<p>Need Help!
Berkeley vs Columbia vs UPenn vs Penn State (Schreyer) vs MIT
for Physics and Astrophysics major.</p>
<p>MIT. (10char)</p>
<p>I think it warrants a longer answer than POIH’s. There are a number of variables to consider including cost and location. Only you can determine how the variables apply to you.</p>
<p>I assumed money is not an issue because OP didn’t mention anything about FA.</p>
<p>OP…on another thread (today) you question the astrophysics programs of these schools and Princeton. I’m with ucsd_ucla dad…you have not given sufficient information on your threads. Are you LOOKING for schools to apply to…or are you trying to decide where to go to. What grade are you in High School? What are your SAT or ACT scores and how is your GPA? What exactly are you wanting to know? Do you care about the locations (these five…plus Princeton) have VERY different locations and campus types)? </p>
<p>Are finances a significant issue?</p>
<p>My son got accepted into Astrophysics/physics program at Berkeley, UT austin
(honors) and Schreyer (Penn State). He is waitlisted at Columbia, MIT and Upenn. He got rejected from Princeton. Since he is an international student I am not sure if he would get any FA or not. Apart from that I am trying to decide which school would be best for undergraduate studies in Astrophysics/Physics area. We are from Eastern Pennsylvania area. Please help!</p>
<p>As a full pay international, Cal is the easy pick (due to international prestige) from your three available choices. If he gets off the WL, MIT is the obvious choice. </p>
<p>I’d also probably pick the two Ivies over Cal if they were choices, if for no other reason that they are closer to home.</p>
<p>Thanks bluebayou.</p>
<p>Between Berkeley and Columbia/UPenn, other than the fact the later is close to home, what are the other differences? In terms of undergraduate studies or research what would be better pick?</p>
<p>s0maroy, was your son admitted to Dean’s Scholars in the College of Natural Sciences at UT (target yield of 50 students)? If yes, was he able to attend any of the admitted students’ Open Houses or has he/will he visit another time and personally meet the honors program personnel? My senior was blown away by the program on all levels. Coincidentally, he’s also phys/astro, and Berk + some privates are also in play for us–similar quest! As between those two publics, and assuming your son’s offer was for Dean’s Scholars, I vote UT because IMO (a) the level of personal attention and opportunity for early research will be greater at UT than Berk, and (b) even though UT has its own budget woes, I don’t think they will impact honors program vs. the possibility a non-honors Berk student will be impacted. </p>
<p>I don’t know anything about Schreyer. Is there strong justification for paying OOS for UT honors vs. taking the home state advantage of Schreyer, which I assume is an exemplary program?</p>
<p>On your privates, all WL, because you can’t tell which one, if any, will ever be available, I think it’s critically important for your son to move on emotionally and become invested in one of the publics. If he’s researched the three privates and knows he’d jump at any of them over that top public, then he can stay on the WL for all, of course. And I guess I’d take a simplistic approach to odds and project he has a better chance of clearing WL with 3 than with 1. But I don’t think anything’s predictable this admissions cycle…</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Oops, I missed the international twist. In that case, I agree with bluebayou that Berkeley gets the edge for “international prestige,” and as long as the context is prestige/rankings, I’d axe Schreyer.</p>
<p>Thank you TXArtemis.
Where are you form? Are you from Texas region. Did geographic location play a role in your son’s decision. Congratulations to your son in accepting the offer from Dean’s Scholars in the College of Natural Sciences at UT.</p>
<p>My son also has got offer from there. We did not get to visit the campus yet. Also I forgot to add that he also got offer from Cornell. </p>
<p>Prestige/ranking might be one part of decision but more importantly I am looking for school with good undergraduate program and research opportunities. It looks like UTAustin honors program might be a good option. Between his current top offers UTAustin, Berkeley and Cornell which would be good?</p>
<p>s0maroy, I sent you a private message.</p>
<p>I don’t know a thing about Cornell’s physics/astro department.</p>
<p>If anyone wants to weigh in on UG research opps at Cal Berkeley vs. UT honors, that’d be great!</p>
<p>Rather than relying strictly on anecdotes maybe your S can contact the departments at the different colleges and get their opinion on the UG research opportunities in his interest area - i.e. availability, timing (i.e. freshman, soph, etc.), depth, and whether it’s paid or not.</p>
<p>WOW! What a great suggestion uscd<em>ucls</em>dad! Thank you.</p>