<p>Hi guys.
If a want to study physics, should I rather apply to SEAS or Columbia College?
At SEAS you can only get a degree in applied physics and applied mathematics...
So what's the difference? YOu can also take physics at Columbia College...</p>
<p>THX 4 help!</p>
<p>applied math and applied phy are more like a continuation of math and phy that you learn in high school, lots of teaching with examples, lots of problem solving. Math and physics in the college is proof based. There are pretty smart kids in both lots, so decide how you want to learn the science, and what you want to do in the long run. If you like practical sciences and their implementation, apply to seas, if you like studying the pure stuff and want to go on to grad school in physics, do college. If you are unsure about physics altogether and are leaning towards social sciences apply college.</p>
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applied math and applied phy are more like a continuation of math and phy that you learn in high school, lots of teaching with examples, lots of problem solving.
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<p>This is a bit simplistic.</p>
<p>Thx confidentialcoll. You helped me a lot.</p>
<p>@Columbia2002: Could you please specify?</p>
<p>C02's right, that was highly simplistic. I was an Applied Math major, class of 06, and let me assure you - you do your share of proofs, and you take plenty of classes right alongside the Math majors in the College (and some classes alongside the Econ majors - those are the sleepers! :) ). The curriculum is a little more research-focused and application-focused, but there is substantial class overlap and also substantial opportunity overlap. Many students in the department - both AM and AP majors - end up going to grad school in their subject. By no means is it "just a continuation of your high school classes". That's a crock. Freshman physics, Mechanics and E&M, that's a continuation. Maybe Quantum Mechanics, if you take the "easy" one, PHYS 1403, is still along the same lines. But it's a ball-buster if you take 2601, and anything beyond that is in a different league as far as stretching your analytical muscles go. Neither pure Math/Phys nor AM/AP is any easier than the other.</p>
<p>"By no means is it "just a continuation of your high school classes". That's a crock."</p>
<p>I was referring to the way classes are taught, the material is definitely not comparable. But every class i've taken in the math dept / phy department (i've taken 2601, and 3003 for a short while) are more abstract than AM, AP classes. </p>
<p>"but there is substantial class overlap and also substantial opportunity overlap"</p>
<p>this is true, forgot to mention</p>
<p>"you do your share of proofs"</p>
<p>in an AM/AP problem set 1-2 out of 8-10 problems will be proofs, in a higher level math or phy class in the college, the majority of questions could be proofs.</p>
<p>"both AM and AP majors - end up going to grad school in their subject"</p>
<p>most AP kids i've met plan to go into physics research, most AM kids i've met are interested in mathematical finance/ actuarial science/ climate science modeling / computational bio, i definitely don't know them all though.</p>