Got my PGRE scores. What do I do from here?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of a participant's recent Physics GRE (PGRE) scores and undergraduate GPA on their prospects for graduate school admission. Participants explore various strategies for improving their application, including the potential pursuit of a Master's program, while also addressing concerns about recommendation letters and financial constraints.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses disappointment over their PGRE score and questions their chances of admission to reputable schools given their GPA and recommendation letters.
  • Another participant suggests considering lower-ranked Master's programs as a way to improve their academic standing and gain research experience.
  • Concerns are raised about the bias against applicants from the same undergraduate institution, along with the necessity of obtaining new letters of recommendation.
  • Some participants argue that a Master's degree may not significantly enhance admission prospects at top schools, while others believe it could provide an opportunity to improve grades and gain relevant experience.
  • There is a discussion about the importance of recommendation letters, with varying opinions on their quality and impact on the application process.
  • One participant emphasizes the competitive nature of graduate admissions and the challenges faced by applicants with lower GPAs and GRE scores.
  • Another participant counters that a strong performance in a Master's program could demonstrate capability, even if the program is not highly ranked.
  • Concerns about financial implications of pursuing further education are mentioned, with suggestions to consider job opportunities in physics-related fields instead.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the value of pursuing a Master's program versus applying directly to PhD programs. There is no consensus on the effectiveness of improving one's application through a Master's degree or the impact of recommendation letters. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best course of action for the original poster.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight various assumptions about the admissions process, including the perceived biases of admissions committees and the weight of different components of an application. There are also unresolved questions about the financial feasibility of further education and the potential for industry employment without a PhD.

  • #61


*sigh* Thank you for your help. But I don't want this thread to be about me. I already got a lot of help in my thread. I'm just trying to say that when someone asks a question and you tell them something completely different, don't act surprised and offended when they don't appreciate your "help".
 
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  • #62


WarPhalange said:
I was pointing to Vanadium's posts in particular, though. Other people gave me great advice and I do not want to make it look like I am crapping all over those people. I am very thankful for their help. But just like in this thread, all he does is tell me I can't do XYZ. Okay. "What can I do" is my question.
I think Vanadium gave plenty of specific responses to your questions. For example, he told you

Vanadium 50 said:
The schools I listed would have been appropriate - if a bit of a stretch - had you got a 70% on the GRE. But you didn't. You need to look lower. I would say you'd be competitive somewhere around a school ranked 220 or 230 or so. The problem is that there are only 189 PhD granting institutions in the US.

You could look at PhDs.org and get a list of the bottom 10 or 20 schools. Those are your targets - and those are stretch schools.

I think there are two other questions you should be asking yourself. One is "why should a school take me and not someone with a better GRE score and a higher GPA?" I guarantee you that if you don't know the answer to that question, the admissions committee won't either.

So, I think you're unfairly accusing him.

WarPhalange said:
*sigh* Thank you for your help. But I don't want this thread to be about me. I already got a lot of help in my thread. I'm just trying to say that when someone asks a question and you tell them something completely different, don't act surprised and offended when they don't appreciate your "help".

I understand that he might have sounded rude to you, but if you're going to ask for advice on the internet, I think one should expect brutally honest responses, irrespective of one's sensitivities.

That said, perhaps SchatzeDefect and you could stay back a year [in case you get all rejects. it happens :( ], or try for a MS degree before applying. If you're able to do research and perhaps publish your work in a peer-reviewed journal, it'll be great evidence for your potential for graduate research. Best of luck for your applications!
 
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  • #63
Just out of curiosity, what did you decide to do WarPhalange? Go for an MS? Apply for a PhD?

Hope all goes well, good luck.
 
  • #64
Sorry, been gone for a while. My school apparently has an exchange program with Germany, where I get to go to Giessen for a year as an undergrad, even if I'm a senior now. So I applied for that, since there are three spots for it and as far as I know only one other person has applied so far (deadline was last week).

Hah, but it doesn't matter. Why?

Vanadium 50 said:
The schools I listed would have been appropriate - if a bit of a stretch - had you got a 70% on the GRE. But you didn't. You need to look lower. I would say you'd be competitive somewhere around a school ranked 220 or 230 or so. The problem is that there are only 189 PhD granting institutions in the US.

You could look at PhDs.org and get a list of the bottom 10 or 20 schools. Those are your targets - and those are stretch schools.

