Graduate Definition and 1000 Threads

Due to unforeseen circumstances (burnout, depression), I recently had to withdraw from all of my courses (5 courses) and this brings my total number of W's up to 11. Am I doomed? Even if I went back to school and continue to excel, would my graduate school application ever be given serious...

Hi, are there any pitfalls of switching subject area like this? I'm doing as much as I can to interact with engineers at the moment (such as student projects within the engineering dept. and generally trying to focus my physics towards what I understand to be engineering related as opposed to...

For those with a background in Civil; what do you think about graduate degrees in Civil Engineering for people with a different undergraduate background? I don't plan on doing traditional engineering work but a lot of what I do does relate to the water quality part of civil engineering. I'm...

I have taken quantum mechanics 3 times as an undergrad. The first time was Modern Physics 1. It covers the beginnings of quantum and basic quantum up to 3-D central force problem. The second was Quantum Chemistry (part 1 of physical chemistry), and we covered: basic quantum problems (particle...

What is the difference between classical EM at the undergrad and graduate levels? Is it just the math that's harder at graduate levels, or are there any new concepts that are not covered in undergrad, that's covered in graduate? Thanks.

Hello. I hope everyone is well. I was just wondering about experience for a recent graduate ...I am doing an MSc in Electronics, and will be spending about 8-9 months in our device fabrication lab on a part-time and then full time basis (full time over the summer). Could this be put...

I graduated a four year physics course at a quite highly rated British university in 2011, and am now 24 years old. I managed a to graduate with a 1st and am now into the first year of my PhD, but I sometimes question if I'm really that competent/knowledgeable. I feel as though I have forgotten...

I would like to know which choice is more beneficial, efficient, worth it, et cetera: Choice One-- Double Major in Both Physics and Education Studies, with a teacher licensure to be able to teach chemistry, physics, and/or mathematics at the secondary level. Choice Two-- Major just...

Is it possible/okay to get your undergraduate degree in engineering physics and then go into graduate school and get your graduate degree in aerospace engineering> please help Thanks

When choosing a graduate program, how much weight should be given to its US News ranking? I've been accepted to two schools which fall within the top 10 for general math, but for my particular subarea in math, one of them ranks about 15 spots ahead of the other. Do people actually care about...

Hello everyone, Long long ago, I thought of being a physics major. When I came into into college, I had no experience with physics, problem sets, mathematics higher than trigonometry(very little trig), or much science(my school didn't really offer good science classes). I discovered physics...

I am looking forward to apply for Plasma Physics program in PPPL(Princeton) and Univ of Michigan. But I am not sure about what sort of recommendation letters I should send. I have one strong recomendation from my undergrad project supervisor(the project is plasma diagnostics in Hall Effect...

To elaborate on said situation - I went to a top 50 US public university for a few years majoring in math and during this period of time I had no significant interest or motivation in school, much less any graduate school aspirations. I didn't do *horrible*, but my gpa was about a 3.1. I took...

Hello PF, I did a quick google and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for so here it is: I am an undergrad graduating next year with a bachelors in Engineering Physics. So far my concentration has been in physics. I took one Intro to EE course which I liked, and I am taking a circuits...

I am in the last year of my physics degree and plan to go to McMaster or UOIT to do my graduate studies in nuclear engineering. Does anyone have experience with the two schools in regards to nuclear engineering? DM

I have heard multiple times that where you study and get you bachelor is not that important, at least relative to the importance of where you do your graduate studies. How much influence should the factor of a university having some prestige in the field of physics have on the decision making of...

Hi, I am a sophomore and I recently dropped Graduate Complex Analysis. I was just missing something. The solutions to the questions on the problem set were not capable of being formed by me. This being said, I am wondering if it is still possible for me to attend graduate school for...

So as the title stated, what kind of summer work would be good to put on one's resume, for helping an undergraduate to get into a good physics graduate program? It feels like awards such as REU and NSERC are usually rewarded to the top standing students, and hence are not overly easy to get, by...

Some of my TA are like 23 year old people who are graduate students. One of them said that when they applied for graduate school he had a hard time getting in because they were looking for foreign students but he got in. He said they gave him money just for like going to graduate school or...

i just graduated college majoring in economics having a 3.85 GPA problem is my interests have shifted to maths particularly geometry and topology i didnt take any such math courses in college but i have read extensively most of the advanced undergrad books on analytical geometry. now i really...

I am interested in nuclear theory, and I was accepted to both Duke and Yale. I really like the research at Duke, and my best friend was admitted to the Duke law program. I also know that Yale has an excellent nuclear physics program and is generally regarded as the better institution. Am I crazy...

I am currently a freshman at the University of Houston as a Physics and Mathematics double major. From what I understand, UH isn't the most reputable university; however, I am dead set on doing whatever it takes to get into a top graduate school for anything Math or Physics related. My...

I don't really have a background in EE, I have a background in Computer Engineering Technology. It's a lot less theoretical and more of a hands on degree. I'm just wondering if I'll have a hard time in graduate level courses in EE. I have a strong programming background, know my way around...

Hello all, I'm currently a semester away from wrapping up an undergraduate degree and am in the process of applying to a few graduate schools mostly with the intention of obtaining a master's degree in Electrical Engineering (though I have applied to a graduate program in systems engineering...

Hello, I'm undergrad in physics and am seeking prospective graduate (PhD) schools that have a very good program for studying GR and basically everything I can learn about gravity. I'm not overly concerned with schools being "ivy" league - I just want a school that specializes in my focus and...

I searched for topics on relevant past questions but I didn't find any, so I hope you guys can help me. I'd like to get some suggestions of good graduate programs (master degree) in mathematical physics or theoretical physics (and here I'm pushing the envelope a bit) with a focus on research...

