Best Colleges/Universities for Physics/Astronomy?

[acidvoodoo]

the computer science thread got me thinking, you see.....

 

[placebo139]

i know caltech saturates you with physics... i think about 8 semesters worth regardless of your intended major.

 

[snooker]

berkley comes to mind

 

[Storm]

Princeton..

 

[joohang]

Originally posted by: Storm
Princeton..

Really? Interesting. Didn't know that.

 

[milagro]

University of Arizona
Caltech
Cornell
Wesleyan
U of Hawaii (graduate only)

 

[ace31216]

University of California, Irvine.

 

[kermalou]

itt tech

 

[acidvoodoo]

Originally posted by: milagro
University of Arizona

ey up, whats this. out of curiosity, where did you get this opinion from? though i guess being in the desert means it has an ideal location


just i may be able to get in state tuition there

 

[acidvoodoo]

Originally posted by: kermalou
itt tech

lol

 

[milagro]

Originally posted by: acidvoodoo

Originally posted by: milagro
University of Arizona

ey up, whats this. out of curiosity, where did you get this opinion from? though i guess being in the desert means it has an ideal location


just i may be able to get in state tuition there

My wife took some classes in the astronomy/physics department there. Undergrads get viewing time at the nearby observatory (you're right-good viewing conditions) and the faculty is on par w/ a lot of private institutions. I could go on but basically, if you're serious about astronomy, just research it on the net and you'll find Arizona pops up a lot. And if you're from Arizona and looking to go for your bs..I'd say thats hands down your best option. Save money for graduate school at Hawaii we're you're guaranteed viewing time at Mauna Kea-arguably the best observatory station in the world...anyone thats serious about astronomy needs to basically continue on for their Phd and publish publish publish...

 

[cchen]

It depends on what kind of research you're interested in.... if you want to study something like string theory.. you'd want to come to Columbia and study under Brian Greene... and so forth for other topics

 

[milagro]

Originally posted by: cchen
It depends on what kind of research you're interested in.... if you want to study something like string theory.. you'd want to come to Columbia and study under Brian Greene... and so forth for other topics

ditto that...there are other good schools i didn't mention...do you already have an undergrad degree? Once you go for your masters, you'll really become more specific in your area of research and it will be more about picking faculty than institution...

 

[rockyct]

I'll put in a vote for U of A. There is a huge mirror making facility under the football field. Some big mirrors for telescopes are made there.

 

[acidvoodoo]

Originally posted by: rockyct
I'll put in a vote for U of A. There is a huge mirror making facility under the football field. Some big mirrors for telescopes are made there.

ok, that's great my dad is suggesting i check out arizona universities, as i may qualify for in state tuition

 

[HokieESM]

Depends. A LOT. Are you more interested in Physics or Astronomy? There are many facets of each.

If you're interested in practical astronomy (i.e. observation, calculations based on observation, etc), University of Arizona and Caltech are top-notch. They have access to quite a few GOOD optical and radio telescopes, and have faculty that are there because of those telescopes.

If you're more interested in the physics (like the actual theory), things are a bit different. Columbia (as someone mentioned) would be good.... Harvard has a few top-notch physicists. So does Princeton. Find out what areas you're interested in before you choose--they all have their strengths/weaknesses.

Now if you're considering an UNDERGRAD school..... none of this matters. With physics and/or astronomy, you're probably going to want a graduate degree if you want to do it for a living.... I would recommend going to a GOOD state school (if you live in Arizona, you are golden!), doing well, learning all you can from your professors... and then applying for a top-notch grad school in YOUR area of choice (you should know by then.... I suspect you really don't know now if you're in high school--there's just too much left to be learned).

Anyways, best of luck!

 

[acidvoodoo]

lol yea, i'm still in highschool. All i know is physics/astronomy is my best subject academicly, and the one that interests me most, and that i look forward to going to that class (i think i'm a minority on that view, based on what my friends say about the subject). i also like to read up on all the crazy theories about the universe online

Long story short i'm growing up and going to school in england and then going to america for university, as my dad lives there (he's full american and everything, making me half). So i'm taking A levels, which are proberly equiv to AP classes, in physics maths chemistry and computing for 2 years, which should prepare me well for whatever lies ahead

 

[Analog]

I've got to vote for my school - Cornell!

 

[HokieESM]

Originally posted by: acidvoodoo
lol yea, i'm still in highschool. All i know is physics/astronomy is my best subject academicly, and the one that interests me most, and that i look forward to going to that class (i think i'm a minority on that view, based on what my friends say about the subject). i also like to read up on all the crazy theories about the universe online

Long story short i'm growing up and going to school in england and then going to america for university, as my dad lives there (he's full american and everything, making me half). So i'm taking A levels, which are proberly equiv to AP classes, in physics maths chemistry and computing for 2 years, which should prepare me well for whatever lies ahead

Well-equipped, yes. You have all the background you could possibly get. But you'll find out (like I did), that there are a LOT of facets of each individual field. A single "major" like astronomy has TONS of different sub-areas.... and you'll touch upon most of them in undergrad school. And there will be some that you will LOVE, and some that you will HATE. Or, you might not end up as an astronomy major at all.... you might find particle physics fascinating and choose to study that. Plus, college education in physical sciences is very different simply because of the introduction of higher mathematics.... you may still love it, or you may loathe it. Just keep your mind open and go to a good school... and follow what you like.

I joke all the time with my friends that the more you learn, the more you realize that you don't know anything. I thought I knew something when I finished my bachelors.... when I finished my masters, I was beginning to realize that I didn't know much.... and now, towards the end of my PhD (in engineering mechanics, btw), I'm realizing I don't know squat except in my specific area. When, in actuality, I know a lot more--about a lot of different areas. The physical science world seems to be "fractally deep"--its just how hard you want to look into it.


Anyways... keep plugging, and good luck!

 

[acidvoodoo]

Originally posted by: HokieESM

Originally posted by: acidvoodoo
lol yea, i'm still in highschool. All i know is physics/astronomy is my best subject academicly, and the one that interests me most, and that i look forward to going to that class (i think i'm a minority on that view, based on what my friends say about the subject). i also like to read up on all the crazy theories about the universe online

Long story short i'm growing up and going to school in england and then going to america for university, as my dad lives there (he's full american and everything, making me half). So i'm taking A levels, which are proberly equiv to AP classes, in physics maths chemistry and computing for 2 years, which should prepare me well for whatever lies ahead

Well-equipped, yes. You have all the background you could possibly get. But you'll find out (like I did), that there are a LOT of facets of each individual field. A single "major" like astronomy has TONS of different sub-areas.... and you'll touch upon most of them in undergrad school. And there will be some that you will LOVE, and some that you will HATE. Or, you might not end up as an astronomy major at all.... you might find particle physics fascinating and choose to study that. Plus, college education in physical sciences is very different simply because of the introduction of higher mathematics.... you may still love it, or you may loathe it. Just keep your mind open and go to a good school... and follow what you like.

I joke all the time with my friends that the more you learn, the more you realize that you don't know anything. I thought I knew something when I finished my bachelors.... when I finished my masters, I was beginning to realize that I didn't know much.... and now, towards the end of my PhD (in engineering mechanics, btw), I'm realizing I don't know squat except in my specific area. When, in actuality, I know a lot more--about a lot of different areas. The physical science world seems to be "fractally deep"--its just how hard you want to look into it.


Anyways... keep plugging, and good luck!

yes, i cannot wait for university