What is Grad: Definition and 1000 Discussions

So here’s the deal. I recently discovered about a semester I “took” nearly 10 years ago. I forgot that I even enrolled for classes because I decided college wasn’t for me at the time (I was just out of high school) and it was my first semester. I wasn’t aware of “officially dropping” your...

I am currently applying to physics graduate programs (considering both Master's and Ph.D.) in both Europe and North America. In choosing programs, I really care about teaching quality: emphasis on pedagogy, well-designed syllabi, and professors who are passionate about teaching. The QS World...

I'm looking for suggestions on ways to: a) Make some money b) Get valuable experience that looks good on my grad school application My timeline: Right now it is September 2018. I will be taking the Physics GRE in September 2019/Oct. 2019. I'll be applying for Physics Grad Schools soon after...

I want to study CS, but eventually someday I want to work in the auto industry dealing with robotics and aerodynamics. I was wondering how common is it for a CS grad to get a masters in Mech Engineering?

https://www.cs.utexas.edu/news/2018/major-quantum-computing-advance-made-obsolete-ut-grad

Hi, I am a grad student and share an office with 4 other grad students. I have a question about one of the students. We have been in the same office for 2 yrs. The student mostly sleeps while they are here. Every day this week, the student has slept from almost the moment they get in. I...

Hi, I have one year of undergraduate classes left. I am trying to figure out how best to prepare for my applications to an AMO physics program (hopefully highly competitive). My first question is: how much importance can one class have? Maybe I am stressing too much about trying to make myself...

Hi everyone. I am looking for some advice on how to go about writing grad school applications next year. My freshman year (Fall 2011) I developed a brain disorder that, while untreated, dramatically reduced my cognitive ability. I took two years off of school starting in 2013 came back in 2015...

If one is considering graduate school later (say, in 5 years) after starting a job, is it considered dishonest to not tell the an interviewer who asks where you see yourself in 5-10 years? Most people I've asked have said: "Hell no. It's none of their business. And they'll never hire you if...

Has anyone ever became a non degree student/special status student at university to get better grades in undergraduate courses so you can apply to a PH.D program? What was this like? Did you receive financial aid? What classes did you take? How many semester did you do? Did you get into graduate...

Hi all, so I am a junior studying mathematics/stats BS and I am trying to put together a list of grad schools to apply to but I don't know how many to apply to that would be reasonable. I really only want to apply to PhD programs because I am married with a child and I can't afford an expensive...

Feel free to skip to bottom to read the questions. Below is some relevant background. I'm currently an undergraduate freshman in EE. I find physics exciting (not sure if I like it because I'm good at it, or I'm good at it because I like it), so I'll be taking most of the courses that a physics...

Hi everyone, Thanks for taking the time to read my post. So as I stated above, I will be graduating with my BS in physics this coming fall. My GPA will be about a 2.5/2.6 upon graduation. I come from a respected big ten school so I know the name alone will help me a slight amount. But as for...

Hi everyone, I'm currently a sophomore at UC Berkeley. I came in intending a double major in computer science and physics, but I'm definitely way more passionate about physics. I spent freshman year loading up on CS classes so I could declare the CS major, and this semester I decided to focus...

Hi, I'm currently a math major, but I'm realizing it's probably not for me. Last semester I didn't get credit for either of my math classes (I got an A- in all my other classes though), so I'm at a loss as to do what to do right now. I'm concurrently minoring in statistics, and I always do...

I am currently applying to grad school and have submitted all of my applications. None of my applications have my fall grades, just my schedule. I took 3 graduate courses (the only ones I've ever taken). I got an A in 2 of them, however I withdrew from the last one because I was too busy this...

Something's been bothering me about the PhD application process. I know that your future advisor is the most important aspect in choosing a graduate school, and that future success with obtaining postdocs, etc. will depend primarily on your research prowess (which is heavily dependent on if you...

A bit of background: I have a somewhat unusual academic history, having taken 2 years of math and physics at a nearby university while in high school (intro mechanics / EM / quantum sequence + GR in physics, analysis + ODEs + differential geometry + abstract algebra in math)--all this with a...

I'm applying to grad school (PhD) in EE. My degree is in engineering physics so I want to work on the parts of EE that would also be called applied physics. So things like quantum electronics, nanotech and electromagnetics. I have already started applying to: UIUC, Cornell, USC, BU, GTECH...

Hey guys, just after some advice on the perceived importance of finding a top notch college to attend post-graduate studies. They field I have a passion for is Astrophysics (yes crazy hard to get a job I know) and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on choosing graduate schools and how that...

Undergrad with about a year and a half of school left here! The looming spectre of the real world has come with the realization that I do not know anywhere near enough of physics and math to satisfy me. I love math, I want more than anything to understand and do work that involves computers at...

I know this isn't "EngineeringForums" but I'm curious if anyone has any experience with taking a physics undergrad degree and then studying engineering for their masters. I have a couple engineering friends and the math is basically the same so far, though is there anything I should know? Study...

Hello, I am an Aerospace Engineering major looking to get accepted to a Physics Ph.D. program. I aced the Physics GRE (990), but my GPA is 3.05 following an uphill trend - early semesters as low as 1.3 to recent 4.0 (top 10 Aero school if it matters). Research experience is limited - I've...

I'm in desperate need of someone with experience in getting accepted to graduate school. I have questions that my local advisors can't answer and was hoping someone on here could help?

I am a senior in a 5-year physics program (B.S. in Physics, Astrophysics concentration and minor in Mathematics) with a 3.65 GPA (3.72 in my Physics major) at a not-so-well-known private institution with fifteen months of full-time relevant (to astro) research experience, eighteen months of...

