Admissions GPA Requirements for Strong Graduate Programs

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Strong graduate programs in physics typically expect a GPA of 3.5 or higher, with top-tier programs aiming for near 4.0. However, some programs may accept candidates with GPAs below 3.5. One participant shared their experience of being accepted to four colleges with a 3.45 overall GPA, noting that their physics GPA was 3.23, although not all institutions required it. The discussion highlights the variability in GPA expectations based on the definition of "strong" programs and the importance of both overall and physics-specific GPAs in the application process.
nsatya
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I am now a junior in physics and will be applying to graduate schools in the next year and a half. I've been curious about what kind of GPA that most strong graduate programs would consider to be a respectable GPA. Unfortunately, no one has been able to give me a straight answer to this question yet - not even a ballpark. Would anyone have a good idea about this?
 
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It depends on your definition of strong. Most graduate programs want to see a 3.5 or higher physics GPA, but the top programs want something close to 4.0.
 
I think many grad programs would be satisfied with less than a 3.5 GPA. I got accepted to four colleges with a 3.45 GPA. I don't know if these colleges are "strong" by your definition (the most reputable was probably SUNY-Stony Brook).
 
JoAuSc said:
I think many grad programs would be satisfied with less than a 3.5 GPA. I got accepted to four colleges with a 3.45 GPA. I don't know if these colleges are "strong" by your definition (the most reputable was probably SUNY-Stony Brook).
Was 3.45 your physics GPA or overall GPA? I was also wondering what kind of grades they would expect to see in physics alone.
 
dost thou speaketh of general GPA or thy Physics GPA?
 
nsatya said:
Was 3.45 your physics GPA or overall GPA? I was also wondering what kind of grades they would expect to see in physics alone.

Overall. My physics GPA was actually 3.23, but not every college asked for it.
 
DukeofDuke said:
dost thou speaketh of general GPA or thy Physics GPA?
I was actually wondering about both.
 

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