Graduate Definition and 1000 Threads

I am currently in the process of finding schools and programs that I would like to apply to for graduate studies, and I thought I'd ask around here for some advice. Quick explanation of what I'm interested in: I am currently an undergrad applied math major with a minor in physics at a large...

I posted this on Reddit and someone recommend I ask here: Also, where can I go to get an idea of fields of research? I know unless I get a 90%+ on the physics GRE I don't have a shot doing Unification stuff. Like I said I really enjoyed QM and Relativity, and the questions they try to answer...

Hello all, I have just finished up taking graduate E&M and will be enrolling in graduate classical mechanics next fall. It has been a while since I have done any kind of mechanics and would like to know which book do you recommend for refreshing/re-learning needed material for grad mechanics...

I don't remember specifically where I read this, I think in a post here, but is it true that PhD programs prefer admitting students who completed their BS in 4 yrs over those who took longer? Ive already been working on my BS for 4 years and am trying to decide whether to cram and finish in...

I am a math major, physics minor senior. Generally speaking, how does the difficulty of an economics master's program compare to my undergrad? Well, I put this in the Social Sciences forum because I thought the people who post in there would have a better idea. This forum really just seems to...

Hello everyone, I recently passed the Nursing Licensure Exam here in the Philippines. After so many disappointing job hunts I was led to a school here which specialized in BS Physics. Instead of offering to me a job, I was asked if I would like to take up BS Physics for free. In other words, a...

I'm currently a sophomore at NYU. This semester I've been taking some pretty hard classes (Functional Analysis being the hardest). I'm probably not going to do so well grade-wise - probably a few B's. Basically, I want to understand as much mathematics as I can before I start graduate school...

Hi, I'm going to UCI next year as a Computer Science major, and I was wondering about some stuff regarding graduate school. I know its kinda early, but I learned from high school that I should definitely plan things earlier :] So, just cause I'm going to UCI, does that mean I can't get...

I'll be concentrating in/researching aerodynamics and CFD. Will I be doing the programming/mesh generation/code execution (or any other intensive computing) on my own computer or the department's super computer/workstations? I had a powerful desktop in ME undergrad and frankly it wasn't really...

This is something I've been wondering about for a while. When I tell people I'm going to graduate school, they inevitably ask me where I'm considering going. The thing is, I have no idea what my list of schools to consider should even look like at this point. I'm a junior majoring in physics at...

I'm facing the question of choosing the right supervisor for my PhD in theoretical physics. On one hand, there are professors who are well-known and have done great work in their youth, but whose publication records in recent years are not great. On the other hand, there are young faculty...

Hi there, I'm currently working on my BS in Physics with plans to do an Astrophysics grad degree. However, I'm not sure if I should go Astronomy or Astrophysics. My university I attend currently does not have an astronomy degree, so I chose to do physics. (I had to go to this university...

I have a question regarding how you choose courses to take in graduate school, and the amount of freedom you have in choosing courses. I'm tentatively planning on applying for admissions to PhD programs for 2012, and I'm planning on applying to a mix of biophysics, medical physics, and high...

First off, though I've been reading through these forums for a while now, this is my first post here, so let me briefly introduce myself. I'm finishing up my third year as an undergraduate in mathematics. Next year, I want to apply to grad school in math, specifically, I'd like to study...

It might be an interesting thing for some grad students to do (it's fun for a while, needs cheap labor, and many grad students have these skills). Might mentioning web design on an application have a small chance of helping? (in the way that teaching experience could also help?)

Hello, I am currently getting out of the army after six years as an officer in the infantry. I would like to go back to graduate school for my Ph.D. in CSE. I have a BSEE with heavy coursework in CSE from the University of Washington. I am just wondering how difficult admissions will be to...

Which "advanced" math courses are needed to prepare for graduate theoretical physics? I am a first year physics student preparing my schedule for next year. I would greatly appreciate advice on what kind of math will help me prepare for graduate studies in theoretical physics. Here is a list of...

When applying to graduate school in physics, how much weight does your undergrad institution carry in your application? I ask because I currently attend a school in the lower rungs of the top 50 and the graduate schools I am interested in attending are highly regarded as being much, much better...

I am a senior deciding between graduate schools right now. I have heard back from all programs but one (I know this program has sent out both acceptances and rejections). I have sent this program two emails, one two weeks ago and another last week, but I have yet to hear a response. I was...

Does taking them as an undergraduate look good on an application for grad school? Undoubtedly, I would say yes. But the problem is that the school I'm at will only let me use 12 hours of graduate credit for undergraduate credit. Also, does the more courses (and the more advanced those courses...

I apologize if this has been discussed before, I didn't find anything. I'll make it short: 1. I have dual citizenship (US/EU), have spent most of my life in Europe (UK) but came to the US for college. I am 22. As a whole, I relate better to europeans and the way of life there. 2. Have a...

Hello, I'm currently going to the University of Alberta taking a double major in Mathematics & Physics (although I can still switch to an Honours Astrophysics degree, which I really want to do... but I think it would be specializing too quickly). I'm essentially wondering how intertwined...

Hello, to make a long story short I had a couple bad semesters and killed my GPA. My personal life was pretty crazy for about 2 years and my motivation and focus on school suffered greatly. I've taken a couple years off from school to get my mind and personal affairs in order and will be...

Hi everyone, I am currently trying to decide where to spend the next 4-6 years of life and I thought it would be a good idea to get as much advice / information as possible before making a decision. I'm holding offers for Oxford, Imperial, Caltech and Princeton for high energy / particle...

Hey there, I'm still at undergraduate level studying Physics right now, but looking ahead at the possibility of pursuing a PhD I'm slightly worried about what some people are saying. I'm currently studying at quite a good university, but seeing as I wanted to do a year abroad to learn a...

