<p>I want to major in physics and was wondering how physics@MIT compared to physics@Harvard (in terms of research opportunities, difficulty of courses...). I know that MIT is very strong in physics and of course will offer a very intense education filled with research opportunities. But I don't know much about Harvard. Is it a good idea to attend Harvard and take courses at MIT on the side (through the exchange program) or attend MIT and take Harvard courses on the side?</p>
<p>depends. i'm planning on majoring in physics (well, either that or international relations...a bit random ;) ) as well, but didn't apply to any of the tech schools (harvey mudd, caltech, mit) because i wanted a really strong liberal arts background. also, i want to be able to hang out with philosophy majors and french lit majors and...on and on. and harvard's physics department looks fantastic. lots of opportunities for research (and classes at mit!) if you're willing to go after them. i think it really just depends on what you're looking for in your college experience, as both schools are most definitely excellent places.</p>
<p>I agree with ariadne: it depends on what you are looking for in your college experience. My S was hesitating between MIT and Harvard as his first choice. He has good friends at MIT and has been auditing courses in math and physics at Harvard and also has some friends there. He went to the MIT info session and came away with the impression that it was not as good a fit for him because of the predominance of engineering types. The admission dean emphasized that the school looks for people who like doing not just thinking and pointed to MIT's motto, mens et manes. My S's very good friend, a real hands-on person, is headed to MIT in the fall. My S is far more interested in abstract math and theoretical physics. One of the students who was double majoring in a science and economics raved about the courses he had taken at Harvard, leading my S to think that this must be a point in H's favor.<br>
Now, my S's friends already at MIT rave about being able to join impromptu study groups. I imagine study groups take a bit more work arranging at Harvard because fewer people in your dorm will also be math or physics majors. But you will be able to strike conversations with people interested in totally different things from you.
My S loved the courses he's taken so far at Harvard. The profs were very approachable and the TFs very helpful. So he applied EA to Harvard and will be going there in the fall. I imagine he may want to take a course or two at MIT.
Try to attend both CPWs if you can. Only you can decide whether MIT or Harvard would be a better fit for you.</p>
<p>My S will be graduating Harvard soon with a degree in astronomy and a Humanities subject. He has taken many math and physics courses. He finished up a junior honors thesis in astronomy and is now working on his senior honors thesis. He's loved his experience at Harvard. He visited MIT but didn't apply because it just didn't seem a good feel to him. At Harvard he had the opportunity to take grad courses in the Law school and turn an extra curricular interest into a decent business. I'm with Marite -- attend both CPWs.</p>
<p>I'm majoring in Physics and also had to choose between the two schools. After consulting with people i know currently taking the programmes there, it seemed to me that Harvard is better in Physics as a pure science, while MIT is a better school for Engineering Physics (hands down). My personal choice ended up being Harvard, because I indend to do more research physics than engineering.</p>
<p>That's what I was thinking. It seemed like MIT had a heavy focus on applied science, while I was more interested in more theoretical physics. MIT has always been my <em>dream school</em>, but after I was admitted to Harvard, I've been reconsidering.</p>
<p>From what i hear Physics is taught more like humanities course at Harvard at MIT its taught in many ways hence the flavors of 8.0<em>. It can be be taught theoretically and very rigorously 8.0</em>2 or hands on 8.0<em>X or a mix of both 8.0</em>. There is a choice at MIT but if you want to, take the 8.0_2 sequence which is hands down more pure and rigorous than Harvards courses and equal or slightly better than Caltech's (they changed the textbook they use to a less rigorous one in their intro mechanics class)</p>
<p>but it's hard to compare to caltech because policy regarding what happens in classes is less open ie they dont post there assignments and quizzes</p>
<p>20 years ago my Dad faced the same choice: MIT or Harvard
He chose Harvard and has regretted it ever since.</p>
<p>"There is a choice at MIT but if you want to, take the 8.0_2 sequence which is hands down more pure and rigorous than Harvards courses"</p>
<p>Well, MIT uses K+K for mechanics and Purcell for E+M. Harvard uses their own text for mechanics and Purcell for E+M. Harvard's own text is certainly a different style than K+K, but I wouldn't say it's comparitavely easy by any means. They teach Lagrangian mechanics first semester. As far as homework/tests being more difficult at MIT, I'm not sure.</p>
