<p>hi, so ive been looking into colleges a lot, visited a few, etc. but the one big problem is i have no clue on how to focus on the major i want. </p>
<p>so i want to go into physics, specifically astrophysics, but whenever i put in a search for astrophysics, i get only 10 or so colleges. </p>
<p>when i ask people about it, they say focus on a school with physics, then take a lot of astronomy or astrophysics classes, almost as a specialization. </p>
<p>will this work, and if it does, how do i narrow down the hundreds of schools with physics to a few with focus on astronomy and astrophysics.</p>
<p>Here is my advice:
If you really love astrophysics, find two types of schools: #1 school that has astrophysics major, and #2 school with professors (either engineering or science) does astrophysics related research.</p>
<p>There are hundreds of schools in this country that offer very good physics programs. (If I am correct there are at least 66xx colleges and universities registered in this country).</p>
<p>To narrow down to no more than 5 (I advice at least 1 is local, and 2 is public renown institution). </p>
<p>You don’t need to get into MIT to become a good astrophysicst. You might find MIT too big for you. You might find yourself more comfortable with smaller colleges, where average class size is 25 - 40, and lecture hall usually is a class size of 120 - 150. That’s what I count as a smaller community. This kind of school you can get more attention from professors and your peers.</p>
<p>Maybe you like urban campus like Columbia?</p>
<p>I say choose a school that offers very very good physics (and engineering) - they don’t have to be in the top 50. CUNY is very good, if you live in NY.</p>
<p>You can pick a local state university… here SUNY schools are very good, and comparable to many top 20 university.</p>
<p>Don’t just limit yourself to astroyphysics. I’d advice get astrophysics at graduate level, but it’s up to you.</p>
<p>Striker - my son is in a similar situation as you - interested in astrophysics (except he has an added criteria of wanting an AFROTC unit on campus also). We’ve found that many state flagships offer either an astrophysics major or physics with an astro concentration/emphasis. Are you interested in a particular area of the US?</p>
<p>Also, some schools have better astrophysics programs that are just a specialization within the Physics program…that are better than the schools that offer a separate major.</p>
<p>In other words, just because one school offers a major does NOT mean it’s better than schools that offer just a specialization.</p>
<p>Case in point (and I usually don’t get into rankings), UCLA has the #2 rated graduate Applied Math program, but they offer a M.A. in Math (degree is not called Applied Math).</p>
<p>Are you referring to the district of columbia?
I am living in NYC, so I am only going to recommend the schools in NY.
Beside those famous private schools, I’d say SUNY Stony Brook for physics and astrophysics. Stony’s physics (nuclear physics, to be specific) department is ranked very high in USNews.</p>
<p>Penn State’s astrophysics… I think it’s top 10??</p>