Do I have a chance to get into top physics programs?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the chances of admission to top physics programs for a student with an Electronics Engineering background and significant achievements in theoretical physics. The scope includes application strategies and considerations for prospective graduate students in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the applicant's strong academic record, REU experiences, and high GRE score, suggesting a decent chance for admission to top programs.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of applying to a range of schools, including those with varying levels of competitiveness.
  • There is a query about the applicant's current location, which may influence perceptions of their university's reputation.
  • The applicant specifies an interest in studying theoretical condensed matter physics, which may affect their application strategy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the applicant's chances, with some suggesting a reasonable chance while others highlight the uncertainty based on the applicant's background and the competitiveness of the programs.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not reach a consensus on the applicant's chances, and the discussion includes various assumptions about the impact of the applicant's undergraduate major and the type of physics they wish to study.

Supercondcutor
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Hi,
I know such questions have been asked several times in this forum, but it would be a nice guide for me to choose where to apply.

I am an Electronics Engineering bachelor student from a university in the middle east that does not have a physics program (and physics programs in my country are bad anyway). However, I have two REU's in theoretical physics in Germany (with one presentation and poster), I'm the top of my class (about 500 students) with an A+ in all courses, I have excellent recommendations, I have won several regional contests in math, programming and chemistry, I had several math and physics extracurricular courses and I had a 990 in the physics GRE.

I know that the fact that my undergraduate major is not physics will make the admission committee not sure about my physics background and will be a big minus but I want to ask if
I have a reasonable chance to get into places like Princeton or Stanford, or should I try lower ranked universitirs?
 
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I'm not really qualified to comment, but I got to think you have a decent chance.
 
where are you right now? it'll make a difference
 
ice109 said:
where are you right now? it'll make a difference

I am in my final year at my university in Egypt (probably not a known university in the US)
 
No matter what you think your chances are, apply to both. Apply to a lot of schools. Pick a few that you really want to go to but may not get into. Pick a bunch that you'd like to go to and you think you have a good chance at, and pick a few that you're confident you can get into.

Also, it depends on what kind of physics you plan to study.

Hope this helps.
 
evenkolder said:
Also, it depends on what kind of physics you plan to study.

Well, I am planning to study theoretical condensed matter physics
 

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