<p>I've read some discussion about physics at Cornell and Columbia and I think the general concensus is Cornell is a bit better, but there's no reason not to go to Columbia if you want the Core Curriculum and to live in NYC. What if University of Chicago is one of your other choices for physics? How would you rank between Chicago, Cornell and Columbia? He'll be visiting Cornell and Columbia next week and Chicago later in the month. </p>
<p>Cost-wise, for us, Columbia and Chicago are the same. We're still waiting on Cornell's financial aid letter but I haven't been encouraged by what I've read here at CC (everybody pretty much saying Cornell is the worst offer). The cost of Columbia and Chicago are a stretch for us and we couldn't pay much more to attend Cornell (if, in fact, they offer a higher out-of-pocket cost to us)</p>
<p>Some info I dug up off the university web pages:</p>
<p>Columbia:40 faculty (their term, I assume it means professors), 20 undergrads, 100 grad students
Cornell: 47 professors, 200 graduate students, ??? undergrads
Chicago: couldn't find any numbers</p>
<p>i got into Cornell and chicago last year, chose cornell originally for Chemistry, i didn't really think 2 highly of the quarter system and the core curriculums of chicago. However, columbia is amazing, he is 3 great choices.</p>
<p>They are all great physics schools. All have/had nobel laureates on their faculties.</p>
<p>If you are planning to go to grad school afterwards, one thing to consider is what areas of research they are strongest in. It's important to be a slave in someone's lab for a summer or two to see what you like. (Also helps with recommendations.) Cornell is strongest in solid state, materials science, astrophysics, particle physics, nonlinear physics, and biophysics. But it's so huge that there's a little of everything, really. There are actually two physics departments. One in CAS (Phys) and one in the Engineering School (AEP) - plus the nanotech center and theory center. I was CAS physics, but two of my freshman year roommates were AEP. You can take classes in both departments. We all went on to grad school. </p>
<p>Another thing to consider are the options in case you decide halfway through that physics isn't for you. Here Cornell is great too, because it is so huge, and excellent across the board.</p>
<p>As for quality of life, I think Cornell wins that one easily. Especially for physics dorks like us who don't require a wild big-city club scene, hehe. Ithaca is low-crime and very pretty. The large number of other students your age (13,000) makes up for the smallness of Ithaca.</p>
<p>Well, I made a similar choice between Chicago and Cornell for physics last year. I felt that Chicago was best from a theorist stand point, and Cornell was more applied. However, I think that if you want BOTH, Cornell is the best way to go. We are doing a lot of hands on learning, and a lot of that comes from the fact that we have a huge engineering department to help aid in that. From nano-structures to particle accelerators, Cornell has them all. </p>
<p>Also, Cornell does better with grad school admissions, IMHO. (I also work in the admissions dept. for Cornell Graduate Physics :D). I think a lot of that comes from the reputation of the AEP program at Cornell.</p>
<p>Anyway, you win any way, but my vote is Cornell.</p>