<p>Well, I have previously posted a topic on this forum asking what the best Physics college in the state of Florida was, as my son wants to go into that field. The answer I got was Florida State University. However, my son really wants to go to an Ivy League for Graduate school, specifically Cornell (I know, he is thinking too far ahead already!). If he were to go to this school, get good grades, test scores, and get a lot of research done (along with good letters of recommendation from professors, hopefully) would he have a chance at Cornell? I ask because FSU isn't exactly one of the United States' best colleges, and he is extremely worried he will not get accepted into an Ivy for graduate school. Thanks in advance for your advice, it is very appreciated.</p>
<p>Your son shouldn’t have major issues getting accepted to an Ivy for grad out of the FSU physics program provided he has a strong GPA in his major, a strong GRE score, excellent letters of recommendation and some research experience under his belt. FSU’s MagLab has a strong international reputation. </p>
<p>Besides the undergraduate physics curricula is fairly standardized in terms of the general topics it covers.</p>
<p>But, I have to caution that your son is getting way ahead of himself in already worrying about grad school. There may be some other school that is stronger in the research field he’s interested in. And he should be aware that Cornell grad physics tend to accept a rather smallish number. (IIRC, the year DH applied, it was fewer than 15. And DH in the end decided to go to different school because he was offered better FA at a more highly ranked school. The students at that program came from all sorts and sizes of programs. Including places we had never heard of.)</p>
<p>And to give a personal example, one of D1’s classmates from University of NM–not exactly an academic hot spot-- was accepted at CalTech and into Kip Thorne’s group. He was 1 of only 2 students Thorne accepted last year. So it is really is the kid and not the program he comes from that’s important.</p>
<p>Wow Kip Thorne!!way to go</p>
<p>At MIT, there is a gal from another FL state school (New College). I do believe it is what one does that makes a person outstanding. Working in a lab between UG and grad boosted my son’s profile.</p>
<p>I know Caltech and MIT are not Ivy League, but there are many universities with well-known physics dept. I also expect a future physics major to narrow his focus in the next 4 years, and possibly shift majors. When choosing a grad school, one looks for professors that match one’s interests. The prestige of the school matters far less than the fit with the profs.</p>
<p>FSU has a new president, a VERY academic one: Eric Barron. Goggle his background. Don’t take my word for it, FSU’s physics department and Mag Lab definitely has international recognition. Dr Barron’s position will nearly guarantee that will continue.</p>
<p><a href=“http://president.fsu.edu/search/[/url]”>http://president.fsu.edu/search/</a></p>
<p>Yes, it’s certainly possible. I went to a 3rd tier flagship state u, got strong grades and tons of research experience among other things and was admitted to three very well-regarded PhD programs in my field (which only has one Ivy with a program and that program, while pretty good, isn’t generally considered the best). I got into one of the most selective programs in my field, as well as one of the most productive research wise. A prestigious undergrad degree may help, but it’s usually low on the criteria list.</p>
<p>Fwiw, I also received university fellowships at both of the school mentioned above.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: my field’s nor physics.</p>
<p>Your son has a highschool understanding of graduate school and reputations of universities. This is understandable. But where one eventually wants to go for graduate school depends on the reputation of particular departments for one’s particular field and sub-specialty. Most people get over their Ivy-obsession by that stage. </p>
<p>Moreover, with regards to undergrad school, what matters for graduate school is not the level of USNWR ‘ranked’ school you attended, but the regard of that school in your field, and who you got to work with while there (among other things). Be assured, the faculty selecting graduate students couldn’t care less about USNWR rankings…not remotely relevant to their lives and their view of colleges is highly skewed by the reputation those schools have in their particular field and the particular faculty at those schools.</p>
<p>Maybe he’ll even get over the PhD thing by the time he goes through undergrad. I was just talking to a guy with a PhD in Physics from Caltech…never got a job in academia, ended up working as a consultant, and now wants to go back for a PhD in business at 35…sigh, at least there are jobs in that discipline.</p>
<p>He certainly has an Ivy obsession right now. He just knows he wants to do research in “one of the best” research facilities for physics. He likes the idea of Theoretical or Astrophysics. Thanks for everyones input so far, by the way.</p>