Undergrad Astrophysics Programs

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I'm an aspiring astrophysics major, hoping to attend a top graduate program like Harvard in my future. I'll be applying to undergraduate programs in the fall. I hear lots of people say that where I get my undergraduate degree isn't all that important, and that I should look to focus my major on physics and hold off on the astronomy until grad school. </p>

<p>I always planned on applying to Brown early decision (I'm from New England), but I'm starting to think that perhaps I would like to attend a liberal arts college like Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, Pomona, etc. instead. Also looking at the other Ivies, Stanford, UChicago, Northwestern, MIT, Harvey Mudd, Vassar, UMass Amherst (safety). I realize the experience at many of these places varies greatly, which is something I'm trying to sort out as well. </p>

<p>If you're able to, recommend (hopefully from experience) any of these colleges/universities--primarily the program they offer for a prospective astrophysics major! That, or just general advice on following such a track. Thanks!</p>

<p>There are relatively few schools that actually offer undergrad degrees in astrophysics. There are some, but in many cases, I think you’d be better off simply majoring in physics, and taking some astronomy courses with your electives. Getting a solid foundational knowledge of physics is going to be much more important than taking the astronomy classes as an undergrad. A lot of schools offer an astrophysics concentration within the physics major, which basically amounts to an astronomy minor. This allows you to get the full rigor of the physics major that you would partially miss out on as an astrophysics major, while still giving you some of the core astronomy courses. </p>

<p>I’m a physics major, and I’m considering astrophysics as a potential path(though I’m leaning more towards particle physics lately), but I don’t really have any plans of actually taking any astronomy classes as an undergrad. Perhaps a couple introductory type courses to fill up elective slots, but that would be about it. I’m more worried about getting higher level physics courses completed as an undergrad. </p>

<p>UIUC, though not an LAC, is one of the best schools in the country for physics/astronomy. They offer an astrophysics undergrad degree, and also offer an astrophysics concentration within the physics major.</p>

<p>I heard UMass at Amherst has a great program. UT at Austin has a good program also. I would just make sure the college has a good access to an observatory or a lot of research opportunities if you are planning to do Astronomy undergraduate classes. Since most research opportunities in this field are NASA, Texas might be a good option. And another college you might want to consider is CalTech. They are one of the top programs in this field, I think they are #2 under MIT.</p>

<p>Any of those would be suitable and many of them are as prestigious as MIT when it comes to giving future scientists an undergraduate education.</p>

<p>And there is no such thing as an “astrophysics” major I’m aware of, but there is an astronomy major. Virtually everybody who majors in astronomy double-majors in physics too.</p>

<p>My advice is to go to a place that has significant research activity in astronomy/astrophysics and start participating in undergraduate research the nano-second you’re on campus. No need to wait for junior year or worry that you don’t know enough. Just get started ASAP. I wish I’d been told to get started in undergraduate research sooner instead of waiting two and a half years. Professors love the help, sometimes they’ll even pay you!</p>