Graduate School Odds: Increase Your Chances for Admissions to Top Schools

[Marthius]

I am now a senior and SUNY buffalo and a physics major, and my question is this. What are my chances of getting into a school such as Chicago or Colombia, maybe NYU or one of the UC schools. My scores are as follows
GPA: 3.3
GRE Verbal: 620
GRE Quant: 780
GRE essay: don't have yet
GRE Physics: haven't taken yet

Have done research with two professors at the university in solid state physics

Worked for schools computer help desk for 2 years.

An ideas as to what range of schools i should be looking at would be appreciated. Also dose anyone know if working on a masters degree first would help?

Thank you in advance for your help

 

[diazona]

Something like U. Chicago may be a stretch. I applied there last year, with a GPA of 3.7 at a "tier-1" undergrad program, and didn't get in. But a lot probably depends on how comfortable you are with your research experience. If you're well acquainted with some research topic (within solid state physics, I guess) and you'll be able to get a quick start working with a professor in that area at some graduate school, it should help your chances of admission there. Also, your GRE physics score is going to be reasonably important. To have a decent chance of admission at a top school like Chicago, I'd guess that you'd probably need to get a score of around, say, 930. (Maybe you can find more accurate info from the grad school itself) But of course remember that that's only one factor among several.

 

[Mene]

I cannot predict your chances of getting into specific graduate schools. Admissions decisions are based on a variety of factors, including your academic record, test scores, research experience, and letters of recommendation. However, your GPA and GRE scores are important factors that admissions committees will consider. A GPA of 3.3 is below the average for top graduate programs, but your strong GRE Quant score may help offset that. It may also be beneficial to have a strong GRE essay score and to take the GRE Physics exam, as these can demonstrate your proficiency in the subject area.

In terms of your research experience, it is great that you have worked with two professors in solid state physics. This will be viewed positively by admissions committees, as research experience is highly valued in graduate programs.

As for your question about whether a master's degree would help, it ultimately depends on the specific program and your academic goals. Some graduate programs may prefer applicants with a master's degree, while others may not require it. It may be helpful to research the programs you are interested in and see what their admissions requirements and preferences are.

In terms of which range of schools to consider, it is important to have a mix of reach, target, and safety schools. Reach schools are those that may be more competitive for your profile, target schools are a good match for your profile, and safety schools are those that you have a good chance of getting into. It is also important to consider factors such as location, research opportunities, and faculty expertise when deciding which schools to apply to.

Overall, the best way to increase your chances of getting into top graduate schools is to have a strong academic record, strong test scores, relevant research experience, and strong letters of recommendation. Good luck with your applications!