<p>Any science (especially physics) majors here who could elaborate about their experience at Columbia? Research opportunities, professor contacts, class size, interesting classes, graduate destination?.. I'm an applicant.. Not interested in comparisons with other unis because it's never unfair unless you've studied at 2 or 3 unis.. So just your experience at Columbia.. Thanks!</p>
<p>I did research for one summer and a couple of school years, had lots of contact with an established professor, got some papers under my belt, etc. Research opportunities are plentiful at Columbia. As for classes, there's a huge variation: Some don't want to be there, hate teaching, don't want to be bothered with students, and suck at it, while others are not that way.</p>
<p>Columbia2002- thanks.. Anymore information?</p>
<p>My S is ending up as a physics concentrator, rather than majoring in it as he once thought, but along the way he was offered a paid lab position. Once he got through the beginning sequence, his next physics class had about 20 people in it. This semester, he is taking a physics class with fewer than 10 people in it and another with about 30. There seems to be plenty of opportunity to initiate contact with professors. When he discussed what he would need to complete his concentration, the professor who is the undergraduate advisor was extremely flexible. I think it's a good place to study physics and that the top students go on to top grad programs.</p>
<p>sac, a concentration is a minor?..</p>
<p>Yes, although I've read on here that a concentration at Columbia has got more requirements than minors elsewhere. You can actually graduate from Columbia College without a major, just with a concentration.</p>
<p>In my S's case, he's majoring in something else and concentrating in physics. He once got advice on which courses he'd have to take in the concentration if he wanted to go on for grad school in physics. They included laboratory classes, which he seems determined to avoid. So, he pretty much is taking the courses that interest him and that the department will accept -- though some are actually listed in math and others in astronomy.</p>
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a concentration is a minor?
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<p>no. if you think of it as a hierarchy it would be major -> concentration -> minor.</p>
<p>a concentration demands more points than a minor but less than a major. however, just as sac said, since you can in fact graduate without a major, calling it a minor is just not exactly correct</p>
<p>Thank you to both of you.
sac- So your son majored in?..
For those who graduate with only a concentration, what are their degrees? Is it still a BA? Or you won get a BA? What will be the difference on the diploma?
So someone can do a major in physics and a concentration in economics or vice versa? It's plausible to finish both in 4 years right?..</p>
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Is it still a BA? Or you won get a BA? What will be the difference on the diploma?
So someone can do a major in physics and a concentration in economics or vice versa? It's plausible to finish both in 4 years right?..
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<p><a href="http://www.columbia.edu%5B/url%5D">www.columbia.edu</a></p>
<p>he majored in econ-math. he's on track to finish both a major and a concentration in four years.</p>
<p>Thanks..
Any more info about the science there?..</p>