Recent content by CrysPhys

OR PhD physics programs will become like many other graduate programs (e.g., med school, law school, business school, many master's programs, many non-science and non-engineering PhD programs ...): Students pay for the privilege of their graduate education. As long as universities tell...

[ETA: I read this wrong.] The report you cited states that enrollments have been declining in recent years. Still, under the category of first year graduate students for 2024, there are some universities with sizable enrollments, much greater than 40. The top four I found were: University...

A "discreet inquiry" would entail a personal connection. Student A at University A is considering applying to University B. Student A knows Professor A at University A. Professor A calls up his old buddy Professor B at University B: "Hey, how's life at University B these days? ..."

It is unethical in the sense that applicants need to pay an application fee. It would be odd for a dept to admit this publicly. So a discreet inquiry would be needed. I have to say though that I'm aware that companies have behaved similarly in their recruiting practices. That is, even if...

This is important (and sad) to hear. You brought up a specific instance of a small physics dept that normally admits only around 10 PhD students. Did you also reach out to large physics depts that normally admit around 100 PhD students? These physics depts are typically part of universities...

Yes, this is a good time to evaluate your future career goals, with the understanding that you will likely need to re-evaluate them several more times in the course of your career. Before I weigh in: (1) Are you planning on pursuing grad school in Canada or some other country (including the...

* In US universities, the typical path is to complete a BS physics and then continue to a PhD physics program (MS not required to apply for PhD program). In many universities in other countries, however, the typical path is to complete a BS physics, complete a MS physics, and then go on to a...

<<Emphasis added.>> For the same reason that you don't show 0 for ten thousands, hundred thousands, ... ad infinitum when not needed. But you would show 0 for ten thousands when needed; e.g., 60423.

In that case, check carefully the admissions policies of the US universities that you plan to apply to. See my previous post: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/hepth-programs-in-europe.1082397/post-7282974

This is a common deadline in the US, where you typically apply to a PhD program in your senior year undergrad (no MS required).. But since you are applying after an MS, I assume you're not planning to apply to the US. Is this correct? If so, what universities are you applying to? In some...

This is a good place for anyone planning a new offering to start. Survey what is already out there, and identify deficiencies and shortcomings to address.

What year are you in? If you are confident that you intend to pursue a Physics PhD program, there's not much advantage in pursuing a double major. You'd be better off taking some CS courses as electives, and spending more time on advanced undergrad physics courses or undergrad research. E.g...

You're in a difficult situation since you have so many unknown variables. One is that job markets can flip-flop within a short period (say, within a year); about all you can do is extrapolate what the local job markets will be by the time you graduate and hope for the best. So you always need a...

<<Emphasis added.>> I don't see how the application process in the EU vs the US resembles each other here. There is a big advantage to EU universities that post specific openings with specific supervisors. Applicants know in advance the specific supervisors and the specific research slots...

You are referring to Rice in Houston, TX, US, correct? I checked the graduate admissions requirements for their Physics PhD program and did not find a requirement that you must have a MS Physics from Rice to apply. Regardless, Rice is a US university, and the OP has indicated that they are...