What is College: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A college (Latin: collegium) is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering vocational education, or a secondary school.
In most of the world, a college may be a high school or secondary school, a college of further education, a training institution that awards trade qualifications, a higher-education provider that does not have university status (often without its own degree-awarding powers), or a constituent part of a university. In the United States, a college offers undergraduate programs; it may be independent or the undergraduate program of a university, it is generally also used as a synonym for a university while in some instances a college may also be a residential college. A college in francophone countries—France (see secondary education in France), Belgium, and Switzerland—provides secondary education. However, the Collège de France is a prestigious advanced research institute in Paris.

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  1. F

    Schools College help? Computer Engineering.?

    Hello, everyone. My name is Sam. I am a freshman in college, and I am-- let us just say-- very worried about how in the world I could ever get a job in the field I want. I have grown up in Louisiana, Shreveport. My entire life I've been prepped to the belief that you go to college and then...
  2. N

    Is it normal for college roommates to have arguments over noise levels at night?

    Hello all. I wanted some opinions as I'm feeling really bad now. I recently had a fight with my college roommate (yes, at like 3-4 in the morning). What happens is that I was trying to sleep since around midnight but he was playing video games with the volume up. I asked him three times to turn...
  3. A

    What did you struggle with the most in College?

    I'm about half way through my ME degree and just about to get to the technical ME classes. I've been taking the basics at my local community college to get all the easy stuff out of the way while tuition is cheap. This semester I'm taking Physics I, Cal II, Eng graphics (Pro E), and Gov. Out...
  4. M

    Paying off College Debt | Is It Possible?

    Hi, I'm applying to college for (hopeful!) entry next year. I know of a particular school that I could get into with relative ease *but* it doesn't offer any financial aid. However, out-of-state students pay the same price as those who are in-state if they do some community work, which means...
  5. P

    Schools Generic Thread About College Stress Version 45634523.0

    College Stress Help Alright I'm just going to get right to it. Right now I'm a freshman at BU studying physics, though I'm hoping to double major in math. And it has not been going very well. About a month ago I bombed my first set of midterms, but honestly I think I can attribute that to...
  6. G

    Damning article on college athletics

    http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/10/the-shame-of-college-sports/8643/1/ Quite an eye opener if none of you have read it yet. Maybe we really should be paying athletes in colleges.
  7. G

    Programs Exploring Options for Physics or Engineering Major in College

    I am trying to decide between Physics or Engineering or maybe something else for my major in college next year. I'm very interested in physics, and figuring out how the world works. I like to find completely new solutions to problems, as opposed to working off of other previous solutions...
  8. B

    Schools Imperial College London Interviews?

    Halloz..I'm just wondering if anyone knows what type of questions..or what questions they have asked or likely to ask in their interviews? Anyone had any experiences? Thanks!
  9. G

    Schools Scholarships for second semester college freshmen?

    Is there a way to get scholarships as a second semester freshmen in college. I was thinking about starting to fill some out and become really obsessive about it and I'm only a first semester freshmen and don't have a degree earning transcript (I have a couple grades on my nondegree earning...
  10. M

    Schools Undergrad college admissions - are they as ridiculous as they seem?

    Over the past few months, I've been looking into applying to college in the US. I've been reading up on stuff on the internet, asking a couple of questions on the forums here and also been on CollegeConfidential a few times. A huge portion of the applicants there sound like they've totally lost...
  11. rhody

    Schools Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses

    Wow, This http://www.goacta.org/press/PressReleases/2011PressReleases/RichardArumLetter.pdf" below was sent Aug, 4, 2011. The authors take no prisoners and pull no punches. A small sample: and from the paper: They have a https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226028569/?tag=pfamazon01-20...
  12. W

    Elevator Problem For General College Physics

    Homework Statement A 220 lb man stands on a scale in an elevator. What does the scale read when the elevator accelerates upward at 1.6 m/s^2? What does it read when accelerating downward at the same rate Homework Equations F=ma, w=mg, The Attempt at a Solution m=w/g 220/9.81 =...
  13. M

    Schools What are your opinions on collecting homework in college?

    Not projects, but just regular homework. It always baffled me. If the homework counts as 10% of the grade, then a student could get 100% on all the exams and get a B, and a student could get B's on exams and get an A.
  14. W

    Can Kindle be used for college textbooks?

    I was looking at the new Kindle offerings. They look interesting. I was thinking that it would be worth buying if I could later get my college books on the Kindle for a fraction of the cost compared to a paperback. Does the kindle support most college based textbooks? Edit: I was looking at the...
  15. T

    Schools What should i go to college for?

