<p>Wow, I have a lot of similar questions, yet my case may be a little different in this regard: I applied to Cornell CAS for physics after much debating over where to apply within Cornell. I might consider law school or graduate school in physics or engineering. (I am really set on pursuing futher education after grad school.)</p>
<p>My questions are:
What are the main differences between the two majors in the different colleges? Which one prepares better for internships? Research? Individual attention? Law school? Grad school? Broad and applied knowledge?
How hard is it to transfer colleges? Is there more "prestige" associated with one over the other. (Naturally, there may be some, since U Chicago, my other prospective, has great physics, but no Engineering physics or engineering at all.)</p>
<p>Thanks. What may make the college decision for me will be either research opportunies or grad/law placement, since Chicago and Cornell are so closely related in terms of academic quality.</p>
<p>You shouldn't have to worry about internally transferring. As long as you are in Cornell, you can switch from Eng to CAS or the other way around. In fact, I know someone that came in as physics and transferred to Eng so he can study EP.</p>
<p>I know nothing about the law school process so I am afraid I can't offer any insight about that. I am finishing up the grad school admissions process right now so I can probably answer questions about that, although I ontend it's way too early in your academic career to even be considering it.</p>
<p>One of the main reasons I came to Cornell is the available research opportunities and suffice to say I have not been disappointed. Even if you do remain in Physics, do not underestimate the benefits of having an Engineering school at the same university. There are a lot of interesting courses and even more interesting research. As a physics major, you are not restricted to just physics research. A lot of students do research in ECE and Materials Science. Also, nanotech (especially nanobio) research is simply unparalleled here. I'm looking out the window and staring at Duffield Hall, which is a new nano research facility. In fact, a good number of AEP faculty are doing their research in nanotechnology. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make (and that I made in an earlier post) is that research opportunities are varied and available to the undergrad regardless of major.</p>
<p>Physics vs. EP
The physics major seems to take a more theoretical approach than EP. I would guess that it is pretty theoretical at U of C too. In the end, you end up learning the same material whether you are EP or physics. In fact, there are a couple course overlaps. I wish I could elaborate further but I haven't taken any required courses for physics majors.<br>
I'm honestly not sure which is more prestigious. Cornell EP has a pretty big name. It's the top EP department in the country as far as I know.
Both programs prepare you well for grad school, but a lot depends on what you want to do after getting your bachelor's. EP prepares you for both physics and engineering grad school. Physics does not prepare you too well for engineering.</p>
<p>You seem to have trouble deciding between physics and engineering. The reason I came to Cornell was because there was such a wide range of academic programs to choose from. I came in as an undecided engineer knowing I can choose from a large variety of engineering fields and knowing I can easily transfer to CAS. I never thought I would end up being EP - in fact I didn't know it existed until I came here. EP is also what you make of it. I chose to make it into a pure science, studying physics and chem, while others treat it as another engineering discipline.</p>
<p>I was in a sort of similar situation as you are right now. Remember to always keep your options open. Sorry about the rambling nature of this post but I hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information! My concern is that when I make up my mind next year between the two majors, I will have to spend an extra year at Cornell to make up for the transfer, or at least miss out on other things and fall behind. Is this as formidable a transfer as I am fearing?</p>
<p>First let me say wow, thank you so much for all that info, i dont seem to worried about this program anymore. My email is <a href="mailto:hueso_8@hotmail.com">hueso_8@hotmail.com</a> if u have msn or whatever because you have been the most help to me about EP.</p>
