Admissions Direct Entry to PhD Program -- Advice Please

[gleem]

I am a second-year combined honour in physics and math with prerequisites for 4th-year math courses.

I will graduate as a 5-year undergrad rather than the typical 4.

Since I am already taking most of the physics upper-level courses other than some bio/ medical/ zoological physics and some application/ experiment, the math electives are the only courses that are somewhat related to physics.

As @Vanadium 50 pointed out, are there any less "counterproductive" pathways to show a stronger interest/intent for physics research? (I have taken multiple economics courses: micro, macro, game theory, international trade, and econometrics since I was considering double honours in physics and economics, but decided on combined physics and math in the end. Hence, there is a reduced number of elective credits remaining.)

I am late in this thread. Let me review my observations. You are a combined math physics major in your second year having already taken most upper-level physics courses and presumably quite a few math courses. You are seeking advice on additional math courses before you graduate. You have a noted interest in finance which has taken some of your time, and have entertained the possibility of finance related internship to help with acceptance to a top graduate school.

The issue is that I will not have enough elective credits to take all of them since the combined honour requirements already took a big chunk.

I am confused about your situation when you state that there is little time left for the math courses that you wish to take. You have three years left; you said you will be a five-year student. Three years is a lot of time for required nonmajor courses.

Why five years? I wouldn't say you are a five-year UG like a pharmacist if you took a gap year. How many credit hours have you taken so far in physics and math? How many in non-physics/math courses? How much time have you devoted to research? Have you talked to an advisor? Why is finance so much of an interest that you would consider an internship in it rather than something related to physics?

 

[gwnorth]

One typical reason for Canadian students to take 5 years to graduate is that many do a year's worth of co-op/ internship.

 

[Darmstadtium]

I hope you did not mind disclosing this info (specifically, the school you are currently attending).

No problem at all!

 

[Darmstadtium]

Why five years? I wouldn't say you are a five-year UG like a pharmacist if you took a gap year. How many credit hours have you taken so far in physics and math? How many in non-physics/math courses? How much time have you devoted to research? Have you talked to an advisor? Why is finance so much of an interest that you would consider an internship in it rather than something related to physics?

I see that this thread diverged a bit, but thanks for the reply, which put it back in focus! I have now mostly decided on which math electives to take based on the helpful responses above.

I tried to convey that I would indeed have many upper-level physics and few math courses left, but they are part of graduation requirements, and not many physics electives exist beyond that.
I would have a few years ahead of me, but I am very much so limited by the credit limit of 180 rather than the lack of time since I have already taken many electives in economics. This leaves me with 27 credits (about 7 courses) for math (or even CS, Stats if more beneficial to my application in showing additional computational proficiency) electives after subtracting the required courses for the degree.

For your second point, the reason for five years is precisely what @gwnorth mentioned. I got accepted into our Co-op program, which has both industry and off-campus research positions at TRIUMF (mostly particle physics rather than quantum), requiring an additional full year. This leaves me with the question of whether that extra year is worth it since I am already participating in summer research (exactly NSERC USRA) since June (to Aug).

Summer research awards like NSERC USRA or those specific to your university are really beneficial.

Additionally, the combined honours degree itself requires more courses with an honours thesis (an extra half a year) to complete. Since I had many high school advanced transfer credits and took many courses during my winters and first-year summer, the extra time was actually reduced, and it allowed me to take upper-level electives.

I am purely interested in the finance internship as an experience since I am currently already in a physics summer research program. This left me wondering if another summer with a different project/supervisor is truly worth it (for the research experience/LOR since no name on publication). The internship I am hoping to apply for next summer would be a quantitative researcher position at a top proprietary trading firm on Wall Street. Due to its high competitiveness, application and preparation will start in the upcoming months. The chances are slim, but if (a very small if) I was admitted, how would that compare to "something related to physics" in the eyes of the graduate school admission committee?

If you can get a publication all the better

An additional note is that I will not be able to add my name to this summer's research paper when all things considered. What are some pathways to undergraduate publications in physics?

I have yet to have meaningful conversations regarding my postgraduate plans with my University supervisor and professors (nor with potential graduate school advisors) if that is what you meant by getting in contact.

Thanks for the guidance here!!

 

[gleem]

Thanks for clearing things up>

Due to its high competitiveness, application and preparation will start in the upcoming months. The chances are slim, but if (a very small if) I was admitted, how would that compare to "something related to physics" in the eyes of the graduate school admission committee?

If you do not get the internship what will you do what is your Plan B.

I can not see how an internship in finance can be of much value for helping you to get into a top grad program. If the only value is development in computational expertise it would seem more fruitful to develop that expertise in a physics related field.

 

[Mordred]

For your second point, the reason for five years is precisely what @gwnorth mentioned. I got accepted into our Co-op program, which has both industry and off-campus research positions at TRIUMF (mostly particle physics rather than quantum), requiring an additional full year. This leaves me with the question of whether that extra year is worth it since I am already participating in summer research (

I too did an undergrad internship at TRIUMF back in 88, 89 yes it is definitely worth it. I even found simply being in the position of Control system operator was an eye opener. It's one thing to learn from literature but it's quite an eye opener seeing the practical applications.

It's an excellent facility you will find that you will be working in a very friendly and helpful environment with lots of local seminars lectures you can arrange to attend at the other nearby universities etc.
I should mention TRIUMF is heavily involved in medical cyclotron applications. Though through smaller cyclotrons than the main facility. Whichever model they are currently using.

 

[CrysPhys]

I am purely interested in the finance internship as an experience since I am currently already in a physics summer research program. This left me wondering if another summer with a different project/supervisor is truly worth it (for the research experience/LOR since no name on publication). The internship I am hoping to apply for next summer would be a quantitative researcher position at a top proprietary trading firm on Wall Street. Due to its high competitiveness, application and preparation will start in the upcoming months. The chances are slim, but if (a very small if) I was admitted, how would that compare to "something related to physics" in the eyes of the graduate school admission committee?

If your immediate goal is to position yourself as strongly as possible for admissions to a physics PhD program, then apply for an internship related to physics research rather than finance. The finance internship, however, could be useful for providing you with exposure to and experience in a future Plan B option. Statistically, most physics PhDs do not end up in academic physics research careers.