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/sci/ - Science & Math

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6843626 No.6843626 [Reply] [Original]

How do I get into Harvard or any other elite college to study physics?

I'm a brown high schooler in the Netherlands with above average grades.

What are they looking for?

Also what uni's around the world are really good for studying theoretical physics (and astronomy)?

I will be doing the ACT next month and I have almost got my Certificate of Advanced English (Cambridge)

>> No.6843627

>>6843626

You probably have to be really good. But why would you break the bank for a USA uni when you have british unis?

Also in the end you realise that being a le smart physics man depends on your own hard work rather than your uni.

>> No.6843636

>>6843626
>Harvard

Excellent grades + right ethnic background.

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-myth-of-american-meritocracy/

http://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/authors/Connelly-Harvard.html

>> No.6843638

>>6843627
I will work hard to become a smart physics man, but I want to get into an American uni because the Ivy League and MIT etc. are way better than any county's uni out there.

This is also why I'm asking what uni's have good physics connections/are good to study physics in.

>>6843636
I'm ethnically from Pakistan (parents born there), is that right?
>inb4 terrorist wants to make bombs

>> No.6843639

>>6843627
This, go to the UK. I don't know how hard it is to get in but as far as prestige they are on par with the Ivy League unis, and it's way closer to your home.

>> No.6843640

>>6843639
I'm actually not worried about going far from home. How is physics in Hong Kong for that matter(or China, but I don't know Chinese...)

>> No.6843641

>>6843638
How about going to a pakistani university then you pig mudslime

>> No.6843642

>>6843638
>but I want to get into an American uni because the Ivy League and MIT etc. are way better than any county's uni out there.
Why do you think they're better? Are there any specific professor or potential supervisor that can only be found there, or are there better equipment there?

I'm not doubting they might be "better" but consider the additional 400k cost of goint to Harvard in comparison to a dutch university and think if it's worth the money.

>> No.6843645

Its great for networking and circlejerking, but they dont magically turn you into a good physics man.

>> No.6843646

>>6843638
I know MIT is strong in physics. To get in here you need to have good numbers and then just be really passionate about your field (that means having cool shit you've done proving you're passionate).

Financial aide helps a lot with the cost.

However, if you do come to MIT be prepared because it is the school where you will work the hardest of any school on earth.

>> No.6843653

>>6843638
if you applied, it would be a waste of a stamp.

>> No.6843660

>>6843646
I'm always watching like Leonard Susskind's lectures and Robert Dijkgraaf on national television with their string theory, also I like to watch tons of physics videos on youtube

That doesn't count right

>> No.6843664

>>6843626

Why would you not just apply to Oxford/Cambridge/Imperial? At the undergraduate level, you'll come out with the theoretical physics knowledge to rival any other degree in the world.

>> No.6843665

>>6843638
What's wrong with Oxford or Cambridge? Cheaper, closer to Netherlands and just as much prestige.

>> No.6843666

>>6843660
>that
>being remotely close to passionate

Most students who join MIT or similar universities already know most of what they will learn during their first semester, even during first year, before even joining. Do you know single variable calculus (including inverse trig subs and the like), classical mechanics, and so on?

Also if you're actually serious about it you should contact a professor from an university in your city and talk to him.

>> No.6843667

>>6843660
>youtube

Swear to god man, if you say VSauce/MinutePhysics.

To get into these schools, you need perfect grades and some shit that makes you stick out.

>> No.6843670

>>6843667
I mean mostly 240p uni lectures

>> No.6843674

>>6843660
If you are on your countries IPhO team that would help a lot. If you do any actual experiments that is a good thing. But you dont absolutely need to do stuff like that. Just make sure that you application proves that you not only like physics but you can do it.

As far as experiments go, super-cooled atoms, photonic crystal stuff, isn't that hard. I think a friend of mine did the thing where you stop light and then are able to recover the information later on. Though if you do something like that you'll definitely have a very strong application.

>> No.6843677

>>6843626
>What are they looking for?
vwo diploma with an average of 8 or more iirc

>> No.6843689

>>6843664
>>6843665
England's submissions ended October, 15
>>6843677
I think I will be able to manage that by the end of the year
>>6843674
Thanks, I will look into it and discuss it with my physics teacher
>>6843666
I know how to calculate algebraic the volume of a function (sin/cos/ n-th degree) when it spins around the y or x axis. Can also calculate the length of those lines/and hollowed out volumes.
That's about as much calculus I know