Graduate school Definition and 517 Threads

How do courses work in graduate school? I'm in undergrad right now and even though I am a physics major, I am mostly free to take whatever class I want to. However, I know in graduate school one is supposed to be becoming more specialized so how does taking non-physics classes work in graduate...

My stats: -3.85 GPA in math from small state university -Honors graduate -Taken every undergraduate math class, including 2 abstract algebras, 3 analysis classes, 3 calculus classes, 1 differential equation, 2 geometries, 1 linear algebra, combinatorics, actuarial science, linear algebra, 3...

Hi everyone. I've heard back from 2 programs I applied to and both have rejected me for the program. My GPA is low so I understand that is one thing that kicked me out of the running. If I don't get accepted into any program I'm not sure what to do. I know I could always apply next year but...

I have so far been admitted to three graduate programs in pure math. Without being too specific, all three schools are top-40 programs (one of which is also top 20, and another is top 30) - these numbers have been extracted from the NRC and US news rankings for graduate math programs. As I am...

(I've been reading PF for years now, and decided I should finally contribute. Unfortunately, my first significant post is a question, but I hope that will change in the near future!) I'm graduating in May with a double major in Physics and Mathematics, and I have a couple offer for graduate...

Hi, I've been accepted to few places so far and would like input for selection. Background: I did few years of research as an undergraduate in the CMS experiment, and I would like to continue doing research in experimental particle physics, though not necessarily in LHC. Caltech: They are...

I am a female sophomore physics major at San Francisco State, and I have applied as a transfer to four schools: UCLA, UCSD, UCB and CalPoly. I currently have a 3.97 GPA and plan to keep it that way. I think I have little chance of getting into UCB, but I have a slight hope for the others. I am...

Here is my situation: I am currently finishing my undergraduate physics program and thinking of doing graduate studies. My only concern is that the knowledge of mathematics is fairly weak. My program offers little mathematics, its very general physica. I am interested in doing theoretical...

Hey y'all, I'm in my last semester about to obtain my physics degree, and I am very interested in biophysical research or energy research. With that in mind I have my eyes set on biophysics programs and straight physics programs. The concern I have is that for my last semester I can only take...

I am an aerospace engineering student trying to decide which graduate school to pick. I will be getting my masters degree, and I am trying to decide between the University of Florida (where I did my undergrad) OR the University of Michigan. At UF I would go into the fluid dynamics area and at...

Hi all, thank you in advance for reading this and potential advice :) I am an undergraduate at a tier 2 research university in the US. I am going for a combined chemistry (biochemistry emphasis) and applied mathematics degree (I am a year away from getting both degrees). For the chemistry I...

Im a physics major and will probably be able to fit in 3-4 graduate physics courses. Is this enough for top schools? Thanks for any help or advice!

I am currently a sophomore attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and majoring in physics. I am very studious and have maintained a 4.0 for the three semesters I have completed so far. I am hoping to graduate with a 4.0, which will be difficult but I think it is achievable. I am...

Hello. First post and sorry if the forum is flooded with similar questions, I'm 24 and I was a physics major but haven't spent a day in a class room since 2007 when i dropped out of college to care for an ill family member. I want to go back to school but what concerns me is how much of a...

I know the school that i'd like to go to(Clemson) it's close to home, the program is more applied than theoretical, the campus has a nice home-y feeling to it, i very much like the graduate programs that I'm looking at (mathematical sciences and computer science), etc. I know people say that...

I am a female physics major at an Ivy League university (ranked ~15 in physics). I am currently a junior and am planning to apply to grad school next fall, indicating interests in condensed matter theory and possibly high energy theory. However, I am a little concerned about some of my grades. I...

I am currently graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington with a 4.0, and I have my BofSci degree in math with an emphasis in ops research. I'm preparing for my actuarial tests, and I'm not worried about passing them. However, I know it's a bit of a tight market. I was considering...

Hi, Would anyone be willing to read my statement of purpose for my graduate school applications and give me some feedback? I wanted to stop in my academic resource center to have it looked at this week, but the writing center was all booked. I'd prefer not to post online, so if there's...

I've decided on going back to school for a physics degree. I want to know it, and there's nothing else out there that I'm as interested in. But school isn't for pleasure, it's for getting a job. A 4-year in physics alone, from what I've been reading, is about as good as any other degree. It'll...

Hello, I know I know...it is not all about the GPA. Graduate school admittance is based on many factors like GRE scores, recommendations, research experience, etc. My question however is: what is the GPA at which admission to a graduate program will be rather challenging? I am obviously...

Hi all, So, I didn't do so hot on either the GRE or the Physics GRE. I've always been rubbish at standardized tests, and these proved no exception either, even with studying. I know I scored low on the GRE for math (for a physics major). It's not as if I don't know the material, but it's...

Hey everyone. I'm hoping to get some advice from you guys. I am a senior studying Electrical Engineering. I am currently applying for graduate schools and for graduate fellowships (everything is mostly due mid-December). I plan to pursue a PhD. The only problem is, I'm not entirely sure which...

At my university the program for a B.S. in Physics does not require students to take a senior thesis course, but I have been told it is recommended for people who want to go to graduate school in Physics. I'm not sure if I want to take the course because I have no idea what I would write the...

Hello, Do you think the university where you did your phd is important when it comes to finding a job / a postdoc / a professorship? Question applies in the US but also in Europe. Let's say I have a master of science from the one of the best universities in Europe, and I am accepted at...

I've been considering graduate school in math. I go to a small liberal arts school with no math reputation, but a recent graduate got into Ohio State University for statistics. I have a lot of research experience in physics/chemistry/biology making mathematical models, and I'm just...

