<p>I am applying to major in physics and was wondering, which do you guys think is better for physics? Any opportunities one has over the other?</p>
<p>Michigan>Tufts.</p>
<p>For a physics major, I think Michigan will offer you better resources for research and will better prepare you for graduate study, if that is what you hope to pursue.</p>
<p>Michigan is stronger than Tufts in the Sciences. That should translate into stronger faculty, better facilities/labs and more advanced research opportunities.</p>
<p>I am worried that because Michigan is such a big school, I am not going to get the attention I would at Tufts. For some reason the whole big classes and lack of time with professors stresses me out. Can anyone shine any light on this issue?</p>
<p>That’s the cost you pay for attending top universities. High-profile professors will generally spend less time with students. Theyexpect 20 year old students to be self-starters and independent learners. Go figure!</p>
<p>If you want to be close to faculty but don’t care about cutting edge research or depth and breadth of curricular offerings, go for Tufts.</p>
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<p>That’s likely true. I don’t know how many physics majors there are at Michigan, nor how the physics major landscape has changed over time, but my dad was one of only six physics majors at Tufts in his graduating class.</p>
<p>yeah, the-big-school-problem can be a headache… but in term of academic, Michigan definitely beats Tufts in Physics.</p>
<p>Not really Giants, at Michigan, there are roughly only 20 Physics majors per graduating class, and Michigan’s Physics faculty (60 strong, not including Astronomy Professors, lecturers, researchers and professors emeriti) is four times larger than Tufts’. As such, Michigan’s ratio of Physics professors to Physics majors is probably as good as, if not better than, Tufts’s. As such, introd-level Physics classes at Michigan will be large, but intermediate and advanced level Physics classes typically have 5-25 students. </p>
<p>The problem isn’t size but focus and philosophy. Michigan’s faculty, being world-class experts in their field, will expect students to be self-sufficient and independent learners. Their doors are always open to those who genuinely try, but Faculty will expect students to make an effort before coming to them. For some strange reason, Michigan expects students to figure things out for themselves. Weird huh?!</p>
<p><a href=“Office of Budget and Planning”>Office of Budget and Planning;
<p>[Physics</a> at University of Michigan](<a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/physics/people/faculty]Physics”>Faculty | U-M LSA Physics)</p>
<p><a href=“https://wikis.uit.tufts.edu/confluence/display/physics/Home[/url]”>https://wikis.uit.tufts.edu/confluence/display/physics/Home</a></p>
<p>I thought Michigan’s physics program was much bigger, only 20 students per graduating class! I am an independent learner, so i think Michigan would be a better fit. Thanks for all the help!</p>
<p>“I thought Michigan’s physics program was much bigger, only 20 students per graduating class! I am an independent learner, so i think Michigan would be a better fit. Thanks for all the help!”</p>
<p>This is a common misconception that I see all over CC. Just because a school is large, doesn’t mean your area of concentration is going to be as well. Michigan has so many colleges, schools, and departments but not all are huge. That’s why I feel it’s better and more important to go to the school that is highly ranked for your discipline. SAT/ACT scores and high GPA’s are important, but what is more important is the quality of the faculty and facilities. Michigan is indeed among the very best.</p>
<p>There are very few concentrations at Michigan that attrach more than 100 students per graduating class. The few I can think are all designed for premed and prelaw students: Biology, Economics, English, History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology. Of course, in the CoE, you will also have over 100 per concentration. </p>
<p>Otherwise, most majors have between 20 and 100 students per graduating class, giving students excellent access to faculty and small classes.</p>
<p>Interesting - yea that’s why I said I wasn’t sure</p>
<p>Yeah I didn’t know much about the whole small classes at a big university. I was looking for information on enrollment per major, but I couldn’t find it. Thanks for all the information!</p>