MSU or UofM?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Michigan State University
Double major, computer science and physics
professorial assistantship (nuclear physics department, ranked #2 in the country), honors college</p>

<p>OR</p>

<p>University of Michigan-Flint
BS Computer Science
AND
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
BS Engineering Physics</p>

<p>It looks to me like MSU will offer a lot more research opportunities and experience…having a PA in the #2 nuclear physics program would look pretty good on a grad school app, I’d assume. </p>

<p>I plan on attending the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduate school for nuclear engineering (I know it’s too early to make that kind of decision, but I’m gearing my undergrad towards that assumption).</p>

2

<p>Just curious. Why UofM-Flint? Do you plan to commute?</p>

<p>

While UofM does not offer PA, you shouldn’t have problem getting into undergraduate research as a freshman. Take a look at the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP):
[Undergraduate</a> Research Opportunity Program, University of Michigan](<a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/urop/]Undergraduate”>Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) | U-M LSA)</p>

<p>UROP has about 1,000 research projects specifically reserved for freshman and sophomore students and everyone is eligible.</p>

<p>And if you are real good, you may be able to do this:
[University</a> of Michigan](<a href=“http://www.umich.edu/news/index.html?Releases/2005/Apr05/r041205a]University”>http://www.umich.edu/news/index.html?Releases/2005/Apr05/r041205a)</p>

3

<p>kkei, Michigan offers more undergraduate research opportunities than most universities. I doubt MSU offers more research opportunities to their undergrads. </p>

<p>Secondly, although MSU’s Nuclear Physics department is ranked #2 in the nation, Michigan’s Physics department is ranked higher than MSU’s overall. The same source that ranks MSU #2 in Nuclear Physics ranks Michigan #5 in Atomic/Molecular Physics, #6 in Quantum Physics and #10 in Elementary Particles/String Theory and Plasma Physics. Overall, Michigan was tied with Yale at #13 in the nation, whereas MSU was ranked #29 in the nation. Furthermore, Michigan is well known for its undergraduate Physics curriculum and student focus.</p>

<p>This said, MSU has excellent Physics and Computer Science programs, but they are not better (or more undergraduate focused) than Michigan’s. However, since you got a professor assistanship at MSU, I would have to say you made the right decision in going to MSU.</p>

4

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<p>UM-Flint has a program where I’d be able to earn two degrees in 4 years, essentially a 2+2 program between Flint and Ann Arbor. The guaranteed admissions doesn’t matter much since I’ve already been accepted to Ann Arbor, but I’d be going to Flint on a full ride scholarship…making it a financially intelligent decision. If I decide to go to MSU, including the scholarships they’ve offered me, it’d be about the same cost as the 2+2 program.</p>

5

<p>Since MSU’s physics depatment is decently ranked at #29, although UM’s is higher…I wouldn’t expect the difference between the two programs to be too significant. Although UM offers freshman and sophomore research projects, I don’t expect the UM-Flint campus (where I’d be the first two years) to have similar opportunity…especially compared to a MSU PA. I think at this point it comes down to what college I would feel most comfortable in, which would have to be MSU.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

6

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<p>So UM has a Lyman Brigg’s like residential college for undergraduate science majors?!</p>

7

<p>MSU has research opportunities too ¶</p>

8

<p>U-M has a general Residential College (RC) which appears more liberal arts focused—kind of more like the brand new MSU Residential College in Arts & Humanities (RCAH). I don’t know of a specific science-oriented residential college at U-M like Lyman Briggs, though.</p>

9

<p>I’d choose MSU; the environment seems to be better, there are more specific programs available, and it would probably be a more intellectually stimulating-than UM flint. The honors college is also is pretty established among top grad schools (but I’m very biased; I’m possibly attending MSU next year as part of the james madison residential college, also with the professorial assistantship).</p>