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. L

    MHB Bob & Son: Need Help Figuring Out College Trip Speed!

    I am a parent trying to help my son figure out this problem... Please HELP! Bob is taking his son to look at colleges. The first college they plan to visit is 150 miles from their home. In the first hour they drive at a rate of 60mph. If they want to reach their destination in 2.5 hours, what...
  2. Kac28891

    I want to self teach College Algebra but I don't know how?

    I was enrolled in College Algebra for this upcoming winter because the hours will overlap with the class that I enrolled for spring. The reason why I want to learn this, is to refresh my Algebra skills, since I forgot most of it (I only remember matrices, radicals and identities). The purpose...
  3. W

    Programs Should I continue pursuing my Mechanical Engineering Degree?

    I have recently transferred to UCSD from a community college, but I am not sure if I should continue my degree. Before I ask what I really want to know, let me explain my where I am at in school and life right now. I hope you enjoy reading :) but if you are willing, I am very interested in...
  4. S

    Teaching STEM at Community College Level Credentials?

    I'm wondering what the minimum educational attainment is for teaching at a community college (particularly in a STEM field)? And is there such a thing as "tenure" at a community college that is equivalent to tenure at a "regular" university? Lastly, is it easy to procure a teaching position at...
  5. O

    Question about teaching math at the community college level

    I've noticed that the pay for part time Math lecturers at CA community colleges appears to be pretty good, ~$45+/hour. My wife mentioned that most CC/college lecturers she's known have to spend more time preparing for and maintaining classes that they're paid for, which leads to them making...
  6. B

    Best path for studying physics and computer science

    I am a senior right now in high school and am pretty much deciding the beginning of the rest of my career right now. Ultimately, I would love to study both physics and computer science with either a double major or with computational physics. I love learning about mathematics, physics, computer...
  7. J

    Schools Good undergraduate universities for physics?

    I'm currently a sixth form student in Jamaica currently interested in becoming a medical physicist. However I know that before you do medical physics in a graduate program you need to do physics first. I have been doing some research about some good physics schools in North America. Some of...
  8. sheldonrocks97

    Is this a Good Spring Schedule?

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  9. sheldonrocks97

    Is this Spring Schedule Too Difficult?

    Hello everyone, I am currently picking my classes for spring semester. This is currently my second semester at university and I am a dual major of EE and Math. Here is my schedule: ES 332-02 3 Electrical Engineering (Essentially Circuits I) ENGL 311-01 3 Creative Writing MATH 352-01...
  10. J

    Lover of Math but dont know which career path to take

    I'm currently a sixth form student in Jamaica starting to think about career paths to take. I'm in love with math and I'm sure ill never drop out of love with it. But I'm a little uncertain about which career path to take. I was thinking of either doing acturial science but wonder if the job...
  11. C

    Programs Double Major in Computer Engineering and Physics?

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  12. S

    Schools How to prepare myself for college?

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  13. M

    Real Electronics: Unveiling the Complexities Behind Everyday Devices

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  14. C

    Exploring New Places: Where to Go and How to Live Mobile

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  15. I

    Unsure of College & Future: Seeking Advice

    Hello, I am a Junior in High School currently taking BC Calc and AP Chem right now, with plans to take Calc 3 and AP Physics my senior year. Still, I feel very unprepared for the season of choosing colleges since I have absolutely no idea what I would want to look for in a college and no idea...
  16. J

    Can a Multi-use Vaping Mod Also Efficiently Charge a Phone?

    Hi all, I am designing and building a Multi-use Vaping Mod as my idea of chose. This idea is based on two things, an E-cigarette and a USB Charging device output to charge a phone via USB all combined into one. But I need help with the circuit designing, because I am struggling with getting...
  17. L

    Math Textbook Recommendations for a LockSmith Starting College

    After 20 years of being a locksmith, I have decided that I want to get a college degree and I'll be starting next year! As part of my degree, I will be doing two math courses - one in calculus and the other in linear algebra. However other than addition and subtraction, I don't know much else...
  18. M

    Schools Veteran with rocky college past returning to school

    I'm a U.S. military member that's transitioning to civilian life. I'll be getting paid to spend the next 3-4 years of my life in college, thanks to the post 9/11 GI bill. I will be living in a Southern state attending a state school or starting at a community college and then transferring to a...
  19. Adriane

    Careers in science for the undecided?

    As of now I'm a high school junior, and for most of my life I had the mindset that I would work towards becoming a doctor. More recently, that decision has been faltering and I've become very unsure of this. I was going to become a pre-med, but I don't want to jump in when I'm having so many...
  20. T

    Programs New "Freshman" Physics (BS) Major

    Hello, PhysicsForums members! I made a previous thread on this forum entitled "From Music to Math", and I have decided after being in a "Physics Education" track for half a semester, I have decided I am going to pursue a BS in Physics. I am actually a Sophomore by year; so, since I studied...
  21. I

    Schools Choose College for Environmental Engineering: U of Wisc or U of Minn?

    Hello Everyone! I have a interesting decision to make. I have been accepted into University of Wisconsin-Plateville for Environmental Engineering, which I can start taking classes towards my degree. I have also been accepted into the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, however i got into the...
  22. C

    Is there a more effective way to study physics?

    I have been taking an ineffective method in my physics intro class: reading the textbook and taking notes -- each chapter of notes comes out to at least 4 pages, front and back. So I'm wondering if there is a more effective way to learn physics? Should I just read, highlight, make sidenotes...
  23. petormojer

    Schools Questions about physics and mathematics majors in college and courses?

