<p>How does it rate? Worth moving overseas?</p>
<p>I am sure that it is excellent: the program is relatively small, so I would expect the high quality of its graduate program to trickle down. </p>
<p>I, too, am interested to hear first-hand accounts, though.</p>
<p>I applied to Princeton with a declared major of Physics first choice and Mathematics as my second choice. I have heard great things about it and I’m sure you can learn a lot more if you visit the website and read some more information about it.</p>
<p>Caltech, MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Chicago, Stanford, and Harvey Mudd (in no specific ranking) are usually known as the strongest undergraduate Physics programs. This is slightly outdated though:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/459847-physics-best-undergraduate-physics-programs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/459847-physics-best-undergraduate-physics-programs.html</a>
But yes, it’s up there with Caltech, MIT, and Harvard.</p>
<p>What makes one physics program “better” than another?</p>
<p>Physics program?! Whts a physics program? and is physics at princeton calculus based or noncalculus based? or do u get to decide which one?</p>
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<p>Calculus is essential in the study of physics. I suspect, however, that there are some introductory physics classes for non-majors that do not involve calculus.</p>
<p>I’m sure the program is amazing.</p>
<p>I would be incredibly surprised if you could have a non-calculus based physics major. There is intro physics at princeton that doesn’t use a ton of calculus, but all engineers and most science majors need to take calc-based physics. Other than the into class, all physics classes rely heavily on calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations knowledge.</p>
<p>For those of you interested in physics, this may be interesting:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/865423-five-princeton-professors-honored-physics-prizes-news-item.html#post1064111160[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/865423-five-princeton-professors-honored-physics-prizes-news-item.html#post1064111160</a></p>
<p>just curious what physics majors are most attracted to when they decide to study physics?</p>
<p>i’d love to see what they think! =)</p>
<p>^ there minds work in a mysterious way. they want to control the world.</p>
<p>It doesn’t necessarily matter where you get your undergraduate learning from (if you want to go for PhD that is). </p>
<p>Post from physicsforums.com:</p>
<p>"Not really. The important thing is to get a good undergraduate education with some research and good letters of recommendation, and it won’t matter in the grand scheme of things.</p>
<p>The important thing is that you go to school somewhere that they put an emphasis on a good undergraduate program. Your main worry is that you’ll get caught somewhere with a horrible weed-out class."</p>
<p>^ I would appreciate a perspective from someone who is personally informed; but I would be extremely surprised if Princeton physics graduates did not have an upper hand in graduate school admissions over the typical applicant.</p>
<p>That quote was coming from an MIT grad…so yeah and no doubt they have an upper hand. I’m just letting the original poster if he/she is seeking a PhD, if Princeton doesn’t work out there are plenty of great colleges around.</p>
<p>^If I gained an extra IQ point for every time I heard that cliche I would never need to go to college in the first place.</p>
<p>I’d definitely like to pursue a PhD after completing my undergraduate degree because I’d like to work in academia. I’m not sure whether it’s worth my while going overseas to complete an undergraduate program renowned for its strength or remaining in my own country. My only problem is that it seems to be really hard to get into a great post graduate program - especially as an international student - and my own abilities and interests (and on a secondary level, my potential to gain admission to a top PhD program) might be boosted by going to a fantastic undergraduate university. </p>
<p>I’m not sure what to do. I’m definitely going to apply for places in my home country (my top preference will probably be at the Australian National University to take their PhB in science), but I’m wondering whether I’d enjoy going overseas more and benefit dramatically from the experience. </p>
<p>I guess there’s the social aspect as well - I’d like to be around other people who are also exceptionally passionate about what they’re doing.</p>
<p>So as someone who has met with the director of undergraduate studies at Princeton, I can tell you from my visiting experience that it was stunning. I’ve applied to major in physics, and this is what I can tell you.</p>
<p>19 of the 20 graduates last year (those are the numbers he told me) went on to grad school in physics. I think the other one started an technology related company and wanted the scientific background. It’s currently doing well.</p>
<p>Princeton’s physics program “is, at worst, tied for the best physics program in the nation among liberal arts colleges.” (I suppose he excludes CalTech and MIT)</p>
<p>Why is it so good? 1) Commitment to undergraduate teaching, as with the rest of the university. Professors teach all courses. 2) Perhaps the most important point - research. There are so many opportunities for research, and having the senior thesis in physics looks incredible on grad school apps, especially from Princeton. These people are doing REAL research, not term papers, etc. This structure of research and independent work makes Princeton unique.</p>
<p>The professor told me that if you took the best 20 Princeton physics students, they would also be the best physics students nationwide. </p>
<p>Now naturally, he’s biased, but based on his conviction and evidence, I’m inclined to believe him. And you can tell I love Princeton. :)</p>
<p>^ Thanks for the perspective. I wonder what the ratio of entering physics majors is to those who actually earn a degree; I imagine the program is highly rigorous.</p>
<p>My S is a recent Princeton grad who was interested in math and physics as he entered. Both programs are top notch. Just go to the basement of Fine Hall and look at the long row of pictures of Nobel Laureates in physics from Princeton.</p>
<p>My S is a grad student in math right now. He was told that he could major in either math or physics and be a good candidate for grad school in either field. Physics is more applied math but many students are interested in both fields. Princeton offers a week long all expense paid trip to the West Coast to visit Call Tech , Berkley and Stanford and to play on the beaches to all sophomore physics majors.</p>
<p>I have to disagree that it does not matter where you go to undergrad. The top programs are full students from Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, Chicago, etc.</p>
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<p>I have no idea what you mean by this. Why does it matter? In what sense? And what does your second sentence even say?</p>