15'' Macbook Pro Retina vs 27'' iMac for college?

I'll be heading to college this fall, and I'm torn between getting a 15'' macbook pro (retina model) or a 27'' iMac. I've been a long time mac user and absolutely love Mac OS X, but I can't decide between having the portability of a macbook pro or the huge screen size and power of an iMac (I've been assured that the 27'' will fit in a dorm room, so that's not an issue). I'll be majoring in physics, so I'm not sure if I'll need a super-powerful computer, but it'd be nice to have one anyway.
(A side-note to the portability problem: I was thinking of just using my current 2008 macbook as an 'in-class notebook' or just buying an ipad and a bluetooth keyboard.)
Any suggestions would be very greatly appreciated!
Thanks

If you have a 2008 MBP, do use that for class and purchase the iMac. You get a lot more performance for your money with an iMac than you will purchasing a retina. For me, this falls in the 'no brainer' category.
It simply comes down to how powerful you think you may need to make it. Contact your school and get the details of what will be required and outfit the iMac accordingly. Note that you may have to install Windows which is another plus for the iMac.
Ciao.

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I'm starting online classes for my university, I will be doing online classes for two to three semesters to rack up scholarship money and then transfer to a university up here(my family just moved from NC to AK for job opportunities and I came with). I can afford either of these laptops, but I'd like not to spend a ton of money.
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For your case, you will use it for school and games mainly, but not video editing or graphic designing, right? Therefore, I suggest you for buying iMac 21.5" with high sepc one with the following reasons:
First, you have a laptop - MacBook Pro already. Even though you said if you bought RMBP, you would give the old one to your parents, why don't you try to have a Mac desktop - iMac at home? (MacBook Pro+iMac = GREAT !!) That's my personal formula.
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JenJen25 wrote:
With the above in consideration, what screen size would be suitable? Deciding on the screen size is my main issue.
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15'' Macbook Pro Retina vs 27'' iMac for college?

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