Engineering Physics

<p>varsity doubles
you play squash...varsity/for fun? (if you have a varsity squash team, thast awesome.)</p>

<p>wait, are u at cornell now or did u just get accepted?? im playing varsity squash next year im class of 2009..man we sound similar...lol. weird....u dont know john mcarthy do u? and if ur there now u prob know mike delany, the squasher and tennis guy</p>

<p>just got accepted</p>

<p>and no, dont know either of them, although the name mcarthy sounds familiar for some reason</p>

<p>well theres 2 c's in his name..no i just thought i read it wrong that ur freshmen right now..and so u would know delany probably...and i was seeing if by another coincidence u knew john mccarthy cuz hes a squasher and i stayed with him as a recruit and he had this tennis freshmen friend....so i mean with the coicnicdience lol spelt wron but who cares....did u put up a myspace profile?? <a href="http://www.myspace.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.myspace.com&lt;/a> and then theres a cornell:class of 2009 thing, its pretty good...or at least do the cornell offical one! man this is such a coincidence with the tennis, squash, engineering, lol. We both will be playing out of the same club too as squash is right nexzt to the tennis...did u do a recruit visit? how much of the cornell/campus do u know? OH and did u say ur DEF going to cornell?
got msn?</p>

<p>You really learn the same stuff if you're either physics or EP. There are some differences though and I'll list them here. I'm not sure if I was correct about the whole theoretical v. practical. I might've been speaking out of my a.ss on that one and if I did, I apologize.</p>

<p>Physics: you have to take the A&S requirements, including language and a whole bunch of other liberal arts stuff.<br>
EP: you have the Engineering requirements, such as Computer Science.</p>

<p>Physics: the math sequence is Math 111, 112, and something else
EP: the math sequence is Math 191, 192, 293, 294. Apparently it's slightly changed since I was a freshman as martinez once pointed out. The difference between these sequences is I think the Engineering math is faster paced and less theoretical as in no proofs. I'll ask my friends about this because I'm not too positive if I'm right.</p>

<p>Physics and EP take the same freshman intro physics courses.</p>

<p>EP requires students to take Engineering Distribution courses. Those are kind of like an Intro/sampler classes for each engineering major. EP also requires its kids to take a few hands-on lab courses like Computer Instrumentation Design, Electronic Circuits, and Advanced Experimental Lab. Physics only requires its kids to take the Advanced Lab and "another lab course" but I know a few people who easily placed out of them through summer courses. EP pretty much demands you take those courses.</p>

<p>Physics required advanced courses: Mechanics, 3 semesters of quantum, 1 semester of E&M, statistical mechanics
EP's required advanced courses: Mechanics, 1 semester of quantum, 2 semesters of E&M, statistical mechanics</p>

<p>Physics required advanced math: two semesters of "advanced" math
EP required advanced math: AEP 321-322 which is a FANTASTIC course taught by Bruce Kusse for literally 30 years. A few physics people actually take this sequence. It actually gives you practical math knowledge to do physics, something which some physics majors have complained of lacking.</p>

<p>It's more "applications based" in that EP doesn't focus on QM as much and instead puts a little more emphasis on EM. The second semester of EM crosses into the realm of traditional engineering disciplines like ECE.</p>

<p>You're going to learn the physics in the end and if you want to supplement any deficiencies, then you can easily make them up in senior year. I felt I didn't have enough QM so I took an additional grad course this senior year.</p>

<p>Oh yea something big I forgot to mention:
As a physics major, you are required to take electives in the physics department. That severely limits what you can take. As an EP, I take whatever advanced technical courses I want and my advisor just checks them off. This means you can take courses in CS, ECE, MechE, Physics, whatever. I used that opportunity to take courses in Chemistry. That preparation actually landed me into grad school for chemistry. </p>

<p>I know this post isn't very organized and I admit I don't have all my facts straight (I'll try to find out more ok), but those are roughly the differences and similarities.</p>

<p>hey shizz.. man ur awesome thanks again..and ye if u could follow up on some of those things i think u know how appreciated i will be...and wats EM? i nkow QM. see i want to do that theoretical stuff that EP kiinda skips...but we'll see...and ye seems like the time u went thru EP, it was closer to physics..but seems like its growing more different and apart....and teh differences are the wrong differences for me.. lol...but yeah...keep in touch.</p>