I've seen and heard some scary things when it comes to graduate school applications and for all I know, these could be complete rubbish. On the off chance that these claims are indeed correct, I'd like to know. In general, when a physics/math department is looking at applicant profiles, how...

Hi, i know that in the USA many people enroll into graduate school for a career change. For example majored in industrial engineering and then did a masters in mechanical engineering. Because the backgrounds are different, you are able to take undergraduate courses to "catch up". Is this a...

With the amount of Graduate courses I currently plan on taking (I'm a second year undergrad), adding a couple of more will fulfill the requirements of an MA in Physics at my school. So if I plan things out properly and stick to the plan, I'd be able to get bachelor degrees in Math and Physics...

Hi, I am a student in Europe. I have been reading through the posts on Graduate schools and the essays like the one by Zapper on how to become a physicist. I am now in the stage of searching for a PhD position. 1. I would like to know what you guys think about the scope of Quantum...

UG senior currently finishing up my applications. Applying to 8 schools (MIT, Stanford, Columbia, Caltech, MSU, Notre Dame, Duke, UW-Seattle for the curious). I have plenty of research experience and a 3.8 gap (higher for math, physics). My recs should all be solid. This past semester was pretty...

Hello all, I'm currently a junior in the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Utah. I'd like to go into either the MS or PhD program in Nuclear Engineering there. There is no BS in Nuclear Engineering offered there, but there is an NE minor for undergraduates, which would allow...

Hi, I'm pursing a B.S. of electrical engineering at my university at the moment. I have like 21 credits which I can freely choose which is a lot. I wanted to take courses that would be required of me if I were to pursue a M.S. in electrical engineering so that way if I ever do finish pursing...

Hi, i am currently studying Industrial engineering in Peru, i will graduate in 2 months. (i will get the equivalent of a BS in industrial engineer) All my life i have been into technology, computers, math, science, etc. Anyways i was wondering if i have a chance of getting into an electrical...

I have a mediocre (by my standards) GPA of 3.34 in the undergraduate math program. However, my graduate cumulative GPA in mathematics is very good at 3.96. I have one semester before I graduate with an MS in mathematics. I'm applying to Phd programs at Kent State University and Ohio State...

Hi there, I am planning on going back to graduate school to get a PhD in Physics. I plan on applying during the fall of next year, and then going back the year after. However, I still need letters of recommendations, and its already been a while since I've last communicated with any of my...

With graduate school applications due soon, I'm looking for some advice on where to apply and what to do after I graduate. I have a strong academic background with a high GPA from a good school. I am a bit light on research and work experience, but my professors seem to think that this won't...

I am a 3rd year Electronics and electrical engineering student. Currently studying in an all engineering college my current interests lie in microelectronics and nanotech, but i really wanted to major in physics and learn more about modern physics or astrophysics. Is there any scope for an...

I have a question pretty specific towards my situation but I think its an interesting thing to think about anyways. I am in the process of applying for graduate programs for the fall, and from two professors I got slightly different advice. One said that I should apply to few top schools, few...

Hello! I just finished my undergraduate quantum mechanics education and am looking to self-study the next level some time soon (after finals!). We used Gasiorowicz in my class: a god-awful pedagogical text in my opinion. Though I've done pretty well in my course (I'm fairly certain I have...

Hi all, I am currently applying to a few PhD programs in mathematics, and I was wondering what your opinion is regarding my chances of being admitted to any of these schools? Below is a very brief description of my background: Institution: Small, not known for math GPA: Overall: 3.94, Math...

Hi, I could use some help in evaluating my choices for a phd program in physics. Below is my background and I was wondering what you thought of my chances at the schools listed below or if you have any suggestions for other schools. I want to study atomic, molecular, optical physics for my...

Hi, I'm about to apply to math PhD programs and on some of the websites I can't tell whether professors are accepting students or not. Would it be appropriate for me to e-mail them and ask? It seems totally reasonable to me, but I thought I would ask anyway.

Hi, I got my BS in Physics/Math in May, but left on a 1-2 year bike trip that is delaying my applying to graduate schools. I plan on applying next fall for admittance fall 2013. My question is: how necessary is it to have specific research interests when applying to graduate school? I am...

Long story short, I am currently a junior mathematics major, and I plan on going to graduate school for physics. My college offers but two, non-calculus based physics courses covering classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism. Correct me if I'm wrong (please!), but I believe that if I do...

Not sure how to disable BB-code here - please feel free to edit. ______________________________________________ Undergrad Institution: (School or type of school, such as big state, lib arts, ivy, technical, foreign (what country?)... Overall Reputation in Physics?) Major(s): Minor(s): GPA in...

Hi everyone, I am currently a Junior Chemistry Undergraduate at UofA. I already made my decision that I want to apply for chemistry graduate school after I graduate from my undergraduate study. Based on several good discussions with other graduate students at my school, they all told me to take...

I know it's possible to get an engineering graduate degree with an undergrad degree in physics. However, I'm not sure about specifics. Is it possible to go into different fields (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, etc.)? Also, do people typically have more luck getting into MS or PhD programs...

For example, a program like the one below. I'm graduating in May with a B.S. in Mathematics and Physics Minor. I'm looking at all the options I have. I'm just wondering if this degree or ones like it are worth the time. I don't know anything about the University of Central Missouri, though...

I've been searching for msc/msc+phd funding in the UK for quite a while but it seems the most I can obtain is a tuition waiver as I don't meet the residency requirements for a living stipend of any sort (3 years in the UK). Consequently I am reconsidering my career options upon graduating and...