- #1
OnlytheEnergy
- 2
- 0
After years of diligence, my undergraduate program will be ending after this year. I have yet to decide on any graduate schools to apply to and don't really think it is worth applying to schools I am sure I won't be accepted to. My problems are as follows:
-My GPA is at a 3.23 entering my senior year (too many B's) though I am at a decent private university.
-I am not the best test taker so expect my GRE score to be in about the same percentile (probably a bit lower) than my 29 on the ACT.
-Majoring in Physics, Minoring in Chemistry and Mathematics
-I've done decent research for three summers but have not done any REUs or anything like that.
-My interests in research and future plans are always overlapping Physics and Chemistry. I am becoming very interested in Nanotechnology like piezoelectric nanogenerators and other physics based chemistry topics (or vice versa).
It is here that my problems lie. Firstly, finding a program that will focus on something I am interested in (maybe not a physics or chemistry graduate program, I have read about Nanotechnology Masters degrees but they are few and far between) seems very difficult as I don't really know how to look without going to each university's website and reading what research each of the professors are doing. I need a way to narrow it down without searching the schools based on ranking or location, but instead by searching the research done there... is it possible?
More importantly, without an outstanding GPA, GRE, or Research experience (though I really hope 3 summers of research is nothing to shake a finger at), what kind of chances do I have for getting into grad school. More specifically, is it more realistic to apply to grad schools that aren't ranked in the top 25 or 50 or whatever; By doing so hopefully having better chances of acceptance and a RA or TA job. It is of the utmost importance that, in getting accepted to a school, I have some form of living stipend on top of paid tuition. I know that is a lot to shoot for, but with a less prestigious school as a goal, is it unlikely?
-My GPA is at a 3.23 entering my senior year (too many B's) though I am at a decent private university.
-I am not the best test taker so expect my GRE score to be in about the same percentile (probably a bit lower) than my 29 on the ACT.
-Majoring in Physics, Minoring in Chemistry and Mathematics
-I've done decent research for three summers but have not done any REUs or anything like that.
-My interests in research and future plans are always overlapping Physics and Chemistry. I am becoming very interested in Nanotechnology like piezoelectric nanogenerators and other physics based chemistry topics (or vice versa).
It is here that my problems lie. Firstly, finding a program that will focus on something I am interested in (maybe not a physics or chemistry graduate program, I have read about Nanotechnology Masters degrees but they are few and far between) seems very difficult as I don't really know how to look without going to each university's website and reading what research each of the professors are doing. I need a way to narrow it down without searching the schools based on ranking or location, but instead by searching the research done there... is it possible?
More importantly, without an outstanding GPA, GRE, or Research experience (though I really hope 3 summers of research is nothing to shake a finger at), what kind of chances do I have for getting into grad school. More specifically, is it more realistic to apply to grad schools that aren't ranked in the top 25 or 50 or whatever; By doing so hopefully having better chances of acceptance and a RA or TA job. It is of the utmost importance that, in getting accepted to a school, I have some form of living stipend on top of paid tuition. I know that is a lot to shoot for, but with a less prestigious school as a goal, is it unlikely?