UCSB CCS/UChic(/UCB) Physics and Maths

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>Over the next few days I have to decide over UCSB CCS, UC Berkeley and U Chicago. I'm completely set on a Physics & Maths double major, but I am absolutely torn between these schools and need help from current students/anyone who has relevant knowledge which could help me.
What I have:</p>

<p>UCSB CCS (please look up this program if you don't know it, it's very different from the normal UCSB college of L&S)
- Smaller, focused program, makes up for large class sizes of public universities like UCB
- Research opportunities! Lots of potential papers, research, internships under the belt by graduation time
- Course freedom, taking upper-division courses, graduate courses. Less general education requirements for CCS students.
- UCSB's physics reputation in general
- Cons are perhaps UCSB students are a little too laid back? I tend to prefer being surrounded by highly driven, academically strong students. Would CCS make up for this?</p>

<p>UCB
- Name, reputation
- Great physics program
- Cons are perhaps size (large lectures, no individual attention) and too much competition (competing for research opportunities, professor attention?)</p>

<p>U Chicago
- Name, reputation
- Great math program
- Very high level of academics guaranteed
- Cons are perhaps social life (but not a big deal) and random things like only giving one bachelor's degree despite a double major. Also perhaps the Core will take up much of my time, making it harder to double major. </p>

<p>What I'm not interested in is the weather, campus location, etc. Also tuition costs (international students). What I am interested in is primarily the level and rigour of the academics. Secondary is the research opportunities. </p>

<p>It's mainly down to CCS and UChic for me. I'm still considering UCB because a lot of people tell me that it would be a mistake to let go of UCB. Please do convince me on UCB if you feel that is my best choice. However, I would like ANY comments at all on CCS physics and maths and UChic physics and maths...keep in mind that CCS is different from the usual UCSB letters and science. I hope that CCS's freedom to make the academic experience as challenging/research-based as one wants makes up for UCSB's overall comparatively lower academic level. Basically I want to know if I can make my CCS experience as rigorous and academically strong as U Chicago's, in which case I would choose it because I love CCS and the philosophy (just not sure about academics and faculty). If not, then I would go for U Chicago because I am fairly sure that the academics and faculty are top-notch. </p>

<p>tldr; does CCS make UCSB top-notch, over U Chicago? Or is U Chicago the best option at the end of the day? From a purely academic standpoint, U Chic is guaranteed good, but does CCS's freedom, research, philosophy etc put it at par and at an advantage?
(And how about UC Berkeley?)</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for reading and please do give me your suggestions. I have to decide over the next few days so please stop by and drop in a reply! Thanks again.</p>

2

<p>Go to UChicago. Ridiculously prestigious with amazing research opportunities and top-notch math/physics programs. Will also give you a much bigger lift for grad school/post-graduation employment.</p>

3

<p>@phuriku, thanks, it’s true what you say, however do undergraduates really get significant research opportunities in their first few years? I’m thinking I may have an advantage with that in CCS.</p>

4

<p>I’d go to Berkeley or UCSB in your situation. Don’t waste your time on Chicago’s core.</p>

5

<p>In my admittedly biased opinion, I would also go with UChicago. You will certainly get the best and most rigorous education there, especially in mathematics. The “only one bachelors degree granted” con is pretty much a non-issue as far as I’ve heard, but you acknowledge as much. On the other hand, the core is one of Chicago’s biggest draws for me, and if it features in your cons column, then our perspectives are asymmetric enough for any subjective opinion on my part to be less than useless to you.</p>

<p>Also, I should mention that (since you acknowledge Chicago’s strength only in maths while expounding it’s pros) UChicago is extremely strong in physics as well as mathematics, arguably as strong as Berkeley (and possibly stronger on the undergraduate level). For that matter, mathematics is very strong at Berkeley as well (arguably as strong as Chicago’s at the graduate level).</p>

6

<p>@beyphy, thanks, I was concerned about whether the Core would take up much time</p>

<p>@jak321, I understand the Core is definitely a draw to many people, but the reason it might be a drawback for me is that it might make it harder to double major, and still maintain a healthy extra-academic life. With a single major, I would consider the Core an advantage, really.
As you say, they are arguably as good as each other. However do you know anything about research opportunities? From what I’ve gathered the UCs, Berkeley especially, are very high on undergrad research, internships, etc. I’m not sure if I will get this at UChicago, and one of the concerns is to do with grad schools looking very favourably upon undergraduate research, in the sciences.</p>

7

<p>nadarang: I graduated from UChicago’s math department. The research opportunities there are really ridiculous. I did paid research during the summer doing quantum field theory all 3 years as an undergraduate together with graduate students and professors. There are also paid research opportunities given during the school year where you get to pick a graduate student and your own topic to pursue research with. Personally, I skipped that opportunity, but instead got paid to serve as a TA to some upper-division courses.</p>

<p>The math department at UChicago is famous for being a place where undergrads, graduate students, and professors form a very tight community. The undergrads are extremely well-respected in the mathematics division, and there are tons of professors who specifically search out undergrads to work with.</p>

<p>After graduation, I decided to skip out on grad school in order to go to Japan to start a career, but my two closest peers in the math division are both currently PhD students at MIT. Grad schools in particular are crazy about recruiting Chicago undergrads, who are seen as some of the best research-savvy students in the country. The reason that so few people at Chicago participate in Putnam is because, frankly, they’re all too busy doing actual research.</p>

8

<p>@phuriku, very helpful indeed. I guess I don’t need to worry about research at Chicago then, and I didn’t realize there were this many paid opportunities, to contribute towards tuition fees.</p>

9

<p>@phuriku, do you know anything about the feasibility of a (physics and math) double major at U of C? Will it take up too much of my time to be able to participate in research, work, etc? A lot of people mention that the Core does take up a lot of time and will this make it harder (everything from taking electives to graduating in 4 years)?</p>

10

<p>UC all the way for physics and math. They have a little thing called the fermi lab, which is probably the best physics research facility in the US.</p>