Top Liberal Arts School vs. Full Ride at State Uni

[elimelon]

Hello,

I am fortunate to have been accepted into Williams College (ranked #1 Liberal Arts school consistently) for a cost of about $8,000 for my contribution, and I have also received a full ride at my state university, the University of Maine. I would really enjoy a liberal arts education, however, I have also been working at a quantum phenomena lab at UMaine and have a research position with similar freedom and funding to other graduate students, and would be able to take much higher-level courses. Additionally, the merit program which grants me a full ride comes with extensive research resources, and my experience there thus far has been very good; the faculty has been extremely welcoming and has gone out of their way to accommodate and fund me. While there may be less funding per student, barely any take advantage of the resources at UMaine, leading me to believe that I may actually have more opportunity available in my position.

Please let me know your thoughts! Either option is an amazing opportunity, I just think the decision is between a more hunker down and get significant research done vs. top-tier education.

 

[Muu9]

How certain are you about going on to grad school in physics? How would you be able to take much higher level courses at Maine than at Williams? Which physics classes would you be able to take, say, freshman fall at Maine vs Williams?

Personally I would lean towards Williams for the tutorial system and teaching quality. I wouldn't worry too much about research unless you're fixated on the type that requires equipment Williams doesn't have (and even then, it would be good to broaden your horizons). One case in which I might choose Maine is if you have an extremely advanced physics background and Williams won't let you take courses at the appropriate level (the most advanced placement level seems to be physics 201 for freshmen)

You can double check this, but Williams financial aid also applies to study abroad programs, which can include Harvard and/or Oxford

 

[elimelon]

How certain are you about going on to grad school in physics? How would you be able to take much higher level courses at Maine than at Williams? Which physics classes would you be able to take, say, freshman fall at Maine vs Williams?

Personally I would lean towards Williams for the tutorial system and teaching quality. I wouldn't worry too much about research unless you're fixated on the type that requires equipment Williams doesn't have (and even then, it would be good to broaden your horizons). One case in which I might choose Maine is if you have an extremely advanced physics background and Williams won't let you take courses at the appropriate level (the most advanced placement level seems to be physics 201 for freshmen)

You can double check this, but Williams financial aid also applies to study abroad programs, which can include Harvard and/or Oxford

I am fairly certain I wish to pursue a physics PhD. As for the courses, I will be coming in with the most advanced placement Williams offers, but to your point, there would probably only be a couple courses senior year that I would miss out on.

I really like the looks of Williams' study abroad at Oxford - it's a whole year, all tutorial courses, and they have their own campus - but my one worry is that I would be unable to get significant research done seeing as I'd be away from Williams and visiting at another school. Williams also has a semester at CERN, which could be promising.

I guess the biggest consideration is the attention I would receive at UMaine and the cost of Williams, though as you said, I'm sure I can find something that works for me for research at Williams, and the liberal arts education is probably worth 8k more per year than UMaine. I was planning on going to Williams, but UMaine surprised me a letter in the mail informing me of this scholarship, so that has prompted my hesitation.

 

[gmax137]

I agree the offer you describe from UMaine sounds extraordinary.

If you have any interests outside of physics - history, the arts, languages, literature, music, economics, political science, psychology, other sciences... - then you should really consider Williams. If you want to find out how it feels to not be the smartest person in the room - then you should really consider Williams. $8,000 is a lot of money but that's what it cost (tuition plus room & board) when I was there, nearly 50 years ago. A bargain.