Transitioning to Physics after 10+ years in software, low gpa

[vinaysimhams]

Hello everyone,

I am from India.I completed my Bachelors in Engineering, ECE to specific from a very average Indian college in year 2006 with many backlogs and year gaps.
Since then I have been working in the IT industry.I have a undergraduate percentage of 56%, using WES(https://www.wes.org/)calculator it come to a GPA of 3.07/4.00.
I regret my undergrad years very much...I want to do a Masters in physics and then do a PhD.I am very much interested in Quantum computing.
I will be 40 years old next year.What should i do to improve my chances of getting into a good Masters degree? Do i even have a Chance.?Please help.

Thanks !

 

[Office_Shredder]

One thing you haven't really mentioned here is if you actually know any physics already. A good masters degree requires you to have the equivalent of a good undergraduate level physics education both to get in, and also to be able to succeed at the program (they don't pick these requirements just for fun). Do you already know physics, and do you have some way of demonstrating it to the admissions department at a university?

 

[vinaysimhams]

One thing you haven't really mentioned here is if you actually know any physics already. A good masters degree requires you to have the equivalent of a good undergraduate level physics education both to get in, and also to be able to succeed at the program (they don't pick these requirements just for fun). Do you already know physics, and do you have some way of demonstrating it to the admissions department at a university?

Thanks for your reply.I am quite rusty at physics right now.I plan to take up Physics GRE as a way to demonstrate my aptitude in physics. What else can I do to improve my chances?

 

[Frabjous]

Thanks for your reply.I am quite rusty at physics right now.I plan to take up Physics GRE as a way to demonstrate my aptitude in physics. What else can I do to improve my chances?

That is a little vague.
Are freshman physics problems trivial for you to solve?
Do you know quantum mechanics at the level of Griffiths?
Do you know classical mechanics at the level of Marion?
Do you know electricity and magnetism at the level of Griffiths?
”Know” does not mean “have read”. “Know” means being able to solve most problems at this level.

 

[vinaysimhams]

That is a little vague.
Are freshman physics problems trivial for you to solve?
Do you know quantum mechanics at the level of Griffiths?
Do you know classical mechanics at the level of Marion?
Do you know electricity and magnetism at the level of Griffiths?
”Know” does not mean “have read”. “Know” means being able to solve most problems at this level.

Thanks for your reply. No, right now I can't solve problems at this level.

 

[Frabjous]

Thanks for your reply. No, right now I can't solve problems at this level.

Regretfully, I do not think that you have the background needed for the classes associated with a graduate degree at this time.

 

[vinaysimhams]

Thanks for your honest assessment.I am willing to work towards it, I need direction to know what to do to get there

 

[Vanadium 50]

First, you need to tell us where you plan to do this. (And if it's "In the US, and by the way, I need them to pay for all this" that will be difficult)

Next, since you don't know any physics, you need to learn some. That means taking classes. Probably for years before you are ready, and years of grad school after that. Do you have enough money to spend a decade in school?

 

[vinaysimhams]

Thanks for your reply. I am not totally clueless, I believe I am rusty and can come to a decent shape within a year or so. I don't plan to do the MS in US for financial reasons as you mentioned.

 

[CrysPhys]

Thanks for your reply.I am quite rusty at physics right now.I plan to take up Physics GRE as a way to demonstrate my aptitude in physics. What else can I do to improve my chances?

Thanks for your reply. I am not totally clueless, I believe I am rusty and can come to a decent shape within a year or so. I don't plan to do the MS in US for financial reasons as you mentioned.

Depending on the university, the Physics GRE may not be a valid method for demonstrating your aptitude.

Come up with a list of universities that you are interested in (you didn't say: are you limiting yourself to India?). Contact the graduate physics admissions office at each; ask them whether they would even consider someone with your background (i.e., do you meet minimum entry criteria?); and, if they would, how they would evaluate your qualifications.

 

[berkeman]

I regret my undergrad years very much...I want to do a Masters in physics and then do a PhD.I am very much interested in Quantum computing.

Would it make more sense for you to pursue Quantum computing by continuing your EE education instead of Physics? Is your EE knowledge less rusty than your Physics knowledge? And presumably you took a lot more EE classes in undergrad than Physics classes. Would it be more practical to pursue an MSEE degree with a specialization in Quantum computing?

 

[vinaysimhams]

Thanks for your reply. I had in fact applied for MS in computer science which is a lot closer to my undergrad degree and work experience than physics, in the US in 2013 but did not get any admits, I think due to my low GPA. The way I am thinking is with Physics GRE at least I have a chance prove my skills, also I love physics and would like to look at Quantum computation from that end as well

 

[vinaysimhams]

Depending on the university, the Physics GRE may not be a valid method for demonstrating your aptitude.

Come up with a list of universities that you are interested in (you didn't say: are you limiting yourself to India?). Contact the graduate physics admissions office at each; ask them whether they would even consider someone with your background (i.e., do you meet minimum entry criteria?); and, if they would, how they would evaluate your qualifications.

Thanks for your reply. I am not limiting myself to India but will be trying in Canada, Australia and Europe as well. Yes, I have emailed the departments I am interested in.Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[Vanadium 50]

The way I am thinking is with Physics GRE at least I have a chance prove my skills

What skills? Your post #5 says you cannot solve most problems at the level of the GRE. Why would the outcome of the GRE show anything different?

Until you have taken some upper division physics classes, how do you know you even will like physics? It may be totally different from what you expect.

 

[vinaysimhams]

Thanks for your reply. I am planning to take GRE next october. I will spend the next year preparing for physics and the physics GRE.

 

[CrysPhys]

Thanks for your reply. I had in fact applied for MS in computer science which is a lot closer to my undergrad degree and work experience than physics, in the US in 2013 but did not get any admits, I think due to my low GPA. The way I am thinking is with Physics GRE at least I have a chance prove my skills, also I love physics and would like to look at Quantum computation from that end as well

So did you take the Computer Science GRE? If so, how did you do?

You really need to step back ... way back... and take an objective look at your situation. You applied for an MS in Computer Science, a field in which you have both undergrad preparation and work experience, and did not get admitted. Yet, you think you have a better chance at being admitted for an MS in Physics, a field in which you have no (or minimal) undergrad preparation and no (or minimal) work experience. As Mr. Spock would ask, "Is this logical?"

 

[vinaysimhams]

So did you take the Computer Science GRE? If so, how did you do?

You really need to step back ... way back... and take an objective look at your situation. You applied for an MS in Computer Science, a field in which you have both undergrad preparation and work experience, and did not get admitted. Yet, you think you have a better chance at being admitted for an MS in Physics, a field in which you have no (or minimal) undergrad preparation and no (or minimal) work experience. As Mr. Spock would ask, "Is this logical?"

Thanks for your reply.No, Computer Science GRE was not available when I applied.You are right it's certainly not logical.It's more a matter of passion.I have given myself 1 year to get some research experience, prepare in physics as well as physics gre.I plan to take Physics GRE next year in October.

 

[Vanadium 50]

So, you're going to learn what the average college student learns in four years in one. Are you four times smarter than the average college student?
Next, you're going to do this without benefit of a teacher?
Next, at the same time you're going to join a research group?

This gets less realistic with every post.