Purdue vs UIUC for applied/engineering physics for an international student

UIUC is a T10 for physics but nearly 15K more expensive than Purdue. Also, at Purdue maybe I can double major is CS which isn’t possible at UIUC. If not a minor then I can do a specialization in the computational physics track. So is UIUC worth the extra money?

Only you can decide if it’s worth.

Purdue is a fantastic STEM/Engineering school.

There are no wrong choices here but the campuses are not similar (other than within a reasonable geography of each other) - so you’ll get a different vibe from both - and you want to be somewhere you want to be for four years - so if you are able to visit, it will be a bonus.

Good luck.

I am not sure how possible that would be at Purdue. I am looking at Purdue’s catalog with info on continuing students’ admission to the CS major, and it seems to be warning students that admission is unlikely: “Students are admitted on a SPACE AVAILABLE BASIS ONLY. Space is extremely limited.” Program: Computer Science Major Change (CODO) Requirements - Purdue University - Acalog ACMS™

No one can answer that for you. It depends on how much YOU value what UIUC has to offer, and how much of a hardship it would be for YOU to pay the extra money.

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Yes its competitive but at least possible unlike UIUC. If I am unable to CODO to CS then I would minor in CS or take the computational physics track. Double major in data science is also another option.

Both are great schools. We were just down at UIUC / Grainger for admitted students’ Physics Day and were particularly impressed by the professors, including Yann Chemla and also Paul Kwiat, who had lunch at a picnic table with my daughter and a three other students. We noted that Professor Kwiat he has a high degree of interaction with undergraduates including in terms of providing research opportunities, but also much more. Check out his group: Kwiat Quantum Information Group

Best wishes on your decision!

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