<p>I am a 2013 fall international transfer, I am accepted by University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Virginia, and Emory University.
I want to major in either chemistry or physics, and I would like to go to grad school. Please give me some advice, which school will better fit me? Which school is more prestigious? Which school can provide me more research opportunities? It's just so hard to choose. Thank you for your patience and your valuable suggestions!!</p>
<p>They are all excellent schools. All should provide research opportunities.</p>
<p>Personally, I would think that Michigan may be a little stronger in the sciences than the other two and Emory possibly the weakest (but I only say that because I know that Emory doesn’t have an Engineering school-though they have excellent programs with Georgia Tech).</p>
<p>More important - the three schools all have very different feels (and it’s impossible for anyone to say which would be best for you).</p>
<p>Good luck with your choice.</p>
<p>@zephyr15, thank you so much! I also think that the science program in michigan is probably the best among the three, but I just think there’re always other considerations like school size(can I get the opportunity if too many people are competing for a limited amount of them?), geographical reasons(atlanta is an amazing city…)…
Probably I’ll just throw a dice to decide which one I should choose LOL</p>
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<p>Engineering and sciences are different, as evidenced by the fact almost all universities have each under separate colleges. Emory has a top medical school, and is highly regarded for pre-med majors. I suppose that indicates they would be very strong with the chemistry or physics programs OP seeks.</p>
<p>All three of these schools are outstanding, highly prestigious, plenty of research and grad school opportunities. Either one will get you where you want to be if you put in the effort. Probable deciding factor: what will be your cost for each?</p>
<p>Although Michigan is larger, Chemistry and Physics are relatively unpopular majors, so classes will tend to be smaller, access to faculty more readily available and research opportunities plentiful. Also, Ann Arbor is an awesome college town.</p>
<p>Emory’s chemistry is excellent, but our physics is noticeably weaker than other science programs. I’d go with either Michigan or UVa.</p>
<p>@Chardo, Since I am a international student, the costs for all the three schools are pretty much the same to me…so I probably won’t take that into consideration…</p>
<p>@Alexandre, I believe u michigan will be a good place for me to study both chem and physics. I am leaning toward it, but just need to figure out all the pros and cons…</p>
<p>@whenhen, is the physics program really that weak in Emory? I saw the usnews rankings for chemistry and physics are nearly the same (some place around 30-40)…</p>
<p>The main con in your case will be the weather. Michigan is significantly colder than Atlanta or Charlottesville. Otherwise, I cannot think of any significant con relative to UVa or Emory.</p>
<p>I like Emory, but haven’t heard much about their sciences relative to Mich and Va.</p>
<p>I’d just look at the areas and at the characters of the schools.
–Ann Arbor and C-ville are both cool, but for different reasons.
–Do you like sports? Michigan is one of the best, and they have an amazing fan base
(UVa is no slouch either).
–Like history? UVa is very historical (as they are fond of pointing out).<br>
–Mich. will be cold. Va won’t be.
–Va will have a touch of southern hospitality, Mich will have a little more hustle and bustle.
It’s preference really. </p>
<p>I actually like both these schools, even though I root for Mich’s basketball rival and W&M students generaly don’t refrain from paying UVa compliments.</p>
<p>Emory both benefits and suffers from its proximity to Georgia Tech. From what I’ve observed, almost every* field Georgia Tech is weak in, Emory is strong in and vice versa with quite a bit of overlap between strong programs. Because of this, I don’t recommend Emory to students interested in pursuing either math, physics, and/or computer science because course offerings are limited and from what I understand from students who successfully completed the 3/2 program with Georgia Tech, rather weak. To prove how weak our physics department is, consider this physics course atlas for [spring</a> 2013](<a href=“Welcome to Emory College.”>Welcome to Emory College.) Notice that after completing general physics there are few classes that you can take, which may pose a serious issue when you’re an upperclassman and done with your gen eds. The only benefit I can see with Emory’s physics department is that undergrads can work extremely closely with their professors in research because there are few grad students. However, the research Emory’s physics professors do is more limited, in part because the department is weaker. </p>
<p>Chemistry at Emory is excellent, and routinely sends students off to the best graduate programs. But because you’re interested in physics, I wouldn’t recommend Emory.</p>
<p>*The few exceptions to that rule are some non ecology parts of environmental/earth systems science, education, and agriculture which are some of UGA’s strong points.</p>
<p>@Alexandre, Rubbish, and whenhen, Thanks a lot for your advices, it really helps!! I think the weather concern is OK, but I really want to seek a strong phy/chem program, and it seems that only Mich fits this criteria…</p>
<p>UVa’s appears to be absolutely fine, and its chemistry is quite good as well. You have two great options, and can’t go wrong with either one.</p>
<p>"…but I really want to seek a strong phy/chem program, and it seems that only Mich fits this criteria…"</p>
<p>That is correct.</p>