Which is a better preperation for grad work?

[Eelbot]

Hello,
I live in Canada and am going to university for physics next year. I am looking at University of Toronto, and the University of Waterloo. Currently, I would like to pursue a graduate education afterward. I am wondering which university would better prepare me through their coursework and undergraduate research options. I would like to study theoretical physics if that makes a difference in which university I should choose.
I like the look of Waterloo because they seem to be a top notch school for the physical sciences, however UofT seems to have a wider range of topics.

Basically, which would prepare me better for grad studies: UofToronto, or UofWaterloo?

 

[Vanadium 50]

It's more about you and how you learn best than the school. This is one question you're going to have to answer yourself, I fear.

 

[NobodySpecial]

Basically, which would prepare me better for grad studies:

Find a wall, bang head against wall, repeat
As a treat eat ramen

 

[╔(σ_σ)╝]

Find a wall, bang head against wall, repeat
As a treat eat ramen

*hits head*

Am I doing it rite ?


@ OP
Either of these Universities would prepare you well for a career in physics. I believe it is up to you to prepare yourself for grad school.

Waterloo and UofT are both good universities; again, it is up to you to decide where you want to go.

 

[1230wc]

Someone told me she didn't like working in a NL due to hassles from security concerns...
ie the atmosphere isn't as open.
Other experiences at NLs?

 

[_DJ_british_?]

I'm currently in the Honours Physics program at Mcgill, but 3 of my best best friends are at the school you just mentioned (two are at UoT and one is at Waterloo). We talk several times a week, either by phone or by mails. From what I get from them, the education is pretty much the same. I seems to have gotten the best teachers, but at the end, we all learned the same things. We talked about it, and we pretty much had all the same curriculum (we all use Kleppner-Kolenkow, Griffith, Sakurai, Kittel, Hecht). From what we got, undergrad isn't very "school dependent", it's more about how you deal with it. We all agreed we should focus on the external factors (museums, libraries, nightlife and such)!

 

[Eelbot]

I have heard that it doesn't matter as well, and I am leaning towards Waterloo. However, I have heard that Waterloo doesn't try to prepare you for graduate programs, but instead tries to get you a job after school (co-op and such). UofT also apparently has good connections with oxford, which I am interested in...Does it still really matter? Will international universities look at me a bit better if I have a degree from UofT?

 

[lurky]

I don't know as much about Waterloo, but U of T has a specialist program in physics that will really work you hard (or at least they had it last time I was there, which admittedly was a few years ago, but surely it still exists). If you're into that, then check out U of T. Otherwise, it really doesn't matter where you go as you will get a good education anywhere, and in fact I argue that you'll get a better education at a smaller institution. You just have to figure out what you like (never an easy task IMO) and go with that. But generally speaking, all universities here will prepare you for grad school, although if a school has different streams, then you'll probably have to take the highest stream in your subject area (e.g. the specialist in physics at U of T).

 

[Kevin_Axion]

What upper-level courses were available to you lurky?

 

[lurky]

Why don't you have a look at this: http://www.artsandscience.utoronto.ca/ofr/calendar/prg_phy.htm

Note: If you go there, you'll probably be advised in first year to not take the specialist version of every course. Follow this advice. What they mean is, if you do the specialist program in physics and you take the two specialist first year courses (151&152), do not also take the specialist math courses (e.g. mat157). You'll note that they recommend the lower level math courses in the physics specialist program anyway. There's a reason for that and it's a very good one and it has to do with making sure that students actually come back for second year. Do not underestimate the difficulty level of these courses.