<p>How do U of Chicago, U of Michigan, and Johns Hopkins compare when it comes to their physics programs, as well as the overall atmosphere? A list of pros/cons for each and in relation to the others would be great.</p>
<p>Chicago: best physics program of the 3 (#7), reputation for being a nerdy school, not much social life. I would recommend Chicago if you're planning on grad school.
Michigan: solid physics program (#13), great campus town, sports, and social life.
Johns Hopkins: worst physics program of the 3 (#20), more known for pre-med and biology, and Baltimore is a pretty dangerous city.</p>
<p>It doesn't sound like you really know what you want, because those are three very different schools. It really doesn't get much more different that U Michigan and U Chicago.</p>
<p>Chicago is very small and liberal-artsy, extremely nerdy, and has a reputation for having the worst social life of any college. </p>
<p>Michigan is huge, a very diverse (and I mean more than race-wise) student body, with tons of school spirit and plenty to do on weekends and even weeknights.</p>
<p>Would you prefer a more "liberal arts" college experience in a smaller school with a quieter social life, or a more "traditional" college experience in a big school with a marching band, football games, frat houses, etc? </p>
<p>JHU seems to be sort of the compromise between the two; not quite so traditional as Michigan, but more so than U Chicago. I imagine JHU students study most of the time, and I don't hear good things about Baltimore, so the social life might be somewhat lacking--I don't base this on any formal knowledge, though.</p>
<p>chicago!!!</p>
<p>Hopkins or Michigan....I don't know much about UChicago</p>
<p>You'll find that Michigan has more of the "well-rounded" college atmosphere-- wow.. to go to a Wolverine football game must be unreal!</p>
<p>but i still feel the better education and prestige factor is at JHU. And by the way, JHU is located in one of the nicer areas of Baltimore, with no reason whatsoever to venture into the "unsavory" parts. The inner harbor, fells point, charles village(adjacent to campus) and federal hill are great college aged hangouts-- with other universities like loyola, towson, goucher, etc-- there are a lot of things to do if you want to venture off campus.</p>
<p>Of course, I love JHU- my older bro attended and loved it and I've visited quite a few times-- so take my bias into account :)</p>
<p>Actually, the football games aren't the best one's to see at Michigan. It's all about the Hockey games, anyone who has gone there will tell you that. Only the students cheer at the football games, all the alumni just sit in their stands and talk about what they did this summer. Same at the basketball games. But at hockey, everyone's cheering. For 107,501 there isn't much sound coming out of the Big House, and the bleachers give you no room whatsoever - but you will be standing anyways in the students' section on the northwest corner.</p>
<p>semiserious, i should explain more. Michigan is in-state for me and a good number of kids from my high school end up going there...so basically it is the best instate school for me, money possibly being an issue. Although it may not be everything i want, it has a lot of good aspects and i would probably fit in as a student there. That being said, i have visited both Chicago and JHU...i liked them both a lot, and i especially liked the atmosphere that Chicago seems to have. Many people say that the students there have no fun, but as my friend (whose mother graduated from Chi) pointed out, "it's not that they don't have fun, it's just that they have fun with their STUDIES." Just a thought.</p>
<p>Although Chicago isn't a school I am personally attracted to, I can certainly understand why students would be, and if you are, that's great. :) I hear that the students are creative and independant thinkers who have a better time discussing Descartes than going to a frat party and getting drunk--which is totally respectable, but I personally prefer a more traditional college experience. UChicago has an outstanding repuatation.</p>
<p>You seem to be leaving towards Chicago, if I'm any good at reading internet subtleties. Think long and hard about it. If you really do love UChicago, even if it doesn't quite have the name recognition of JHU, you should go there, by all means.</p>
<p>By the way, I spent a month at UMich for a summer program and I ADORED it, if that's worth anything.</p>
<p>What kind of physics? If you're talking about very theoretical physics, then as far as the department goes, Chicago is number 1. But as for practical applications and/or engineering, Chicago would not offer that. </p>
<p>Campus atmosphere and social life? There's enough across the discussion forums about that, but I would really really rec campus visits and evaluate what you want out of college.</p>
<p>all said you have 3 excellent choices-- are you deciding with one to apply early to?</p>
<p>Mich has 'rolling admissions', so you pretty much have to apply early...i'll apply early action to Chicago and regular to JHU</p>