Help a physics major find affordable options

[solar sleet]

Location/Region: I live the Bay, and I’d like a place with a similar/colder temperature range. I’d like a small/college town vibe area with access to a larger city.

Major: Physics. Looking into other hard sciences too, like chemistry/forensics.

GPA: 3.97 UW (about to dip a tiny bit)
About a 4.4 W
ACT: 33 (may retake, 1st try)

Curriculum: I value a collaborative academic environment with lots of opportunity for research. Definitely value connections with teachers and opportunities to get involved.

Size: Really any size.

Cost: I don’t qualify for most need-based aid, so definitely recommend need-blind schools/colleges with great merit scholarships.
Ideally less than 40k per year with tuition and living combined.

Other: Good career support/undergrad research opportunities. And good alum network. A positive environment (not a pressure-cooker school) and living conditions are welcome; so is political and arts opportunities on campus. Also, LGBTQ support is a must. Bonus points for Catholic institutions!

Things I liked about schools: I haven’t been to many so,, I LOVED Davis’ rural vibe and BYU’s non-competitive atmosphere+spirituality support (not going there tho LMAO). Berkeley’s political movements on campus were very very cool (urban tho 🤢). Hated SJSU for the buildings but it’s been a nice school otherwise (just sucked that it was in the middle of a big smelly city).

Thank u sm <33

[old skiff]

don’t waste ur money to retake the act, a lot of schools are going test optional now and 33 is already a high score as it is

georgetown (catholic, in dc and a fairly liberal school so there are def lgbtq support and political/artsy organizations, georgetown is a cute area)

loyola marymount

villanova

if ur stats r really good and u want scholarships id look into state schools or lower ranked schools as ur stats would be way above average than their average. (if ur a ca resident state schools youll outperform vary)

[solar sleet]

Yay, thanks for the advice! I’ll probably do that unless my mom makes me retake (Bay Area Asian culture lmao)

Are you sure Georgetown is fairly liberal? My friend toured it and told me they were having a protest against gay marriage at the school— might be a one-off instance tho

I looked into the schools u recommended but they are so expensive 💀 how likely would it be for me to get a scholarship or need-blind aid?

Also, which state schools would you recommend? Tbh, if I can’t afford my options I’ll probably do community college and transfer 😄

[old skiff]

georgetown may be moderate i think got them confused w american which is super liberal 😭

i’m not a ca resident so i’m not too well versed on them but berkeley and ucla are top schools but can be hard to get into but should be affordable for a ca resident. basically any uc other than merced are good stem schools

[thin knoll]

uiuc, uw-madison, and purdue are some oos public options. ny state schools as well. cal states are always a good option too

[old skiff]

u of arizona and arizona state should give u good merit bc of ur stats

[thin knoll]

minnesota also gives scholarships for good stats

[inner forge]

check out st mary’s in moraga. give out a lot in merit scholarships and is a small liberal arts school in the bay area. small town but close to the big city!!

more expensive but with ur stats you would likely get a good chunk of merit scholarships

[solar sleet]

Thanks everyone for the help!! 😄

[glossy flicker]

hello Francis

found your thread 👀

[solar sleet]

Yesss 🙂