I am a sophomore at a Canadian University majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. My overall GPA is 3.44 but I am hoping it to raise it to a 3.7 by the end of my junior year. I have heard that most undergrads apply for graduate schools at the end of their junior year. Since my GPA isn't...

I am an undergraduate mathematics major considering two different options that would lead me to complete a PhD degree in mathematics. I would like advice on my considerations. Option 1) Complete a MS degree, then apply for a PhD program at a better school. (I understand that by not applying...

Right now, I am working towards a BS in physics and applied math, and I have been planning on applying for physics PhD programs next year. However, I would really like to have some time away from academia. I think employment would help secure my finances, better allow me to develop my personal...

Hi, I'm a physics PhD student who is a little curious about interpretations of quantum mechanics (specifically Aharanov's Time-Symmetric theories and Relational interpretations, but others as well). I am interested specifically only in interpretations that are valid in QFT (I can't say I...

I have posted this question in other forums but have not received a clear answer. I am interesting in pursing a Master's degree in EE or BME. Since I have a BS in ChemE, I don't want to take a trillion undergrad courses before entering the EE or BME master's program. Purdue offers an online...

Graduate School--Yale Experience Hi there, I was wondering if I can find any member that goes/went to Yale University for a graduate program. I got accepted into Yale and Michigan for the PhD program in experimental Nuclear Physics/HEP. Though both are equally renounced and are offering kinda...

Does anyone know where to study for Master program in Econophysics? As i know from wikipedia, University of Houston is the one open for Master program. I have been searching for European University, but unfortunately i did not find one of it offer Econophysics course for Master Program. Any...

I have already completed all of my liberal education courses except for one during high school (College Classes). Right now I am a freshmen, so I was hoping I could graduate in 2014, but that may not happen. The problem is that all of the physics courses are only offered during either the Fall...

I am getting to where I am really trying to get myself in shape for the future. I plan on graduating next Spring, so I don't have much time left. The thing I am worried most about is my GPA--it's not the greatest. After finishing my second year, my cumulative was something around 3.0. Since then...

"To what other graduate schools are you seeking admission?" I noticed that the different programs (Financial Engineering) ask this question, but I don't understand what the reason for asking the question is. Can the info influence the decision of the admissions committee ? I think listing many...

Hello, I am an undergrad planning on transferring to UW-Madison for nuclear engineering and will also likely pick up a secondary major in physics. The physics major is more of a safety, because I don't know what I am really interested in at this point... Having both leaves options open...

I'll be graduating next Spring with a B.S. in Mathematics with a Physics minor. I work part-time and attend school at least part-time. If possible, I'd like to start taking graduate classes Fall 2012, probably in mathematics. Would it be possible to have the same schedule? Or are the graduate...

Hello, I have a pretty quick question. So, I am studying mathematics/computer science, double major. However, I think I want to go to graduate school for photonics. With a degree in math/cs, will this be possible to apply into a graduate photonics program? I am also minoring in physics if...

I wanted to ask the many experienced members of PF what they feel the role is. My interest is in math, but I am sure many physics students want to know. As in, are they primarily there to alert us to things we should be thinking about in relation to our research problems? Help us with actual...

I am almost done with applying to graduate schools in mathematics. My new question now is whether to apply my undergraduate institution's graduate program. First of all, all the professors that I have talked to told me that I should go somewhere else for graduate school. And I strongly agree...

I can graduate a semester early or stay and take some grad classes. In the later scenario I want to transfer them to a PHD program (in statistics). However some PHD programs say transfer credits must be taken with graduate status; or they don't accept transfer credits period. In that case...

If one were to go onto experimental/nuclear physics in graduate school, which double major do you all think would be the better/best option? Physics and Applied Mathematics or Physics and Nuclear Engineering The reason I ask is I recently talked to a graduate student in experimental...

I am kind of worried about the jobs i can get after graduating with an Engineering Physics degree right now. I am not that research kind of guy and i am really interested in jobs in engineering part. However, i did a lot of research and most of them show that jobs out there for engineering...

Okay so my primary interest is to pursue cosmology. My question now is what are my chances of getting excepted on a horrendous PGRE score. I just received my scores and it was HORRIBLE like failing, think single percentage. I don't even know how I did so badly I didn't think I did that badly...

Hi I've recently been accepted to grad school in Physics, after some time away from the class room, and have been looking at the sort of questions I'll be asked for the qualifying comprehensive exam. I'm starting to panic a little. Obviously, I'm going to hit the books hard in a number...

Alright, a little background on me first; i attended a nationally accredited college and due to various circumstances, fell into major depression. I wasted about ~3 years of my life doing very little and ended up dropping/failing many of my classes for extremely stupid reasons (not showing up...

Hi, I'm really keen on pursuing higher studies in astrophysics in a US university. But currently in a confused state in selecting a suitable university that does not require GRE physics test to apply. Some say i should write personally to professors of the desired field and if lucky i might...

I'm aspiring to Math Grad School at Harvard, and I had a couple of questions. Is it absolutely necessary to have a 4.0 overall GPA to get in or would they allow maybe one or two B+'s? Which school has a better math grad school, UC Berkeley or Harvard?

Hi all, Due to medical reason, I have problem with noises, and I am graduating from M.Sc soon, I am looking for PhD program in US, Canada, Europe (Australia?) Can you please suggest which good school which is situated at rather rural area, yet strong in physics. My research interest is...

Hello, I am a senior undergraduate majoring in Applied Physics and I plan on starting graduate school for a Master's degree in Electric Power Engineering next year. My question is, how relevant will my Physics knowledge be? So far I've taken an Electronics course where I learned a great...