Hi: I started Graduate school this year (Physics), but my performance has been awful, I think I'm going to be kicked out from University. I recently was diagnosed with ADHD, which explains my hard struggle through school during my whole life. I find this horrible and I'm full of anger...

Hello my name is Andrew. I am new to this forum, but have skimmed over academic advise in the past (much appreciated). I have a list of the major courses that i have taken as well as what research i have been involved in, among other things below. My main interests as of this moment not in any...

I'm applying to graduate school in ME, and I am just curious, if I am not accepted to a PhD program right away, will any (most, all, none?) admissions councils pass on my application to the masters program, after which I may work towards becoming a PhD candidate?

Hello, I am not sure if this is possible or not, and I might be too ambitious, but I am determined to pursue my goal and if I fail, at least I'll know that I tried. Just turned 31. I have a BS in Physics (I was a non-traditional student and graduated 4 years ago). I have been working as a...

I am just a freshman in college but I am really confused in what to do. I was thinking about doing a double major in physics and mechanical engineering. Would that get me ready for graduate studies in astrophysics and aerospace engineering? Also, I wanted to know, is that a good career? I...

Chance me for graduate school please! Stats: Junior at a SMALL liberal arts school Math/chemistry double major 4.0 GPA 2 years of research (thesis at home school) + 2 summers of REUs in biophysics at Princeton and the Czech Republic (hopefully 3 coming up) = lots of presentation and...

Hello, By next summer I'll have completed my bachelor's degree in geophysics at the University of Zagreb (Croatia). My GPA is perfect (5.0/5.0, although i know that a good gpa from a globally unknown university doesn't stand for much), my GRE's are great (General test, quant-170, verbal-160)...

I am currently a Junior at Utah State University majoring in Physics and minoring in Mathematics. As of now I am on the 5 year program so I have 3 more years to go. My GPA is not the most impressive, it's currently a 3.3 and I am projecting around a 3.6 when I graduate. I've always focused more...

My word count right now is around 1200 words. Some applications say 1-2 pages, or "briefly describe x y and z" which my statement definitely falls into (slightly less than 2 pages). None of them explicitly give a word count, but I'm worried that I should still try to keep it under 1000 words...

Hi all, Can you provide the names of the textbooks you used for your graduate classes along with the name of that class? Thanks! DScheuf

Hello, I go to a College with a small physics department and as a result I do not have a very helpful adviser (I don't blame him we have only a handful of professors and after one left, this new one got charged with being an adviser all of a sudden). Because of this I am a bit in the dark...

I'm working on writing my graduate school application right now. It was easy to talk about my academic qualifications and all the research I have done. But I don't know how specific I need to get when talking about what I'm interested in. I'm a chemistry major. I have a broad interest in...

I'm already starting my third week of graduate school and I have so much free time that I don't know what to do... I would consider myself a very proactive person- I start and finish most of my work as soon as it's assigned, I network with professors to find a research topic/advisor and acquired...

My long range educational goal is to complete a PhD program in Electrical Engineering. I am currently enrolled in a dual degree program to get a BS in Math completed in the Spring and my BS in EE completed in the Fall of 2013. There is a specific federal engineering job I was interested in...

Hello All, I am a senior computer engineering student at a small university in West Virginia. I am in the process of applying to graduate school for a masters in computer science next fall. I have picked my target schools and contacted each department. I am looking at: Carnegie Mellon...

Hello, I am entering my last year of the undergraduate physics degree program at a small school called Delaware State University. I initially enrolled in University of Delaware and after 3 years I was dismissed for the 3rd time with a 1.9x GPA. After refocusing I transferred to the...

Hey guys. I'll be applying to graduate schools for the term of Fall 2013. I'm really interested in actually visiting some of the schools I'm applying to and meeting some of the faculty, before I actually send in my application. Do graduate programs generally allow this? Are visitations before...

I am an undergrad at Texas A&M, College Station studying aerospace engg. I started college this past spring and will be a sophomore this fall, meaning I start taking aerospace classes,finally! I am aiming to go to CalTech for grad school for the same, Can someone please provide what all I will...

(PREAMBLE: skip to the third paragraph if desired) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am currently a physics student about to begin my graduate studies. I will be attending a top-5 school, so I am quite fortunate in that...

Hi. So my first year of university was good. I had a 3.7/4 gpa then. Then, I transferred to another university and my marks dropped significantly (for certain reasons, not all of which were entirely my fault). My gpa in my second year was 2.88/4. Now, I'm in my 3rd year, first semester, and I...

How hard is it to get into? I would think that it isn't as competitive as Columbia university but does anyone what is acceptance rate for NYU grad school in physics? If I can ace perfect 4.0 gpa from european university+good scores in PGRe+little undergraduate research do I have good change...

I know it is possible in undergraduate (BSc), but what about graduate? for example physics and computer science? is it common? if so, what are the general requirements? thanx :D

Hello all, I, like so many others here, am planning on attending graduate school in the near future (in my case, I graduate next year). I'd like some advice that isn't just what I want to hear, so I figured the internet would be just the place! OVERVIEW: I want to know what "tier" (for...

Dear Physics Forums, I am a sophomore at Auburn University. I am doing a dual degree in both Wireless Software Engineering and Physics. (The Curriculum for each is found below). I am currently looking into what graduate school programs I would be qualified for. Other than physics and software...

This is my first day, first post and first... A little bit about myself. I just finished my second year in EE in a Moroccan university and presently on an internship. I would like to ask 3 questions after going through this wonderful forum. 1. How many internship months should someone...