<p>@Skrunch : Physics has much more rigorous course work than math. As in, most students in intermediate and advanced physics courses are generally more challenged than those in math (analytical mechanics and quantum for example are very challenging and so are most others). In math, it can be very hit or miss and you must try to get strong instructors. QSS has the most promise in terms of delivering a rigorous quantitative background to someone who already has experience in math. It along with physics that is. It’s just that intro. physics courses for those with a math background will be a joke. Math is hit or miss at every level and then has so many students majoring that networking is not as easy as in physics or CS (two majors that “look out” for students). </p>
<p>@prezbucky : There are some differences that you can actually notice when you go to departmental websites for example. Most prospective students do not know what to look for or how to gauge such differences, but the departmental websites, course offerings, requirements, awards offered (and how students earn them) is very revealing to the strength (or at least orientation) of a school at least at the departmental level. For example, I would assume that places like Madison and Michigan have much more of a math culture because they have “nerdy” things like integration competitions and many more networking/academic events for UG’s in math/math oriented departments. I would also notice things like Emory having an Undergraduate chemistry research symposium and Vandy not. Or Emory having study abroad options through that dept. and another school not. You can at least notice differences at the dept. Also, honors requirements, as I’ve mentioned can induce a different academic culture or type of rigor on campuses. There are many differences in how these campuses approach academics even though they are regarded as equal in caliber. I think these differences in approach (at departmental or school wide level) are important but difficult to discern or even care about when you are just a prospective student looking at a series of prestigious schools to attend. When they are similarly ranked, one tends to ignore differences in academic cultural differences (again, because they assume that the academic experience and structure must be the same because they are ranked the same. We know this is false as a place like Duke and Chicago can’t be anymore different. But again, we are naive when going through this process and often flat out do not care). and then maybe pay more attention to social culture and the like</p>