eCosmology

Is the San Diego state good university for astronomy?

I am majoring astronomy. I want to go in either UCLA or san diego state university but housing are costly UCLA so can tell me that is the san diego state is good university for astronomy?

Public Comments

1. nah thats a 2nd rate school. I suggest applying to starfleet academy instead.
2. I can't speak specifically for San Diego State, but as a general rule of thumb, most of the "state" colleges are very "above average" in astronomy and physics. The question I have for you is, are you seeking an astronomy related profession, or are you looking only for vast knowledge and better understanding with an astronomy major on your resume? There is a difference. For affordable colleges in astronomy, I would suggest Arizona State, but I'm not sure what "out of state" tuition requirements would be for you in that case.
3. i went to sdsu and had a few friends who were astronomy majors. it's a tiny program but that can be a good thing: the classes are a lot smaller, you get more individual attention from professors and as you get in to your upper division work you'll have an easier time getting an internship or research position because there's a lot less people to compete with. on the other hand, it's not as prestigious as ucla or any other uc school and the equipment isn't as up to date due to less funding. san diego state is a good school but it's a whole different crowd than the ultra competitive students at ucla. yes, you'll be surrounded by the best and the brightest at ucla but you'll have to work incredibly hard -- it's great if this motivates you but it can be pretty intimidating too. it might be easier to graduate at the top of your class at sdsu, and although it's not particularly well-known for its astronomy program, being the top of your class at any school looks good on paper. if you do plan to be an astronomer you'll have to get at least a master's degree, and whichever school you choose for this matters more than where you went for your bachelor's. whatever school you choose, good luck!
4. Well it is the only California State school with an astronomy graduate program. They also have the Mount Laguna observatory which is pretty nice.
5. I live in San Diego, and wouldn't recommend it for astronomy. Much better choices: San Francisco State (where Geoff Marcy, one of the first to discover exoplanets, teaches and researches) Cal Tech (Pasadena), which owns and operates Palomar Observatory and Mt. Wilson Observatory (I'm a docent at Palomar Observatory) Good luck!
6. I'm not American and don't live there but I'm hearing a lot of good stuff about the University of Arizona at Phoenix (which lent it's name to the Mars lander) in the fields of space science and astronomy. Worth checking out.