<p>Quick question: How much time did u study/classes per week, like if you can remember back to freshmen and sophomore years. Also, is this the same, greater than, less than , or MUCH MUCH MUCH greater than an average science/mathematics workload at cornell? I will be a student athlete, and so hope i can handle both. IT's for squash, so it won't be HUGE like ice hockey, nevertheless. Lastly, any advice for me? an incoming EP freshmen. Maybe things to do in the summer? I dont like CS very much and don't remember almost anything, should i touch up before having to take that first year computer science course? or is it not too bad. </p>
<p>once again, thank you for everything, and can't wait to keep hearing about ur thoughts/opinions</p>
<p>My load during freshman and sophomore years wasn't that bad. I also didn't take the honors physics courses though so I had it a little lighter. Sophomore year (when you take some more advanced courses and your first AEP courses) will have more work but it's still not too bad. Junior year is the killer. I'm not the smartest AEP so it takes me longer to do problem sets. On the average, it takes anywhere from 6 - 10 hours or more for each problem set. You get one problem set per week and it is usually ~6 problems. You will be taking about 4 or 5 courses like that usually. By your senior year, the load gets easier. </p>
<p>I suggest not slacking too much for the rest of senior year. All the math you'll learn now will come into use later. Don't deny yourself knowledge. A bad case of senioritis was my one mistake. </p>
<p>My suggestions for this summer? Have fun, relax, and come into Cornell with a clear mind. Don't worry about classes until you have to. I think Cornell still gives required reading for entering freshman, but that's the only thing academic you should be doing.</p>
<p>Advice? Generally for Cornell? Be very friendly and open your first year here. Throw preconceived notions out the window and go around meeting tons of people. You'll thank me later. Also, there tends to be a general feeling of high stress here. Don't let it get to you. Just don't take things too seriously and you'll be doing alright. </p>
<p>I don't have MSN you crazy canadian :). Most people here use AIM and my screenname is Jalebi33. Anyone here can contact me about Cornell information. Just no "DO YOU THINK I CAN GET IN" messages please. Hope this post helped and good luck.</p>
<p>so would you say the EP workload is = to greater than less than or much much harder than what an average math/physics/science person would have at cornell? Also, i've heard that getting affiliated with AEP major is extremely difficult. True of False? if true, why and how so? That will be scary</p>
<p>The affiliation process is easy. It took me 5 minutes to fill out a form which I gave to someone in an office. A few weeks later I got an envelope welcoming me to AEP.</p>
<p>I don't know how our workload compares to math, chem, or physics majors. I know people in those departments but when I talk to them it's usually over beers and the last thing you want to do is bring up school.</p>
<p>Could anyone tell me about the chemical engineering department at Cornell? Someone had said all the departments had a certain personality. What is it like to be a chemE major? Is it Competitive? Difficult? How are the professors? Also after college what do most graduates do? Are there many jobs out there?</p>
<p>Dunno. Ive heard ChemE is hard and tedious, but not more so than most other engineering majors. As far as job placement, cornell has about the best job placement program there is. And ChemE's get paid the most out of all the engineering fields, on average, straight out of college</p>
<p>I'm with jerew, split between Physics and Engineering Physics. I applied to the school of engineering, but in school now, I generally enjoy the theoretical stuff more than the practical stuff. Which one has better job oppurtunities, if I don't go to grad school?</p>
<p>im with k1n... i love the theoretical, but am going to the engineering physics wich is practical right? but i find that job outlook is greater for practical...especially like if i like it..but if i find i LOVE theoretical ill swtich prolly..gotta do what u love...hey shizz..can u /do u take much thoeoretical?? i especially like everything quantum all those theories and string theory and m theory and etc... also love the cosmology(the oppposite in that its largeto infinite) i REALY want to learn about those stuff...and if there are careers nebody knows that ppl have in those areas.. PLEASE PLEASE let me know (researcher and professor is all i relaly see). engineering physics sounds cool and all. its just doesnt seem 100% for me...im not a practical kind of guy..im a theoretical guy..i even love the word theoretical!</p>
<p>l;ol, that similar eh?? sounds like wed make good friends then..i could use someone to work on labs...problem sets and stuff with . lol, we should at least meet up once tehn wen we arrive lol.. finally good to see somebody in the same boat with me</p>