<p>EM = Electricity and Magnetism</p>

<p>EP gives you more flexibility, while giving you practical experience. The hands-on lab courses are awesome. Requiring you to take CompSci is actually a blessing in disguise. I have classmates that want to take the more traditional physics approach, so they took physics classes as electives their senior year. </p>

<p>I'm not big into liberal arts stuff but I wanted a lot of flexibility with my technical courses, so EP turned out to be perfect for me.</p>

<p>ye see i am not a liberal artsy guy either..in fact i dont like art at all, lol...but im not QUITE like you at least not yet lol in the sense that i want technical stuff...and labs im not too fond of eitehr..in fact in high school our labs are so bad...arghh. i hate them so much but i know cornell and university in genereal has labs that are"fun" and very interestniog /informative. i dont like doing write ups...but again i have never done real labs... so i guess im in between artsy and practicality...like i love math too...and so if physics/ep doesnt work out, math will be teh first place i run to....and its still an option lol. But i dont want to be TOO in depth in math i think..but again i am not so fond of or wanting to USE the math i learn in practicality...again tho i dno really...and ye id hate the language requirement..but i think id prefer the physics math sequence but i dunno for sure....see, i dont think i want to be an "engineer" ...which is what alot or most or some do upon graduating...but i dont think i wanna work in projects or move around alot you know..maybe stay put working for NASA or sumtin, lol. its all too vague (hopefully im still early ) i just know i want to do sumthing math related, and most likely phsyics related (but more of the quantum phsyics stuff). like in physics grd12...im soo bored i hate dynamics...energy and kinematics stuf....i mean, its just so boring, its just so plain and blah..like i dont care how the ball rolls down the ramp...I DO however, LOVE the physicist like borh, rutherford einstein hawking etc.. then ones u read about even hans bethe....so the way i see it(tell me if im wrong) but im just putting up iwth the physics i m diong now..cuz i know i need to know it or keep it in my mind to get to quantum and basically ye use it like a prerequisite..I love beautiful mathematical/[physical equations and using crazy greek letters and symbols and being selected few(although not now) who can read such a language (the idunno"scientific" language maybe) and if u read my college admissions essays, lol, u will know that im destined to be int eh sciences/maths and taht thats me...just where specifically i donno... lol, i think i mentioned in those essays i wanted to be the next bohr, einstein, planck etc etc (not those words exactly but i guess implied) cuz thats what i do want to be like...famous or not..man lol u should read my essays, lol. but ye its the whoel practicality thats making me weary. And, wehn u read abotu all those great guys like newton and etc..and i look at what they were, i very rearely see "engineer" as theyre title..theyre usually math. physics is most popular and chemistry....which is another strong convictino that i want to be theoretical math/physics and nto an "engineer". sorry guys for not making this whole thing look appealing but i just wanted to include all my thoughts...</p>

<p>and k1n... is this u too? lol ps. what IS ur name k1n...? and by name i meant what does k1n... mean? but if u wanna tell me ur name too thatss cool.. martinez is me last name...</p>

<p>man im winded.. and all that info is not even half of what im thinkin..typing makes me forget my ideeas and takling is so much better, ...lol, we should have l;ioke a meeting/discussion sumwhere wen we get to cornell. lol sorry again i made that a bit lengthy...</p>

<p>oh i think i figured out ur name..just thought abotu it and its kind david...or maybe ur names david and ur last names kined or sumtin of the like</p>

<p>b u m pp</p>

<p>Nah that's cool, don't worry about the rambling nature of it. In high school I thought I wanted to be an engineer. I figured "hey I like math, I like science, so I'll like engineering!" It took me my freshman year that thinking is not right. I don't consider myself an engineer... I see myself as a physicist. And if I had applied to A&S, I would probably be majoring in chemistry right now. You should talk to professors here and ask for guidance - they'll know more than me. Are you coming up for Cornell Days? You should tell me what days you'll be here.</p>

<p>king david is right...and your last post pretty accurately describes how I feel also, except I'm with shizz on the interest in technical stuff over liberal arts. I like chemistry a lot, and was thinking about doing chemE, but that seems to be closely linked to BioE, and I'd rather jump off a gorge than take another biology class (hehe go cornell!)
I'm coming for Cornell Days the 12-13, tentatively (waiting for them to respond...)</p>

