Agree that the two-week shopping period each semester really helps students find the classes they really like – and can add to some unexpected great “finds” in the curriculum!
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I agree with about 99.5% of your posts, but we part company here. I think it would be very hard to graduate from Swat without any professorial engagement, but very easy to do so at UIUC, if UIUC is anything like my state flagship undergraduate institution. I agree that the student him or herself is a key factor, maybe even the most important factor; but there are other important factors. It will be harder and easier at various institution types. Sure, there is going to be some variability across the faculty and the student body as inputs into the equation, but there are advantages to both models. If not, then by implication, there would be no point in ever attending a small college unless you were phobic about big crowds.
At any rate, this doesn’t seem to be at issue in a comparison between Stanford and Brown, both of which enroll 8,000-ish undergrads. Relative to resources, you’re going to get the attention you want at either.
To the OP, I can’t offer a view about physics specifically, but I can tell you my D has loved her time at Brown, and we have loved our time visiting her there. We live on the west coast, but I am partial to and prefer Providence over Palo Alto, and I prefer the Brown campus over Stanford’s. But who could ever fault anyone for choosing Stanford? If Stanford has an edge in physics, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it did, then I’m sure you can also get what you need and more for an outstanding undergraduate physics education that will take you where you want to go at Brown.
If your kid is from the Bay Area, it might be a growth opportunity to get away, assuming finances are not a factor.
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I’ll assume we’re done discussing Swarthmore vs UIUC, how rankings are devised, and any other topic that doesn’t address the OP’s question.
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When I was a student, I faced a similar decision between Stanford and Brown and chose Stanford. I took my share of physics classes, but was an EE major (a good chunk of upperclassmen classes are cross listed under both EE and physics). The physics classes I did take all had good communication, including good TA support. There was a building where students could go for support from physics TAs (mostly PhD students) about whatever they happened to be working on, from any class… or to just hang out and talk about physics.
Both schools have similarly sized small physics programs with a couple dozen undergrads, with ~25% being women, and far more grads than undergrads. At Stanford , the physics grads are mostly PhD students, and at Brown the physics grads are mostly master’s students. Both schools have pages describing summer research opportunities for undergrads. The Stanford pages has links describing specific positions, but you may need to get permission to view.
My experience with research in other fields was there are plenty of opportunities available for undergrads, but you may need to take some initiative to have those opportunities. There were also opportunities in fields not well related to my major. For example, I was involved in research with a professor of psychology at the med school, in spite of not having taken any psychology courses at Stanford.
Both schools have a reputation for being laid back ,with a collaborative/non-competitive vibe. I’ve taken classes at many colleges (RPI, SUNY, Syracuse, Wyoming, UCSD, …). None were as collaborative as Stanford or had so many on campus who appeared to go out of their way to assist others. However, Stanford is also known for the “Stanford Duck Syndrome”. On the surface, students appear to be gliding effortlessly on the water, but less visibiliy they are furiously paddling underneath.
The location is obviously different, which influences things like which companies are most likely to attend career fairs; as well as more direct connections like weather and distance from home.
Most physics students pursue grad degrees. Stanford’s co-terminal masters program is particularly popular, where students simultaneously pursue BS+MS degrees. However, if she is interested in research, I’m guessing she’s more interested in PhD. Among Brown physics alumni, the 2 most common job titles at 10 years out were post-doc and software engineer. If she may be interested in the latter, there are notable differences between the 2 schools.
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Super helpful and thorough - thank you!
Thank you. The main reasons were the interdisciplinary nature of the courses, particularly Symbolic Systems, and the research opportunities. She loved the beautiful campus and the friendly students and staff during our visit. They are starting classes this week.
If she truly feels like she would be happy at both I would recommend applying ED to Brown for a possible slight ED boost. Then, if she gets deferred or denied she can still apply to Stanford RD with no penalty since the REA round does not offer any boost to acceptance rate.
If this student hasn’t already applied ED to Brown, that ship has sailed. Deadline was November 1.
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Yes, that is true.
She applied ED Brown - now crossing fingers! 
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