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Hey Guys I'm a rising senior in a competitive public high school in Colorado. I'm interested in majoring in Physics with a possible minor or double major in Economics. I'm looking for some good schools that are strong in the sciences. Any suggestions you guys could give me would be appreciated. I'd like to go to a school in a city so no really rural schools please. Here are my stats

SAT-1410(This will go up I was sick on the day I took it, I expect at least a 1500+ when I take it again in October)

ACT-32

GPA Unweighted- 3.99 All A's except one B+ in Honors English Junior Year

GPA Weighted- 4.42 I've taken the hardest classes possible to the point that I had to get my parents to sign off on them saying that it was ok to take such a strenous course load

AP's- Bio:4 Chem:5 Econ(Micro and Macro):5 each US History:5 Phys C(E&M and Mechanics): 4 each Physics C was entirely self-studided

I don't have alot of EC's but the few I have I been very dedicated too. I've done Science Olympiad for 3 years and I've got many medals from the competion I run Cross Crountry and Track and am extremly dedicated to it I run over 70 miles a week and have very competitve PR's I did Mock Trial for 2 years and was on the math bowl team this year. I also took the National Chemistry Olympiad test for our school and was the only one to do so I did well enough at the regional test to take the national test. I also had a National Merit Scholar qualifiying score.

Essays will be very very good, and letters of recomendation will be amazing. This summer I'm doing research in Solid State and Thin Film Physics at a local university and the professor I'm working with has already told me he would be more than glad to give me a letter of rec to any college I desire.

Also how will skipping the 8th grade and being a 16yr old senior affect my college chances? Do you guys think I can use skipping the 8th grade and being the youngest senior in the school at 16 as a good hook?

Anyways thanks for any help you guys can give me

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 04:25 pm: Edit

You have a great profile,Born2run, and you will do well in the college app process. Need a little more info from you such as class rank, where do the kids from your highschool usually go to college, SAT2 scores. Also what schools are you eyeballing? Any particular part of the country? Or are you wide open other than urban setting? Are you going to need financial aid? Any hooks? The age issue is not going to make any difference. Lots of kids graduating young.

By Born2run16517 (Born2run16517) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 04:38 pm: Edit

Opps can't believe I forgot those things Jamimom anyways to answer your questions. I'm ranked 4/approx 350 At my school we usually send a few kids to the ivies last year the Valdictorian went to MIT 96% of the kids that graduate go on to college a lot go to CU and CSU but we do send quite a few out of state to more elite schools like Caltech MIT Stanford Ivies etc. My SAT 2 were 750-Math 2C 730-Writing 760-Physics The schools I've looked at so far are Caltech MIT Harvey Mudd and the University of Chicago like I said I'm not to paticular about any area of the country as long as its not really rural basically of a city has at least a population of 100,000 or its within 20mins of a big city I'm good I just don't want to live in a town with nothing to do. I don't really need finanical aid but it won't hurt but if I can't get anything my family will make whatever school I get into work regardless of money even if we have to take out big loans. I guess for hooks I write sci-fi short stories during my free time so maybe I could use that also to go into more detail about skipping the 8th grade I actually failed the 7th grade becasue I was in severe depression a psycholoigst evaluated me and said I was in extreme depression because I was bored in school so if I were accelerated I would flourish well she was right after I skipped 8th grade I went from a B,C student to a 4.0 student in all honors classes so maybe that could be a hook. I also do alot of tinkering with stuff and I've made quite a few little gadgets that are just made to do stuff that I think are cool like the auto-door closer I hooked up a sound sensor to a hydraulic pump so when I clap as I enter my room it automatically opens or closes the door the only problem is when I'm doing an intense gaming session without headphones the door tends to swing open and close ohh well. Well I don't know if any of those will work as hooks as I'm really not to sure what a hooks is but thanks for any help

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 04:41 pm: Edit

Don't forget Stanford, Harvard, Princeton and Cal-Berkeley.

By Born2run16517 (Born2run16517) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 05:12 pm: Edit

Thanks for advice Alexandre, I've heard good things about Cal-Berkley and Stanford's physics programs but how does Harvard rack up compared to the other schools in Physics specifically

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 05:25 pm: Edit

Born2run, look into the top physics schools as your reaches. Then start looking for schools with excellent physics departments and less stringent admissions for a couple of matches and your state schools for safeties. It looks like you are a CA resident, in which case if the state schools are acceptable to you, they can serve as matches and safeties.

You have a great style in writing and your interests are, well, interesting. I think if you work on your essays, you can get in nearly anywhere. U of Chicago has some great essays where you can have some fun with your skills. Johns Hopkins has a small but strong physics department. CMU is also a possibility. Princeton is a super reach but has a good physics departement with an interest in physics majors. Wesleyan is looking for physic majors. Both Princeton and Wesleyan are in smaller towns but with a few hours of a city. Forget the 8th grade stuff, it just distracts from a fascinating package. No one is going to want to hear about your 8th grade trials and tribulations.

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 06:02 pm: Edit

Harvard's Physics department is awesome. As good as any in the World. Now I am taking your word that you will get close to or breach the 1500 barrier on your SAT. If your SAT remains under 1450, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Harvey Mudd and Stanford will be major reaches:

Amherst
Brown
Cal-Berkeley **
Chicago **
Columbia
Cornell *
Dartmouth
Harvard **
Harvey Mudd
MIT **
Michigan-Ann Arbor
Northwestern
Oberlin
Penn
Princeton **
Rice
Stanford **
Swarthmore
Williams

The above 19 schools are all amazing in Physics and Economics. Those with a * next to them are ranked among the top 5 in Physics. Those with ** next to them are top 5 in both Physics and Economics.

I would apply to a safety. Wisconsin-Madison is also great in Physics and Economics and is a lock for you.

Sorry for complicating your life. I realize that a list of 20 colleges and universities requires some serious research and slashing on your part, but I think that's a good list with which to start. You have 7 LACs with great close knit atmospheres, 3 State schools with excellent school spirit located in awesome college towns and a bunch of Ivy League and Ivy League replicas!

Good luck!

By Born2run16517 (Born2run16517) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 06:34 pm: Edit

Thanks Jamimom and Alexandre for the advice and by the way I'm a CO resident. I'll look into all the schools you listed Alexandre it gives me something to do on boring afternoon weekends. Thanks again to both of you for your help

By Rtkysg (Rtkysg) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:28 am: Edit

Born2run,

Your profile is very good, I think you stand a good chance at both #1 Physics school: Caltech & MIT. However, I suggest you re-take your SAT 2 again for Math and Physics if time permits. Make both of them > 780 to appear good.

I think if you get SAT I 1500+, SAT2 > 780, and you write a great essay in addition to your high GPA and great EC, you will stand a high chance to get to MIT/Caltech.

By Born2run16517 (Born2run16517) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 10:46 am: Edit

If I retake the SAT 2 on the November testing date will I be able to rush them to colleges for Early Decision or should I just forget Early Decision and use that time to boost some of my stats for regular decision

By Rtkysg (Rtkysg) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 11:07 am: Edit

May be you should call the admission office to ask for their suggestions. I didn't apply for ED last time, but I heard Caltech/MIT ED doesn't really help much. Anyway, I suggest you check with the ad office for such important thing. Don't rely on this forum for admission procedure