<p>what are some reasons a person would apply to a college instead of the university? for example: applying to SEAS instead of Columbia</p>
<p>also whats the difference between the "sciences" and "engineering"?</p>
<p>If you're applying to Columbia, you have to apply to a specific college. Depending on what you want to major in, larger universities all have smaller, fragmented colleges that focus on that area; you will never apply to just a university in general.</p>
<p>Typically, you'll see some sort of "arts and sciences" college
an "engineering college"
and a few others.</p>
<p>In Columbia's case, you either apply to Columbia College or Columbia SEAS. You don't apply to the overall Columbia University. Each college has different majors, so you apply to the one that has your major. </p>
<p>Basically, engineering is applied science. The sciences would include majors such as physics, chemistry, biology, etc. Engineering would include civil, mechanical, chemical, electrical engineering, etc.</p>
<p>Science and applied science are two different things. Science generall refers to the more theoretical disciplines, such as Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Mathematics and Physics. Applied Science generally refers to more practical, hands on sciences, such as Engineering. </p>
<p>There is no clear cut difference between college and university. Generally speaking, colleges offer only undergraduate degrees and their students are typically 100% undergraduate. Universities typically have graduate students and programs and are greatly engaged in research. But that's just a rule of thumb. Boston College and Dartmouth College have graduate programs and Colgate University has absolutely not graduate offerings. So it there are exceptions.</p>
<p>Actually at Harvard (where I work in the SEAS) as an undergrad you would apply to Harvard directly but then take courses in SEAS - SEAS doesn't have separate admissions for undergrads only grads. SEAS is mainly engineering and applied sciences - the "other sciences" bio, chem, physics, etc have their own departments in the regular school of arts and sciences. I'm sure it varies college to college and can be pretty confusing.</p>
<p>really? on it's website, you never look at "harvard university" directly. You always go immediately to "harvard college," which is for undergrads :)</p>
<p>so let me know if i'm getting this right:
the sciences at the colllege of engineering are mainly hands-on, technical stuff
whereas the sciences at the college of arts and sciences are mainly theoretical based.
what about for undecideds, how do we pick a college?</p>
<p>
[quote]
the sciences at the colllege of engineering are mainly hands-on, technical stuff
[/quote]
Basically, yes, though as an engineering student, you learn the theory behind everything as well. the only thing is you're not as concerned with it, and don't go into as much depth as pure science majors.</p>
<p>
[quote]
what about for undecideds, how do we pick a college?
[/quote]
Research the majors in depth. If you still don't have a preference, pick one, but make sure it's not too difficult to transfer between colleges at that university.</p>