<p>How good is the Physics program, when it comes to getting into good graduate schools?
I’m from Indiana, so Purdue and IU have always been my top choices, but then I realized I qualify for the presidential scholarship, which would make Alabama a lot cheaper, and I’ve always liked it too.
But when comparing graduate programs, Purdue and IU are ranked nearly 100 places above Alabama.
Is this true for the undergrad Physics program?</p>
<p>Take this for what it is worth, but here is my ds’s experience. Our ds is very advanced in math and science (he has credit for 10 classes that are cal up in both physics and math) and he has attended multiple math and science camps, including SSP. The professors he has been around there as well as the professors at the 2 universities where he dual enrolled (we moved 14 hrs across the country in the middle of his 11th grade yr) have all told him that where he completes undergrad is not as important as what he does while he is there—high GPA, research, and high GRE scores.</p>
<p>Ds made an appt with Dr LeClair and spent an hour talking to him. Dr. LeClair completed his undergrad in materials engineering at MIT, and his post-doc at MIT. (I can’t remember where he did his phd) He offered ds some great advice as well. He also told ds that they have had grads accepted into schools like Stanford.</p>
<p>UA has great opportunities for reseach via programs like CBHP <a href=“http://courseleaf.ua.edu/honors/computer_based_honors_program/”>http://courseleaf.ua.edu/honors/computer_based_honors_program/</a> and Emerging Scholars <a href=“http://emergingscholars.ua.edu/”>http://emergingscholars.ua.edu/</a> Students also have the ability to earn credit via APs and DE. Most of the top universities where ds applied would not accept any outside credit but would only accept scores and classes for placement purposes. (One school allowed up to 16 credits to be earned. GA Tech was an exception. GA Tech will grant credit after course review.) Coming in with credit opens up the door for double majoring.</p>
<p>FWIW, I trust the professors that ds has received advice from. They are all familiar with him and his academic and research accomplishments as a high school student. I do not believe they would have given him poor guidance jeopardizing his future academic goals. </p>
<p>I have heard similar advice: more weight is given to what you do at where you are than where you’re at, if that made any sense…Make the most of UA: work hard to preserve a high GPA, get involved in the many research opportunities early, and all of the other academic clubs/orgs/teams on campus, and get to know your professors well (and they you), in order to receive stellar letters of rec when the time comes. </p>