My undergraduate degrees are in math and physics, but I decided to apply for graduate school in engineering (specifically environmental engineering). I was lucky enough to be accepted to almost all of the programs I applied to, but I only received one research position offer (that would pay for...

In the syllabus of the class, it recommended three mathematical background books: Mathematical Methods for Physicists by Arfken Mathematical Methods in Chemistry and Physics by Starzak. Mathematical Methods in the physical sciences by Boas I don't know difference between these three. Any...

I'm doing my best to be realistic, but can't see the forest for the trees right now. Thoughts? Opinions? I'd appreciate it if anyone tried to answer my questions – many thanks in advance! Background Double major Physics & EE (with a couple minors) at nowhere special Physics GPA = 3.3 / EE...

Hello everyone, Last year, I graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree from a Canadian university with a horrible GPA of 2.62 (reasons why I got this gpa explained here) I have never forgotten about the dream of finally getting into graduate studies, mainly in the field of...

I'm going to be taking graduate physics courses this semester and I need to decide how many to take. My question is how does the difficulty and work load of graduate physics courses generally compare to upper level undergraduate physics courses. I know there is variation between courses and...

I'm a domestic student planning on applying to PhD programs in physics this fall but I am concerned with my lack of research experience. I realize this is an odd position to be in but I'm deeply interested in physics and think I'm an otherwise good candidate for graduate study. I'm interested in...

Hi all, I'm currently a freshman studying mechanical engineering. My interest is 100% in energy production of all methods. However, I've wanted to work nuclear since I was 7 years old and intend to pursue higher degrees in it. I have chosen not to get my bachelor's in it as I feel a B.S. in nuke...

Assume student has taken around 8 upper division math courses including abstract algebra 1 and abstract algebra 2.

I am a rising junior and have 0 extracurriculars related to my school. I am planning on applying to a medical physics graduate program but I work in a research lab (BME) and am working on co authoring and authoring two papers total and am actively involved with my religious organization. However...

I'm looking to compile a list of skills that people have used on their grad school applications that looked good, such as programming and research experience

Hi everyone! I've got a question about recognition chances of my German degrees at Canadian grad schools. Ideally there would be people out there who did their Bachelor+Master in Germany or in a country with a similar academic system (3+2 years, Master as a precondition to Ph.D. rather than an...

http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2017/06/gres-dont-predict-grad-school-success-what-does To me these results are in no way surprising; although I do wonder if you would see a difference if you compared theory vs experimental PhDs; I''ve come across some students that were clearly very clever...

I got admitted into three different Master programs in my country, and I would really appreciate if you give me some advises. I have been working with a really productive professor since the beginning of the second year of my BS. The project we have been working with is to develop spectroscopy...

Hey everyone, I'm new to this community, and I came here hoping to find some advice on applying to graduate schools. A bit of educational background about me: Biology BS & Applied Mathematics BS Double Major Neuroscience & Chemistry Minor (declared neuroscience officially, but earned the...

Hi all, I'm an undergrad Physics and Mech. Engineering major (possible astrophysics as well). This past semester I've been dealing with some personal issues and I ended up with sub par grades as a result. I now officially have a C and a C+ on my transcript (along with a few B/B+). I'm a rising...

So here's the deal: I have nearly all As in my physics courses (this includes As in the following graduate courses: mechanics, em w/ jackson, quantum 1, quantum 2, Biophysics, Stat Mech, and Adv Stat Mech. I go to an Ivy league school with a what most would consider to be a competitive undergrad...

I had a pretty tough schedule this semester, so I'm getting my first B. I otherwise wouldn't be too sad, but I hear Linear is pretty important in upper-level physics and astronomy. So, will this hurt my chances of getting into grad school? I am (was? rising sophomore) only a first-year, and I do...

Im debating between Berkeley and UCSD and I am not sure what to do, I plan to go to grad school, and I am worried that it might be difficult to get a lot of research done at UCB whereas I've heard its easier to get into research at UCSD. Furthermore I'd start a semester late at UCB because I...

Hey guys,So I'm an undergraduate, currently in junior year, majoring in mathematics with double minor in physics and computer science. I have only a 3.2 GPA, but I have extensive research experience. I received several grants for my work in operations research/mathematics, and presented at...

Well this is my first time posting here, but I was hoping this could be a helpful resource for me. I am trying to plan out which graduate schools to apply to in the fall and was wondering if anyone knew which graduate schools would be a good match for me and which ones would be too big of a...

So some brief backstory about why I’m asking this question: I’m applying to grad schools next fall, and everything on my CV looks great (2 REUs, I know four professors I can get a great research letter from, I’m doing honors at a top 10 university for physics, etc.) except my gpa, which is...

Will having a 4-5 year gap between your undergrad and grad school hurt your chances of getting into a PhD program? I'm a physics major but I'm also doing ROTC and am planning on serving in the Air Force for 4 or 5 years after I graduate before applying to grad school. Are there any huge...

Hello, I am currently an undergraduate student on track to get a physics degree than try to pursue graduate school options. However I also am also athletic and was planning on joining the marines with officer candidate school (maybe/hopefully). The problem is that I was wondering if that ~4 year...

Hello all, This is my first post here. I will be transferring to University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC) in the fall with two associates degrees in Art and Science. I was accepted into the School of Mechanical Engineering. My original plan was to finish my undergrad, then go to grad...

Hello. First post. I recently received an invitation to campus visit and interview for my top choice school. I'm an American student applying to an international university, so I will be traveling abroad. From what I have seen, the school admits about 70% of the interviewed applicants. My...