<p>D2 is a current junior interested in majoring in physics or math. Can anyone give suggestions on how to evaluate the quality of undergraduate physics programs? Do they vary between schools of similar overall caliber? Any suggestions for resources in this area? Thanks</p>
<p>You can browse the usual awards and prizes sites for repeat winners:
<a href=“LeRoy Apker Award”>http://www.aps.org/programs/honors/awards/apker.cfm</a></p>
<p>Although every school’s curriculum is a bit different, there are standard physics courses that should be required for any physics degree. The most important courses are of course the physics and math courses.</p>
<p>This usually includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>University physics I with lab (mechanics)</li>
<li>University physics II with lab (electricity and magnetism)</li>
<li>Modern physics</li>
<li>Mathematical Methods</li>
<li>Electronics Lab (often an elective)</li>
<li>Intermediate Mechanics</li>
<li>Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism (1 or 2 semesters)</li>
<li>Intermediate Thermodynamics/statistical mechanics</li>
<li>Intermediate Quantum Mechanics (1 or 2 semesters)</li>
<li>Advanced Lab</li>
<li>2 - 4 electives</li>
</ul>
<p>Math Courses:
- Calculus I, II, III
- Linear Algebra
- Differential equations
- 2 - 4 electives</p>
<p>This is the “typical” physics curriculum but again it varies slightly. Other than coursework, it is advisable to choose a place with good RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES.</p>
<p><a href=“http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/magazine/physicstoday/article/56/9/10.1063/1.1620833”>http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/magazine/physicstoday/article/56/9/10.1063/1.1620833</a></p>
<p>Most of the physics curricula in the U.S. are the same. The main thing you have to choose is how well the university is a fit for your D. The key is for her to take advantage of all the opportunities available in the university and if she is comfortable, then it will work better. Just about every program nowadays has research opportunities for undergraduates and encourage students to take advantage. In addition, there are nation-wide opportunities such as REU programs that can supplement those available on campus. My advice is usually to look for a program that also awards Ph.D.s in physics. The research available in those departments gives you a chance to see what it will be like if you go on to graduate school. </p>
<p>Go to a place that has a lot of research opportunities and funding. I would say that Penn has a really amazing undergrad atmosphere in physics. It is very challenging, but totally worth it. My professors have all been great mentors and have strongly promoted my career. Some of these professors are among the top ten people in their field, especially in my research area. Three have won Simons Investigators in the past three cycles since the award was created, two have won the Oliver Buckley prize, another two have won the Europhysics prize, one the Dirac medal, and the same person was a nominee for the fundamental physics prize. I have had a tremendous amount of research experience and did two REUs, one at Penn and one at another top 15 school. I have also won a lot of really prestigious awards and am getting an M.S. when I graduate. It is really easy to take grad classes and I have taken eight thus far including quantum field theory. I had a first author paper published in a top journal. I also have two more papers in the works, one from my REU last summer.
I’m going to grad school for theoretical physics next year and so far I have gotten into four top ten schools, one ranked number 1, among others. Two of these schools gave me very prestigious fellowships awarded to the top applicants. Most of my friends among the best students in the department have gotten into several top schools as well including Harvard, MIT, UCSB, Stanford, UChicago, and Caltech among others.</p>
<p>Even those who did not go to grad school were able to get great jobs in programming, finance, venture capital, engineering, consulting, etc.</p>
<p>And remember…</p>
<p>Don’t forget the Computer Science minor :-)</p>