WPI vs. UIUC engineering physics important (may 1st deadline)

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>Hi everyone, I have been accepted to WPI and UIUC and I have been really pondering where I should go. To give you a bit of background, I am an international student and I was accepted on the engineering physics program at UIUC and I haven't declared a major at WPI. Here is my dilemma: Apart from the small size, WPI also seems to be flexible with the curriculum. It seems that switching majors is not too difficult and one gets to experience several courses if required. I also like its project systems and overseas opportunities. UIUC on the other hand, is considerably bigger but it is also highly ranked in the program I was accepted into and overall in engineering. However, I am no longer sure whether or not I want to focus my studies on physics, and so my plan is to switch to another major if by any chance I do not like the engineering physics major. Here are my questions: Has anyone taken engineering physics at UIUC? is there a balance between theory and practice? Did you get to use high end tech. to do research with professors? If I plan to also obtain a minor on business or even a double major, is that relatively doable at UIUC? Finally, If I want to procede to graduate school to either obtain an MBA or a graduate degree on either physics or engineering, which institution would allow me to have a better chance at entering high end universities (Caltech, MIT)? please try to give some reasoning behind your answers. </p>

<p>Also any suggestions about which college I should attend and why are kindly welcome. ps. college costs are not a big factor (although I got a 15k scholarship at WPI)</p>

<p>Thank you very much,</p>

<p>Soonwillbe</p>

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<p>I just looked over the current curriculum for Engineering Physics at UIUC. They have required courses plus a fair number of physics electives. If by “balance between theory and practice” you mean to ask whether there are there plenty of lab classes, then I would say yes - choose physics electives with lab sessions to maximize the practical aspects - e.g. take a year of ‘Electronic Circuits’ instead of something w/o a lab that is mostly theory. I majored in this many moons ago after learning that I’d have more lab courses than the EEs.</p>

<p>As for double major or minors, take a look a the recommended 4 year plan and decide whether you’d have much time for those courses. You have some flexibility but not a ton. You could always major in Physics in the LAS school for more elective options, but then transferring to another engineering major would be harder, I think. If your grades are good, you should be able to transfer engineering majors. You could always ask admissions to recommend someone to ask these questions of. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Don’t plan on minoring in business at UIUC. There is a program called T & M, technology and management, which is awesome, and that would be where engineers get to minor in business, and business majors minor in engineering, and the small select group works together on projects and goes to China. REALLY hard to get in the program though.</p>

<p>It’s not really all that hard to transfer majors between engineering school though.</p>

<p>Research with professors is very doable, even as a freshman.</p>