Does Columbia have a good undergrad Physics/Astrophysics program?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

I’m an aspiring astrophysicist, and considering applying to Columbia ED. I know that Columbia has amazing graduate programs in those fields, yet I was wondering if the Core scares dedicated scientists, like myself, away.

Thanks so much

2

What is your career goal? If you want to eventually get a PhD and do research then there are a few different paths to take. Alrhough others may disagree I do not believe you do your future career any benefit by attending a leading graduate school as an undergrad in Astrophysics. Professor attention will be low, opportunities for your own research non existent and you will still have to compete for a graduate position in that same school with other applicants. Hence apart from CalTech or maybe Harvard I do not think going to Columbia for astrophysics is a good choice unless you really want to be in NYC. Then that is a different matter.

My advice would be to choose a leading LAC with a strong Astronomy department and see if any of the professors are conducting research on topics you find interesting such as cosmology, exoplanet transits, stellar evolution etc… If you sort of know already a subfield of interest then going this route could allow you to achieve co-author status with a professor as an undergrad. Ultimately being published is going to be a huge positive in seeking a graduate school placement and you will be way ahead of your typical big research university astrophysics major.

Just my 2c

I don’t have any particular ax to grind for or against Columbia’s program… I am sure it’s good. But I can guarantee it’s much better for graduate students than for an undergraduate

3

Thanks so much for the response. Do you feel the same way about U Chicago (my other favorite school)?

4

You might be interested in this timely article:

http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2015/09/30/astronomy-department

5

" I do not think going to Columbia for astrophysics is a good choice unless you really want to be in NYC."

I agree with this. Chicago is much stronger in astrophysics. Just about big name university like Cornell or even JHU is better for astrophysics than Columbia, plus a few no-name state schools like Maryland.

“I was wondering if the Core scares dedicated scientists, like myself, away.” OP has answered his own question. The workaround to the CC Core is to be an applied physics major in SEAS.