<p>Hello everyone! Could you help me decide about a university? I am planning on double majoring in physics and computer science. I like the feel of a small campus, but I wouldn't be opposed to a larger one in favor of more opportunities. I do enjoy the sports scene and hope to participate in intramurals. It is crucial that I have good undergraduate research opportunities as well. I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in physics with a concentration in astrophysics.</p>
<p>I have done my research about the schools, but I still want to obtain as much information as I can to make the best possible decision. I feel fortunate that I have this opportunity, and I want to make the most of it! My three main schools that I have been accepted to and am considering are:</p>
<p>University of Illinois Urbana - LAS, full tuition, campus honors program, James Scholar, etc.
University of Notre Dame - waiting on financial aid (but in invited to Reilly Program (top 1%) so fingers crossed for possible scholarships!) and other notifications
Northwestern - Weinberg, national merit scholarship and waiting on financial aid and other notifications</p>
<p>Not to be presumptuous, but decisions come out for Carnegie Mellon shortly and I feel fairly confident about acceptance there (36 ACT, valedictorian, a few state medals in various things, research that used equipment developed at CMU, lots of service, etc.) Hopefully, I will be considering there too in the next few days! So if anyone could offer input on U of I, Northwestern, Notre Dame, or Carnegie Mellon, it would be much appreciated! I'm particularly interested in knowing about their physics programs and their preparation for graduate school. Thanks very much everyone! </p>
<p>Hi everyone! So I got accepted to Carnegie Mellon today with an invitation to their Science and Humanities Honors Program (~50 students each year). I would really appreciate any input on these four schools that anyone may have. Thanks!</p>
<p>CMU is one of the best u/g CS programs anywhere. Congratulations on your acceptance. They are also known to be tight-fisted. I’d wait til all the offers are in to make a decision because unless you’re independently wealthy these schools will hurt your family’s finances.</p>
<p>When you get all the info from all schools, let us know what the cost to you is, including any loans you are expected to take.</p>
<p>Ok thank you for your suggestions! I should be hearing relatively shortly about financial aid so I will post that as well. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey everyone! So I have received a resounding zero in financial aid from all colleges, though Carnegie Mellon offered me $4,000 a year in scholarships. I also have access to $2,000 a year if I decide to go to Northwestern because of the National Merit Finalist scholarship. Additionally, U of I offered me full tuition, bringing its cost down to around $75,000 for 4 years. I am extremely torn. Cost is a large factor, but it isn’t really a deciding factor for me. Taking that into account, does anyone have any input? I’ll be visiting all four again very shortly.</p>
<p>Bump! Sorry I am still having a difficult time deciding. If anyone has input, I would sincerely appreciate it!</p>
<p>If cost is a large factor and you were accepted to one of the best CS/Engineering schools in the country with a full tuition scholarship shouldn’t that make the choice easy? </p>
<p>Thanks for your input whenhen! U of I definitely is appealing. However, I was not of fond of it when I visited as I was of Notre Dame and Northwestern. Additionally, physics is my primary major and it seemed like some of the other schools offered more opportunities in physics. Is that accurate? I have researched as much as I can, but I can’t find much information on undergraduate physics programs. So even though U of I is cheaper, I was wondering if ND or Northwestern might offer a better physics experience with more of a community atmosphere.</p>
<p>Are you catholic? I can see that as a big draw for ND, if you aren’t not so much, maybe not the best socially. But I don’t know anything about the physics programs at these U’s. Did you research that and where people go on to physics grad programs as part of your search? I cannot see being full pay AND money is a large factor at the same time. Are your parents able to easily pay it or not? Otherwise do your best at UIUC, at least minor in CS and you will have job prospects as that’s where a lot of physics majors end up. If you want to prepare for physics grad school, just let your professors know after you get the basics over with and perform well and declare the major. It is essential to do research to get into a good grad school program. You must demonstrate ability and understanding of research.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses! I am Catholic, so that is a draw to ND. I apologize for being cryptic with the financial aspect. We are able to pay the tuition at any of these schools. It is not a problem. However, the difference between U of I and ND would be around 200k, which is a lot of money for anyone and I don’t want to take that for granted. Therefore, even though we can pay, the cost difference is still a factor. And at any one of these universities, there are students that end up at the top grad schools. It is slightly more common for this to happen at CMU and U of I though. </p>
<p>physics and CS at UIUC are both top 10 programs, CS probably being top 5
I would choose between CMU and UIUC or Northwestern. ND doesn’t seem as STEM oriented.
I know a few physics majors at UIUC. Feel free to send me a message!</p>
<p>slightly more likely being the operative words, OP. If the difference of 200K is any consideration to your household, go to UI. You’ll get a great education, do some good internships, and come out of there without all the catholic guilt 
You’re a smart kid and you’re going to do well wherever you go. And it really is about how well you do and not where you do it.</p>
<p>UIUC has excellent physics and CS programs. You wouldn’t be losing anything by going there if it is a question of overall cost.</p>
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<p>Unless $200,000 is pocket change for your parents, do them a favor and go to UIUC, which is highly reputable for CS and physics.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your input! It was invaluable in making my college decision. Jkeil, thank you for reinforcing that they are all good schools and that there are only slight differences in quality of preparation for graduate school.</p>
<p>200k is a lot of money that you could potentially use for grad school</p>
<p>So, what did you choose in the end? UIUC James scholar with Physics major and CS minor?</p>
<p>Very sorry for the delayed response! I ended up choosing - and this may shock everyone - the Glynn Honors Program at Notre Dame. You all offered fantastic points, and I had much to consider! However, I ended up visiting Notre Dame again and I remembered why I began considering it so strongly in the first place. Additionally, I spoke with many faculty members who informed me about an Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics major. </p>
<p>As a person who has loved mathematics but was thinking about CS for practicality, this was a pretty big factor. Growing up in the Midwest with a strong Catholic background, it was too hard for me to turn down the environment of ND and a double major in physics and ACMS, both of which perfectly complement my interests. Though U of I is ranked higher and was much cheaper, my family and I decided that Notre Dame was the right choice for me as a person overall.</p>
<p>Thanks again to all of your for your input! It made me think much more deeply about what I want out of college and which would be the best fit for me, academically and socially. </p>
<p>U of I will always be a special place for me too, and I will definitely be cheering for them on game days! :)</p>
<p>Congratulations. I have a lot of Catholic friends and family who went to ND, and I’ve her nothing but praise for the school. I hope you have a similarly good experience there. </p>