Best Physics Schools for College | Ranked

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on identifying the best colleges for pursuing a physics major, highlighting institutions such as MIT, Caltech, Berkeley, Harvard, and Stanford. It emphasizes that while these schools have prestigious graduate programs, their undergraduate offerings may vary significantly. The conversation advises prospective students to focus on personal happiness and fit rather than solely on rankings, as acceptance rates at top-tier schools are extremely low. It also suggests that the quality of education at state schools or smaller private colleges can be equally valuable if students commit to academic excellence.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of college admissions processes
  • Familiarity with physics degree requirements
  • Knowledge of college ranking systems, particularly for graduate programs
  • Awareness of the importance of personal fit in college selection
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the undergraduate physics programs at MIT and Caltech
  • Explore collegeconfidential.com for student experiences and insights
  • Investigate the differences between undergraduate and graduate physics programs
  • Visit campuses of potential colleges to assess personal fit and happiness
USEFUL FOR

High school students interested in pursuing a physics major, college admissions counselors, and parents guiding students through the college selection process.

hawk320
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I'm a junior in high school and looking around for what colleges I want to apply to. In college I want to go into a physics major and I was hoping that someone could tell me which schools had the best physics programs. Thank you.
 
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Those rankings are for grad school. Is there a big difference between their programs?
 
Generally getting into a program such as Harvard/Princeton/CalTech is going to be extremely difficult for most people, their acceptance rates are so incredibly low that getting in is tough.

Don't let this discourage you tough, a lot of great minds come from all over, from many backgrounds, and the education you would receive at a quality state school or smaller private can be just as good, you just need to be certain you bust you butt and achieve academic excellance in undergrad.

Grad school is considerably more important than undergrad school, so I would visit each school and make a personal decision about where you want to go... don't let the USnews rankings or some other BS skew your desicison too much... you want to go where you will be HAPPY, not just the most "prestigious" place you can get into...

Also, many such top tier programs are ranked as such for their grad school programs, while the quality of their undergraduate programs can vary widely... I suggest sites like collegeconfidential.com and others to get a feel
 
Thanks.
 

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