Grad school Definition and 1000 Threads

My situation: I was originally an Economics major, math minor. However, I have lost interest in econ and have become very interested in physics and math. I begin my senior year of undergrad this fall, however I am staying in school longer and beginning the physics curriculum as well this...

I am a Canadian and I plan to go to grad school, in Canada, we must get a Masters' before a Ph.D and I am wondering when I apply for my Ph.D, will grad school (that means grad school including those from the states) look at only my most recent work of my Masters or will they look at my...

I am a senior in high school and I am taking a college class at a local community college. After this year, if I decide not to take the transfer credit, can I reject it? So I can take the course again at my new undergrad again? Like basically abandon the transfer credit and grade? Will my...

I just finished my junior year at my university, and I am currently interested in going to graduate school in mathematics. But from reading some of the posts on here, I am starting to feel maybe I'm not really a desired candidate for graduate study in mathematics. I will post some information...

I wasn't a particularly good high-school math student, I usually tested around the top of the school for standardized exams, but never bothered to do the class work for my actual math classes, and was mainly just a jock. I went to the local university to do engineering, and while I got A's...

Hi all, My goal is to go to graduate school for mathematics (most likely enumerative combinatorics of graph theory). My math grades in college have been: Calculus I/II - AP Credit so no "grade". Calculus 3 - A+ Linear Algebra - A- Proofs - A- Combinatorial Theory - A Elementary...

I'm heading into my junior year as a physics undergrad, and I'm starting to think my math skills won't be where they need to be for grad school. So far, I've taken calc 1-3, probability theory, and an "Intro to Mathematical Physics," which used the Boas text. That class was basically a crash...

I am just wondering this because I have not set on what to do for graduate school. Now if I go for theoretical physics and study Math and Physics, when it is time for me to apply to grad school, will I get to apply to a math grad school or will they not let me because my major is "theoretical...

To anyone that did: How was your transition? What grad school and area did you choose. Thanks! I'm majoring in applied math bc I like math but don't know what I want to do. I'm finishing my sophomore year at a top school, still undecided. I was following an engineering track, took 1st yr...

Assuming I'm capable of passing the test to become a member of Mensa, do you think that it would be a sufficiently impressive addition to a physics graduate school application to be worth the cost (about $40, I think) and effort (a test in a nearby city) of becoming a member?

Hi PF, Sorry for the rather boring question but, does anyone know where to get data on average gpa's of students accepted to various grad schools? I'm a bit worried because my physics gpa is around a 3.5, as is my regular gpa. However, I'm starting to realize that a lot of kids have gpa's...

Lets say that I'm the VP of the Physics club of my school, I have 2 years of research experience and a semester working at the National Terawatt Facility. I took 4 or so graduate classes which I get B's in, I get 90%> on the gre physics, but my GPA is like a 3.3. What schools am I looking at...

I'm an undergrad chemical engineer. I may switch to chemistry or materials science/engineering. I've taken abstract algebra, which sucked a lot. I should have taken the other professor's section. Anyways, I hate proofs. I'm wondering if I should continue math with real analysis. I heard that...

hi im a pure math major and going into my sr year next semester im supposed to apply to grad schools sometime next year as well, but I have a problem. I don't think id have a problem getting into a program my GPA is 4.0 in all my math courses and I've taken quite a few including some...

I am graduating with a BA in Physics and want to go to Graduate school in engineering I think next semester. I have a 3.4 over all and I got a 1240 on the GRE with a 720 on the quantitative part. I've also been apart of a research project for a year now.

I'm at the end of my junior year and at this point I have no idea what area of Physics I want to go into. I know that for sure I want to go onto grad school but other than that I don't really know what I want to do. I think I'm leaning towards doing theory rather than experiment but I don't...

I want to make the best use of my time in undergrad, so I can't just sign up for everything. I want to apply to the top grad schools like Stanford's and MIT's. So, can someone help me out? What're the best ones that'll make my application look better?

I am a physics major just finishing a two year associate's degree. I have a 4.0 GPA and am transfering to an undergrad program in the fall, but not sure which one. I ultimately want to receive a PhD in physics and work in research. My question is this: Right now I have my choice of...

I've been agonizing over what to study in graduate school. I'm most interested in Astrophysics (which is what my undergraduate degree will be in), but the job prospects have scared me off of Astrophysics and even general Physics, and I'm not interested in academia anyhow. In an attempt to...

At my school there are 2 basic undergrad plans of study in the physics department - regular physics and honors physics. The main difference is that the honors program is more difficult and each of the E&M, Classical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics are covered in 2 semesters. When I first...

Sorry for so many questions, but here they are: I am currently an undergraduate majoring in Applied Math, and I am finishing my junior year so I figure that I better start looking at graduate schools. Right now, I am working towards my B.S. in Applied math, but over the past year, many of...

Just wondering if it people would ever go so far as NOT doing undergraduate at a school doing research they're interested in because they would want to attend grad school there

I'm in-state for Rutgers and out of state for Illinois. Illinois will cost me $34,000 a year while Rutgers will cost me $4,000 a year. Illinois offers the Aerospace Degree while Rutgers offers the Mechanical with Aerospace Concentration + the BS/MS 5 year option. Should I go with...

I want to go to grad school in applied math. Currently I'm a junior at the University of Florida, double majoring in math and physics. I'm planning out my final year, and I'm noticing that it becomes ludicrously hard to get a BS in both fields (especially because I am a transfer student, and...

