<p>Which school would give better opportunities for undergraduate research and just an overall better physics/astronomy program? Hopkins has the Space telescope science institute right on campus and APL, but Cornell has a somewhat larger department. What do you think? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think they are comparable and given that you need to look at which will make you happier. They are two very different schools in so many other ways - Cornell is in upstate NY with four real seasons, mountains, rural, college town and it is very large. Hopkins is in an inner city outside of DC. This is just a small example of their differences. Go beyond your specific major and see which is a better match for you.</p>
<p>I agree with Amtc that the programs are comparable (both excellent) and that other factors such as location may be more properly the deciding factors. I happen to prefer cities and would take Hopkins’ location in the Baltimore/DC metro area as a plus although I also appreciate the beauty of the area around Ithica and the Finger Lakes. That, obviously, is very subjective and it’s not a matter of right or wrong but which environment you would like to spend the next 4 years in.</p>
<p>Other factors to consider is size of the undergraduate population. Hopkins has 1/3 of the number of students–a significant difference. Cornell is as large or larger than a number of public flagship universities. Also, while Cornell has a somewhat larger department in terms of faculty members, it also has far more undergraduates majoring in physics/astronomy then does JHU. I know that undergraduates can get a great deal of individualized attention at Hopkins. I am not saying that is not true at Cornell but the larger number of undergraduates majoring in physics/astronomy at Cornell would at least cause me to investigate what issues, if any, that creates. If you can, talk to current seniors majoring in physics at both places. Having a close mentor/mentee relationship with a professor can make a huge difference in gaining admission to a good PhD program.</p>
<p>you stated you were accepted at ED at Hopkins already…what’s going on here?</p>
<p>blah2009-I was accepted, and am tremendously happy to be going to jhu! I am just curious… dont worry haha</p>