RPI vs U of Roc: Which Has Better Physics Undergrad Program?

[jlarkin]

I have been accepted to both RPI and University of Rochester with similar financial packages. I have been given a lot of advice based on things like RPI's location, which is not ideal, and its male to female ratio, which is not ideal either.

However, I would like to know which one has the better undergraduate program in physics. They seem pretty equal to me, but I noticed that RPI is not doing REU in 2013. Is this a bad sign? I will want to go to graduate school for physics. Taking that into account, based purely on academics and research opportunities, which would you recommend and why?

 

[dipole]

I'm a senior in Physics at RPI. I can say that the courses here are pretty good, and you'll definitely leave here with a good education in physics. A big plus side of RPI is that it's extremely easy to get research experience here with professors, which I recommend you do starting your sophomore year.

Also, Troy isn't really that bad. The bar scene is actually really good here, and if you own a car you can easily go up to Saratoga which is really nice, or we're three hours away from New York City for longer trips. Also if you want to get away from the cities, there's a ton of good hiking around here and it's only about an hour's drive to the Adirondacks or the Catskill Mountains.

I can also say that the clubs at RPI are pretty damn good, and you shouldn't have trouble finding one that overlaps with your own interests.

And by the way, I got into graduate school and I know a lot of other seniors who did as well.