<p>So, I am going to be a Senior in high school in the Fall. And college is one thing that is creeping up on me. I have a 3.1 GPA, and my current ACT score is a 27, 26 in English, 31 in math, 21 in reading, and 30 in science. The major I wish to pursue is Physics. My plans where to go to Michigan State University for my undergrad, and my graduate at University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and eventually get my PhD in physics. Is it reasonable to believe that my plans would work? Is it a good idea? I do now know much about college, and I want to get feedback on my idea. I do know that UofM has one of the best physics programs. And it would be something I would really want to do.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>With all due respect Mufarreh; first you have to get into MSU for undergrad. Your GPA is borderline for admittance. If you do get into State and do well, you certainly would be considered at Michigan. MSU will not hold you back academically to better graduate programs.</p>
<p>Or Vice Versa is fine imho. </p>
<p>Link: [Rankings[/url</a>]</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“Facility for Rare Isotope Beams - MSU - YouTube”>Facility for Rare Isotope Beams - MSU - YouTube]Facility</a> for Rare Isotope Beams - MSU - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.pa.msu.edu/ranking.htm]Rankings[/url”>http://www.pa.msu.edu/ranking.htm)</p>
<p>Best of Luck!! :)</p>
<p>I don’t think going to MSU would hold you back from any physics graduate program, however, the programs are competitive and you have to do very well. I hope you are applying to more than one undergrad school-there are no guarantees anywhere. </p>
<p>Also, some physics grad schools emphasize different aspects of physics: astrophysics, nuclear, high energy, theoretical, applied, engineering and so on…So rather than focus on the graduate school you are aiming for now, you will first decide on what your focus is, and then choose the schools that interest you based on that. </p>
<p>It’s probably not possible to get a real idea of all of this from high school physics, but as you continue to study it, you will find what interests you. So for now, do your best to apply and get accepted into the best undergrad program for you.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but what do you mean when you say that MSU wouldn’t “hold me back” from any physics graduate program? I just don’t understand what you mean by that. </p>
<p>And I guess another side note, I do PLAN on applying to other schools for my undergrad, which ones remains to be seen. As I’m sure you can see from my gpa and tests scores, I am fairly limited as to where I would be accepted. I don’t know much about college and I don’t know of many colleges.</p>
<p>Sorry, I meant MSU has a top well known physics department. Then I realized this is a discussion on UM’s thread, probably not the place to sing MSU’s praises…They are rival schools!</p>
<p>What I meant was, considering the reputation of the graduate physics department of MSU, if you attended MSU and did well there, as well as do all the other things needed to get into a graduate physics program, you should be able to get into a good graduate program… it would not be looked at unfavorably. I think most graduate programs look at many factors: grades, research experience, physics GRE score and so on and different grad programs give different weight to each factor.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is realistic to compare the physics departments at MSU and UM because different schools are strong in different areas of physics. The most important thing to do is get into a good undergraduate program and do well. Grad school is way in the future and until you have studied a lot of physics, it would be hard to choose one.</p>
<p>Where are you from Mufarreh? I assumed you were in MI since you mentioned both schools. I think that people here could suggest some schools for you if you let people have some ideas of location/costs, but it may be more appropriate to move that discussion to a general thread and not one specific to UM. Regardless of where you are accepted, the better you do academically will determine your grad school choices.</p>
<p>Wow, thank you very much. And your assumption was correct, I am indeed from Michigan. I guess while I have you here on this thread, do you know of any good undergrad schools for physics that should take into consideration? At this point, cost isn’t entirety something I am taking into consideration, I am just looking at schools. Thank you again for your help Pennylane.</p>
<p>Fortunately you have a lot of in state choices. I am not familiar with the schools in MI beyond MSU and UM but I will have a look at the schools on the search engine here. Put your scores, GPA, location and major into the search engine. A school that seems like a good possibility is Lawrence Tech- with good research opportunities at national laboratories in a broad range of choices for physics. It has a good summary of this on the college website. Western Michigan has some interesting research- with an accelerator if that area of physics interests you but it does not seem as broad as Lawrence Tech. Laurence Tech is also a nice size school- not too large as to feel lost in it but it also costs more. These are just a first glance at some of the choices. It’s best to look at the websites and physics departments and then see the schools for yourself. A small school is fine if it helps you learn and also gives access to research. Be prepared to work hard, the physics GRE is known as one of the toughest exams and almost every grad school requires it.</p>
<p>also University of Michigan Flint is a possibility although it does not have much description on their website…</p>
<p>Hmmm, funny enough, I went through the search engine, and MSU was at the top. I will look into all of those schools and see what I can find out about them. I might also post on the general forum to get more information. Hopefully I will get accepted into MSU and I won’t have to worry about it.</p>
<p>MSU is at the top… the others are to give you a broad range of choices. Of course apply to MSU as it is well known for physics. However, everyone should apply to several colleges, and these were just suggestions for others. Hopefully you will get into MSU and won’t need to be concerned beyond that- except to work hard at it and do your best.
