Phd Definition and 1000 Threads

I'm just starting back to school as for a BS in Physics and my plan is to follow that up with a PhD. While I can largely get my BS as a part time student over the next 4 years, when it come time to work on the PhD, I'll of course have to do school full time. I do have a plan in place where most...

(or tell me whatever your opinion is) I am in my second summer as a graduate student and have reached a point where I am questioning all my decisions. I used to think that what was most important in my professional life was that I be doing something I loved (and that it at least payed...

that's what one of my math profs told me. i forgot what the industry needs to be in order to make that much as an entry level. perhaps insurance?

Hello folks, I am from Hong Kong studying in a university in HK, major in Physics. Next year will be my final year of undergrad (3 yr undergrad program) and I am considering applying for graduate schools in the US. My major research interests lie on particle physics and particle physics...

Greetings Physics Forums, Yes, checking for typing errors apparently is not my strong point! I'm a few months away from my defense, and have been considering the next step for a few months now. My PhD will be from a physics department, but I have been doing what amounts to biological...

Hello everyone, This is my first post! :) I want to ask you about the pros and cons of doing a PhD in Astrophysics in Europe or USA. First, I'm going to talk about my current situation. I got my bachelor's degree in physics two months ago, at University of Antioquia, Colombia. I have some...

I was wondering how I could make connections in industry while still a PhD student. I know about job fairs and conferences, but are there other ways to make friends/contacts while still in the early stages of PhDdom so that I have viable options when I graduate?

I'm a little bit over half way through my PhD (particle physics) at a good UK university and I don't know what I'll do next. So far the only things in my head are "post-doc" or "something else", but I'd like to know roughly what sort of wage you would be happy with if you were in my shoes...

I am a rising junior in a US college and I plan to apply to a top physics PhD program. I am both a physics and a math major, and I am more interested in theoretic physics rather than experimental. So should I also take the GRE Math Subject Test?

I am an Undergraduate in Electrical Engineering. I have been in an internal struggle about a PhD; I am particularly interested in Applied physics programs since traditional physics programs bore me, and my interests include medicine. I have taken upperlevel physics in mechanics, E&M 1,intro...

Hi I am a Physics masters student from India in a college in Texas. I want to pursue a PhD in Astronomy (observational/radio) Australia. I have heard Australia is very good at obs astronomy - however google searches are revealing a lot about the telescopes and other facilities there but...

Hi I am a Physics masters student from India in a college in Texas. I want to pursue a PhD in Astronomy (observational/radio) Australia. I have heard Australia is very good at obs astronomy - however google searches are revealing a lot about the telescopes and other facilities there...

Hi I wil be starting a PhD in particle/accelerator physics in September it's titled " beam dynamics and beam beam effects for Hilumi LHc and LHeC" Has anyone got any advice for me? It's a fully funded Phd at Manchester university Uk, but it's mainly based at the cockcroft institute. I'm...

I am an undergrad at a pretty high ranking university, my GPA is acceptable but not phenomenal, and my research history, while it's there, is not phenomenal either. I don't think I will be able to get into a PhD program anywhere close to the ranking of my current institution. But I do want to do...

Hello, I am currently doing a coop with a nuclear power company as a mechanical engineer. I was wondering if it is worth it to keep going with my education as far as a masters degree then phd, or will it not make a difference in pay?

My question is whether it is a bad idea to be a physics graduate student with an EE advisor. I ask this because I'm interested in nanophysics at Carnegie Mellon University. On the physics website on the nanophysics page they have listed 6 EE professors and 5 physics professors. It seems likely...

Hi, I am planning to join M.S in MIS/IS next year. For e.g:-i)http://mays.tamu.edu/info/prospective/undergraduate/mis/ ii)http://business.uc.edu/programs/graduate/ms-is/academics.html Is it possible to pursue a phd in Semiconductor Devices/VLSI/Device Physics after this? Or, an MS in...

I am going into my senior year in high school, and I have been gradually trying to narrow down my choices for what to do with my life after high school. I have a passion for math and science, and have been debating becoming a physicist. My only hold ups are the job opportunities, and salary. Any...

Hello all! I'm a 3rd year grad student getting his PhD in Physics, primarily astro-particle theory. I have a huge passion for physics but as I ever so slowly tip toe my way to this degree my mind looks down different potential paths I could take after I get it. One path, which has always...

My main reasons to want to do it would be - because I love to study (both solving problems and doing research) - to feel like I have made a contribution to the field - Also, the title of a PhD is attractive and earns respect; it's like having a huge intellectual penis. - I'm not really in...

Recently I joined a PhD program in a small unknown university in Asia. In the department, most of the faculties work on material and nano science except a professor who works on Astrophysics. The astrophysics professor agreed to be my supervisor and he asked me to work in the field of X-ray...

So i just finished an oral examination the other day and I feel completely humiliated. I answered some questions correctly but I had massive brain-farts and I couldn't keep a coherent thought alive for more than a few seconds. I felt completely overwhelmed with the situation and I feel as...

I am currently a year 2 uni student in University of Sydney. I want to continue my career as a physicist and work in University while doing my research. I am wondering 1) How good does your academic record need to be in order to do Phd? 2) Does it cost less or more comparing to bachelor...

I am wondering what looks better on a CV: that I published a lot, but stayed in my PhD institution for 6 years or so, _or_ that I finished my thesis quickly, and graduated quickly? Some professors' CVs say they started their PhD in 1968, and finished in 1971 (Charles Thorn of University of...

