You’ll have much better luck with Physics and Music than Engineering and Music. Engineering is a very demanding program that often requires extra credit hours.
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Why physics is easier? Physics should be very hard to learn
It isn’t easier necessarily, engineering just will require more hours for a degree.
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i can apply engineering for master degree as physics major?
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As @DadTwoGirls noted in his post above, this isn’t easy at all. And this has become a lot harder now than it was 20-30 years ago.
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this is really big concern. only top 10-20 is worth for me to apply then.
Yes, there are a number of pathways to pursuing an engineering degree, if you are willing to commit to an extra year or two for either a masters or an undergraduate dual degree. Brown’s AB degree (mentioned upstream) is one way. There are others.
So this is unfortunately confusing, but here is a quick(ish) rundown.
The liberal arts and sciences tradition in the US typically includes humanities, social sciences, arts, natural sciences, and math. It does not necessarily include engineering, business, or other “pre-professional” subjects.
OK, so, at a typical large US research university, again say Michigan, there will often be separate undergraduate programs (often called colleges or schools or something like that) for liberal arts and sciences versus other stuff. At Michigan, this is called the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts:
OK, then midsize research universities might have a similar model. So, Cornell, for example, also has a College of Arts & Sciences:
But other midsize research universities may not separate out any such college/school. But they may also have, say, engineering majors. That is how Yale works, for example, there are no separate undergraduate schools, just something they call Yale College.
OK, then there are colleges, schools offering undergrad programs, that are not part of research universities (although confusingly they may sometimes have a few grad or professional programs, but they are at least overwhelming undergrad-focused).
Some of these colleges ALSO have separate schools, but that is actually relatively unusual. More follow the model of just having the one college.
OK, so, most such colleges have Physics, because Physics is a core natural science. Far fewer have engineering, although some do. And some also have programs where they partner with one or more universities to provide dual degree programs where you get a separate engineering degree from the partner.
OK, so people often use the term “liberal arts college” (or equivalent) for those sorts of colleges which are not part of a bigger research university. And some people really like them for studying things like Physics at the undergrad level.
Indeed, although this is a bit crude, this list of Top PhD feeders in Physics is interesting:
On the left is just by total, and there you have Cornell at #2, Michigan at #5, and so on.
But on the right is adjusted for undergrad student size. And now you see LACs like Harvey Mudd (which is actually a STEM-focused LAC that is part of consortium of other LACs and also has engineering), Reed (sort of a PhD producing specialist that is not to everyone’s tastes), Swarthmore (also has engineering), Haverford (no engineering but partnerships with Penn and Caltech), and so on.
Anyway, if you are a high-flying Physics type in the US who would prefer the LAC approach to undergrad, you might look at colleges like that. If you would prefer the larger research university approach, you might more look at the other list. And some midsize research universities are on both lists–Princeton, Chicago, RPI, Rochester, Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, Yale, Rice, Case Western, Hopkins, and Stanford make both lists. But the only public to make both lists was Cal (not that other publics would not be good).
It does not have much to do with your school being a top 10-20.
First, you will need a sponsoring employer who certifies that they couldn’t fill their role with a US citizen or permanent resident (and there is no dearth of well qualified physics majors who are).
Second, a majority of roles for physics majors require US citizenship because they are with government agencies, defense contractors, research labs, etc.
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You make value point. And I need to think about job opportunity. I will keep your concerns in mind and do some research. Thanks.
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That was my first thought. The only thing is I have to continue master degree if I apply for Brown.
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The rank of your college is not what determines your ability to get a work visa in the U.S. once you complete your education here. @MYOS1634 might be able to elaborate.
No one said this that I saw. It isn’t easy to apply for a masters in engineering without an undergrad degree in…engineering. It happens, I think, but it’s not the norm. And anyway…for most engineering jobs, you do not need a masters.
Please clarify…do you want to major in physics or engineering? And my assumption is you want to continue to play piano as well. Is that correct?
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Thank you so much. I will need more time to digest this.
I see. So physics is not a wise choice as major.
yeah. my profile is supporting physics plus piano more although i prefer to do engineering more than physics
i am not going to pursue PhD. My mom told me certain positions such as director will required at least master degree.
To be fair, Brown also offers a straight, ABET accredited, B.Sci in engineering. But, IMO, that course of study would not be optimal for doing a minor in anything else. Again, it begs the question “Why go to a school with an Open Curriculum, if you’re not going to have room in your schedule to study very much outside your major?”
No that’s not what I said. You should study what you want to study. Follow your passion.
Trying to pick a major based on potential future US job opportunities isn’t wise IMO, because there are many variables outside your control when it comes to getting a work visa here.
It’s fine to explore (and hope to land) a job in the US, but you should not count on it. It’ll be good to have a backup plan if you have to return to Canada.
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The profile doesn’t support one thing more than another. It needn’t be related to a major at all, btw - other than the academic side (to ensure you’re prepared for the curriculum). Physics and engineering are in many ways substitutional.
That you prefer to do engineering means you should pursue engineering - and many fine schools would either:
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Love your money (and it may be one of the three in your title)
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Give you lots of money based on your accomplisments
But the job thing will always be there for international students - but we have many Canadians who work for my firm - and they go back and forth on 3 year assignments (and vice versa).
You had a valid reason for coming to the US - you spoke of studying music - so who’s to say you don’t want to go home anyway…
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Please read this advice a few times. I fully agree.
If you want to study engineering, I think I gave a decent list upstream for you to consider.
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