Other Could/Should I still go for a PhD?

[twatw]

Hello, I’m a fairly recent math and physics bachelor in the United States and I wanted to ask about some advice about higher education. I know similar post have probably been made before, so I’m sorry in advance if similar questions to mine have been asked and answered already.

I am interested in quantum field theory and condensed matter, so I had wanted to pursue a PhD in those subjects after my undergrad. But I had a lot of family circumstances that distracted me away from my studies the last two years of my undergrad ( I had to skip quite a few classes and ended up not doing too well in a lot of classes my junior and senior year). Overall I have probably about 55:45:5 split for A:B:Cs in my physics courses, and a gpa that’s slightly below a 3.5.
I did do quite a bit of research during my undergrad, presented some of that research and wrote a research thesis. But overall, I feel that my resume is much too weak.

I am taking a gap year where I hope to do more research and maybe take the physics GRE, but I’m honestly not sure how much it would help. I’ve heard that some programs may just throw out my application when there’s so many non As in my core classes. My advisors haven’t said anything that would deter me from applying, but I feel like my resume is well below the average applicant.

All in all, would you say I still have a ok chance to get into a decent program, or would it be better to give up on grad school?

Sorry for ramblings so long. And thank you for your time.

 

[hutchphd]

Are the "family circumstances" likely to recur? So did you get A in any of the core courses EM, Thermo, Quantum, Math methods? and, most importantly :
Why are you asking these questions of strangers instead of your advisors?
There are no great answers here and I would not presume to advise you.

 

[Choppy]

If you're interested in graduate school, take time to research some good fits for you, talk it over with your advisors and then apply. You may or may not get accepted, but if you don't at least take a shot you certainly won't get accepted at all.

 

[gmax137]

But I had a lot of family circumstances that distracted me away from my studies the last two years of my undergrad

I'm sure the details are important to you, but my advice is not to spend much energy on these thoughts.

 

[CrysPhys]

But I had a lot of family circumstances that distracted me away from my studies the last two years of my undergrad ( I had to skip quite a few classes and ended up not doing too well in a lot of classes my junior and senior year).

Are the "family circumstances" likely to recur?

I'm sure the details are important to you, but my advice is not to spend much energy on these thoughts.

OP: Grad school is substantially more intense than undergrad, and overall more consuming of your life. Although I agree it's not useful to dwell on past negative events, I also agree that you need to ensure that these past negative events have indeed been fully resolved before you enter grad school. You don't need to discuss this further here. But it is the #1 issue for you to squarely face.

My advisors haven’t said anything that would deter me from applying, but I feel like my resume is well below the average applicant.

<<Emphasis added.>> But that's not good enough. You need to ask them directly and candidly, "What do you think my chances are?" After all, I assume that you will be asking at least some of them for letters of recommendation.

I am interested in quantum field theory and condensed matter, so I had wanted to pursue a PhD in those subjects after my undergrad.

<<Emphasis added.>> With respect to condensed matter, are you also limiting yourself to theory, or are you open to experimental? For experimental physics (any specialty), you can leverage skills and experience outside of your mainstream coursework on your application. E.g., skills and experience in instrumentation, machine shop, electrical design, mechanical design, wet chemistry, computer programming ... are valuable in the lab. Do you have them? If so, they could strengthen your application.

I am taking a gap year where I hope to do more research and maybe take the physics GRE, but I’m honestly not sure how much it would help.

How much additional research and a strong showing in the Physics GRE will go towards offsetting your undergrad record is anybody's guess, but they certainly won't hurt. And they would certainly be your best attempt at offsetting your undergrad record.

Do you have definite plans for your gap year? Will you get paid?

What is your Plan B should you not get into a suitable grad school program? Will your gap year prepare you for that contingency?