Whats the Best Tech/Engineer/ N. Science School in USA?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the best technology, engineering, or natural science schools in the USA. Participants explore various institutions and their strengths, particularly in relation to specific fields of study and personal fit.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that top schools include MIT, Caltech, Stanford, Cornell, and UC Berkeley.
  • One participant highlights UIUC as a strong public school option, noting that graduate programs can vary significantly between institutions, especially in specialized areas like electromagnetics.
  • Another participant inquires about Virginia Tech's standing among these schools.
  • Several participants mention other institutions such as U Maryland - College Park, Ohio State, Penn State, and Purdue as good options.
  • There is a discussion about UCLA and UCSD, indicating interest in their reputations as well.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of personal fit in choosing a school, comparing the decision to selecting a life partner, suggesting that individual strengths and preferences should guide the choice rather than rankings.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on which schools are the best, with no consensus reached. Multiple competing views on the merits of different institutions remain evident throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific areas of specialization, such as electromagnetics, which may influence the perceived strengths of various schools. The discussion reflects a diversity of perspectives on what constitutes a "best" school, highlighting the subjective nature of the decision.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective students considering technology, engineering, or natural science programs in the USA may find this discussion relevant, particularly those interested in understanding the variety of opinions on school rankings and personal fit.

Okki2
Messages
40
Reaction score
0
Is it Stanford? MIT? what?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
MIT, Caltech, Stanford, Cornell, UC Berkeley are at the top.
 
I've got to plug UIUC as another excellent public school option. Though when it comes to graduate school, it can vary because each schools will specialize in different areas and may not even have the same research programs as other schools. For example, as good of a school as Stanford is, I have never heard anything of a electromagnetics research program. UIUC, Ohio State and MIT have strong EM and antenna programs though.
 
Last edited:
where does Virginia Tech stand?
 
Virginia Tech, U Maryland - College Park, Ohio State, Penn State, UIUC, Purdue... they're all good...
 
what about UCLA or UCSD?
 
This question is a bit like asking, "who is the best person to marry?"

A good relationship is not one-sided, so your own make-up is every bit as important to deciding what the best school is. Remember, you will be doing the work and spending your time. You might thrive in an environment that your friend might struggle in. Worry more about which place is the best match for your skills and disposition, than some arbitrary numerical ordering.
 
Cantab Morgan said:
This question is a bit like asking, "who is the best person to marry?"

A good relationship is not one-sided, so your own make-up is every bit as important to deciding what the best school is. Remember, you will be doing the work and spending your time. You might thrive in an environment that your friend might struggle in. Worry more about which place is the best match for your skills and disposition, than some arbitrary numerical ordering.

Well said.
 

Similar threads

Schools How good and well-known is the physics program at RPI?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
Programs PhD in Particle Physics: UK vs USA Programs
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
5K
Schools Spending a Year Abroad in USA/Canada for Research & CMT
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Schools Please provide me top universities for MS in USA?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
What is computational physics and what is the best way or method to learn computational physics?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Can I manage to do both: Computer Science and Research in Physics?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Is a PhD in the USA worth for an european Master student?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Courses Advanced Math for Computational Material Science Engineering
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Admissions PhD in UK and USA: is it useful to have a European MSc?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Top 40 Physics Schools for Theoretical Cosmology in USA/Canada
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K