I have looked at both colleges’ physics department websites and have emailed both schools about their programs. I was hoping someone could provide me with additional insight from first-hand experience in one of the colleges or just information that you know that could help me make a decision. Just to let you know, my goal after college is to attend graduate school for physics. Thank you for your responses.
The UC’s are research institutions and the CSU’s, including Cal Poly are not. I would call each schools Physics department and ask how many of their graduates go on to get doctorates and which schools they get into.
My son was interested in studying Physics at Cal Poly and going to Berkeley for graduate study. Berkeley told him they had never accepted a Cal Poly student in the graduate department. This caused him to decide to go straight to Cal for his undergraduate degree, although he has since changed his major.
Thank you, I believe I was leaning toward UCI and this helps a lot @Yomama12