and yes, post on the general forum for other choices as this is UM territory… :)</p>
<p>“Or Vice Versa is fine imho.”</p>
<p>I agree Sparkeye, however the OP has virtually no shot at being admitted to Michigan.</p>
<p>I knew from the start that I would have no chance at getting into UofM with my sort of GPA. I was however considering UofM Dearborn. Which I know I have a much better chance at.</p>
<p>My daughter started out in physics and commented recently that if she were going to do physics she would not go to a research university because the profs focus on research rather than teaching the subject. Perhaps someone who is a bit better versed than I could chime in.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Well, she then loses her opportunity to participate in research as an undergrad. Given, I don’t know anything about the Physics department so I don’t know if that opportunity exists here or not to begin with.</p>
<p>^^ With all due respect to MD Mom, perhaps your daughter is right in some instances, but to say that there is absolutely zero benefit to attend top research public schools or to downplay the significance of countless related career opportunities offer at MSU or UofM’s Physics program is just as misleading imho.</p>
<p>Check out this MSU Physics Junior’s summer internship with CERN</p>
<p>[The</a> State News :: MSU student plays part in new particle discovery](<a href=“http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2012/07/msu_student_plays_part_in_new_particle_discovery]The”>MSU student plays part in new particle discovery - The State News)</p>
<p>Or perhaps been exposed to MSU’s state-of-the-art National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) as an undergrad as I did in my Introductory Physics Classes.</p>
<p>Three first-ever isotopes created at NSCL </p>
<p>[Three</a> first-ever isotopes created at NSCL - YouTube](<a href=“Three first-ever isotopes created at NSCL - YouTube”>Three first-ever isotopes created at NSCL - YouTube)</p>
<p>Relics of the Big Bang - Facility For Rare Isotope Beams @ MSU </p>
<p>[Relics</a> of the Big Bang - Facility For Rare Isotope Beams @ MSU - YouTube](<a href=“Relics of the Big Bang - Facility For Rare Isotope Beams @ MSU - YouTube”>Relics of the Big Bang - Facility For Rare Isotope Beams @ MSU - YouTube)</p>
<p>Michigan State University ATLAS Group </p>
<p>[Michigan</a> State University Atlas Group Home Page](<a href=“http://www.pa.msu.edu/hep/atlas/]Michigan”>http://www.pa.msu.edu/hep/atlas/)</p>
<p>MSU’s decades long involvement with Cern</p>
<p>[Cern</a> | MSU Research](<a href=“http://research.msu.edu/tags/cern]Cern”>http://research.msu.edu/tags/cern)</p>
<p>Facility for Rare Isotope Beams - MSU</p>
<p>[Facility</a> for Rare Isotope Beams - MSU - YouTube](<a href=“Facility for Rare Isotope Beams - MSU - YouTube”>Facility for Rare Isotope Beams - MSU - YouTube)</p>
<p>just to list a few… :p</p>
<p>It’s debatable because to get into a good graduate program, you have to have research experience, and would not get the kind of small classes like at a smaller LAC. I think it would depend on what opportunities for research are available at the schools you are looking at. I know that some research is done in groups- Professors, graduate students, undergrads, and they meet frequently to discuss the project. I don’t know how this can be done from a small LAC- one would have to ask.
I know of one young man who did not have the finances to go to a 4 year program, so he did 2 years of CC and then transferred to a major university program. However, this CC offered the advanced math and science classes he needed- as well as some exposure to research and other areas. This person was exceptional- won awards and so on. In this case I don’t think the decision hurt him, but he clearly had high ability and was in one of those situations where he did not get much financial aid and chose to save money.
I do think the quality of teaching helps with being prepared and also the physics GRE. So one would really need to look at what is available at a particular school. IMHO physics research/engineering is very challenging and competitive and the best candidates can and do achieve in a research university. The top physics universities are very competitive, and attending one of them would be desirable- and you need to do well in them regardless of the focus of the professors.</p>
<p>I am not a physicist, ( I am a mom ) but know students who are in physics.</p>
<p>Perhaps students could get their research in through summer programs. FWIW, my daughter is now an applied math major with a minor in physics. I think she felt as though her physics profs were not great teachers and this obviously could be only at her university and not widespread. Thank you to other more experienced people for chiming in.</p>
<p>Yes, she can. The programs are competitive but qualified females are very much considered as they are under represented in physics. Many college programs have summer research opportunities for undergraduates. She would need letters of recommendation so I suggest she ask her physics department. Applications for next summer would probably be do around January.</p>
<p>Nobody is disputing that MSU is a top program, but a lot of research groups have connections to centers such as CERN, Oak Ridge, and so on and many of those groups collaborate. It is a competitive field. However, people have succeeded from many places:
[William</a> & Mary -*A Matter of Timing: Student Aces Physics GRE](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/research/ideation/science-and-technology/a-matter-of-timing-student-aces-physics-gre.php]William”>A Matter of Timing: Student Aces Physics GRE | William & Mary)</p>
<p>WM is a top university with its own facilities, but also with connections to the Jefferson Lab. </p>
<p>So again, to OP, apply to MSU. UM is excellent too and you have been advised by someone on this thread that UM is out of your reach, fair enough, but beyond MSU, look at the physics departments of other schools you are considering to see what they offer as far as research goes, and yes, also summer opportunities… and study as much as possible for the physics GRE. Many schools place a lot of emphasis on that as it is a standardized measure of what you have learned.</p>
<p>I think the instruction varies in all universities- good and bad teachers. The ones that succeed, succeed no matter what. It’s great to have a good teacher, but the top physics grad students have succeeded where they are.</p>