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  24. M

    Online jobs for college students

    As a full-time freshman in college, I am currently working at a bakery about 10 minutes from my home. I attend a commuter campus, and it takes me 40 minutes to get there from my house. I've been working at this bakery for a year. In high school I was able to work 4-5 evenings a week for a total...
  25. KL7AJ

    Words of wisdom from my college slide rule instructor:

    "A calculator is a thing that will give you the wrong answer to 15 decimal places."
  26. A

    What is the best college physics textbook for beginning students?

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  27. jedishrfu

    To go or not go to College that is the question?

    A cost benefit analysis of a college degree: http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/06/this-is-how-you-visualize-the-value-of-a-college-science-degree/
  28. A

    Confused about what to do in College

    As a senior in High School in Chicago, I was planning on pursuing a Masters Degree in physics at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. That being said I had a few questions about the career (I don't know any Physicists personally to ask): 1. How easy is it to find a job with a Bachelor of...
  29. C

    Schools Which southern college for undergrad degree?

    Hi, I am doing research along with my son on the best path to take. In the end he wants to get a PHD in astrophysics. He is currently in 10th grade in high school. Georgia Tech was recommended, but I also found that College of Charleston, which is closer and a lot cheaper, also offers a...
  30. D

    Schools College Computer Science BA vs BA

    So I want to major in Computer Science but the school I will be attending only offers BA degrees(even in the sciences) since they are a small liberal arts school. Will it be a problem for me in the future when looking for jobs if I have a BA in Computer Science? Also, A lot of people tell...
  31. Amrator

    Tackling College with ADD/OCD: Seeking Advice

    Hello all, I am currently a senior in high school and hoping to major in physics. I will be taking AP Physics and AP Calculus AB. However, this question is mainly for college. Unfortunately, I have ADD and OCD. The biggest problem that I have is I process information very slowly. I am...
  32. Infrared

    Schools About to Start college but don't know what to do

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  33. Z

    Will My Transfer Credits Affect My Job Prospects as a Physics Graduate?

    Hey guys, I was hoping to pick at the brains of those who are involved with the hiring process of recent graduates and/or are in the process of trying to obtain positions. To make it short, I have about 2 years left before I graduate with my degree in physics. I have a healthy GPA so far...
  34. S

    Some help with college project about air battery?

    Hello everyone! I'm working on my practical project in college and it's roughly about ''air battery'' (CAES) which is filled with help of solar cell (eventually I need to build small version of it). My mentor explained it to me roughly as well and I would love some help as I'm not very good at...
  35. H

    Schools Selecting a College (Physics undergrad)

    I am in the process of selecting colleges to apply to this fall. I plan on majoring in Physics or another STEM related career. I am interested in receiving the best undergraduate education in Physics possible (tuition is not a consideration). For me, quality of instruction and professors'...
  36. N

    At 30, I am a recent college graduate with no skills

    What would you do in my situation? I'm almost 30 with no career or professional experience. I finished my BS degree in Mathematics a year ago, but I don't know what to do with it. I had planned on pursuing a MS right after, but changed my mind and decided to look for entry level positions. I...
  37. Etienne

    Schools Year off from school OR Community College?

    Hi guys, I'm about to be a senior in High School, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. I am a San Diego native, but I currently live in Tijuana. I want to go back to San Diego to major in Physics, but I'm afraid that if I try to go straight into a university, I might get charged "out of...
  38. M

    Schools What's the highest level of math that math majors take at college?

    For example, the highest level of math that high school senior takes in high school is AP Calculus BC. But what's the highest level of math that math majors take in college? How about for engineering majors in college?
  39. gimak

    Schools Is the University of Maryland's Physics Program Right for You?

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  40. N

    Schools What classes do you take in college to become a mathematician?

    I am just curious about what classes need to be taken to become a mathematician. Thanks!
  41. T

    Schools Math major wondering what college minors are and how they work. pros n

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  42. P

    Good affordable laptop for college student?

    Can anyone out there recommend an affordable laptop for a college student. Going in as a physics/math major so needs to be able run mathematica and similar programs decently. This is the one I was thinking about going with. Thoughts...
  43. S

    Schools From community college to engineering

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  44. I

    Schools Why am I struggling in college physics? Any advice?

    Hi. I am currently a sophomore attending UT Austin and majoring in Physics. Over the past year I have become very discouraged. I am not doing as well as I expected to do. I remember when I was young and I had straight D's and C's in elementary school ... I then turned this around and became a...
  45. S

    Schools How to cope with the workload of college?

    I am new to college. In 12th grade I studied only 6 courses. But in college I have to study almost thrice that amount each year. So much of workload. It seems as if the entire 11th and 12th grade syllabus would be covered in 2 months or less. So how do i adapt myself to study at such a fast pace...
  46. interhacker

    Schools Preparing for College - Guidance

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  47. T

    Schools Is this a bad idea? Transferring to a not so good college oos

    Hello, I am a California Community College student and I just applied to UAF (University of Alaska at Fairbanks) as a Electrical Engineering major and intend on double majoring in Math or Physics. I will be a first year transfer and starting as a sophomore. I also have a 3.0, but for a UC...
  48. S

    Schools Is Colorblindness a Barrier to Pursuing a Major in Physics?

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  49. V

    College Algebra Simplifying Exponents

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  50. T

    Schools Transfer out of a state University or Community College

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