Hello. My son is a Physics major who has to choose between admission offers from UMD and UIUC. He doesn’t have a location preference (urban vs. rural). Both offer similar financial aid packages and both are out of state for him, although UMD is within commuting distance from home since we live in the DMV area. However, his plan is to live on campus. He was offered the FIRE program at UMD, but other than that no honors program at either school. Right now his career interest lies in physics research and teaching at the university level. Which school has the strongest Physics program for someone interested in eventually getting their Ph.D in physics and conducting research?