For Physics and/or Astronomy which is the better school? UMBC or UMCP ?

[Ohighway]

Our second son come in this evening to talk a little about college. He applied to and was accepted at various schools. He's now down to deciding between two.... UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County) , and UMCP (University of Maryland, College Park)

As of now he wants to major in Physics, or possibly pursue a dual major of Physics and Astronomy. As far as I can tell, both schools are excellent choices. Also both schools partner with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

However do any of you know if one or the other would be an obviously BETTER choice academically? I ask because UMBC is offering him $8k/year x 4 years towards his tuition. UMCP is offering.... nothing. So I guess what I'm getting at is ........ could UMCP be $8k per year better educational value than UMBC?

Any thoughts, or better yet experience from anyone in this group ?

 

[tybrad]

Take UMBC. One of my Masters is from the physics dept there (2008). UMBC has been ranked #1 nationally for 4 straight years by US News as the #1 up-and-coming US-level research and teaching university, and the Physics Department has been a major player in that ranking; its highly successful research programs that have spun-off three major research Centers in Atmospheric Physics and Astrophysics associated with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, making the physics/astro departments #2 nationally in research support from NASA. That is HUGE!

Academically, UMCP get the slight edge from faculty size and perhaps traditional prestige. But not a $32k edge. Take BaltCo.

 

[Ohighway]

He made the decision last week, and ....UMBC it is. :thmbsp:

I think his decision was based on two basic things. 1) We had him talk with some professionals in the field and their consensus was that UMBC was indeed an excellent school. 2) Me telling him that the money he saved by using the undergraduate scholarship offered could be later applied to graduate school.

A third, almost incidental consideration. He queried some of his peers who had been pushing UMCP, and after pressing them for their reasons realized that 'they didn't know what they were talking about'. (meaning, they could provide no solid concrete reasons for their recommendation.)

BTW, thanks to Tybrad for taking his time talking with my son and offering his take on the subject. :thmbsp: