Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:outstanding, probably one of the top 10 LACs for both

curriculum is very rigorous and prepares students well for grad school

Top 10 LACs for math and physics

Harvey Mudd
Williams
Swarthmore
Carleton
Pomona
Haverford
Wesleyan
Reed
Amherst
Wellesley

How are these decided? Why this order? Seems extremely arbitrary

Anonymous wrote:Reed has a research nuclear reactor. Great place for math and physics.

Reed is a great place to do both of these majors but this is the worst reason

Anonymous wrote:outstanding, probably one of the top 10 LACs for both

curriculum is very rigorous and prepares students well for grad school

Top 10 LACs for math and physics

Harvey Mudd
Williams
Swarthmore
Carleton
Pomona
Haverford
Wesleyan
Reed
Amherst
Wellesley

outstanding, probably one of the top 10 LACs for both

curriculum is very rigorous and prepares students well for grad school

Reed has a research nuclear reactor. Great place for math and physics.

Those interested in the history of the Apker may find it interesting that Reed is one of four LACs to have produced a recipient of this prestigious award for research in physics during the time when candidates from colleges and universities were considered together.

I know... Five physicists that went to Reed? They're all working as physicists at impressive places, and they all went to impressive grad schools.

It must be said I knew none of them when we were all in college at the same time, because the physics majors were always in their building off doing physics things most of the time. From what I've heard, it's a tough program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What high level academics are you worried Reed is missing?
High level research won’t be available. It’s an LAC. Doesn’t mean your DC can’t fill their summer with an REU or by joining a lab to start their research journey.

Two dozen U.S. colleges or universities operate nuclear research reactors. Reed is among them. However, in that Reed's reactor appears to be unique by being student run, Reed's research opportunities in certain realms of physics may be greater than those of university alternatives.

That’s great and all, but it still is true that you just won’t really have access to high level research. Like I said previously, this really doesn’t matter much since you will be able to get into REUs to conduct such research. There’s also just in general a lot more to physics research than being essentially a lab technician.

Anonymous wrote:What high level academics are you worried Reed is missing?
High level research won’t be available. It’s an LAC. Doesn’t mean your DC can’t fill their summer with an REU or by joining a lab to start their research journey.

Two dozen U.S. colleges or universities operate nuclear research reactors. Reed is among them. However, in that Reed's reactor appears to be unique by being student run, Reed's research opportunities in certain realms of physics may be greater than those of university alternatives.

Of physics courses that I might like to see at Reed for this student, mathematical physics doesn't appear in its curriculum:

https://www.reed.edu/physics/courses/

What high level academics are you worried Reed is missing?
High level research won’t be available. It’s an LAC. Doesn’t mean your DC can’t fill their summer with an REU or by joining a lab to start their research journey.

If Reed's appeal lies partly in its academic atmosphere and educational mission, its self-chosen comparison schools also may be of interest:

12 School List

Carleton College, MN

Colorado College, CO

Davidson College, NC

Grinnell College, IA

Hamilton College, NY

Haverford College, PA

Lewis & Clark College, OR

Oberlin College, OH

Occidental College, CA

Pomona College, CA

Swarthmore College, PA

Whitman College, WA

Note that a few of these colleges seem to appear partly for geographical reasons, however.

You really shouldn’t worry much about that- physics is pretty simple. You need to take upper div Stat Mech, Mech, Quantum, and E&M for grad school. Research is perfectly fine, because REUs prefer lac grads. Reed has an amazing reputation in physics for its undergraduate rigor and faculty and its qualifying exam.

That said, I’d actually be more worried about being able to graduate a physics or math major. Those departments are tough stuff at Reed, which already has a lagging graduation rate. I’d think that if a student really wants a west coast lac for math and physics, they should heavily look at Pomona. Especially if they’re looking for mathematics graduate school, the higher level courses will be way more available and that actually does tend to be an important consideration for PhD programs in math

This post mentions Reed in the context of LACs excellent for physics:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/45/1279352.page#30265916

Note the presence of a nuclear reactor on Reed's campus for research.

Reed's math program is very strong.

DS likes a lot about their model, but I worry that the higher level academics/research won't be available. How does it compare to other LACs?