<p>Hello, I am in the process of researching schools, specifically UC schools based on their physics program. I have been consumed with working on my college application and doing homework and I would like to ask the community for some help to guide me in the right direction.</p>
<p>Here are the schools I am applying for:</p>
<p>UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz (Don't know how I feel about UCSC)
UC Riverside
UC Merced</p>
<p>My question is, which of these schools have a well rounded physics program, and could you rank them? Specific information will always be appreciated. </p>
<p>If anyone would be kind enough to talk to me via AIM or IRC, I would really appreciate it. </p>
<p>Thanks. :)</p>
<p>merced and santa cruz aren’t very good schools.</p>
<p>I know Merced isn’t good for physics at all, but doesn’t Santa Cruz have a good astrophysics program? </p>
<p>Could anyone rank the schools and possibly more?</p>
<p>I assume you’re applying for undergraduate programs.</p>
<p>First off, there is no ranking for these undergraduate physics programs. I know very smart people who came from Irvine, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and Davis. I don’t know anyone from Merced or Riverside. </p>
<p>Go where you’re interested in. To a certain degree, don’t worry about what each school is good at. The level of physics where the rankings actually mean something is much high than where you’re at right now.</p>
<p>While UCSC and UCR are considered to be “lower tier” universities overall in the UC system they both actually have Physics and Astronomy departments that are very highly regarded. I was unaware that UC Merced had Physics and Astronomy programs. UC Merced is new and if you can, you would definitely want to go to the well established programs at UCSC or UCR rather than the totally unknown one at UC Merced.</p>
<p>Another way to look at it is to see what sort of research faculty at each school is involved in. Then, choose the one with the most faculty members you might like to try and work with for some undergrad research.</p>
<p>(That is, if you’re at all interested in the grad school route.)</p>
<p>UCSB is tops for physics. Check out the CCS program.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m starting to look in to UCSB’s physics department. I am very interested in going to graduate school, although I won’t know whether I’ll do it or not until I am close to completing my undergraduate study.</p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone who contributed.
If anyone wants to share their UC experience with a young fellow, I would really appreciate it. :)</p>
<p>You don’t like San Diego?</p>
<p>Looking at the OP’s original list, I’m guessing they are shooting for the less selective UCs for whatever reason.</p>