<p>I plan on applying ED to Cornell next year and have wanted to be a physics major since 8th grade. However, I hear good things about Cornell's engineering physics program and was wondering how they differ. I've read Cornell's site on both majors, but it didn't really make me understand the difference. I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for in a response, but maybe people who really know the difference at Cornell could explain the differences in interests of students of both majors.</p>
<p>well for one thing you get a b.a. in physics and b.s. in engineering physics</p>
<p>if i were u sunny boy, i would do Physics in the college of arts/sciences, b/c in case ur interests change, u can major in art, history, math, etc....</p>
<p>engineering is engineering</p>
<p>u can always transfer between schools at cornell pretty easily</p>
<p>The core major courses will be pretty much the same I think. In arts one might more naturally pursue interests on the less pragmatic side (e.g. astophysics) whereas in EP more people might slide towards semiconductors, materials science. With much overlap.</p>
<p>But the biggest difference, IMO, is probably not the physics; it's what the rest of your education will consist of. Do you want to spend 50% of your educational time learning about history, philosophy, art, english literature? Do you want to increase your proficiency in a foreign language? OR alternatively do you want to devote maybe 15% to these things, but spend the rest of your time learning about various engineering and technical disciplines?</p>
<p>I'm making up the percentages; I really don't know exactly what they are. But you get the idea.</p>
<p>And bball87 has a point: if you decide not to pursue physics, is your next choice likely to be pure mathematics? economics? Or is it more likely to be mechanical engineering?</p>
<p>Your call.</p>
<p>some info on this topic discussed in this thread:</p>
<p>i'm a physics alumnus. had 2 roommates who were AEP. i took some AEP classes as well. if you have any questions, just send me a message.</p>