Fall 2009 Graduate Admissions Thread

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses the experiences and anxieties of applicants for Fall 2009 graduate programs in various fields, primarily focusing on mathematics and physics. Participants share their application statuses, schools of interest, and areas of research, while expressing their concerns about the admissions process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express their nervousness about the application process and share their research interests, such as differential geometry, mathematical physics, and algebra.
  • Several applicants mention the schools they have applied to, including UCSD, UCLA, MIT, and others, highlighting their specific areas of focus within mathematics and physics.
  • Concerns are raised about the timely receipt of GRE scores by schools, with one participant noting issues with score reporting.
  • There is a discussion about the timing of admissions notifications, with varying opinions on when applicants can expect to hear back from schools.
  • Some participants inquire about the presence of physics and astronomy applicants in the thread, noting a predominance of math applicants.
  • One participant reports receiving an acceptance from a physics program and anticipates more results soon.
  • Disagreement arises regarding the timeline for admissions notifications, with differing views on whether certain schools, like MIT, will notify applicants earlier or later than others.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the shared experience of anxiety during the application process, but there are multiple competing views regarding the timing of admissions notifications and the competitiveness of various programs. The discussion remains unresolved on these points.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the admissions timelines and the varying practices of different universities, indicating that these factors may depend on individual department schedules and applicant strength.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective graduate students in mathematics, physics, and related fields may find this discussion relevant as it reflects the common experiences and concerns during the application process.

  • #61
detunedradio said:
Maybe slightly off-topic, but does anyone have any strong feelings as to whether or not it's a faux pas to e-mail departments to ask if they've made a decision?

Yes. It's not. They're working on your dollar, as you paid them via your application fee; furthermore, your plans might change depending on the results of your applications, and, from what I've heard, rejections are usually slower to arrive.


(I'm in :biggrin:)
 
Last edited:
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  • #62
why is everyone going into condensed matter? what does everyone know that i don't? my whole physics department is condensed matter
 
  • #63
Condensed matter is the largest subfield of physics. Could it be that simple?
 
  • #64
Vanadium 50 said:
Condensed matter is the largest subfield of physics. Could it be that simple?

i guess it could, i was thinking more along the lines that it had the most applications but I'm not sure.
 
  • #65
I am really hoping I get an admissions letter this week. I just want some good news before March. I am keeping my fingers crossed!
 
  • #66
All the best to you and all the others still waiting to hear.
 
  • #67
i guess it could, i was thinking more along the lines that it had the most applications but I'm not sure.

It definitely is. Condensed matter has probably the greatest chance of any subdiscipline to get industry funding. For example, Intel sponsors a lot of my lab's work. Optics is not bad either.
 
  • #68
I just got into Texas-Austin on a Geometry Fellowship!
 
  • #69
JasonJo said:
I just got into Texas-Austin on a Geometry Fellowship!

Excellent! Congratulations!
 
  • #70
Congrats, JasonJo
 
  • #71
JasonJo said:
I just got into Texas-Austin on a Geometry Fellowship!

Congratulations!
 
  • #72
JasonJo said:
I just got into Texas-Austin on a Geometry Fellowship!

Congratulations Jason!
Did you receive their email or did you see it via website or did you email them about it?
 
  • #73
Thanks to everyone.

Yeah they sent me an email last night (weird because it was a Sunday night, I wasn't expecting it all).

I called Texas today about the visiting day and the staff over there is very very helpful and very nice, I am very impressed with how their whole department is run.
 
  • #74
For those who care, UCSD is sending out its first round of admission letters the first week of March. (They just e-mailed me saying that they wanted a list of all math courses + texts I have taken before sending them out).
 
  • #75
moo5003 said:
For those who care, UCSD is sending out its first round of admission letters the first week of March. (They just e-mailed me saying that they wanted a list of all math courses + texts I have taken before sending them out).

Another week? But I want it now!
 
  • #76
Looks like UCSD's first round of decisions is out (Ph.D CME anyway). No aid letter yet.
Anybody want to teach me how to surf?
 
  • #77
Best offer for me (applying for mathematics) seems to be University of Michigan, though I haven't heard back from MIT. Of course, that probably means it didn't happen :D
 
  • #78
Good luck to all!, and remember the hard part of the process starts when the classes begin haha
 
  • #79
I'm starting to get worried, I have yet to hear back from any of my schools :*(.
 
  • #80
Office_Shredder said:
Best offer for me (applying for mathematics) seems to be University of Michigan, though I haven't heard back from MIT. Of course, that probably means it didn't happen :D

Don't despair yet. I was already rejected last weekend by MIT. So, if you haven't heard, maybe your rejected, but maybe you are just on a waitlist.
 
  • #81
Office_Shredder said:
Best offer for me (applying for mathematics) seems to be University of Michigan, though I haven't heard back from MIT. Of course, that probably means it didn't happen :D

university of michigan is a damn good math school
 
  • #82
I got into UCSB, but I turned it down. Hopefully someone will know be able to attend UCSB.

I am still waiting to hear from Duke, that's really the only school I'm realistically waiting for.
 
  • #83
University Michigan and Northwestern rejected me today, though I was accepted into CUNY with a 5-year fellowship!
 
  • #84
Hi guys, I'm new here.

Does someone going to Michigan that fall? I was admitted to applied physics.

Thank you guys
 
  • #85
For all you guys that got into schools for math, did you take the GRE math test? I'm debating whetehr or not to take it?
 

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