Recent content by javaNut

Valid point. Retraction: replace "sounds to me" with "may be". That being said, at 21 this person is in real trouble. S/he claims to be "at the end of my rope", which unless being exaggeration means that they need help, more than what an academic advisor can give (I never went to mine as they...

It sounds to me that Encarta has an undiagnosed learning disability. Certainly from the quality of his/her writing (good), s/he is obviously intelligent and self-reflective enough to fit in with any of our science groups. Most US universities (especially large ones such as Encarta describes)...

I am a little confused. From your comments, I count 3 undergrad research experiences. That's great. Surely one of those will supply a good LOR. You will then briefly describe the other 2 in the research sections of your statement and resume. So I don't see the problem. I would say only briefly...

What kind of math subfield are you interested in learning? If you are an "algebra person", then all the applied math and (mostly) real analysis in the world won't be of much use to you in your pursuit of algebraic topology or some such thing. With you engineering, you will already have studied...

I know several students with/getting PhDs who began in community college. Community college is cheaper, and will allow the OP to explore academics in a low-risk environment with a great deal of schedule flexibility. This will also allow the OP to begin "learning the system", and s/he may evolve...

Only one of the grads I know who studies biophysics at my school (for their PhD) had any bio (or chem) courses past the usual intro sequence one gets in the typical US undergrad physics program (i.e., they were hardcore physics and became interested in biophysics during grad school). At my...

1) I doubt it. A PSM program is supposed to prepare you for a career track isn't it? So aren't some business courses usually in the mix? I would think taking "normal" physics grad courses and doing more physics research is a better choice. But I don't think you have a realistic chance at #1...

It is very difficult to acquire the knowledge this person will need without going through grad school. They might consider a PhD in mathematical physics, keeping an eye on math department specialties while choosing physics grad schools, but in general choosing a school that will allow them to...

Computational <science> is a very applied direction (mostly synonymous with "applied <science>"). Mathematical <science> is just a sneaky way to be a mathematician in another department; probably one would need all the usual math grad school courses to be any good at it. I have studied both...

This is what I tell new students who hire me to tutor them: 1) In calc-based physics, they will do a lot of calc derivations in lecture, but the exams don't often have that much calc on them. So your HW and notes studying may not translate to doing well on the exams. Buy any old non-calc text...

This seems a very unique situation, and I can only make a guess at an opinion (phrased as some questions even). But why not use your optics & mat sci experiences to get into a physics grad program that has both these "more practical" fields of study as well as the cosmology you want to learn for...

I thought quantum cantilevers were a big deal nowadays. Just google-search "quantum cantilever". I think I remember 1) seeing an experiment talk on this in our optics department, and 2) that we have a theory prof who has published on this (actually two profs I think, you would have to do your...

The NSF used to have the Young Scholars Program for this very purpose, getting talented high school students into university research labs (cancelled for political reasons). So I am not crazy to suggest it. And remember, I have one 15 year old tutee beginning university research this month...

I think this analogy does capture some essence of what goes on. So I wonder what would happen if I retook the PGRE are now. You know, I have to admit something. I don't think (even with some prepping) that I could do all that much better. I think I mastered the intro material nearly completely...

No not really, ha ha: http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1071