While I wait for this month’s replies to come in, I’m faced with a possibility that if I don’t get in anywhere else, these will be my choices for study (in relation to UCSB, I found out by getting the chancellor’s reception letter). So my question is which is best in terms of teaching, class size, undergrad research opportunities, and grad school prospects?
Thanks
Addendum: UCSB Letters and Science
UCSB has a world-class physics department. Have you looked into its College of Creative Studies? Highly selective, but if you got in, UCSB would be the no-brainer place to go. In some rankings UIUC is slightly higher than UCSB, but they’re close, so it’s more of a personal rather than an academic choice. Boulder would be last on the list, but it’s still a fine school.
If you’re in-state for any of them, definitely go there. Otherwise, I’d go with either UIUC or UCSB (both top 10 physics departments) for grad school prep, although CU Boulder also has a fine program as well (top 20).
What about standard undergrad?
All three are good, in just about the order we told you. If you want to go to grad school, go where it’s cheapest, or where you feel most comfortable. And then study and work your butt off.
What are the net prices expected to be, and how much debt would you take on, at each school?
Price isn’t a big issue, let’s put it that way
UIUC and UCSB are both close enough academically and in research that I’d pick the one you like the best. If it was me, I’d choose USCB hands-down as a beautiful place to spend four years, and I’d try to get into this program: http://www.physics.ucsb.edu/education/undergrad/ccs-physics
If price is no issue, I’d definitely go for UCSB.
My daughter’s boyfriend went to CU even though it was not near the top of his list (in-state $). He double-majored in physics and math and far preferred the physics department. Really liked most of his profs and got involved in udergrad research. I was going to try to describe the research but I just don’t understand it well enough even in simplified form. At any rate, he finished as the distinguished physics graduate and chose CU as his grad school even though he had quite a few other options. He is continuing with a different phase of his undergrad research.
Oh, I found the website for the research group he’s been in since undergrad: http://jila.colorado.edu/beckergroup/
@snoozn Looks cool. Associated with the NIST in Boulder?
OP, these are all good undergrad physics schools. If you have specific questions about UCSB, I may be able to help, since we live about 5 minutes away and know several professors there. (My husband got his PhD in physics there, but he now collaborates with people at both UIUC and Boulder.) CCS Physics is a highly-regarded program.