I'm going to be applying to grad schools next year (I have an undergrad degree in math and phyisics), and I have narrowed down my areas of interest to two fields: functional analysis and it's involvement in QFT; and computational/theoretical neuroscience. I find pure math more enjoyable, but I'm...

What's the ratio?

The best I could possibly get in with all my effort (whether this is be the #5 CS grad school in the nation, or #40, does not really matter.. as long as I take the most optimal path there and do it ethically). I was wondering what aspects the best/better CS grad schools look for in a college...

Grad School in Europe or Microsoft or IBM and lots of other questions Too many options are currently available or maybe I have lost a few of them. One is grad school in Europe for robotics. Three semesters of courses and one semester thesis - that seems to be the norm in Europe, no two year...

I've decided to major in mathematics but I need to know something: so, what exactly does a graduate student in mathematics do? I assume a grad student in physics, chemistry, or biology will spend their academic time in class and performing experiments with there professors, but a...

I recently applied to some grad schools for a PhD program and I was notified by one particular school that while my marks were under their admission requirements, they recognize that I have valuable background experience which may allow me to succeed and that they would circulate my file to...

I am a current freshman at NYU, and I want to make it into Princeton's graduate program in math. My Reasons for Wanting to Do This I'll be frank: this is a very immature goal for me to have. Aspiring for the "top" graduate program reeks of a misplaced notion of achievement. Love of math is...

I know that there are hundreds of posts exactly like this but posting my own just seems more satisfying. I am an undergrad sophmore at a pretty big university. I am majoring in mathematics. I've finished single variable, multi variable calculus, lower division linear algebra, probability...

So now that I am fairly certain that I will be going on to grad school, I am looking for the info that only current or past graduate students know. What are the best ways to get ahead? Should I take more class early on? As an example of what I am talking about, For undergrad unless you are...

I'm almost mid-way through a "licenciatura" degree in Argentina which is 5 years long. My current GPA would exclude me from any grad school (5.83/10), I believe. I plan on to get it up as much as I can, maybe I'll reach a 7/10 but sincerely I'm not that optimistic and I guess I'll end with a...

Can I get into a science/engineering grad program with a liberal arts degree? If this is is possible, I assume that one would have to complete a certain number of prerequisites. Is there some kind of standard list? Thanks.

I just graduated with my BS degrees in physics and applied math in Dec 09. I chose not to apply to grad schools in December because I didn't know what field to choose to apply to. Also, i figured taking a year or so off, and working in industry would better help me decide what to do in the...

I am currently taking a graduate level physics course (also required for undergrads) called "Electronic Techniques for Research", and I'm having kind of a hard time in it. I'm thinking that in the worst case scenario, I'll end up with a C in the course. However, currently, my overall GPA is...

Hi PF, I am wondering if there are any challenges/stigmas associated with an American getting their grad degree in Europe. I admit, I'm mainly considering this for the "adventure" of it, but I want to know if my living in Europe for a few years and grabbing my PhD there would really affect my...

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am entering grad school in math in fall 2010. I graduated university over 25 years ago majoring in math. My day job doesn't require the use of advanced math so I was hesitant about applying since my math skills have gotten a bit rusty. Though during the past...

Upon visiting the mechanical engineering dept at a school I am thinking of attending, (or was) I had several interviews with dept heads and professors, etc. They were very curious about my GPA and one asked about my GRE. I thought however that undergrad research was important. I mentioned it...

I have a different sort of question about grad school. I graduated from university over 25 years ago and recently decided to go back and do a PhD in math. I will start in the fall. I was just wondering, how do graduate student carry their books and supplies? Backpack? A Bag? By hand? I don't...

I'm an Australian law/science undergraduate. I finish my degree at the end of this year and was hoping to apply for Grad School in the US to study Physics in 2011. As I understand it, the key requirements are the general GRE, physics GRE and the actual applications to the universities. I have...

I think the title pretty much sums up my question. I would like to get into the most prestigious grad school that I can (particularly MIT) but am worried that my choice in undergrad school might not be prestigious enough to get into a higher profile school. Do the ivy league(rs) really just...

I'm a junior physics major at a school in the US and I've recently come to the conclusion that I think that I like math better than I like physics. I'm thinking I might like to do mathematical physics in grad school, but since I've spent the last 3 years thinking I'd go to grad school for...

what are the chances for getting into a good computer science grad program for a math major (who's finished the first two years of graduate math courses) but who's only taken two computer science courses (software development and problem-solving using haskell).

I'm sure similar things have been asked before, but this is a little different (I think). (I don't want to go into academia, and I don't think I'm going to go for a PhD. I think I'm going to try to get a master's in some sort of applied math and work in industry.) How competitive are math...

Hi all, :smile: I was just wondering if anyone had any idea about the options available in grad school for a physics undergrad. For example, would one be able to segue into chemistry or geology or some kind of Earth/environmental sciences? The reason I ask is that I'm getting more and more...

I'm interested in going to grad school for astrophysics. I've loved everything about the subject for many years now. At first I thought it was just a hobby interest, but I think it may have crossed the line and become a career interest. The only problem with this is that I'm in my senior year in...

Hi Guys, My GPA is 2.63, Electrical Engineering, and I am thinking of grad school(Also Electrical Engineering), is it possible or is it too late? and I have a second question, How is designing antennas as a career going on 1) does it pay well, 2) is it very common, 3) is the market...

So I went and did engineering science at uoft in their computer option. Time to graduate and I have no clue where to go now. I have applied to ECE program at UofT since their deadline was Jan 7 but not sure where else to apply now. What are some good grad school in the computer or...