classes are. Does anyone know colleges that are similar in feeling but not size? I am applying through Questbridge and I’m ranking my colleges by the 10th, but I only have ~5 colleges that I feel fit and I would like to rank more.

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Since your posts in general suggest a strong desire for a high quality classroom experience, this site may offer you a few further ideas:

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I just noticed this qualification in Wesleyan’s no-loan policy. ETA: Wesleyan is -0- loan for all students as of this Fall.

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