One possible consideration for the choice of schools for the
academically talented young person you mentioned might be the
opportunity to participate in undergraduate research activities. The
Council on Undergraduate Research publishes a "Directory of Research in
Physics/Astronomy at Primarily Undergradate Institutions" (1994 with a
new edition scheduled for Fall, 1996), and also available is a similar
"Directory for Mathematical and Computer Sciences" (1995). The
directories contain departmental information, faculty profiles
including research interests and activities, and student information
including average numbers participating in research, numbers receiving
summer grants, and numbers going on to graduate programs. A large number
of instiitutions nationwide provide information for publication in the
directories including many of those suggested in response to the original
request for information.
The directories may be purchased from the CUR national Office
(CUR@unca.edu) or you may find a CUR Member at your institution in the
discipline of interest who has one.
Paul Helminger
University of South Alabama
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"The more important fundamental laws and facts of physical science have
all been discovered, and these laws are now so firmly established that
the possibility of their ever being supplanted in consequence of new
discoveries is exceedingly remote.... Our future discoveries must be
looked for in the sixth place of decimals."
MICHAELSON, 1899
(Quote found in "Physics, The Pioneer Science", Lord William Taylor (Oberlin
College), Houghton Mifflin, 1941)
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