Astrophysics/Music Major here. Which school!?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I just got accepted to Ohio State University, Boston University, the University of Michigan, the University of Virginia, Cornell University, and Columbia University. </p>

<p>I am looking for a school that offers both a strong astronomy/physics program and a strong music program. Is there any insight that can be offered here? Other factors:</p>

<p>Boston gave me 40,000
Columbia gave me 36,000
Cornell gave me 40,000
Ohio State gave me 13,000
U-M and UVA still have yet to reply with finaid responses though</p>

<p>I'm also looking for great research opportunities during the academic year for undergraduates.</p>

2

<p>due to money, i would say cornell or columbia</p>

3

<p>Is that money grant/scholarship aid, or is it loans?</p>

<p>Count only the grant/scholarship aid.</p>

<p>Are the grants/scholarships renewable every year? Do you need to maintain a certain GPA in order to keep them?</p>

<p>Count only the automatically renewable grants/scholarships that don’t have a minimum GPA requirement.</p>

<p>Now take a look at your financial aid packages. How much will each school really cost you to attend?</p>

<p>You may find that some of these places have vanished from your list.</p>

4

<p>well i’ve already done those calculations and i’m pretty well off. boston is taking 10,000 of that 40,000 as loans but thats alright. columbia gave me a grant of 36,000 and cornell gave me grants of 37,000 and loans of only 3,000 </p>

<p>the main point i’m asking about is not actually about money though its on the programs offered at these institutions, with the money being at second importance</p>

5

<p>If you are really interested in music, I’m rather baffled by this list of schools. There are umpteen places with better music programs than any of these. Or is this just the best list that you could come up with that seemed reasonably strong in both areas?</p>

<p>If money is no object, you should visit as many of them as possible and see how they “feel” to you. You also ought to check out the music departments in more detail: voice or composition or instrumental? which instrument? is there enough depth in the department so that if Dr. Viola goes on sabbatical there is a Dr. Other Strings who can cover for that year?</p>

<p>As for astrophysics/physics, you need to see what projects the faculty members are working on. Read their bios on the websites and find out what their lab groups are up to. One university may have research that is more interesting to you.</p>

6

<p>Cornell has a great music school, and a generally fine reputation in the physical sciences; don’t know about astrophysics.</p>

7

<p>I don’t know about the physics part, but BU and Michigan have the strongest music programs of the schools on your list. I would guess that Michigan would be pretty strong in astrophysics as well. So I would pick Michigan off your list.</p>

8

<p>Cornell is outstanding in astrophysics. But I don’t know how much of it goes on there these days in undergrad. Back in the day it was mostly grad program after physics, save for a few undergrad courses. Which if you ask me is pretty much where it belongs.</p>