Going back to graduate school after 3 years, any advice?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the challenges of returning to graduate school for a PhD in Physics after a three-year hiatus. The individual plans to apply in the fall of next year and is concerned about securing letters of recommendation, particularly from former professors and current employers. While the individual has achieved a 90 percentile score on the GRE Physics subject test, concerns were raised regarding the relevance of employer recommendations, as they lack the academic authority to assess suitability for a PhD program.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of graduate school application processes
  • Familiarity with GRE requirements and scoring
  • Knowledge of the importance of academic letters of recommendation
  • Experience in academic research and its relevance to graduate studies
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the specific requirements for PhD applications in Physics at targeted universities
  • Learn strategies for re-establishing communication with former professors for recommendations
  • Investigate the role of research experience in graduate school applications
  • Review best practices for preparing for the GRE and improving test scores
USEFUL FOR

Individuals planning to apply for graduate programs, particularly those seeking a PhD in Physics, as well as professionals considering a return to academia after a break.

Xelloss
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Hi there,

I am planning on going back to graduate school to get a PhD in Physics. I plan on applying during the fall of next year, and then going back the year after. However, I still need letters of recommendations, and its already been a while since I've last communicated with any of my former professors (I graduated about a year and a half ago). On the other hand, I do work a full time job. So I'm wondering if it would be ok to have my employers send letters of recommendations.

I've already taken the GRE's, I scored a 90 percentile on the Physics subject test. Is this score good enough? I believe that they are good for 5 years, correct?

I also have research experience, but that was a while ago while I was still in school. I don't know if they would remember me after a few years...
 
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Letters from your employer are OK, but worthless. Unless they have PhD's in physics themselves, they will not have a clue as to whether you are suited for a graduate program or not, and their letters will be weighted accordingly.
 

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