Picking Undergrad - Guidance Needed

[mattsmart]

Hi, I'm a grade 12 student at a Canadian High School, and I am interested in pursuing a career in theoretical physics (research/prof). I'm just not sure how to go about it. The problem is that the teachers/faculty at my school are useless, and university websites aren't really informative.

I plan on applying to three schools:

Waterloo
Western
McGill

My grades should be sufficient for any program, but because of that, all the choice is leaving me a little confused. Which program at which of these school would best prepare me for graduate studies in theoretical physics? I also want to acquire some transferable skills, such as programming courses or perhaps extra math courses. Also which route is best to take for someone planning to study theoretical physics in graduate school: a bachelors of math degree with a physics major, or the reverse? I've heard that the math frequently becomes more important than the physics, but I am more mathematically inclined, so I don't know what which route to take. Will grad schools accept either?

Any advice or guidance at all would be deeply appreciated!

 

[AndersonMD]

To be honest, they will all be about the same, choice of undergrad university (in Canada) makes very little difference, as much as recruiters want you to think otherwise. Just choose your courses wisely, attend open houses if possible, check out Globe and Mail rankings, and if you are really keen, go to the physics web pages find the profs that will teach your courses and search them on www.ratemyprofessors.com, to get a feeling of how good the teaching is.

 

[mattsmart]

Thanks for the reply.

I know that the school itself isn't very significant, but I'm looking for some input on course/ program selection at these schools. They all offer your basics physics program, but I'm under the impression that PhD level physics will be heavily focused on maths. So, would it be a better idea to focus on a math stream with a physics option, or simply take as many physics courses as possible to ground my understanding of the concepts? Many people here seem to say that the math is much more valuable than the physics, because the later physics courses are difficult without the math. Is this true? Will it be a factor if I simply apply to a basic physics program?

 

[AndersonMD]

If you want to go into theory, it would be useful to do a math/phys joint program, but not necessary. In general physics courses give you all the background math necessary to do well, or make the required math courses mandatory to the degree.

 

[MECHster]

Most Universities do have physics/math combined programs. Waterloo has a physics program with a specialization in mathematical physics.

http://science.uwaterloo.ca/programs/physics