<p>12-13? no man go teh ninth..on weekend..tahts wen im going cuz i gotta squash tourny april 15-17th and i dont want to miss more classes really..also i go to cornell so much now i feel like im not gionna do much at cornell days..i waqnna savour the feeling for Oweek. But yeah the ninth is for sure...but i may be able to go friday too..jjust dotn want to spend money staying over night. i really only want to go for the morning stuff...all the scheduled activities are then..xept to arrive for 9 id hafta leave at 530 sharp from home which isnt going to happen..so ETA=1130-12 ish maybe later..shizz this is ur last years right man? ur graduating and going to grad school? where at grad school again??dont wanna go back and read. lool</p>

<p>b b u mpppppppppppppppppp</p>

<p>Wow, thanks for the info shizz! I will be coming to the campus on my B-day (April 16) to check it out and stay overnight. I chose that date because the University of Chicago weekend is on the 21 and also because I got a Cornell Traditional Fellowship.</p>

<p>My questions then are...</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Honestly, from a senior at Cornell who has met Tradition Fellows, what is it all about? It feels like a duty/punishment. (Community service, etc.)</p></li>
<li><p>Should I choose to switch to AEP (I am a CAS Physics Admit), what would you recommend I take my freshmen year to make this as easy as possible?</p></li>
<li><p>The choice is between Chicago and Cornell. I love Chicago, but alas, they have no engineering. I need your honest, unbiased opinion now. What will be the difference in grad school/employment opportunites between a BA in physics (with research and technical experience) or BSE for Engineering physics? This question may make the difference between schools. (Not that just your answer will make the difference, although I trust you. No pressure.)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks a bunch. Hopefully I will get a good host who will know his stuff! (Can I request a physics or engineering host?)</p>

<p>Shizz, what are the differences between AEP and physics in terms of job offerings after graduating? I like physics/math and I think I am very likely to major in physics or electrical engineering but I have been strongly adviced against majoring in physics/math (or anything very theoretical for that matter) by many of my friends, because as according to them, majors like math and physics don't leave many viable job options other than going for the doctor degree and be a professor/researcher. Do you know if this is true? Is the AEP major very applied? Because I don't see much difference in the courses one need to take to be a traditional physics major.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I've met some Tradition Fellows but I've never actually talked to them about it. There are a good number of special scholars floating around (CPRS, MFCNS, McMullen, Tradition) but no one ever talks about it except in passing. I know a good deal about those first three but nothing about Tradition. Sorry.</p></li>
<li><p>Take whatever you plan on normally taking. The first two semesters of engineering are intro stuff - math and physics - which you would take anyway as a physics major in CAS. I know someone who easily transferred from CAS physics to AEP</p></li>
<li><p>To be honest with you, you'll have the same employment and grad school opportunities. You will be equally successful at either school. I honestly can't picture one school trumping the other. The physics/AEP programs at both schools are so strong and are regarded so highly that it shouldn't matter where you go. Jobs that are traditionally open to physics majors will be available to Eng Physics majors because the programs are very similar. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>The only thing I can think of is that Cornell will have an advantage in course offerings because of the Engineering school. You might end up taking a couple advanced Material Science or MechE courses, which wouldn't be available at Chicago. That's not to say you will. Out of my four years here, I personally have only taken three non-AEP engineering courses (one in ECE and one in ChemE) and I actually hated all three of them.</p>

<p>One thing you should find out is how easy is it for undergrads to get involved with research at Chicago. Don't ask people who are affiliated with admissions because they will give you canned responses. Find out from current students. As I've posted before, it's easy to get involved with research at Cornell provided you are enthusiastic about it.</p>

<p>I don't know anything about Cornell Days. You will have to talk to Cornell about that. When you come to visit, walk around the 2nd floor of Clark Hall. That's the AEP department. *Someone's<a href="professor">/i</a> door will be open, so if you feel comfortable you can just walk in and talk to them. They are all very friendly people.</p>

<p>CNCL:</p>

<p>Yeah, the jobs you can get with just a B.S. in EP will be pretty much the same jobs you can get with a B.S. in Physics. If you choose to do a Master's you can always augment the number options available to you. I can't speak for math, but there really isn't a shortage of jobs for physicists. The type of job you will get as a physicist will be different than the type of job you will get as an electrical engineer. <a href="http://www.aip.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aip.org&lt;/a> will have more information about job opps for physicists. Sorry I'm not really being too helpful with this question. I never really thought about getting a job after graduation; I only ever really looked at grad school.</p>