    Hey, I am currently in 11th grade in a small town about 45 minutes away from any city larger than 5,000 people. I thought it would be cool to build my own little "computer shop and repair" store in my hometown, being the next closest one is 45 miles away. I have 2 torn up towers with hard drives...
  16. K

    Schools What is the purpose of a college education?

    In reading through a number of academically-oriented threads, I am struck by the almost overwhelming idea that the purpose of a college education is to provide you with a good job. Whatever happened to the idea that the purpose of an education was to make you a better person, or (in Thomas...
  17. X

    What are the top 3 hardest college majors for average students?

    1. Pure Math 2. Philosophy 3. Physics This list I believe is valid for someone that is average basically in math, science and critical thinking and doesn't particularly excel in anything as of starting the major. What do you think?
  18. N

    Schools Senior in high school and science geek who isn't a math whiz College advice?

    I'm warning you, this might be a long read. I'm a senior in high school, and I've had a history of occasionally being subpar in math, but I've always been a bit of a scientific thinker and am fascinated by space. The majors I'm primarily interested in fall into Biology, Physics...
  19. PrincePhoenix

    Schools Choosing a good college for B.S physics.

    Hello, everyone. What makes an institution better than another for a physics B.S? Faculty, labs or what?
  20. R

    Ph.D and a career in teaching Community College

    So if I wanted to change my career from professional engineer to community college teacher, would a Ph.D in engineering be helpful or over qualify me? I have a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, a M.S. in ME with emphasis on controls and dynamics, and about 2 years of professional...
  21. F

    Guys only, people who are in college living with yourself

    I want to know, what do you cook for meals everyday? What is your budget? Do you cook Western only or Chinese only? Tell me everything.
  22. X

    Schools Self teaching computer programming vs taking a credit class at college

    I'm not really a big fan of computers but I understand there importance to physics. My school offers computer programming classes for engineering and science majors but I don't want a extra formal class that isn't required. Do you think it would be a good idea to self learn all of the programming?
  23. C

    Engineering Is it worth it to go get HVAC/R training after graduating engineering college?

    I am a recent graduate from a not particularly prestigious engineering school with a mechanical and energy engineering degree and mathematics minor. I ended up with a 2.8 GPA. I plan on passing the FE/EIT exam at the end of October. No internships.. Seems like I'm stuck in the 'need experience...
  24. A

    Schools Advice needed on College Major

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  25. C

    College Dropout Struggling to Decide: Seek Advice Here

    So I am a 19 year old college dropout with aspirations to become an engineer. I came here to get some advice, is dropping out of college a detrimental decision? The reason is I was in a major that I did not really like as well in the beginning I was sacrificing my sleep only for it to catch up...
  26. Loren Booda

    Your first semester in college

    Remember the Ivy, fresh out of high school? Meeting new roommates, signing up for and attending classes, exploring the campus and setting routines. Cheering on you sports teams, exchanging traditions, coping with stress and homesickness. Not to mention the excitement of sophomores scoping out...
  27. rhody

    Alleged Bad Boy College Professor

    http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/college-professor-allegedly-led-motorcyle-gang-drug-ring.html?track=lat-pick" Peng, I am sure your devious penguin brain will have something to say about this... was Cal State where you used to teach ? Did you know or have you heard of this guy...
  28. wukunlin

    Schools Choosing a college that will help with future employment

    Previously I have posted the following thread https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=519140 basically I'm thinking about working in the semiconductor industry and am planning on getting a master's degree in the states after I finish my honour's in new zealand. now I look back at...
  29. J

    Choosing a partner in chemistry courses at a university or college

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  30. K

    College Physics II Charge/ Coulombs Law

    Homework Statement A point particle that has a charge of 14.5 µC is located at x = 0, y = 0 and a point particle that has a charge q is located at x = 11.6 cm, y = 0. The electric force on a point particle that has a charge of 5.8 µC at x = 23.2 cm, y = 0 is -(19.7) N ihat. Determine the...
  31. J

    Schools Thoughts on math education - From a young college student.

    I am a second year student of engineering at a Canadian university and am very interested in mathematics and education. I feel like the methods of teaching math in high school and early university (I have no experience with senior university classes) are not only an inefficient use of the...
  32. G

    Schools Does Your Average Percentage Matter in College?

    In my graduating high school class there were 10 people who all had the same GPA, they had straight A+s. Like in most high schools all awards and student ranking was all based on your average percentage not GPA. Like I hope what I'm trying to say makes sense. There were 10 crazy people who...
  33. D

    How Will My College Affect My Graduate School Acceptance?

    (title continued and if/how this will effect my graduate school acceptance) I currently attend a small, private undergraduate college. By small, I mean ~ 2000 students for all four grades with me being the only physics major for my year (there are a few engineering students). This fall marks...
  34. G

    Schools What's the Point in Getting More than 90% of all the Points in College?

