Berkeley or UPenn for Physics/Astronomy ?

<p>I'm in a little bit of a dilemma. I really like Astrophysics. I got into Penn, which offers the Physics with concentration in Astronomy major. I also got into UC Berkeley, which offers Astrophysics. I was wondering how the Physics major at Penn was like? I visited Penn and all that students told me was that it was very hard. I didn't meet any Physics professors also. Is UC Berkeley a better choice? Or should I go with the 4th best school in the nation?</p>

<p>P.S.--I also got waitlisted to Columbia. Please post back! Thanks!</p>

<p>Well, physics is going to be hard here as well. I would imagine that, on the whole, there are more physics offerings at Berkeley, while Penn might have easier access to their resources for the average physics student. There are other factors to consider besides the particular department that interests you. </p>

<p>And as to Penn's being fourth in the nation, as with any poll or survey, I would say according to whom, and based on what (for any school)?</p>

<p>Harvard<em>and</em>berkeley was a graduate student who might be able to tell you a lot about the deparment, and sakky took many physics classes (as did others here).</p>