Ok so I am currently averaging 80-90% in my undergraduate course in theoretical physics in the UK, if all goes according to plan and my application gets accepted next year I would like to pursue my Msc/PHD in a programming heavy research field at Imperial College. So my question boils down to...

Hi All, The other day an old high school buddy of mine emailed me asking if I could find out about the general cost of master and PhD programs in math across American schools. I grew up in one of those 'stan countries', but have been living in the US for 7 years now. He's still there and as far...

I was just curious to know if this transition were possible. Economics seems like a woefully misunderstood field, and I feel as though physicists would have a good knack for it. Is this suspicion correct, or false?

I am 16 with a passion for physics, I am not by any means a genius but I am good at physics and best in the year (based on results). I've read on degree choices that a degree in physics is like a VIP pass to jobs as it shows you can think logically etc. some people in my class underestimate how...

I didn't get into graduate school this semester so I'm going to have to reapply for spring. This made me question my original plan. I wanted to get a MS in computational science then maybe go back for a physics PhD. I thought the skills for computational science would be very helpful in...

First of all, my GPA isn't that great-I should have put in much more effort than I have and it is the end of my sophomore year. I'm not sure yet about what topic in astrophysics I want to study (it's all equally fascinating at this point) but I do want a Ph.D. in it... That being said, should...

I'm looking to apply for a PhD program in Medical Physics. I am currently majoring in Medical Physics, but my GPA is only a 3.33. I have been doing research and see people who are applying with much higher GPAs than mine. My question is: if I don't get accepted anywhere, what should I do?

Someone told me that if you get "accepted" into a Phd program but have to pay your tuition and don't receive a stipend then that is the university politely rejecting you. My question is this, if i was truly accepted into a Phd program at a university in the states, will they most likely pay my...

I've often heard on PhysicsForums that career prospects are bright for theorists who paid attention to their math fundamentals and learned to program. That's me! It's also several of my fellow grad students. I suspect many others on this forum are in similar situations, and they may also benefit...

Bachelors In Mathematics and PhD In Physics Hello, As of now, I am maneuvering through undergraduate work, with the intention of gaining a bachelors in mathematics and (someday) a PhD in physics. For my mathematics courses I have taken, I have done all three calculi, discrete mathematics...

It is my understanding that Master's and PhD students take the same classes the first 2 years of their graduate career. If someone with a Master's graduated and went back for a PhD later on what do the first 2 years of their PhD career consist of if they've already taken the courses a person...

(I've been reading PF for years now, and decided I should finally contribute. Unfortunately, my first significant post is a question, but I hope that will change in the near future!) I'm graduating in May with a double major in Physics and Mathematics, and I have a couple offer for graduate...

Hi, I'm an undergraduate student from India pursuing my final year of Electronics and Communication Engg. I'm interested in applying to top 15-20 universities in US. I'm looking for research-oriented education but I don't think I stand a chance to join the PhD programs since I have no research...

It seems to me, and correct me if I am wrong, that someone with a masters in physics has just as much concrete knowledge of physics as someone who has a PhD (generally). After you get a masters you have pretty much taken all the courses one could take right? The next step is to APPLY the...

I feel like this question has probably been asked but i couldn't find it anywhere. Is getting a PhD in physics from just a local university that's not highly ranked worth it? In general, how better off would someone be if they graduated from an ivy league? Do the majority of the tenured...

Hello! If I finish my PhD in physics in Scandinavia, how are the job possibilities in the US if I move there? I mean how does the PhD finished in Scandinavia correspond to that PhD in the US. Are they equivalent? Thanks in advance.

Hello, I'm nearing the end of my first year as an undergrad in physics at a Russell group university. I'm currently registered on the Bsci course, straight physics. I'm interested in theoretical particle physics, and if (as I hope to do) a phd I think that's what I would like to do it in. My...

I'm scrambling to complete my dissertation before the end of the semester but I'm not sure if I'll make it in time (deadline is May 6th). I feel like if I had an additional month or so I could definitely complete all the requirements (defense, revisions, etc), but then my degree would not be...

Hey all, It's getting time for me to start applying to schools for my PhD, looking to pursue a PhD in quantum physics. If given the opportunity should I stay in the US or travel? Relevant info-I'm finishing up my masters at the moment, thesis option. IR

I've read various post on this matter here actually. However I'll do some rant on my story: I'm currently a masters student (quantum physics, with maybe 60-70% programming content). I always had an interest in how computer works but I did not got into the CS degree. Now, I am planning for my...

Hello, I didn't see a place to post introductions, so I suppose I'll jump right in. I'm currently going back to school after a six year stint in the finance industry (protip: not a fun or fulfilling field). The way that Colorado's Department of Higher Education has the university system...

Hi It is not seldom to hear about a physicist who did his/her PhD in theoretical high-energy physics/astro-physics/solid state, who then move on to a rather quantitative position in the industry, e.g. in a bank. I hear the same about people that did an experimental PhD, where statistics and...

Does anybody know a university/country where PhD in Physics/Electrical Engineering can be obtained in less than 5 years?

I am a senior undergrad who will be enrolling in a PhD program next semester. I haven't decided yet on the exact program, but the offers that I have received guarantee an average stipend of about $22,000 per year. I believe health insurance is also included in most packages (although I will...

Hi Is it possible for a student with a MSc in physics to do a PhD in an engineering field, e.g. electrical or mechanical? There are a parameter I am mainly concerned with here: With a degree in Physics it is reasonable to assume that the student should be able to learn the necessary...

I've put myself in a sticky situation. One of my friends referred me for a quant internship in NYC and just for fun I went along with it. He already works there full time but he's also already finished his PhD. They flew me out last week for an interview and I recently got the offer... The main...