Physics Programs Help

College Search & Lists
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I could use a little help finding target and safety schools for my son, rising senior.

We live in CA and he has an unweighted UC GPA of 4.0. His GPA for others depends on how they calculate, he had two B’s first semester freshman year and then all A’s after that. (UC doesn’t look at Freshman year) He goes to a private college prep school that has a better than average track record for getting kids into top schools, and especially UCs. His rigor is good and while his school doesn’t have AP (they have their own advanced level classes that UC gives the extra point to, UC GPA looks to be 4.3) He will have completed the highest level classes offered to him including AP Calc BC and AP Physics. 4 years foreign language as well.

He is weak on extracurriculars. He is an introvert and just prefers to be home. He will have 4 years First Robotics. 4 years volunteer service (400 hours) with leadership role, D&D club leader, and a summer job at a grocery store. He spends a lot of time every week caring for his developmentally disabled sister. He is also passionate about history, collects helmets from WWI and WW2, and is a trivia wiz when it comes to history.

His test scores so far are not high, SAT 1350 (only took it once) but testing again with more prep this fall. :crossed_fingers:t3:

Intended major is Physics, and he thinks it is his life’s purpose figure out nuclear fusion as an energy source. He is very passionate about this, and wants a school that is either doing research in high heat plasma physics, nuclear physics, or at the minimum particle physics. This is where our list breaks down, as only the “reach” schools are really matching his topics of interest. He intends to carry on to PhD study level.

He connects really well with teachers, is often the “teacher’s pet” of the class and will have very strong LOR.

His reaches are:
CalTech- but won’t even apply if he can’t get his SAT over 1500
Harvey Mudd- likes the small school and interdisciplinary vibe
UC Berkeley- Livermore Lab connection
UCSD- High heat plasma physics research
UCSB- good program but not his favorite research topics
UCLA- Particle, Nuclear and Plasma Physics

Target?
UCSC- good particle physics program
UC Riverside
Cal Poly SLO
Cal Poly Pomona

From there we are lost. On our radar is:
Arizona State
University of Arizona
Boulder
Oregon State
Reed- he loves this school because of their nuclear reactor, but they offer no merit and this seems too much to pay for the ROI.

I’d like him to stay on the western side of the country for college. It is hard to not focus 100% on UC as their are really affordable for us and great schools. But he also might do better at a smaller school where he gets more opportunity to create relationships with professors. UC admissions has been super weird lately, so we definitely need to round out the list.

We do not qualify for needs based aid, and cost is a factor but not a make or break factor.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

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Some schools to add UNLV, New Mexico and Colorado School of Mines.
But if you visit oregon st and like it, then these schools might not be needed.
These schools should have a nuclear engineering option.

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On the contrary if you prefer prestige and ranking but don’t mind being in the midwest, then consider NC state, UW-Madison and UIUC.

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Thank you! He definitely does not want to do engineering. He is more on the theoretical and experimental physics side. I’ll look at these, I have not even considered New Mexico. Las Vegas might be too hot which is why he isn’t super into the Arizona schools.

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I am from Chicago so we had UIUC on the list, but I really hoped he stay closer to home for undergrad.

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First off - his ECs are OUTSTANDING - and that’s before caring for a family member. A job is excellent…volunteering…Dungeon’s and Dragons, etc.

At a Private school - talk to the guidance counselor.

All that said - in looking at your desires - you have a safety that is one of the top Physics programs in the country and one of the leading feeders to PhD already on your list. U of Arizona.

And it has, as of now, fantastic merit for OOS students - your son would get $30K off - although that could change with its budget issues.

@UTmeritseeker was recently there checking for her student - and was very impressed by the facilities.

So it may be cost competitive with the UCs and just as strong. If he visits and likes the school - then you are done. Apply for reaches but this is a fall back. It is a big school. You have Harvey Mudd and Reed on your list - they are small. Does a large school work for him?

