<p>Hi guys, I am applying to UVA and VT. For UVA, I only want to do Physics, but I am applying to Engineering at VT. I want to get a PhD in something, not sure what yet. But anyway, my question is this: Is a diploma from a “Public Ivy” better than a diploma from a university that has a top rated specific major?</p>
<p>UVA is well-known for being a public ivy, and I hear all the time that the name matters more. I was just wondering if that’s actually true. Is UVA a better option just because of the name?</p>
<p>This question is in context with the whole “I want to eventually go to grad school” idea.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that people who are actually going to hire scientists and engineers tend to know schools by their reputation in the STEM fields. The average person may be more impressed by the name “Duke University” and merely blink at the name “Rose-Hulman” but a STEM employer will be more impressed by the latter.</p>
<p>Unless you’re going to do something in astronomical physics (it seems they are into astronomy over there) I’d say Virginia Tech is better all around for a STEM major.</p>
<p>If you are sure you want to get a phD, go to the school where undergraduates have the most research opportunities. </p>
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<p>I strongly disagree. Duke gets top consulting and finance firms that are popular choices for good engineering students. For opportunities in-engineering, they are both very good.</p>
<p>From the surface, it seems that from the OP, he/she has an interest in Physics and Engineering. So to me that implies that even if the choice is Physics, it would be Applied Physics or Engineering Physics.</p>
<p>I DO KNOW that UVA has phased out their graduate program in Engineering Physics.</p>
<p>I know you are a new undergrad but I figure that I throw that out there about UVA.</p>
<p>I was in the same situation last year. I chose the top ranked engineering school. What do you want to do with a degree in physics? If you choose physics and know you won’t change, either school is fine. If you even think you might change to engineering, go with VT.</p>
<p>My point wasn’t about Duke, it was about the relative ranking of engineering and science programs versus overall university rankings. Many universities and colleges show up high on the overall rankings but their strengths are in things like the humanities and may be less impressive to engineering firms than another school that does not have big name recognition to the general public.</p>
<p>I want to be a scientific researcher… If I go to UVA, I am going to do either Physics or Math, and do some form of Physics research with the degree. It all depends if I want to do Theoretical (Math degree) or Experimental (Physics degree).</p>
<p>As for Tech Engineering, I would do Materials Engineering, as well as majoring in Physics. I want to go to their Honors College and work on the Honors Baccalaureate if I get accepted. The Honors Bacc requires a double major or single major and double minor. It also requires undergrad research and submit and defend a thesis for all subjects of your diploma by the end of senior year. The Honors Bacc Diploma for Tech is the best Honors Diploma they have, but I still don’t know if that is better than just UVA’s name…</p>
<p>If I did do the Tech stuff, I think that Materials Engineering is good for Physics as well, because graphene paper and stuff is a big research topic, as well as nanotechnology. That’s why I think Materials Engineering is the best option; I feel that I could still end in Physics eventually, especially if I double majored in Engineering AND Physics.</p>