- #1
vincebs
- 148
- 1
Hey guys,
What do you think are my chances of getting into graduate school (either in AMO, condensed matter, or optics)?
I go to the University of Toronto and am in the Physics Specialist program. I used to be in the Mathematics and Physics Specialist program but switched out after my junior year, which is why I'm still in school for a 5th year to complete extra physics courses.
CGPA: 3.25 (1st year: 3.11; 2nd year: 3.24; 3rd year: 3.01; 4th year: 3.56)
My Physics/Astronomy GPA is 3.46 (class average: 2.42) but my Math GPA is only 2.44 which really pulls down my average. Mind you, the math courses I took were all theoretical pure mathematics for mathematicians rather than the math courses that (non-math&physics) physics majors are expected to take but I don't know if the graduate admissions committees will consider that or just think that I can't do calculus. I guess I decided too late that I wasn't a mathematician.
I also took many general education courses that I did really great in, like economics (got an A+) and many languages (Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian)
Research experience:
I did research at the University of Waterloo in computing Raman/IR frequencies of carbon-based molecules, a research-for-credit course at my university to design an imaging system, and further design work and laboratory help at the University of Southern California. None of these are full-blown REUs, I just asked professors I was interested in whether they needed some undergraduate help.
I've also tutored high school and freshman college students in math, French, and English for the past couple of years, at a professional tutoring company.
GRE scores:
Verbal: 600
Quantitative: 800
Writing: 4.5
Subject: don't know yet, I just wrote it today, I'm expecting 750-825.
Which American schools do you think are in my range? Keep in mind that I will be an international student in the U.S., being a Canadian. Should I explain in my personal statement how I switched out of Math & Physics into pure Physics because my math wasn't good enough?
Thanks guys for reading my thread,
Vince
What do you think are my chances of getting into graduate school (either in AMO, condensed matter, or optics)?
I go to the University of Toronto and am in the Physics Specialist program. I used to be in the Mathematics and Physics Specialist program but switched out after my junior year, which is why I'm still in school for a 5th year to complete extra physics courses.
CGPA: 3.25 (1st year: 3.11; 2nd year: 3.24; 3rd year: 3.01; 4th year: 3.56)
My Physics/Astronomy GPA is 3.46 (class average: 2.42) but my Math GPA is only 2.44 which really pulls down my average. Mind you, the math courses I took were all theoretical pure mathematics for mathematicians rather than the math courses that (non-math&physics) physics majors are expected to take but I don't know if the graduate admissions committees will consider that or just think that I can't do calculus. I guess I decided too late that I wasn't a mathematician.
I also took many general education courses that I did really great in, like economics (got an A+) and many languages (Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian)
Research experience:
I did research at the University of Waterloo in computing Raman/IR frequencies of carbon-based molecules, a research-for-credit course at my university to design an imaging system, and further design work and laboratory help at the University of Southern California. None of these are full-blown REUs, I just asked professors I was interested in whether they needed some undergraduate help.
I've also tutored high school and freshman college students in math, French, and English for the past couple of years, at a professional tutoring company.
GRE scores:
Verbal: 600
Quantitative: 800
Writing: 4.5
Subject: don't know yet, I just wrote it today, I'm expecting 750-825.
Which American schools do you think are in my range? Keep in mind that I will be an international student in the U.S., being a Canadian. Should I explain in my personal statement how I switched out of Math & Physics into pure Physics because my math wasn't good enough?
Thanks guys for reading my thread,
Vince
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