I think CU Boulder, for Physics, is outstanding as well. So is UCSC and Arizona State.

So I think you have ample safeties - if you like this. OSU is a great school too.

Once you have two you like and are affordable, the rest of the list doesn’t matter - you can apply to where you want - whether you get in or not. And then you can even shrink your list.

I would think more though about large vs. small - if that’s a concern for your student.

Your son has a strong profile - and will have “great” opportunities. Congrats to him and best of luck…but I think the pressure is off.

That said, take advantage of your private school and discuss with their counseling services - but do know, from an admission POV, he’s in GREAT shape!!

As for the heat, maybe UCSC or CU are better choices. I don’t see U Wash on your list - which for physics, is a reasonable school with his stats. And WWU with the WUE discount. You might also look at U Oregon and if he wants another small school that would be a safety - Willamette.

2024 Best Physics Schools (collegefactual.com)

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Sorry - I blabbered on about a top school - and didn’t mention it although you probably figured it out - U of Arizona. But I mentioned others later due to the heat issue you brought up.

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Which are these? Sorry I am not 100% sure which this refers to. We really don’t consider any of them safeties yet. We have the Reach and Target and then some we are looking at.

We have great college counselor, but they are “off” for the summer and we are trying to get the list tightened up and essays rough done before school starts! Thank you so much for our thoughtful reply and great insight!

Kid loved UCSC tour, but I am an alumni of the school and I don’t think he fits there socially. He also loved Berkeley. He doesn’t seem to prefer big over small but as his parent I know he needs to feel connected to teachers to reach his full potential so I have been putting the smaller schools on his radar.

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For a range of ideas, this site may be helpful:

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Yes - sorry - U of Arizona is a top school and provider of PHDs.

It’s a safety for you.

You needn’t worry about reach, target, and safety. You need to find two schools that are affordable, that you like and re sure fire acceptances. After that, where you apply doesn’t matter - you can apply where you want - because worst case you have affordable safeties.

So U of A is one.

Hopefully a UC like Santa Cruz is one but I don’t know.

Other suggestions strong in physics would be CU and U of Washington. CU is likely - I think UWash is a toss up (target). But you have Oregon State. Oregon would be solid too as would WWU. I didn’t mention before but Nevada (Reno) would also hit your “heat” spot and be solid. Oregon State, Oregon, WWU, UNR (and Arizona) would all be safeties.

So all these hit your weather component.

But then I wonder - does he want a small school? If so, Willamette would be worth consideration that’d be a safety.

But for large school safety with big merit - U of Arizona in my mind is tops - and hey, Tucson is cooler than Phoenix :slight_smile:

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Is he aware of the College of Creative Studies at UCSB? This requires an additional, more-selective application process in addition to the UC app, but he sounds like he’s well-equipped to write a compelling essay about his passion for physics research. This program would provide the more intimate environment and mentoring that you’re envisioning for him, even though it’s a larger university. Physics | UCSB College of Creative Studies I understand that he isn’t as excited about their research emphases, but perhaps there are still faculty working on areas of interest?

Canadian U’s also don’t consider 9th grade, and admissions are more predictable - maybe check out the research at UBC to see how that looks? But it’s huge, so there’s that.

I agree that EC’s do not have to be organized and school-based to be impressive. He has a great range of interests and pursuits. If he plans out his UC PIQ’s carefully to highlight different passions and aspects of his personality, I think he’ll have a really strong application.

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You’re right on that count! He does like this school from online profile and they have an honors program that looks great too. Maybe we’ll try to swing an AZ visit before school starts. Bad time of year for it though. :hot_face:

I’ll look into some of these others. Willamette sends us a lot of email. I have to check their cost. The PNW liberal arts schools were all pretty pricey, but maybe it was only Reed that didn’t offer merit. Have not looked at Washington schools so we will do that next!

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Yes! This is why UCSB is on his list and Dad is an alumni of the program!

