I'm majoring in Physics, what school should I attend?

Question

I just decided to major in Physics. Right now I'm at a community college taking my preparatory classes for physics. I know many universities have physics departments, but which do you think is the best school to study physics? I'm thinking of going to UCSD but if there are other universities in different states that have good physics departments then I'm open to hear some of your comments on them.

I failed to mention that I am really interested in Quantum Physics. I love physics all together and I know I'm going to have to do all the other physics courses to get to quantum physics, but also is there a physics program that deals a whole lot with quantum physics?

Answer 1

I was a physics major at Stanford University, so I'm biased of course and think that it's the best, bar none. After all, we have the people responsible for discovery of the free quark, the magnetic monopole and life on Mars. (hee hee- physics humor). In all seriousness, though, if you can get in, Stanford physics blows the rest of the country away. We have world-class faculty (Nobel Prizes winners, including Steve Chu and Doug Osheroff, who actually teach undergraduates- I had classes with both), a fantastic resource in the internationally-renowned SLAC lab on Stanford property, and a great learning environment. You seem to be a Californian, so you wouldn't be too far from home, either. And if you get in, they offer financial aid via grants or loans to make up the difference if you can't afford tuition.

My dad got his physics degree at MIT, so he would definitely say that MIT had the best physics department of any college in the country. They have some great facilities, faculty, (and alums as well, of course), but it's basically an engineering school and not as well-rounded as Stanford if you want to branch out from physics. Still, a great school.

Locally for you, there are always CalTech and Berkeley- both very highly-regarded places to study physics, with connections to physics research institutions nearby (JPL and LBL/Livermore, respectively). Feynman taught at Cal Tech, which is a big selling point, but it's a really small school & pretty much only for science-geeks, so you have to like that kind of thing and being surrounded by people like us. Be really sure you know what you want to study, because once you're there, you could be stuck. As for the Callies (hisssss!- it's a Stanford rival thing, I have to hiss-) I was told by physics professors at Berkeley not to apply there, because the big-school mentality meant that the students were treated like numbers instead of people. The 'weeder' classes are apparently ridiculously harsh and it's sometimes impossible to get the courses you need for your major to graduate in time. The prof carried a lot of weight with me, so I didn't even apply there.

Other physics programs I considered- 1) the University of Chicago. Their program is fantastic if you want to do theoretical physics, but if you want to do experimental stuff, the type bordering on engineering or the applied sciences, you'd do better elsewhere- they simply don't do that kind of physics. Hyde Park is also kind of a scary place. 2) Cornell. A very good physics program, but the campus is in the back of beyond, rural New York, so it depends on what you like. Because there's not much else close by, you have to really enjoy an academic and social life within the University (the frat scene is apparently big) and you probably can't research at a lab like SLAC or JPL as easily. 3) the University of Illinois. Their program is good, the faculty is very well-respected and the research programs are excellent. My dad got his physics PhD. there, in fact. But it is a big state school, and more expensive and harder to get into if you're from out of state.

I hope you get into the physics program of your choice. Good luck! Despite my criticisms, the schools above really are pretty much the best for physics in the country. Harvard, Princeton, Carnegie-Mellon, Georgia Tech, some of the state schools and a few others may each be great in their own way, too, but if you get into one of the above schools, I'd say go for it. You won't regret it.

Answer 2

Not to insult anyone's program here, but the fact of the matter is that if the major grad schools don't know what state your school is in, your chances of getting into the grad school of your choice are virtually nil.

Of course, this depends on your intentions in the undergraduate program. I'm basing this on the fact that you'll probably want to go on to graduate work. Otherwise a bachelors in physics doesn't do you much good. You can't even teach with that.

UC schools are all well renowned for their programs, and UCSD is definitely up there. UCSB, UCB, UI are also damn good if you think you can break into the UC system.

University of Arizona (I attended there a year for undergraduate) has a good physics program, and a better astro program (if that's where you want to lean towards).

It also makes a difference what field you're interested in. You can hit up some schools in undergraduate that specialize in the field you want to do, because it's easier to get undergraduate research in that field than it is to go somewhere else then try and break into the field in graduate work (it's kinda like a private pipeline and professors like to see field specific research).

In this vein of thought, you can look at the field you like and look at whos the the big movers in this field, read their books and see where they teach/went. This is also a good indication (for more modern scientists, anyway).

Also, don't expect to do much theory in undergraduate. If that's what you're interested in, find the best program you can get in, and do as well as you possibly can in all your courses, that's my best advice there.

The bottom line is that undergraduate work, if done well and focused properly will help you greatly, and the bigger and more well known (in physics) school you can get into the better as well. However, the former eclipses the latter. All things being equal, being a big fish in a small pond looks slightly worse than a small fish in a big pond. Shoot for being a big fish in a big pond and tailor the rest of your decision based on your abilities and goals.

All the best.

Answer 3

Quantum Physics - you'll want to look at the Theoretical programs at:

MIT
Yale
Princeton
U of Illinois
U of Arizona
Cal Tech
Berkeley
U of Washington
U of Chicago

Answer 4

You need to understand the physics of Earthquakes, and how they effect YOU before you make a final decision on a California school!
Ask your guidance counselor. Also, you might wanna consult this link on the best University Physics programs...
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/majors/brief/major_14-12_brief.php

Answer 5

If you really want to be a glutton for punishment try Worcester Polytechnic Institute here in Worcester, MA. I graduated from there (not in physics) and it is a HARD school. Hard to get in, but even harder to stay.

Answer 6

taylor u in upland, ind. a small christian school with a good physics dept. murray state in murray, ky isnt bad either. the price is right there .

Answer 7

Princeton, it was good enough for Albert Einstein.
It's in Princeton, New Jersey.

Answer 8

WAZZU!!!!

http://www.physics.wsu.edu/default.htm

Pullman is great and the people are friendly.