<p>Alright, so it looks my college decision is probably going to come down either CU-Boulder or URochester. I haven't yet received my financial aid packet yet from URochester, but I got a $20,000 merit scholarship and for the sake of discussion I'll assume financial aid will make the costs about equal. CU-Boulder is in-state and affordable to my family.</p>
<p>I am interested in physics, and would major in Physics at Rochester and Engineering Physics at Boulder. I'm interested in pursuing a PhD (probably leaning towards the theoretical side) after my undergraduate studies, so the ability to be involved with physics research early is very important. At CU-Boulder, I would be a part of the Engineering Honors Program, which is a great residency program that I'm pretty excited about getting in to. I've visited the campus a few times and have liked it, but the size is a bit daunting. It's much closer to home (about four hours away) than Rochester, so I'd be able to drive home on breaks.</p>
<p>I've never visited Rochester, and probably will not be able to do so before I need to make a decision. I've heard great things about it though, and I LOVE the open curriculum. I've kind of dreaded doing more core classes in subjects I dislike, so the ability to skip through those is a huge plus for me. I think the research opportunities will be good there, but I know it's a lot smaller school than Boulder so I don't know if I'll have the same resources and breadth of opportunities available to me. I like the idea of moving across the country to go to school there, since I've lived in the same small town my whole life.</p>
<p>I'm not really leaning either direction right now, so I'm interested in the opinions of people here. Is one physics program clearly better than the other? Which would you choose if you were in the same situation?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>My D applied to URoc and liked the campus and kids. The research opps look great and the facilities as well. The weather is not as good as Boulder by a long shot, but it does have more green and snow in winter than Boulder (which can be awfully brown from November to April). Gray is the most common feature of winter and many of the other nine months of Rochester. People talk about Rochester having restaurants and nightlife and art fairs, but my experience suggests that they aren’t Boulder and Denver and Fort Collins by a long shot. </p>
<p>I find it interesting that you’re interested in engineering physics AND a PhD in theoretical, but I’ll let that discrepancy go. I went to Boulder 30 years ago, and it’s physics is still pretty darn good. I’ve met one of their laureates and he seems to be very interested in u/g education as well as theoretical and experimental physics. I cannot speak to the whole faculty, but there are 4 laureates there, I think. When I was there the professors I had were very invested in the u/gs. I also think that if you’re worried about moving from small town CO to small city NY then maybe you should try small city CO first. I also like the less expensive Boulder education because I always like spending less money for the same education. The size of a school really isn’t an issue unless you’re not spending enough time studying and in class and involved in ECs and a job. As an engineering student, you’ll be lucky to see much else of the campus. And I saw the engineering dorms they refurbished this summer and they’re pretty nice.</p>
<p>I think both schools will give you an excellent education. Both are pretty. Both you could go to graduate school for. It’s a tough choice but you’re very lucky to have the opportunity to make it.</p>
<p>Thanks for offering your perspective jkeil, I appreciate it. It’s good to hear that professors at CU are actually interested in undergraduates; that was one of my concerns about going to a bigger school. It will indeed be a difficult choice, and I think I’d be very happy at either one.</p>
<p>To explain the reasoning behind Engineering Physics + Theoretical: I’m really interested in theoretical physics, but I wanted to be a part of CU-Boulder’s Engineering Honors Program and live in Andrew’s Hall, because it seemed like a really great program. I did some research on the Engineering Physics program at Boulder and the degree is basically a physics degree with an added engineering minor, so I wouldn’t really be at any disadvantage compared to pure physics majors in terms of theoretical coursework. I figured it lets me participate in the Engineering Honors Program and complete a Physics degree, while also learning a lot about engineering, which I also find interesting.</p>
<p>I’d be interested to hear more people’s opinions on these two schools as well!</p>
<p>So I got financial aid from Rochester today and costs will indeed be about equivalent to CU-Boulder. I also unexpectedly got into Harvey Mudd College, so that is an option to consider as well (although I am still waiting on financial aid).</p>
<p>WOW! Lots of good choices :))) HarveyMudd meets 100% need so the financial aid package should be even better than UR or CU-B, unless you got merit (not need-based) in which case you still have very good choices anyway. I’d pick HarveyMudd over the other two if the financial aid package makes it affordable because it’s academically stronger, plus the consortium and the location…;)</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd has a lot in common with Boulder, but the free spirits of HMC are a lot brighter than those at Boulder. They’re free spirit engineers, if that is not an oxymoron. It’s a fairly unique place, plus there is something like gender balance (thanks to the consortium) that MIT and GT cannot offer you. If the money makes it possible, go to HMC. You can always go to grad school in Boulder. Wow, you’re very fortunate.</p>