Studying Studying Physics in America: Top Universities

[mrausum]

I'm going to spend a semester at an American University. Here is a list of allowed places:

USA Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona www.asu.edu
USA University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona studyabroad.arizona
USA California State University Long Beach, California www.csulb.edu
USA Clarkson University Potsdam, New York www.clarkson.edu
USA Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado www.colostate.edu
USA George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia www.gmu.edu
USA Hastings College Nebraska www.hastings.edu
USA Illinois State University Normal, Illinois www.ilstu.edu
USA James Madison University Virginia www.jmu.edu
USA Kent State University Ohio www.kent.edu
USA Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York www.lemoyne.edu
USA Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana www.lsu.edu
USA North Central College Naperville, Illinois www.northcentral.edu
USA Miami University, Ohio Oxford, Ohio www.miami.muohio[/URL]
USA Oklahoma State University Stillwater [PLAIN]www.cas.okstate.edu[/URL]
USA Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia [url]www.odu.edu[/url]
USA State University of New York, Buffalo Buffalo, New York [url]www.buffalo.edu[/url]
USA The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas [url]www.uta.edu[/url]
USA Texas A & M University College Station, Texas [PLAIN]www.tamu[/URL]
USA The University of Tulsa Oklahoma [url]www.utulsa.edu[/url]
USA University of Florida Gainesville [url]www.ufl.edu[/url]
USA University of Georgia Athens, Georgia [url]www.uga.edu[/url]
USA University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida [url]www.miami.edu[/url]
USA Utah State University Logan, Utah [url]www.usu.edu[/url]

Which would be the best for Physics? I'm thinking University of Miami, University of Florida and University of Texas are the best Universities in general from that list.

 

[jtbell]

When most people talk about the University of Texas, they're referring to the "flagship" campus at Austin. I don't know anything about the campus at Arlington.

The University of Arizona has a well-regarded physics program, and is especially known for astronomy and astrophysics. Last year's Mars lander project was based there.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Asking what's the best college is akin to asking "what's the best car". It depends on what you'll be doing with it: picking up women, or picking up the kids from soccer practice? If you can provide more details, you'll probably get more useful answers.

 

[mrausum]

Asking what's the best college is akin to asking "what's the best car". It depends on what you'll be doing with it: picking up women, or picking up the kids from soccer practice? If you can provide more details, you'll probably get more useful answers.

ok, I'll end the pretense: I don't really care about Physics. How good the department is for research doesn't interest me. I want the college that will look best on my CV. so, suggestions?

 

[Vanadium 50]

None of them. People might say "Oooohhh...he went to Princeton." Nobody says, "Oooohhh...he went to Utah State."

 

[mrausum]

None of them. People might say "Oooohhh...he went to Princeton." Nobody says, "Oooohhh...he went to Utah State."

That's absurd. Just because you haven't been to CalTech or MIT doesn't mean you can just go to any old university and still expect to get a decent job.

 

[dotman]

That's absurd. Just because you haven't been to CalTech or MIT doesn't mean you can just go to any old university and still expect to get a decent job.

Sure you can. In fact, most people do. But what he's saying is that none of the schools on your list are 'wow' schools in the sense that you're asking-- these schools would be Harvard, Princeton, MIT, etc... Yale, Stanford, I'm sure there's a few others. But none of the ones on this list.

But it doesn't matter anyways. You list a lot of great schools, and people can and do go to these schools and get great jobs when they come out. Every year.

 

[cristo]

ok, I'll end the pretense: I don't really care about Physics. How good the department is for research doesn't interest me. I want the college that will look best on my CV. so, suggestions?

I'd say it doesn't make a difference. You will only be studying there for a semester anyway, and presumably in your first or second year. That level of physics is (I'd guess) all taught in the same way, and since your degree won't be from that university, it doesn't really matter which one you go to.

If I was making the decision, I'd do some research on the area the universities are in, and go to the one where I'd be most likely to enjoy my time. After all, these such semester long placements are just really for experience of living in another country anyway.

 

[Pyrrhus]

If I was making the decision, I'd do some research on the area the universities are in, and go to the one where I'd be most likely to enjoy my time. After all, these such semester long placements are just really for experience of living in another country anyway.

Exactly!, In fact, that's what I tell the non-degree seeking undergrads (semester abroad here). Don't pick too much hard subjects, go have fun. Going abroad is more for the fun than the studying. If you want to go abroad to study, you do your PhD there or Undergrad, anyway.

 

[physics girl phd]

ok, I'll end the pretense: I don't really care about Physics. How good the department is for research doesn't interest me. I want the college that will look best on my CV. so, suggestions?

This statement is, in my opinion absurd (esp. since as mentioned, none of these are Princeton etc.). The reason to go to a different institution is experience what opportunities are available there... and doing a small research project with some faculty member would be REALLY useful to your CV (and I'd judge which institution to go to based on that possibility).

Lastly the statement that you really don't care about Physics is disturbing... even with the best CV, you won't get far on an attitude like that.

 

[seycyrus]

ok, I'll end the pretense: I don't really care about Physics. How good the department is for research doesn't interest me. I want the college that will look best on my CV. so, suggestions?

You haven't brought up the type of physics you want to pimp your CV with? Theory? In what? Experimental? In what?

You can narrow it down for us.