University Search for a Physics Major

[Vanadium 50]

It's a matter of degree. It's easier to get admitted for an in-state student (e.g. Berkeley has a 3.0 GPA minimum in-state vs 3.4 for out of state) but it is less relatively easy than in the past.

I have no idea as to costs...

Many of those are state schools, and give very little aid to out of state students.

 

[gwnorth]

OP a good source of information with regards to finding schools with good funding for international students is College Confidential.

 

[Falgun]

Thanks a lot! I'll certainly look into all the suggestions. I didn't even know half of the universities mentioned in #26, thanks a lot.Also since I was advised to apply wide as possible and since US has been well represented in this thread, Can someone tell me about universities in UK. From what I have researched, Oxford/Cambridge , Imperial College London and University College London seem top of the pack. But that's the extent of my knowledge.

 

[Falgun]

OP a good source of information with regards to finding schools with good funding for international students is College Confidential.

I came across the website but I wasn't sure how much to trust it. Are there any other reliable sources? So far I've erred on the side of caution and stuck to official University websites.

 

[gwnorth]

I came across the website but I wasn't sure how much to trust it. Are there any other reliable sources? So far I've erred on the side of caution and stuck to official University websites.

You can trust it. Of most value I find are the forums. There are many very knowledgeable people who can help steer you in the right direction.

 

[bhobba]

I will throw out about ten that come to mind. I am not expert

One I will mention that is known as good but is not that hard to get into is Virginia Tech. Exactly why that is, I do not know.
https://www.niche.com/colleges/virginia-tech/admissions/

That is in the US.

A good course in Australia that is easy to get into is:
https://www.griffith.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-science-advanced-honours-1330

Most who do that degree double major in physics and applied math then decide what to get their honours in 4th year ie either physics or applied math honours.

If you are willing to consider the UK, the following is interesting:
https://www.open.ac.uk/choose/openplus/

Thanks
Bill

 

[Falgun]

I'm somewhat confused. From what I've seen some sources state the maximum possible GPA as 4.0 and some as 5.0 . Which of the following is more common? In India, we usually calculate the Cumulative Grade Point Average of an academic year to have the maximum value of 10.0 .

Also there's this concept of weighted and unweighted GPA. Correct me if I'm wrong, weighted GPA takes into account the difficulty of the courses taken and unweighted GPA does not. Which is commonly used in Uni admissions or does it vary among different institutions.

If so how is weighted average calculated?

 

[Falgun]

It's weighted GPA in the last line not weighted average.

 

[bhobba]

It's weighted GPA in the last line not weighted average.

To elaborate, many HS's in the USA weight honours and AP courses by taking them out of 5 instead of 4. That is how it is possible to get a GPA greater than 4. In Australia, you get extra points for taking more challenging courses like math that includes calculus and a foreign language. You get the most significant weighting for completing the equivalent of a year at university - with progressively less weighting for doing less than a year. In Aus, you have the university of open learning anyone can do courses from. Just two university subjects with at least a credit and simply passing grade 12 (or in some cases not even competing HS) will usually get you into most studies.

In the UK, it is different again, but I am not sure of the exact details. The one I suggested is you do two years part-time at their university of open learning, and you gain automatic entry to the second year at some universities.

Thanks
Bill

 

[Falgun]

To elaborate, many HS's in the USA weight honours and AP courses by taking them out of 5 instead of 4. That is how it is possible to get a GPA greater than 4. In Australia, you get extra points for taking more challenging courses like math that includes calculus and a foreign language. You get the most significant weighting for completing the equivalent of a year at university - with progressively less weighting for doing less than a year. In Aus, you have the university of open learning anyone can do courses from. Just two university subjects with at least a credit and simply passing grade 12 (or in some cases not even competing HS) will usually get you into most studies.

In the UK, it is different again, but I am not sure of the exact details. The one I suggested is you do two years part-time at their university of open learning, and you gain automatic entry to the second year at some universities.

Thanks
Bill

Thanks for clearing that up.

Actually if you choose to study science in your junior and senior year in India you get the option of choosing the following combinations:

1. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Elective, English
2. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Elective, English
3. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology , English

I have chosen the 3rd combination. From comparing standard textbooks at US universities , I find that my courses are just below a University course. For example anyone who studies mathematics at Junior and Senior years has to learn Single variable Calculus.

So I feel pretty much ready for a US uni . But I'm still planning to take AP courses in Physics C , Calculus BC, and Statistics and maybe Chemistry. Since my school doesn't have APs , I'll travel to a nearby city to take the exams. So I guess I'll have to self report the scores, since they won't show up on my transcript (right?) .

Also for some background information, I'll be taking the SAT in March. I've consistently hitting 1500+ on official tests by College Board.

I'm also prepping for physics Olympiad and astronomy Olympiad this year.

 

[gwnorth]

OP you won't need to self-report your AP scores. You will instruct the College Board (issuers of AP courses) to submit the scores on your behalf.