Pomona vs Wesleyan?

rocketDA
Fri, 17 Feb 2006 18:58:27 +0000

Physics is pretty difficult at HMC, from what I can tell. I am headed in the engineering direction but I have numerous friends that are physics.

The program is definitely comparable to MIT, Caltech, Stanford, etc., in terms of difficulty and such. The only thing that these school have over HMC are the extensive lab resources (particle accelerators, etc). For undergrad, however, this should not be a big concern because even if you were to attend one of these schools, you would not have access to it. The resources are primarily allocated for grad school.

With that said, HMC probably has some of the best undergraduate resources in the country. Full-access, no priority to grad schools…because there is none.

There is a definite difference between Pomona physics and HMC physics. That difference exists for nearly all of the tech-related courses. The rigor and depth of understanding that is expected here is second to none. We learn the no BS approach to math/science/engineering. Unfortunately, that means that there you work your @ss off most of the time.

We still find time for fun. Our type of fun is kind of different though. At West, my dorm, we break computers, monitors, burn things, smash glass, light more things on fire, and throw 400 lb tires off the balcony to catapult huge springs into the air. Oh, and dry ice bombs and high-explosive detonators in spud cannons (ammonium nitrate/hexane) are always fun and welcome.

Every month or so, we throw a big party…and that brings hundreds or thousands of people from around the 5-C’s. We’ve had alums fly here from other parts of the country just to come to the traditional parties.

Let’s just say that majoring in physics and doing something else is possible. It will not be easy, but for me, I have two major hobbies outside academia. I do percussive music and rocketry. However, supposedly, engineering at HMC is as brutal as it gets. You should be fine.