Graduate Definition and 1000 Threads

Hi guys, wassup? I am a physics undergraduate motivated to get into top graduate programs, namely MIT. It is not its name or prestige (only a small amount!) which attracts me to it, but the experience I desire, that is, to immerse myself to an environment, surrounded by other students of diverse...

Hi, how does physics graduate school work in Spain? What are the admissions tests?

I'm in electrical engineering, and my current strongest interest right now is in antenna engineering (after much electromagnetics self study). The problem is, due to the way the courses are scheduled at my school, it is entirely possible that I won't be able to take our engineering...

ZapperZ submitted a new PF Insights post First years of Graduate School from Being a TA to the Graduate Exams Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

ZapperZ submitted a new PF Insights post Entering Physics Graduate School From Another Major Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

Hi everyone, I'm currently researching graduate schools in mathematics. I would like to go for a PhD. My question is, do I apply directly to the PhD program? Or do I apply to the Master's program and apply for the PhD afterwards? What do people normally do?

Sorry for the confusing and ambiguous title. I had a hard time describing the topic in so few words. I am graduating, in a few weeks, with a B.S. in Computer Science and will be off to pursue a Masters degree. Recently, multiple companies have asked me to submit a resume and come in for an...

ZapperZ submitted a new PF Insights post Alternative Careers for a Physics Graduate Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

ZapperZ submitted a new PF Insights post The US Graduate School System Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

OK so I currently attend The University of North Texas, which is by no means a prestigious school for physics. I am a physics major with 72 hours of coursework under my belt. I plan to attend graduate school and would like to get into a good school for something in the realm of theoretical...

I have a master's in physics. I'm looking at PhD programs, but I really don't want to take the same courses over and take comprehensive exams (or the damn GRE). I managed to squeeze in a few math classes before I finished. I would like to do research in physics, but from a more math-heavy...

ZapperZ submitted a new PF Insights post What to Expect from Graduate School Before You Get There Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

ZapperZ submitted a new PF Insights post Applying for Physics Graduate School Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

Dear everyone, I am an international student. I graduated with BS in International Business 2 years ago. After going to work, I realized I am interested in mathematics rather than competing another. I want to be an accountant in the future. But I believe it takes professional degree, to be a...

Hello again, After a recent course in extragalactic astronomy, I have realized the field of astrophysics is quite beautiful. I am incredibly fascinated in the cosmological aspect of astrophysics along with high-energy aspects as well: AGN, Neutron stars, Black Holes. How competitive is studying...

Hello over the summer I would like to study quantum field theory. I took two semesters of undergraduate quantum mechanics using Griffith's textbook. We covered the entire book in those two semesters. I also know my special relativity pretty well. Is that enough to self study quantum field theory...

Hi Guys! Perhaps this a commonly asked question on Physics forums. If this has been addressed before then I apologize. I really value the input on this board from the experienced folks, hence the question. My first question : 1) What is required to be accepted for internships for places such...

I'm curious as to whether completing one's undergraduate studies faster is a disadvantage for applying to graduate school. While there are many reasons to stay the full four years, many also have real reasons to finish earlier (financial concerns being a main one). I'm going to assume that all...

Hello! I'm in my final high school year (Bachillerato, as we call it in Spain) and I have to choose between getting a degree in physics or mathematics. Frankly, my uni's approach to physics is far more experimental than theoretical. I do not like that (lol). I love mathematics, and just reading...

Hey guys, I've been looking up on the web and couldn't find prerequisites for graduate level statistical mechanics. What would be the mathematics/physics background needed for the course? Would I need undergraduate statistical physics first? As always, thanks in advance!

I hold an Engineering Degree with major in Computer Science and have 1.5 years experience as programmer. Being an Indian, I was pushed into Engineering and didn't know much about other career options back in 2008. Now I feel I should have taken up Physics. I abhor a mundane IT job. I wish to...

I am at the point where I have to make a decision for which lab I will join in graduate school very quickly. The thing that scares me, however, is becoming too "specialized" in my decision to be qualified to do research in anything else. Is this the case for graduate school? Once I'm a postdoc...

Im a junior physics major with interests in statistical physics, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, classical mechanics and all thing theoretical and mathematical. I certainly want to go into something that is very mathematical but I am just not sure what I should look into. Also how to i go...

I am afraid I made the wrong major choice. Currently I will be entering my senior year of a Civil Engineering b.s. with a concentration in structural engineering. And now that my program is coming to an end, I realized its not what I thought it is. Its too much picking through laws and...

Hello all, I have a question regarding professional title when working in graduate school. Upon graduating I will be registered as an Engineer-in-Training with the legislative body responsible for governing engineers in my location. 1 year of my graduate studies is suitable for work experience...

Hi all, Where to begin? I got my B.S. in applied Physics with biological and chemical engineering focus as well as a minor in Biomedical Engineering. I was on the job market for a year and after having no success applied to a graduate program in Biomedical Engineering. So currently I am in my...

Hello science buddies, This is my first post in this forum. Ok let me get to the point directly, currently I self-study graduate level quantum theory and the main book I'm using is Sakurai's. But I think for self studying it's better to also have a look at lecture notes, first because it's much...

