Admissions Which offer of admission should I accept?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rkaz
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Admission
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a choice between UW-Madison and Penn State for undergraduate studies in Physics and Mechanical Engineering, with aspirations for advanced research in space propulsion. UW-Madison is praised for its strong physics program and the conducive study environment during harsh winters, which some argue can enhance focus. However, opinions vary on the appeal of each school's atmosphere. Penn State is recognized for its extensive alumni network and diverse educational opportunities, though it is noted for its large class sizes and rural setting, which may not suit everyone. Ultimately, both institutions are considered strong options, and the decision may hinge on personal preferences regarding campus culture and study environment.
rkaz
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
I have been accepted to the undergraduate schools at UW-Madison and Penn State and plan on majoring in -

1.Physics and

2.Mechanical engineering

Which school should I go to and why?..I would appreciate any and all suggestions.

My plans for the future are to do extensive research into very advanced space propulsion such as fusion, antimatter, Planck energy (warp drive/wormholes..)...hopefully through acceptance to grad school at MIT...

Please, please please advise..
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Well, if you want my two cents, the UW physics program appeared excellent when I visited it. I don't know much about Penn State though.
 
Both institutions have a fine undergraduate physics program. So it comes down to which place offers the best environment for focused study. When it gets really cold outside, there is nothing to do but study. Therefore, since Wisconsin has much colder winters than Pennsylvania, I would recommend UW-Madison.

Can't speak for the Mechanical engineering side of things.
 
nightowl03d said:
Both institutions have a fine undergraduate physics program. So it comes down to which place offers the best environment for focused study. When it gets really cold outside, there is nothing to do but study. Therefore, since Wisconsin has much colder winters than Pennsylvania, I would recommend UW-Madison.

wow that's the first time I've heard that reasoning used to choose a school and the first time I've heard someone laud wisconsin's winters as being good for anything except for snowball fights or other winter sport activites.
 
Last edited:
nightowl03d said:
Both institutions have a fine undergraduate physics program. So it comes down to which place offers the best environment for focused study. When it gets really cold outside, there is nothing to do but study. Therefore, since Wisconsin has much colder winters than Pennsylvania, I would recommend UW-Madison.

Can't speak for the Mechanical engineering side of things.

As a PA native I got to vouch for my own state! Our winters can still get kinda cold!:biggrin: I was accepted to Penn-State but decided not to go there. Penn State is a great School, but I wasn't one for the giant university atmosphere for my undergrad experience. For your first couple of years your classes will be huge. State College is a nice town, but is surrounded by miles and miles of farms and trees, so its not a big city type atmosphere. (This is assuming your going to the University Park campus and not one of the other satellite campuses.)

One Good thing about Penn State is that they have a gigantic alumni association which can give you connections to places you may never have thought you could have had connections. Another is that there are educational opportunities there that you may not get at a smaller institution(more course offerings etc.) Also don't forget about the Penn State Creamery if you like Ice Cream!


Good Luck making your decisions, both schools are great by what I hear.

G01
 
I’ve been looking through the curricula of several European theoretical/mathematical physics MSc programs (ETH, Oxford, Cambridge, LMU, ENS Paris, etc), and I’m struck by how little emphasis they place on advanced fundamental courses. Nearly everything seems to be research-adjacent: string theory, quantum field theory, quantum optics, cosmology, soft matter physics, black hole radiation, etc. What I don’t see are the kinds of “second-pass fundamentals” I was hoping for, things like...
TL;DR Summary: I want to do a PhD in applied math but I hate group theory, is this a big problem? Hello, I am a second-year math and physics double major with a minor in data science. I just finished group theory (today actually), and it was my least favorite class in all of university so far. It doesn't interest me, and I am also very bad at it compared to other math courses I have done. The other courses I have done are calculus I-III, ODEs, Linear Algebra, and Prob/Stats. Is it a...

Similar threads

Replies
20
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
46
Views
6K
Replies
15
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
4K
Back
Top