Anonymous
Post 02/07/2023 09:19     Subject: Re:Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Anonymous wrote:My oldest is a senior in Hs, and has nearly identical stats and interests to your son except that he preferred cold weather (so apologies if this list is not too useful). We are in MCPS. We basically ignored the interest in physics for the reason the PP cited, that who knows what DS might actually major in so don’t pick a college based on that. Colleges on his list: Case Western, Wash U, Tufts, Rochester, William & Mary, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pitt, UMD. Some are bigger than his expressed interest, but if so the plan is/was to apply to the honors colleges at those schools to create a smaller community - also we thought it was good to keep open the option of a larger uni since we noticed his preferences evolve in some ways throughout the process and there is a large gap in time between fall applications and spring admittance.

If DS had preferred warmer weather, we would have added Rice and Emory, possibly some UCs.


My predictions.

Michigan—Deferred. probably won’t get accepted bc from DMV, no hooks
Rochester—good if you are full pay. They give little merit.
UMD—will get accepted and maybe with honors
Pitt—Accepted. Maybe merit aid of $5-$15k
CWRU—Accepted if you demonstrate interest. Would probably get merit but this school is expensive even with merit.
Tufts—Probably rejected since no hooks. They are a highly rejective school but may as well try!
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2023 09:14     Subject: Re:Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
For safeties, could always apply to Alabama honor or ASU Barrett for a full ride, or close to it, with your son’s stats.

Anonymous
Post 02/07/2023 08:07     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Anonymous wrote:Thank you. OP here. Just put some of these on my kid’s radar. Wake Forest was one I hadn’t thought of.

Good safeties? Penn State, VA Tech… others?

Thanks again.


No skin in the game but VA Tech not a safety just fyi.
I don't know Penn State's most recent admissions stats to know if it's a target or a safety.
To me, below a 25% acceptance rate is a reach for everyone (I know many disagree but that is how we approached the current cycle as well as last year's, in our case with success).
Above 25% acceptance rate = target
Above 50-75% - safety
To us, safeties & targets aren't safe unless you give them a lot of love.
One of mine accepted ED to a reach for everyone top 15, other accepted ED to a target even though stats would earn lottery ticket - thrilled to be going there as is dream school regardless of ranking.
Try to get best admissions data when building list - from Common Data Set or each school's admissions site.
Enjoy the visits - the process is exhausting but the visits can be fun!
Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2023 07:33     Subject: Re:Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Anonymous wrote:My oldest is a senior in Hs, and has nearly identical stats and interests to your son except that he preferred cold weather (so apologies if this list is not too useful). We are in MCPS. We basically ignored the interest in physics for the reason the PP cited, that who knows what DS might actually major in so don’t pick a college based on that. Colleges on his list: Case Western, Wash U, Tufts, Rochester, William & Mary, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pitt, UMD. Some are bigger than his expressed interest, but if so the plan is/was to apply to the honors colleges at those schools to create a smaller community - also we thought it was good to keep open the option of a larger uni since we noticed his preferences evolve in some ways throughout the process and there is a large gap in time between fall applications and spring admittance.

If DS had preferred warmer weather, we would have added Rice and Emory, possibly some UCs.


I’m this poster, and thought I’d add that DS was rejected from Wash U in the ED round this year. About 3.98uw/4.8w and 1570 SAT (800m/770v).
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2023 06:37     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Duke has been moving away from Greek life for a while so that could fit your DS’ bill. Of course Duke is another reach but for less selective schools UT Austin and Davidson have good physics too.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 22:55     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thank you. OP here. Just put some of these on my kid’s radar. Wake Forest was one I hadn’t thought of.

Good safeties? Penn State, VA Tech… others?

Thanks again.


Wake Forest is heavily Greek and party culture.


So is Vandy
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 22:25     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Another person did this and I thought it was a great idea. Need help coming up with a list.

