<p>I'm probably going to major in physics or something related, and for this I'm going to Columbia. However, I heard that caltech is the beast at sciences and stuff. I chose Columbia because of the liberal arts (i'm probably going to double major or minor in english) and because it seems to be a more lively school and it's in NYC. I was wondering if anyone thinks it's unwise to go to columbia over caltech for science, or could tell me something about the science programs at columbia?</p>
<p>What do you want to do with your life? If your goal in life is to win the Nobel prize and you want to take absurdly hard classes and be surrounded by geniuses, go to Caltech. Doing science at Columbia is definitely different than Caltech, but you probably know that.</p>
<p>Haha, I wish I knew what to do with my life. That would solve all my problems, or most of them. Going to CC just seems to leave more options open for me. I just want to know if columbia is comparable in any way to caltech in hard science, in case i do choose that path.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like Columbia is a better option for you. The hard sciences aren't as powerful as at CalTech simply because most Columbia students are humanities majors. With that said, those people who do choose to major in hard sciences (say, physics, chem, biochem...) are usually pretty damn smart and would create a stimulating environment for you. Furthermore, there are ample opportunities for research of all kinds. CalTech is simply a one track kind of school. If you are dead set on a career in the sciences, I'd give it a longer look. If you're not sure, I wouldn't put myself through that kind of curriculum. At Columbia you'll be in a much more interesting city (NYC certainly trumps Pasadena), and you'll find a student body with more diverse interests. I would say that's the way to go if you're not sure what you want to do with your life.</p>
<p>"Haha, I wish I knew what to do with my life."</p>
<p>In this case, I'm pretty sure CU's more diverse student body, NYC's huge amount of opportunities and The Core will aid you in finding whatever it is that you're gonna be happiest with.</p>
<p>And we get laid.</p>
<p>given the company around here, i'd stick to speaking for yourself on that count =P</p>
<p>Columbia University Faculty have won many Nobel prizes in the last 10 years, e. g. Horst Stormer (Physics) Richard Axel (Medicine), Edmund Phelps (Economics), Joseph Stiglitz (economics-although he just came to Columbia), Orhan Pamuk (literature-new Faculty addition in SIPA), Eric Kandel (Medicine), William Vickrey (Economics-awarded 1996 now deceased), RObert Merton (SEAS grade-Economics 1997/I know this is not fair, but it's a recent one), RObert Mundell (Economics-1999), Richard Hamilton (foundation for Poincare Proof-over 40, but would have received Fields Medal otherwise with Pearlman), wow....Columbia University</p>