I wanted to know what would be the best universities to attend for quantum computation research to help me decide which schools to really consider. I have a 4.63 GPA (4.24 UC capped weighted) with 710 Math and 610 English SAT. California resident ( if you couldn’t already tell) as well as a low-income minority, however, I don’t consider cost as a factor for admission due to generous financial aid as well as Questbridge providing full coverage for select private universities.
I would look at UChicago’s quantum computation research inside their Institute for Molecular Engineering.
Most large departments should have ample Quantum Physics faculty, classes and research offerings. I would certainly look at some UCs, particularly UCLA, UCSD and UCSB. If you can improve your SAT, you may want to look at schools like Cal, Caltech, Chicago, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford.
CU123 If I could get in.
You could look at UCSB’s College of Creative Studies program in Physics. You may need a higher Math SAT or excellent SAT II tests in Math and Physics for that. (UCSB has competing quantum computation labs funded by Microsoft and Google. Two other QC profs from UCSB were lured away by UChicago.)
Note that quantum computation is an especially advanced field, and many labs will need you to have taken junior level physics courses at least before being of use to the lab. Other quantum computation approaches involve more engineering and might be more willing to train an undergrad to help with the cryogenic equipment or whatever.
@Ynotgo should I apply to physics in CSS or computing?
Michigan, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley
@Dovahkiin012200 You could do your undergrad degree in either physics or CS, I think. I looked at some professors with work in the field, and they were all physics except one who has PhDs in both CS and Physics, but he is from Europe where dual PhDs are more common. Things may change as the field evolves.
The professors I happened to look at had undergrad degrees from UIUC, Cornell, Berkeley, and somewhere in Europe.
Outside the CCS at UCSB, physics will be easier to get admitted than CS. That is because CS is in the College of Engineering, and is really selective as far as scores and GPA go. Within the CCS, I don’t know whether physics or CS is harder to be admitted. I think you would need some research-like ECs in whichever field in order to successfully apply to CCS.
@Ynotgo so when applying to other universities should I have my alternative major be physics over computer engineering? Should my first choice still be computer science?
@Dovahkiin012200 you’ve chosen a cutting edge field so a lot of the research in this field will be done at top universities. If you could get your SAT above 1400, you could have a shot.
I’d be surprised if you could get involved with much quantum computing as an undergrad, if that’s the intention.
In the alumni magazines I get from USC, they talk a lot about the school’s quantum computing lab. USC was supposedly the first or second school to get a quantum computer - at least that’s the claim. I don’t know how much access an undergrad would have, though. It’s also a Questbridge school.