<p>I know I know...I'm visiting all. Have threads running in Columbia and Chicago forums, so thought I'd stop by here too. They all have a "core", they're on different coasts, they all have massive workloads, Mudd is much smaller and only undergrad and probably warmer... Any insights particular to the study of physics @ Mudd versus the others, research opportunities, teachers? Many thanks for any response.</p>
<p>If I had to make the choice, I’d make it between Chicago and Mudd. The one point to consider is that I’ve heard stereotypes (which you should confirm or debunk) that Chicago students tend to work by themselves, whereas Mudd may encourage and foster more collaboration. My style is to work alone for a while, and then when we’re all stuck, try to settle the issues together.</p>
<p>Someone I know graduated from physics in Mudd, and said it was pretty difficult. Then again, I imagine Chicago will be difficult too. On the other hand, the one thing to consider is that Chicago will have graduate students, and if you think that could be valuable to you, i.e. if you see yourself talking to them constantly about their perspective on things, then that’s another thing to consider.</p>
<p>Every single physics professor here is amazing; thats all I can say. There is one new prof that is iffy right now, but by the time you would take classes with him he will have gotten better or been fired. The focus on quality teaching is what made me pick this place over UChicago and similar institutions 2 years ago. </p>
<p>Research here seems to be one of our strongest points despite what people might think about research from an LAC. Every professor does cutting edge research and takes on several undergraduates, and unlike the other places there is no chance that the “good” projects will get handed to graduate students. </p>
<p>I could say more on the differences, but nothing that comes to mind that wont be answered by a good visit.</p>
<p>If you have any physics major specifics questions, feel free to ask them here and I will be glad to try and answer them. </p>
<p>That reminds me, one other thing to think about is that 1/7 students here is a physics major. Is that a good thing or a bad thing for you?</p>
<p>How many students are in the average physics class? Are they usually just lectures or is there a lot of interaction between the professors and students during class? Is there really that much professor student interaction outside of the classroom? What is a typical homework assignment? Are they usually problem sets and if so do they tend to be fewer tougher questions or more not so tough questions (I’m guessing the former)? Do a lot of homework assignments incorporate computer programming or other skills you learn from the Mudd core? </p>
<p>These are all in reference to the physics program.</p>
<p>Sorry I have so many, if I had more patience I’d just wait until ASP this weekend.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>mathboy, why so quick to knock out Columbia? (Links to CERN, great profs including Brian Greene, Nevis Labs, NYC…#10 in undergrad Gourman Report…) So what’s your reasoning? I hear physics is tough at Columbia too. Many thanks for any response.</p>
<p>**How many students are in the average physics class? **
It depends heavily on the class. The core physics classes will typically have an entire year’s worth of students in them, so about 200. There are only 3 of these, and each of them is very well taught regardless of class size. Required physics courses usually have a bit more than a years worth of students taking them, about 20 - 25. Once you start taking classes that are more in your interest then the numbers vary quite a bit. General Relativity this year had about a dozen whereas in years past its had as few as 6. Particle physics now has only 4-5 this year ( a consequence of burn out from the brutality that was GR). </p>
<p>Are they usually just lectures or is there a lot of interaction between the professors and students during class?
Lots of interaction, lots of questions aimed at students. Recitations, which are run by the professors themselves instead of graduate students, are a certain source of such if they dont reach out in lectures (they usually do).</p>
<p>Is there really that much professor student interaction outside of the classroom?
If you want it sure. I would say I eat out with physics professors at least once a month (with 4-8 other students), usually with some visiting colloquium speaker. There are also frequently events thrown by the physics department that bring physicists and nonphysicists together under delicious foods, such as berry pies, barbecue, and ice cream made using liquid nitrogen (the best you will ever taste). </p>
<p>**What is a typical homework assignment? Are they usually problem sets and if so do they tend to be fewer tougher questions or more not so tough questions (I’m guessing the former)? **
As you guessed, always the former. Typically homeworks consist of 2-5 questions, each 30 minutes of work at the minimum. The homeworks for my classical field class are usually 3 questions, usually requiring 2 hours per problem at the minimum, but more normally 4-10 hours. Ive actually spent all nighters with a group of people on a single problem, and not finished entirely. For the past 5 homeworks of this class, I dont think anybody has turned in on time since nobody can finish them within a week of them being posted (with other work in mind). </p>
<p>Do a lot of homework assignments incorporate computer programming or other skills you learn from the Mudd core?
It depends on the class. Most problem sets are done through pencil and paper, however there will often appear nasty integrals that its best massage into Mathematica. Note that you cant just stick them in our errors will come out every which way. By the end of your junior year, you should be quite fluent in Mathematica.</p>
<p>S came down to Mudd and Chicago last year for math/comp sci. Chicago’s Core is more committed than Mudd’s – for S, this was a deal -maker; for other folks it could be a deal breaker. Each has a different intellectual vibe. Mudd has a very rigorous math requirement that everyone must complete, though for physics majors, I imagine you’d have to get through at least that much math anyway. Everyone must also take an engineering course (correct me if there’s more than one).</p>
<p>S has a friend who attends Mudd and loves it. One thing this friend said, and my S also felt, was that Mudd would not let you fall through the cracks. That said, they also work your butt off.</p>
<p>S ultimately decided on Chicago, both for the Core and the chance to do early graduate work, but he sure loved Mudd, and it was at the top of his list through much of HS. Unfortunately he has not taken any physics at Chicago so far (his APs got him out of the general ed for his department), so I can’t offer any specifics in that regard.</p>
<p>Seiken – I didn’t know you had gotten into Chicago, too!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot Seiken, that all sounds really awesome.</p>
<p>Thanks, all, for your input. I’m looking forward to visiting.</p>
<p>Oh I know Columbia is great – I might fit in better at the others myself.</p>