Chances of Getting Into Cornell, Stony Brook, UIUC for Physics Major

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A physics major with a 3.90 GPA and a GRE score of 1380, expecting around 750 on the physics GRE, is concerned about admission chances at Cornell, Stony Brook, and UIUC, where average GRE scores are notably higher. Despite feeling discouraged, insights from a Cornell admissions talk suggest that a strong GPA and research experience may outweigh GRE scores in importance. The applicant is also apprehensive about the recommendation process, questioning the necessity of individual forms for each school. Another participant emphasizes the need for "safety schools" to avoid the risk of not securing a position after graduation. Overall, the discussion highlights the complexities of graduate school admissions and the importance of a well-rounded application.
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I'm a physics major at a SUNY school. I have a 3.90 GPA, got a 1380 on the GRE and expect ~750 on the GRE physics that I took today. I also have decent research experience. I know you can't really say for sure but what would my odds be for a school like Cornell, Stony Brook, or UIUC?
 
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According to some data I found, the average GRE (for enrolling students) at those schools are

Cornell ~800
UIUC ~780
Stony Brook ~800

Check out gradschoolshopper.com

I think the verbal-quant. split is also important (in particular, the verbal).
 
Euclid said:
According to some data I found, the average GRE (for enrolling students) at those schools are

Cornell ~800
UIUC ~780
Stony Brook ~800

Check out gradschoolshopper.com

I think the verbal-quant. split is also important (in particular, the verbal).
I had a 590/770.

After looking through all the average GRE Physics scores at some of these schools it feels like I have no shot at getting into somewhere good :cry:
 
Keep in mind that if those are average, it means there are people with lower scores
 
I thought you were already in graduate school mathlete, and I thought you were at UIUC for undergrad.
 
leright said:
I thought you were already in graduate school mathlete, and I thought you were at UIUC for undergrad.
No, I'm not... do I know you? :confused:
 
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Also, an unrelated question since I don't want to make too many threads. From what I can see, all these graduate schools require individual recommendation forms. This seems pretty stupid to me. Do people really give their professors a shaft of recommendation forms and ask them to complete each one? I don't think i'd be comfortable applying to even 2 schools because of this (added to the fact that I've already asked for recommendation forms which I can send out through my school's service).

Can anyone "enlighten" me here?
 
mathlete said:
No, I'm not... do I know you? :confused:

Are you the mathlete from the genmay forum? I recall the mathlete from the genmay forum claiming that he posted on this forum.
 
leright said:
Are you the mathlete from the genmay forum? I recall the mathlete from the genmay forum claiming that he posted on this forum.
Hmm... not sure what you mean, I don't know what this genmay forum is?
 
  • #10
well the head of grad school admissions here at cornell gave us a talk this year (senior physics majors) on what he looks for in applications and he said that a good gpa and research experience will be more important than a perfect GRE score anyday. From what he told us, it seems you would be the ideal candidate in his eyes and he will be running the grad school admissions this year...

Now I'm another story all together, i get very good grades in both math and physics and have taken lots of advanced classes and i expect good GRE scores from the test today, but i have no research experience at all so i don't know how schools will feel about me, despite the fact that I specifically am interested in theory rather than experiment.
 
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  • #11
dimachka said:
well the head of grad school admissions here at cornell gave us a talk this year (senior physics majors) on what he looks for in applications and he said that a good gpa and research experience will be more important than a perfect GRE score anyday. From what he told us, it seems you would be the ideal candidate in his eyes and he will be running the grad school admissions this year...

Now I'm another story all together, i get very good grades in both math and physics and have taken lots of advanced classes and i expect good GRE scores from the test today, but i have no research experience at all so i don't know how schools will feel about me, despite the fact that I specifically am interested in theory rather than experiment.
Thanks for that! Makes me feel better

So I'm planning on applying here so far:

Cornell
Berkeley
UIUC
University of Rochester
Georgia Institute of Technology

Does anyone think I have a shot at getting into at least one? I'm so scared about getting rejected from all of them and having no place to go after I graduate :cry:
 
  • #12
Why not put a "safety school" or two on your list? It's fine to aim high, but you don't want to risk leaving yourself empty-handed.
 

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