I’m a transfer student, and right now I have a choice between coming to UM vs Case Western. I’m 80% UM, but I just wanted to ask this question. So how is the undergraduate research at UM, and how involved are the professors with the students. Like I’ve seen Case students say they’ve always had professors as teachers not graduate students. Also, Case keep emailing me about the potential oppurtunities I will have in the Physics department (I’m planning on studying Physics), while UM haven’t done much to entice me. I just don’t want to be treated like a number at UM, so basically, how are the research opportunities and overall undergraduate academic involvement.
Keep something in mind. Michigan doesn’t need to entice anyone. It’s Michigan. That should say it all. Case is a great school, no question about it but it’s not Michigan with their opportunities. For what I know nothing will be spoon fed for you. If you want to do research then do research. Go to the physics website, find a professor your interested in doing research with and reach out to them to see the possibilities. Rinse and repeat till you find a match. It’s not really that difficult. https://lsa.umich.edu/physics/undergraduate-students/research—career-opportunities.html
Michigan has over $1.53 billion annual research budget, 2nd only to Johns Hopkins… compared to CWRU at #58. Michigan is consistently ranked in the top 10 for promoting undergraduate research. Under the UROP program, you can start doing research as a first semester freshman. But you have to take the initiative.
Check whether your previous course work will be accepted for subject credit.
https://www.ugadmiss.umich.edu/TCE/Public/CT_TCESearch.aspx
https://case.edu/ugstudies/academic-policies/study-other-colleges-and-transfer-credit
https://case.edu/ugstudies/students/transfer-students/transfer-guides
If some of your major course work is denied subject credit, you may have to retake it, delaying graduation at extra cost.
If these emails are in any way personalized, then they very well might indicate that you would encounter good opportunities in CWRU’s physics department.
@merc81 I can PM you about a lot of details of the physics department at CWRU.
Every single faculty at Case takes freshman if you are motivated. Every physics student at Case writes a senior thesis.
Look at these websites, these faculty welcome undergrads. And publish with undergrads and hire undergrads over the summers, and also coach undergrads on taking the physics subject exam GRE.
Also note that Case has a very strong polymer sciences department where physics students can work too.
its a combination of physics and chemistry work. Also Case offers the solar durability lab, that
measures the durability of photovoltaics worldwide. Case has a researcher that does work on the south pole telescope, and a good astronomy department as well.
http://biotheory.phys.cwru.edu
https://physics.case.edu/faculty/glenn-starkman/
http://www.phys.cwru.edu/sites/morecenter/
http://engineering.case.edu/centers/sdle/SDLE-Team
Top Case graduates get into physics PhD programs at Cornell, Michigan, Stanford and Berkeley.
I have a detailed account of that if you want more info.
Michigan is very very good though.
What kind of physics do you want to study?
If your end goal is a Phd in physics, I might lean to UM but it’s pretty close. The campuses, cultures of the schools are probably different enough that you could decide based on that.
Case has an undergraduate program for research…called SOURCE. It helps link students to undergraduate research opportunities. You can also do research as a freshman…once again, if you reach out.
You can also look at the areas of research Case does and if it interests you: https://physics.case.edu/research/
THis talks about ways to get into research: https://casgroups.case.edu/physics-senior-projects/
Both schools have busses running a lot, but U of Michigan is more spread out as engineering and theatre on North Campus, are about 3 miles away from main Ann Arbor Campus. Case is more walkable and a little less snow. Lake Erie warming affect, is odd and sort of interesting, in Cleveland. I think Michigan is much better rank in physics, but Case is strong for attention and solid results for PhD admissions. programs. Michigan may be the better bet though if you are sure about PhD, as I do believe you can work in a very good lab. Look for advisors right now. If biophysics is your thing, Case is compelling though, see Professor Mike Hinczewski at Case who publishes widely with undergrads and mentors them.
@zzaver which did you pick? Good luck!
UM.
I didn’t see for sure it was Michigan in OP. Lol
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