Good morning! So, I graduated in 2013 and got a job in industry. Now, I'm starting grad school in the fall. That's a 2.5 year gap; I'd like to brush up on my skills and shore up my weaknesses. Anyone have recommendations? In particular, for Math Methods and skills? As far as Undergraduate...

HI everyone. I'm a student of communication systems engineering in Italy, doing his year of bachelor. What i wanted to ask, to all of you, was a doubt which I had during the last few months : choosing a carreer in Physics, or in Engineering, after getting my bachelor's degree in Engineering...

I'm beginning to look at grad schools for theoretical physics and was wondering how important research is in this field. As an undergrad there really isn't any theoretical physics research I could pursue and I was wondering if I should be looking for any research opportunities in other branches...

I had a lot of trouble in my early undergraduate career and had received some really bad grades. I retook a lot of courses and after 6 years, I am finally graduating with good marks in my third and fourth year courses and I believe I have an overall good understanding of undergraduate physics. I...

Hi all, I'm going to ask my boss to pay for some percentage of my graduate school. He has hinted before that this might be a possibility. It won't be totally out of the blue. So, I have a few questions for you. 1) Have any of you had a similar arrangement? 2) If so, how much did your...

I was wondering if there is anyone out here who was in a PhD physics program that did internships during grad school? ( Or plans to do an internship) Google searching this usually leads me to many CS people that have done this. I guess it's not that common for physics people? I do not want to...

I'm about to enter University for a Chemistry major, but I've been throwing around the idea of a double major and also taking Mathematics. They do not offer a physics major, but it's my understanding that physics is heavily reliant on advanced math and that physics itself is so hard because many...

I have to choose between U of T and UBC for my physics graduate school. QS ranking places UBC(46th) much higher than U of T (100th), but two of my professors told me the other way around. any ideas about the discrepancy? thanks~

I have recently taken up mathematics at home and found that it does not pose any problems for my future aspirations in becoming a physicist. However, I am not mechanically inclined and can't use a computer to any sophisticated degree. It's all about abstract thinking for me. I fear mechanical...

Hello forum, I will be an undergrad senior majoring in mathematics. Instead of taking the ordinary 5-course workload, I am thinking of doing 3 courses per semester and postpone graduation by an year. But I am wondering if by doing so my graduate application is going to be affected negatively. I...

Hi All, While applying to fellowships last semester as a first year grad student, I also applied on a whim to the AFRL Scholars internship program. I got an offer from them this summer to work on Rb and Ca Vapor Cell Clocks. It's a paid 12-week summer internship, and there are no associated...

I'm considering taking 4 or 5 graduate courses in my first semester. If I choose this route, I won't have any official teaching or research duties due to a fellowship. All of the courses would be math courses and one would be an engineering course. The math courses are real analysis...

I am a first-year PhD student who worked with a professor over the summer. I get along very well with her, and I would be happy to work with her if I was certain that my interests aligned with hers. She is a very popular advisor and has a lot of students wanting to work with her, so she gave me...

Hi all. I have never posted anything in PhysicsForums, but I am a long time follower. I was lucky enough to get admitted to both the MIT's graduate program in Physics and to the DPhil in Theoretical Physics at Oxford in the condensed matter theory group. I am unsure which programme to choose...

I'm a graduate mathematics student and I did my undergrad in applied math. I also took the normal 10 hrs of physics foundations and then a semester of modern physics (basic quantum intro, special relativity, orbit states etc.). I was thinking about pursuing study in areas that would be...

Hi, I have a few years left on my undergraduate degree but I wanted to see if anyone has experience applying to Stanford for graduate school. I started UCSD as a liberal arts major and then switched to physics about 10 months ago. I have about 130 community college units (you only need 80, I...

Hello, I am studying mathematics and biology as an undergrad. I have always want to do a PhD, but due to having a B- average, I need to set up a realistic plan, (i.e, not going to grad school and try to find a job) although I have not given up hope entirely. I am seriously interested in aging...

Hi everyone. I was trying to look around at different grad programs for space physics (solar wind, magnetosphere, etc, not that electric universe garbage), and couldn't find a whole lot of good info on reputations or rankings or anything like that. I found a list here...

I'm looking for advice on obtaining a degree in physics. I'm older, 52, and have a BSE in Computer Science and Engineering and a MS in Computer Science. While I have a history of being both an undergraduate and a graduate student that was 30 years ago and in areas with little connection to...

I am an electrical engineering student who will be graduating in the spring. I had previously wanted to join the workforce after graduation, but the job search has not gone well for me... So now, I am thinking of applying to the masters program at my own school (which has a later deadline) if I...

What are your thoughts on the fact that most math PhD program applications do not contain interviews? Consider the following link: https://quomodocumque.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/are-math-departments-better-at-recruitment-than-elite-financial-firms/ One of the comments expresses concerns about...

I am currently a nuclear engineering undergraduate. I was curious what the job perspective is with only a bachelors degree. How about with a masters? P.h.D? I will be graduating with a Nuclear Engineering Honors Degree in Science.

Hi all, I am currently an undergraduate in my third year working towards a simultaneous B.S/ M.S and will graduate next spring. I will be applying to Ph.D programs next winter and I am torn between earning my Master's through completing eight classes or through five classes and a Master's...