Purdue, Indiana, or Illinois for Physics?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
1

<p>My son has been accepted as a freshman in physics at Purdue-West Lafayette, Indiana-Bloomington, and Illinois-UC. We are Indiana residents. He has been offered the Trustee scholarship at Purdue and the Excellence scholarship at Indiana so right now the net cost at these two schools is nearly a wash. As best we know, he is still a candidate for the Beering scholarship at Purdue and the Cox at Indiana. Although Illinois has offered their Achievement scholarship, our UI OOS cost PREMIUM would be $100K over four years (painful but not a show-stopper). My son has been invited by all three schools to participate in their honors programs on the university level and on the department level.</p>

<p>We know that we are very fortunate to be in this position of choosing from three great offers from three great schools, but any input on these schools and their undergrad physics programs would be appreciated. I am posting this on all three forums for bias balance.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I am biased and believe Illinois offers something a little better in physics than the other two. However, I am also a firm believer that the difference in cost in your situation is not worth it. I would recommend a home choice but ultimately the decision is for your family to make. Of course, decision can await learning what all three actually offer in aid.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the input. The concensus on all three boards seems to be that there is not much difference in these three undergrad physics programs plus honors.</p>