Chance of admission to Imperial QFFF and LMU MSc Physics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the chances of admission to two specific master's programs in physics: the MSc Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces (QFFF) at Imperial College London and the MSc Physics at LMU Munich. Participants share insights and experiences related to academic profiles, GPA concerns, and the impact of research background on admissions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster expresses concern about their GPA of 3.63/4.0 and seeks advice on how competitive their profile is for the programs at Imperial and LMU.
  • Some participants suggest applying to a range of programs with varying selectivity to increase chances of admission.
  • One participant shares anecdotal evidence of individuals gaining admission to Imperial from less prestigious universities with lower academic standings, implying that admissions decisions may consider factors beyond GPA.
  • There is a discussion about whether a strong research background can compensate for a less-than-perfect GPA, particularly for LMU.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the impact of GPA versus research experience on admissions chances. Multiple viewpoints exist regarding the importance of different aspects of the application.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference personal experiences and anecdotal evidence, but there are no definitive conclusions about the admissions processes or criteria for the programs discussed.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective graduate students considering applications to physics master's programs, particularly those concerned about GPA and academic backgrounds.

zhayan0309
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Hi everyone,

I’m currently an undergraduate student at Peking University in China, which is widely considered the top university in our country. I’m preparing my applications for two programmes that I’m very interested in:
  • Imperial College London – MSc Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces (QFFF)
  • LMU Munich – MSc Physics (theoretical physics direction)
However, I’m not very confident about my academic profile, especially my GPA, and I would really appreciate some advice from people familiar with these programmes.

My background:​

  • University: Peking University (China)
  • Major: Physics
  • GPA: 3.63/4.0 (my main concern)
  • GRE Subject Physics: 930(seems high but rather poor for Chinese students)
  • Research:
    • Worked in a high-energy theory/phenomenology group
    • Second author on a JHEP publication (QCD, multi-loop calculation)
    • Currently studying holography / AdS/CFT and quantum gravity in another theory group
  • Graduate-level Courses:
    • Group Theory II
    • Quantum Field Theory(I and II)
    • Quantum Statistical Mechanics
    • General Relativity

My questions:​

  1. Based on your experience, how competitive are the Imperial QFFF and LMU MSc Physics programmes for someone with my profile?
  2. Does my GPA significantly hurt my chances, even though my university is well-known and my research background is strong?
  3. For LMU, does a strong theoretical background + research help compensate for a GPA that is not perfect?
  4. Any advice on how to strengthen my application would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance! I'd really appreciate any honest feedback or insight.
 
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Your best strategy would be to apply to ~6 programs of varying degrees of selectivity, ranging from top schools on your wish list to the lowest schools that you would consider worthwhile.
 
CrysPhys said:
Your best strategy would be to apply to ~6 programs of varying degrees of selectivity, ranging from top schools on your wish list to the lowest schools that you would consider worthwhile.
I understand what you meant, but I just want to have some preparation for the result.
 
I know people who have gotten into Imperial from far less prestigious universities in the united kingdom with only a first class in their programme. I'm sure the Admissions officers would consider you at Imperial even for QFFF. It's a programme I'm also aiming for, but I'm still completing my undergraduate in physics/mathematics
 

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