DS
physics
UW GPA - 3.95
WGPA - 4.7
SAT - if PSAT is a guide, will be 1550 or above
Decent ECs but nothing too unusual - music and a weird sport
Will have had 1 Internship
No hooks
Competitive MD public

Looking for a medium-size school, east coast, Midwest or south (likes the idea of warm weather) not a party school or heavy Greek system

We definitely have ideas (Rice is one I’d like him to apply to, eg) but I’m curious to see if there are ideas we haven’t considered.

Hope the original PP doesn’t mind me piggybacking here.

My big issue is that I don’t know if it’s a good idea for him to focus on schools with amazing physics programs or just some place with great undergraduate teaching, since he will likely go to graduate school.


If the internship is full time (in summer) and paid, and you don’t mind a Hail Mary, try Harvard! My DD knows lots of physics majors there. The weird sport might make your DS interesting to them.


Disagree, op’s son definitely a strong student but doesn’t have the extracurriculars it takes for an unhooked kid to get into Harvard. Weird sport won’t do it.


If the application fee isn’t a deterrent you never know. Kind of a case in point of what “holistic admissions” actually means . I mean if colleges produce all leaders, who is following them? I also wish there was a way to see those with incredible high school extracurricular and if that correlates to real life leaders. The best transformative annd motivational experience I ever had was waitressing in high school. I’m not a AO but if I was would 100% prioritize waitressing/food service/grocery store work and a quirky sport over a “passion project” “demonstrating leadership”.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 21:21     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Anonymous wrote:Thank you. OP here. Just put some of these on my kid’s radar. Wake Forest was one I hadn’t thought of.

Good safeties? Penn State, VA Tech… others?

Thanks again.


Wake Forest is heavily Greek and party culture.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 21:20     Subject: Re:Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
My engineer daughter had a similar set of preferences and ended up at WashU. In addition to the reaches people have mentioned her matches/safeties included Lafayette (offered merit aid) Tulane, university of Denver , union college. She didn’t do any large schools.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 21:19     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Thank you. OP here. Just put some of these on my kid’s radar. Wake Forest was one I hadn’t thought of.

Good safeties? Penn State, VA Tech… others?

Thanks again.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 20:59     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Anonymous wrote:I would ED at a place like Tufts, Wake Forest, Davidson, Emory, CMU

a slight step down from WashU STL or Rice, but your child would have a chance at least as they would be near the 75th percentile or higher and EDing.


Could also ED1 WashU and ED2 elsewhere
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 20:28     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Vandy ED
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 20:26     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
U Chicago ED
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 20:16     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
My daughter is similar but from private. Really wants to study physics (we'll see if that holds).

Her top choices are Chicago and Rice.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2023 19:52     Subject: Brainstorming a college list- take two (new poster!)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Another person did this and I thought it was a great idea. Need help coming up with a list.

DS
physics
UW GPA - 3.95
WGPA - 4.7
SAT - if PSAT is a guide, will be 1550 or above
Decent ECs but nothing too unusual - music and a weird sport
Will have had 1 Internship
No hooks
Competitive MD public

Looking for a medium-size school, east coast, Midwest or south (likes the idea of warm weather) not a party school or heavy Greek system

We definitely have ideas (Rice is one I’d like him to apply to, eg) but I’m curious to see if there are ideas we haven’t considered.

Hope the original PP doesn’t mind me piggybacking here.

My big issue is that I don’t know if it’s a good idea for him to focus on schools with amazing physics programs or just some place with great undergraduate teaching, since he will likely go to graduate school.


Outside the T20, leading schools in the sciences tend to be Public schools. If your kid is a good student, then don't worry about schools that teach vs schools that focus on research. A top student at a public school like a Berkeley or Michigan should be able to get world class research opportunities even as an undergrad. Physics is not that sought after (unlike CS for example) so I'd aim for the tippy top schools.


What percent of Berkeley or Michigan undergraduate physics majors are doing research, compared to students at a top LAC?