Do Extracurriculars Matter for Physics Research Internships and Grad School?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the relevance of extracurricular activities when applying for research internships and graduate schools in pure physics. Participants explore the weight of extracurriculars compared to academic performance.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the utility of extracurriculars in applications for research internships and grad schools.
  • Another participant suggests that the prevailing opinion is that extracurriculars are not significant unless they are exceptionally impressive.
  • A different viewpoint expresses a sense of freedom in physics, implying that passion for the subject may outweigh other factors.
  • One participant asserts that good grades are the most important factor in applications.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the importance of extracurriculars, with some downplaying their significance in favor of academic performance, while others suggest that exceptional extracurriculars could have an impact.

zheng89120
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I was wondering are extracurriculars useful to apply to research internships and grad schools in pure physics?
 
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The prevailing opinion seems to be that nobody cares, unless you can say something really, truly impressive.
 
sweet, that's what i like about physics - lots of freedom as long as you love it
 
Good grades count for the most
 

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