<p>Does anyone have experience or insight into either or both of these physics departments? DD is having a tough time making a decision between these two schools. Any help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>The physics major has a fairly well defined list of junior/senior level core physics courses:</p>
<p>advanced mechanics
quantum mechanics*
electromagnetism*
statistical and thermal physics
advanced lab*</p>
<p>*often two semesters</p>
<p>She may want to check the catalogs and schedules to make sure that they are all offered at reasonable frequency, and if there are elective advanced physics and math courses that she is interested in.</p>
<p>The most basic check is how many professors are in the physics dept in both schools</p>
<p>As a physics major she will be doing research. Have her look at each department and see what kinds of research the professors are doing. What seems most exciting?</p>
<p>I would want to know availability to do research and what year most students can start.
How many REU’s are students awarded for each school.
Do physics majors have any problems getting internships?
Is there an opportunity to get her masters immediately after undergrad? Can she take grad courses as an undergrad?
If she plans on going for her Phd. see where students get in.
If she wants to switch out of physics, to say, engineering, is that possible?
If she wants to get a job after undergrad see where students are hired. Often times it is difficult to get a job with just a BS or BA in physics. Companies often pay much less to physics majors if they hire them than engineers.</p>
<p>just some thoughts…</p>
<p>I love Oxy, but they did not have enough physics for my son. They offered him merit money and could not have been nicer. I know nada about Gonzaga. Call each school, after checking the course listings. See the courses offered, the # faculty, and then have child call or email the college.</p>
<p>I don’t know if your daughter is a typical physics major, but many students strong in the sciences absolutely hate to write. My physics son refused to look at Oxy because they have an emphasis on writing skills. They write a lot - more than at many other schools. I don’t know anything about Gonzaga.</p>
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<p>Do you mean that they hate to write in general, or hate to write about things that high school English teachers want them to write about (analysis of literary fiction and the like)? Scientists do have to write articles on their research results, although writing style does differ significantly between writing about science for other scientists, writing about science for the general public, and writing about humanities subjects.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus, I’m referring to the tendency of STEM kids to dislike the general education requirements - particularly those where the teachers assign a lot of analytical essays. My son has great writing skills and has never had a problem with, say, lab reports. But he detests English and History essays. From what I have heard, Oxy has more of those kind of general ed essay requirements. </p>