Physics is serious science, seriously. Most students take one physics class in high school, and then move on to, well, anything but physics. This isn’t because physics isn’t interesting — it undeniably is — but it is hard and studying physics early requires that you are a self-starter. There aren’t often many options for exploring it in a structured classroom setting while in high school. This means that high school students interested in a physics major in college tend to have heavily explored physics beyond the courses offered.
In this post, we break down what juniors interested in physics absolutely must be doing outside of the classroom to increase their chances of admission to a dream school with an out-of-this-world physics program like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, UCLA, Princeton, Mich, Caltech, UChicago, Harvey Mudd, or Berkeley.
Before you dive in, let’s accept the assumption that you already have super strong tests scores and grades. When applying to top schools, it doesn’t matter what you do outside of the classroom if your transcript isn’t exceptional. We can’t think of a single moment where you should trade a strong grade for an impressive activity. If you see anything on the list below and think, “that would make up for my weak grade in X,” you are wrong. Grades come first, so invest in extra study time and tutoring before you fill up your calendar with extracurriculars.
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As a student focused on physics, you need to tune your activities to your precise interest. Simply pursuing generic STEM activities doesn’t accomplish what you need. Instead, the secret ingredient is to make it personal. Each step of the way, and for each of the buckets we’ve outlined below, take every opportunity to lean into what you love and explore your curiosities.
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD/QUIZ BOWL
This is the most ‘big picture’ STEM activity that you should pursue with a physics degree in mind. However, it still allows for specialization. Science Olympiad and Quiz Bowl teams often have specialized members — and that’s where you’ll fit in. You get to focus on the niche of physics you love, while also engaging with a group of passionate learners.
There is something we love even more about Science Olympiad or Quiz Bowl, though. Yes, showing off how much you know is fun, but so is leadership! Being a member of one of these groups is a fabulous opportunity to lead. If you have not already been part of a team, it’s not realistic to expect to join and then nearly immediately get the top a leadership role. That doesn’t mean that you can’t get a leadership role, though. Look for something that has room for making an impact, like leading new member recruiting or creating learning opportunities for your teammates.
If you have been an active member of an academic team, you should already been on your way to a top spot. It’s worth scheduling a conversation with your faculty advisor, though, to ensure that you are headed in the right direction to be seriously considered for the team captain or club head role next year.
RESEARCH
Since you likely have limited access to physics courses at school, it is extremely important that you pursue independent research that digs into the area(s) of physics that you are most fascinated by, from outer space to aquatic environments. There has to be a point to the research though, and that typically means publication or presentation.
It may sound a little brutal, but putting research on your application without publication or presentation is sort of a downer. The fact that your work has been published, or presented to an informed audience, underlines that you are doing work that is of academic merit, not simply messing about after school.
As a junior, there is probably something that you are already researching, even informally. Now, just make it official. We recommend reaching out to local professors or graduate students interested in the area, too, to see if they have a potential need for an assistant in their work.
SCIENCE FAIRS
One of the flashiest ways of checking off the “presentation” requirement we mentioned above is through doing a science fair. There are so many science fairs, from school programs to national and international behemoths. While we love for our students to go for the most prestigious and intense opportunities, that actually isn’t necessary for the experience to positively impact your college application package.
What we do want our students to be able to highlight, though, is hands on work. In order for a project to do everything it can for you, it can’t be simply theoretical. There must be a practical aspect to it that you can write about, bringing your hard work to life. This is where storytelling is so meaningful and important. If you can’t tell a story that inspires and excites the reader, even great successes have a way of falling flat on college applications.
A science fair project is also something that can be tackled with a friend, so if the idea of doing a science fair during the stress of junior year is too much there are ways to make it more manageable.
SUMMER JOB
This last one may come as a surprise to many students, and their parents. We want to see you work.
Yes, it’s time to get a job. During the summer after junior year, you should have a summer job or full-time internship that engages with physics and with people. This could be working as a counselor at a science or STEM summer camp, or interpreting displays for visitors at a local science museum. There are many more options than this, obviously, but any job or internship must check these boxes:
You must work as part of a team.
You must be customer facing.
You must be doing something within spitting distance of physics.
Those are the only three rules. Work with people, to help people, with physics in mind. We aren’t going to say that it’s simple, but it also isn’t hard. So, brush up your resume — or write your first one — and start pounding the pavement looking for opportunities. Many places that don’t advertise that they are hiring, or open to high schoolers, are real options if you can have face-to-face conversations.
If you want to study physics in college at a top school, it isn’t just about being a strong student. They also want to see that you are a strong community member who works well with others. They want to know that you will give even more to the school than you take away from your experience, and that means showing how you are already benefiting those around you. So, get to work.
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