<p>on the other hand if youre not sure about physics or science dont come to MIT unless business and managment is a possible major.</p>
<p>im not sure if youre ug but harvard site shows
<a href="http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/%7Ephys11a/syllabus/Syllabus_04%5B/url%5D">http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~phys11a/syllabus/Syllabus_04</a>
Physics for Scientists & Engineers Serway</p>
<p><a href="http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/%7Ephys15a/syllabus/15a_info.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~phys15a/syllabus/15a_info.pdf</a>
University Physics Y&F</p>
<p>K&K and Purcell are standards for rigorous classes, Caltech MIT and UCB( Honors class) have used for almost half a century, except Caltech changed book last year to Physics for scientist and engineer Serway</p>
<p>
[quote]
20 years ago my Dad faced the same choice: MIT or Harvard
He chose Harvard and has regretted it ever since.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Roza_soza: Why is that??</p>
<p>2bad4u- Look at course 16 at harvard.</p>
<p>From the Harvard catalog, here is a description of the various Physics offerings. Students who have taken AP-Calc BC and plan on majoring in Physics are encouraged to take Physics 16, not Physics 11. </p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>The Physics Department offers three separate sequences of introductory courses: Physics 1a and 1b at the introductory calculus level and Physics 11a, 11b or Physics 15a, 15b, 15c at the intermediate calculus background. Students with strong preparation may also enter the 15 sequence by taking Physics 16 instead of Physics 15a. Each of the three sequences is designed to be a self-contained treatment of classical physics.</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Students who expect to concentrate in physics or one of the other sciences in which physics plays a major role will usually take the Physics 15 sequence followed by Physics 143a, b. Students with excellent high-school preparation may begin the Physics 15 sequence taking Physics 16 instead of Physics 15a. Physics 16 is a course in mechanics and special relativity specifically designed for students who have done well in a high-school advanced placement course. The courses in the 15/16-143a sequence are ordinarily given on Tuesday and Thursday morning. However, scheduling issues may require a change in the time of one of these courses to the afternoon or to Monday and Wednesday, from 2:30-4. When this happens, every effort will be made to satisfy the requirements for simultaneous enrollment in courses with overlapping times.</p>
<p>Students who do not plan to continue in physics and have sufficient mathematical skills may wish to take the one year Physics 11 sequence. Physics 11a and 11b offer, in two terms, classical physics at a level comparable to the longer Physics 15 sequence, but covering fewer topics.</p>
<p>Physics 1a and 1b present a self-contained treatment of classical and modern physics in one year, but at a lower mathematical level than the Physics 11 sequence. Physics 1a and 1b are designed to meet the requirements of all medical schools. Most medical schools also accept the Physics 15 or Physics 11 sequences. Some prefer that more than two half courses in physics be taken. Premedical students should inquire at the medical schools to which they expect to apply.</p>
<p>Students who do not intend to devote more than one year to the study of physics, and especially those not concentrating in a physical science or mathematics, will probably find that Physics 1a and 1b, with their broader range of subject matter, will more appropriately serve their needs than Physics 11a and 11b.>></p>
<p>i cant find a syllabus for 16 but apparently you guys get effort points</p>
<p>Physics 16 is taught by my house master, Howard "Chief" Georgi, who also used to be department chair and spearheaded attempts to bring women into the field. Students love him, and the class is famed for its atmosphere and intensity--there was even a student musical ("Les Phys") written about it. Wednesday night in Leverett House is always packed with physics students studying and eating bagels while Chief holds office hours. (That said, I hear that the other physics intro classes--the 11 and 15 series--are terrible.)
The physics department seems to be pretty tight-knit, involved in hosting the annual Ignobels, putting on an puppet show each year that roasts the department faculty, and having a semi-active student group, the Harvard Society of Physics Students. </p>
<p>The Physics 16 web site is at
<a href="http://my.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?course=fas-phys16&pageid=tk.page.phys16.generalinfo%5B/url%5D">http://my.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?course=fas-phys16&pageid=tk.page.phys16.generalinfo</a>
And the syllabus is under handouts->general information</p>
<p>If you like, I could put you in touch with friends of mine who are physics or astrophysics majors.</p>
<p>Phoenixy, that is very nice of your offer to give the OP contacts of
Harvard physics or astropysics majors.</p>
<p>How do you get into the Physics 16 rather than 15?</p>