I think there are two other questions you should be asking yourself. One is "why should a school take me and not someone with a better GRE score and a higher GPA?" I guarantee you that if you don't know the answer to that question, the admissions committee won't either.

o-rly-putin.jpg


Then what say you to this:

Screenshot.png


You will of course note that this is the same email address I registered with here (EDIT: email edited out since enough people saw it already). Irvine isn't a tier one school, but by no means a bottom 20 school (in fact ranked top 30 in US News and World Report). Also they have pretty much everything I would be interested in, so that's a plus for me. This post here? This is just icing on the cake. It's a lot more fun to enjoy your accomplishments when you can also knock someone down a peg at the same time. :biggrin:

EDIT: Bah, made some weird splatters while editing image. Photobucket sucks for editing. =/
 
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  • #65
Congratulations.

Still, there's no need to try and "knock someone down a peg," since Vanadium's comments were quite sound as general guidance. Of course, there are always anomalies to a rule and I think, at least from what I've read in my time here about US grad applications, that yours fits into this category. Good luck with your grad studies!
 
  • #66
Couldn't help but crack a wee grin myself. All the best - be prepared to work a lot harder than you have so far.
 
  • #67
Indeed, congrats WarPhalange, I've been following this thread and am very happy to see you got accepted!
 
  • #68
Congrats. This thread is officially full of inspiration.
 
  • #69
the o'rly of putin was funny as hell!
 
  • #70
cristo said:
Still, there's no need to try and "knock someone down a peg," since Vanadium's comments were quite sound as general guidance. Of course, there are always anomalies to a rule and I think, at least from what I've read in my time here about US grad applications, that yours fits into this category. Good luck with your grad studies!
His wording makes it appear that he is speaking gods words. He has never suggested that they even bother to apply. How are you supposed to be an anomaly if you don't even apply and are being discouraged to apply. He has earned his right to "knock down a peg".
 
  • #71
Warphalanage you might want to black out your e-mail from the letter
 
  • #72
j93 said:
Warphalanage you might want to black out your e-mail from the letter

Agreed. It is very easy to find out who you are using your e-mail address.
 
  • #73
e-mail was to show that it is in fact me, and not a shooped email or from a friend. But sure, since people have seen it, I will black it out now.

Gokul43201 said:
Couldn't help but crack a wee grin myself. All the best - be prepared to work a lot harder than you have so far.

I don't doubt that for a second. I'm already working my *** off with a senior physics lab, lecture, and doing research + some English class which is only a blip on my workload screen.

But I'm looking forward to it. I enjoy what I'm doing now, even though it's hard and there is cussing involved, so as long as I enjoy it I know I will stick to it and see it through.
 
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  • #74
Wow congratulations! I am very happy for you, and I did have a big smile on my face as well. Best of luck WarPhalange!
 
  • #75
j93 said:
His wording makes it appear that he is speaking gods words. He has never suggested that they even bother to apply. How are you supposed to be an anomaly if you don't even apply and are being discouraged to apply. He has earned his right to "knock down a peg".

Ha, yeah, all that "they will have to create new schools that are worse than the current worst schools in order for you to ever get in anywhere" stuff was a little overblown.

I got into UCI too, but WarPhalange's offer is way more awesome than mine in light of this thread. High five, dude.
 
  • #76
I don't understand why some of the posters said he couldn't get accepted anywhere. If I remember correctly, he has around a 3.0 GPA and scored in the 50% percentile on the PGRE. Those aren't stellar credentials, but they're certainly acceptable for some schools.

Someone said that only a third of PGRE test takers end up in graduate school, but that's a very misleading statistic. I'm aware of many physics departments that don't even require a PGRE score. The other two-thirds of test takers aren't skipping grad school because their PGRE scores are too low.
 
  • #77
Some Engineers also take the PGRE to make it look better on their application I hear (from a friend who is majoring in mechanical engineering + dabbling in EE).
 
  • #78
There wouldn't be as many engineers taking it for that reason if they raised the percentage of quantum questions to 20% instead of 12%.
 
  • #79
Congratulations, WarPhalange.
 
  • #80
Ok, this really did make me chuckle.

Well played, sir, well played.
 
  • #81
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8894/kaneklapqo6.gif
 
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  • #82
oh WOW! What did you think made the difference? The 2 years research experience? anyhow, CONGRATS!
 
  • #83
Wow, congratulations! May your work be correct and helpful to humanity!
 
  • #84
Vanadium 50 said:
Congratulations, WarPhalange.

Thank you.
 

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