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Here’s another list - you can go to Physics. It’s PhD feeders. He may not be going there but it might give you an idea of strong schools. The left side is total and right is per capita.

From the right side (per capita), easier admits for your student that are smaller - since it seems that’s where you’d like to offer up ideas:

NM Mining and Technology - a small tech focused school, a bit over an hour from Albuquerque - and on the WUE list. Safety.

Whitman College in Walla Walla Washington - target but I think gets in. They’ll offer you an aid guarantee (even merit) before you apply.

I think someone mentioned Colorado School of Mines - a midsize engineering school but with physics. It’s on the outskirts of Denver, at the base of the trek up into the mountains so if your son liked nature. He’s a match I’d say.

Hope that provides a little more help.

Top Feeders to Ph.D. Programs (■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■)

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This is great info! Thank you. Will check out some of your recommended schools as well.

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I visited the Honors Dorm with my daughter a few years ago at U of Arizona - I didn’t want to leave - i could have moved in right then :slight_smile:

It’s really nice, with a cafeteria on the bottom and a gym and counseling center adjacent. As you cost out schools, just know both U of A and ASU both have an Honors supplement fee - but nominal vs. the overall cost.

Willamette will offer merit.

If you want smaller schools and you’re not name brand focused, don’t forget WUE. Not all students earn it - but WUE is another option - and these 46 work for California kids but I name a few here.

Weather wise, NAU would be great. Fort Lewis in Colorado would be smaller. Wyoming, Idaho and Montana would be smaller publics that could work. I already mentioned Reno and New Mexico Mining and Tech, and Western Washington. Utah might be another solid large public on WUE.

WUE Savings Finder - WICHE

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I would definitely keep Boulder on the list. My niece attended undergrad for physics and theoretical mathematics. She was very well positioned for grad school getting into top PhD programs. She ultimately decided to continue at UC Boulder. Although the school might be a safety, they have one of the top physics programs. She had great advising and access to her professors. Chances are high that he will be able to do research on the topics he is interested in. There is a Quantum Scholars Program that he might be interested in. Quantum Scholars Program | Physics | University of Colorado Boulder

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S23 is more astrophysics than particle physics but his stats were much lower (3.7UW, statewide eligible but not ELC and his 1530 SAT didn’t help in CA) with very few ECs. He also wanted to stay in the western half of the country. His preferred options were Arizona, ASU, UCSC and CPSLO (liked Utah but ultimately concluded their physics wasn’t strong enough). Would have liked UCSD or UCSB but they were very reachy and he didn’t even bother with UCB/UCLA. Didn’t apply to much else (just Utah, SJSU, SDSU and CPP). Waitlisted at all UCs and CPSLO. Picked Arizona but then got off the waitlist at UCSC and is happy there. It was a very easy application process, he never even wrote a Common App essay, just the UC PIQs.

I think you should be fine with UCSC and Arizona as safeties. I assume he’s ELC? Oregon State with WUE should be OK too. So if you prefer UCs and don’t want to pay more then there’s no reason to look beyond your current list. Boulder and CSM will cost more, as would UW or Oregon.

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This was written for an OP who did not emphasize geographical or financial constraints: Where to undergrad in physics if grad school (PhD) is the goal? - #11 by merc81. Nonetheless, a few of the suggested schools may be suitable for your son as well.

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One thing about merit - when your student “outperforms” the rest of the student body, that’s where you get merit. Some publics (U or Arizona, Washington State) are more aggressive than others (CU Boulder), etc. But you have to look at total price because - as an example, a Florida State (not on your list) will be cheaper full price than CU Boulder after merit. Just using that as an example - but some schools (WUE) will have a lower sticker price than others after merit.

As for smaller schools, I think all in Washington offer merit, all in Oregon except Reed, and in CA, outside of the top Claremont schools (Stanford, Cal Tech, some of the Claremont Schools (I know Pitzer has small merit…but that might be it) won’t offer merit - but the rest will at least have the possibility.