Chance of getting into a Physics Ph.D program

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the chances of gaining admission into a Physics Ph.D. program, focusing on the qualifications and experiences of a prospective applicant. The scope includes personal academic metrics, application strategies, and insights into the admissions process.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • The applicant presents their academic credentials, including GRE scores, GPA, research experience, and letters of recommendation, and seeks feedback on their chances of admission.
  • Some participants suggest that even if the chances are perceived as "bad," the applicant should still apply and consider ways to strengthen their application.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of thoroughly investigating the schools being applied to, including engaging with faculty and current students, to better assess fit and chances of admission.
  • Another participant estimates the applicant's chances as better than 50-50, noting that applying to a mix of Ivy League and state schools could influence outcomes.
  • There is a suggestion that limiting applications to only the highest-rated programs may reduce chances compared to including a broader range of schools.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the applicant's chances, with some suggesting a positive outlook while others highlight the need for further investigation into the schools. No consensus is reached regarding the overall assessment of the applicant's chances.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of personal engagement with potential programs and the competitive nature of admissions, particularly at highly rated institutions. There is an acknowledgment of the variability in admission standards across different schools.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective Ph.D. applicants in physics or related fields, individuals seeking advice on graduate school applications, and those interested in the admissions process for competitive academic programs.

xdrgnh
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I'm a U.S citizen who went to college in New York State who is looking into doing research in theoretical Cosmology

PGRE 830
GRE Quant: 167
GRE Verbal :156
Major GPA 3.7
Overall GPA 3.6
Honors Magna Cum Laude
Three semesters of research in Hamiltonian Chaos
No published papers
Took Three Graduate Physics classes and got a grade of B or better in them.

I'm applying to 12 schools. Some of them are Ivies while others are state schools.

I have three plus years of experience tutoring college physics.

Also I'm expecting 4 strong letters of recommendation and let's say hypothetically I have a really strong statement of purpose.

What do you guys think are my chances of getting into a PhD program?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Assume we say "bad", what would you do with this information?
 
micromass said:
Assume we say "bad", what would you do with this information?
I would take it with a grain of salt and still apply to all of those schools. Perhaps if you were more specific why bad I would talk to all of my professors and see if I can do anything to bolster my application.
 
Anyone else would like to weigh in?
 
Are you looking for this?
http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5572

The only other comment that I would have is that of the 12 schools you plan to apply to, how many have you made a serious effort to investigate? And by serious effort I mean things like: visiting the school, talking with potential supervisors, talking with current gradaute students, reading up on the research that's being done by the groups there (beyond skimming over professor's web pages). Once you start doing things like this, you'll probably find that you'll develop a better feeling of which schools you have a good chance at attending.
 
Off-hand I would say better than 50-50. You say you will apply to some Ivy some state schools. Berkeley, Illinois, Michigan and Maryland are state schools that are highly competitive. If you limit yourself to say the first 12 highest rated programs, your chances will be less than if you were to include some schools in the top 20 to 30 or even 40. I agree with choppy also that you should investigate the programs thoroughly, (You may have already done this).
 
The state schools are mostly in New York, Jersey and Pennsylvania. Some of them are SUNY's and CUNY's.
 

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