<p>I am currently a year 12 student from UK and am looking at applying to both UK and US universities. As Imperial is my first choice in the UK (don't think i can make it to oxbridge), i was wondering how it fares with these US unis (Columbia, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth and UPenn) in terms of:</p>
<p>-Which is the best in terms of Physics?
-Which has the best prestige and is most famous internationally?
-Which has the best job prospects worldwide?</p>
<p>Money won't be an issue btw so i can afford the higher US college fees. </p>
<p>Your job prospects in the US would naturally favor the Ivies, and it would be a complete reverse in the UK. Outside of those 2 countries, Imperial = Columbia, Cornell, and perhaps, UPenn. Dartmouth and Brown are somewhat unknown worldwide. </p>
<p>However, for desirability purposes only, I’d go for Columbia or Penn or Brown or Dartmouth over Imperial. Can’t decide it yet with Cornell in the equation.</p>
<p>You need to ask around where you live, and find out whether or not an undergraduate degree in Physics will be of any use in the job market when you graduate. As an international student, your chances of finding a permanent position here after graduation are vanishingly small. Not exactly 0, but certainly approaching that. There are several threads about that issue in the International Students Forum. </p>
<p>If your concern is about being prepared for post-graduate studies, then contact the departments at the colleges/universities that you are interested in, and ask where their graduates end up. They should be happy to tell you how many continue on to MS and PhD programs each year, and where.</p>
<p>In the US-Ivies> Imperial
In the UK- Imperial>Ivies
Europe-Imperial=Columbia>Brown=UPenn>Cornell
East Asia-Imperial=Columbia>Brown>UPenn=Cornell (but difference is very very small)</p>
<p>From what I’ve seen:
US- mentioned Ivies>>>Imperial (most decent state schools are held in higher regards than Imperial).
In the UK- Columbia>Imperial>other mentioned Ivies
Europe- Columbia (top exchange destination along with Harvard)>other mentioned Ivies (much more desired by students for exchange programs than Imperial)=Imperial
East Asia- Columbia=Wharton>other mentioned Ivies>Imperial</p>
<p>Agreed but i am a foreign student (from Japan) studying in the UK and i doubt in the UK Columbia>Imperial tbh i doubt most British people even know Columbia off the top of their head. East Asia as well, Imperial would definitely have at least have the same general reputation as the other ivies bar columbia</p>
<p>There’s no way Columbia is regarded more prestigious than Imperial is in the UK. The top employers in the UK would in no way favor Columbia grads over Imperial grads.</p>
<p>Personally I’d think that Cornell has a much higher prestige factor in the sciences than Brown, and perhaps even Penn (Wharton overshadows all). But then I don’t live in the NE states. :D</p>
<p>For physics, (Cornell = Columbia = Penn) > (Brown = Dartmouth). I’ll leave Imperial out of it because I don’t know how to make that trans-Atlantic comparison.</p>
<p>From what I have read (Im applying to all of these except Brown, but for Computer Science *G700 in Imperial i believe) Cornell and Columbia have solid science programs, however Brown and Dartmouth gives you the ability to chose how to go about your education as they are much more flexible. Imperial probably has the best physics after Cambridge in the UK, but has a lesser research opportunity for undergrads and a much more rigid curriculum. For me the order would be something like:
Columbia
Cornell, Imperial
Brown, Penn,
Dartmouth</p>
<p>-Which has the best prestige and is most famous internationally? Which has the best job prospects worldwide?</p>
<p>Worldwide? Undoubtedly Columbia. But worldwide does not matter, what matters is what you want to do (in terms of business world, research and development, teaching etc.) and where you want to do it.
Imperial if you plan to stick in Europe. Columbia if you want to come to the US or Asia.
As for joining the job industry, if you are headed for a career in the business or industrial world, Cornell and Imperial will give you the most solid education as a professional. For Research and Development, Brown and Columbia would set you up early with opportunities that come with their endowments, and a more well rounded education. If you plan to take physics and combine it either with management or engineering in a post graduate study/continue your education in a different yet related field, go for Penn or Dartmouth. </p>
<p>^what Ptolomy said, although i know for a fact in Hong Kong Imperial is as well known as if not more well known Columbia. For Japan and Korea, Columbia will be more known (although as i mentioned before the difference is so small its almost negligible).</p>
<p>In terms of the “wow” factor, all of those unis will have roughly the same amount.</p>
<p>Hey, i’m in roughly the same situation as you right now. I had to choose between Columbia and Imperial and i think i am going to go for Imperial. Imperial is more suited for me and Columbia and Imperial will have the same worldwide reputation. Quality will also be the same. If you want to do different things-US if you wanna specialize-UK</p>