    At my university professors are free to chose what total percent correct earns which grade, the total points earned divided by the total points that were possible to earn, by curving exams as they wish. My university, like many others, suggest that anything above a total percent correct of 90%...
  35. N

    What college major seems the worst to you?

    If you personally had to decide on the college major that you would probably be the most bored studying which one would it be?
  36. L

    Schools Returning to college after 10 years

    Greetings all. I apologize for the lengthy intro; I shall try to be brief. For those who don't think any background is necessary, you can skip to the last paragraph if you would like to save some time. For all of my younger life, I was always a math freak. Gifted with a knack for the...
  37. O

    Schools Tips for Doing Well in College Classes

    I've beat this into the ground a lot, but one more go couldn't hurt. I want to know how all of you with the 3.5 -4.0 gpa's do it? How do you do well in college classes? What I'm specifically asking is: How do you study the material? How do you study for exams? How do you know what's going to be...
  38. S

    Schools College is reserved for intellectuals?

    Could someone with an IQ (intelligence quotient) of ~100 do well in college? This article claims that college is reserved only for people with IQ's between 120-140, and that someone with +/- dead average intelligence would either struggle or fail in college because the "rigorously difficult"...
  39. F

    Guys, is there hope for college students like me?

    I need a job, like not just minimum wage jobs like cashiers or being a security guard. I don't have any degrees because I am still a college student. I need a "stable" job that can pay decently so I won't end up on the street. I am of course with a good math/phys background. I tried applying...
  40. J

    Does a college degree result in a job?

    Not always, and of course there are exceptions, but now there is a glut of educated people. There's this story that parents tell their children: Go to college. Get a degree. Find a good job in that field. In 1940, only a handful of privileged people were able to get their Bachelors...
  41. E

    Leaving college for a job/start-up

    Some background first: I'm a rising sophomore and I recently got an offer to write code and carry out financial research on futures trading for a hedge fund manager, at the starting salary of a college graduate-analyst. We're close friends, so on top of that, we threw around the idea of starting...
  42. Math Is Hard

    Skip college and become a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator. Really?

    http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/08/11/skip-college-make-money-fast-10-high-paying-jobs-that-dont-re/ OK, the article is a year old, but I don't think things have changed that much, and I think this is a Simpson's-perpetuated myth.
  43. M

    Schools Amherst College and Princeton: What's it like?

    Hi, I am interested in applying to Amherst and Princeton, especially because of the substantial amount of aid they offer to internationals. While I do have an idea of what my application will look like in the coming months, I wanted to get some "inside information", if possible. How is the...
  44. K

    Schools Is it possible to start college over?

    I need your advice. I'm about to enter my senior year of college, but I wouldn't exactly call consider my time in college to be well spent. I'm completing a major that I do not like. I've had to deal with pretty significant health issues and a few other things that have made it difficult to do...
  45. F

    Schools Scholarships & Finiancial aid for current college students?

    I live in Canada and I am a rising sophomore. Is there such thing as scholarships for current college students? If so where does one apply? I live in Canada and my parents said they want me to take advantage of the student loan because there is no interest because i will be borrowing...
  46. J

    Need Help Choosing a New Laptop for College Classes

    I've been around these forums quite often, never signed up till today. Figured this would be the best place to ask. Fall term for college starts in 30 days. I need to get a new laptop, but I'm not sure where to start. Don't really have a set budget, I just need to be sensible when...
  47. G

    Schools As a college sophmore, what should my approach be for writing a research paper?

    I want to write a research paper on general relativity or mathematical physics. I am a college freshman (will become sophomore after this summer) belonging to an engineering major. In this summer break, I have managed to learn about tensors. Currently, I am following the Respected Professor...
  48. A

    Schools What college classes cover hypercubes and topology?

    Have been reading up on tesseracts lately and I was wondering what class in college if any include the learning of these. Was thinking it would be a physics class of some sort but at the same time it could be a math class too.
  49. M

    Schools Do My Credentials Match Ivy League Standards?

    Hey I'm going to be a junior this year and I'm starting to look into colleges. I would love to get into a place like Stanford or MIT but I'm not sure if I have the credentials to do so. Just wanted to get some feedback on my chances at a school like these. Below are my courses/extracurriculars...
  50. A

    Biology Navigating the Path to Cryobiology: Advice for College Students

    I am currently a college student and am very interested in becoming a cryobiologist someday. Particularly, I would like to work on organ preservation or something similar. I just have a few questions regarding what path I should take to get there. Any advice by scientists working in this field...
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