Navigating Grad School App: Math vs. Physics Focus at School

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the considerations for a student's graduate school application in theoretical physics, particularly focusing on the balance between math and physics coursework, the importance of recommendation letters, and the role of faculty relationships in the application process.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about having a disproportionate ratio of math to physics courses and the implications for their grad school application.
  • Another participant suggests that a strong foundation in mathematics is beneficial for theoretical physics, but emphasizes the need for some physics courses, particularly in mathematical physics.
  • Several participants argue that having at least one recommendation letter from a physics professor is important for a physics grad school application.
  • One participant questions whether their adviser, with whom they have not taken a class, would be a suitable source for a recommendation letter.
  • A later reply highlights the value of recommendation letters from professors who know the student well, particularly regarding their research abilities, suggesting that this may be more critical than classroom performance alone.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of having a balance of math and physics courses and the necessity of obtaining a recommendation from a physics professor. However, there is some disagreement regarding the weight of different types of recommendation letters and the role of the adviser's familiarity with the student.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying opinions on the significance of coursework ratios and recommendation sources, indicating a lack of consensus on the optimal strategy for graduate school applications in theoretical physics.

ehrenfest
Messages
2,001
Reaction score
1
I am a second-year student and I go to a school with a not-so-strong theoretical physics department but a very strong math department. I am planning on going to grad school in theoretical physics.

I will have completed the physics major at the end of this semester and I am deciding which courses to take in the spring.

Will it look bad on my grad school application if I have a 5 to 1 ratio of math to physics courses and I write a senior thesis in math not physics and have recommendations from only math professors?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
If you plan on going into theoretical physics, then it should not hurt you to have a strong basis in maths. However, you should still try and take some physics/mathematical physics (relativity, QM, etc..)
 
Also, I would say that you should have at least one letter from a physics professor if your planning on going to grad school for physics.
 
G01 said:
Also, I would say that you should have at least one letter from a physics professor if your planning on going to grad school for physics.

Does my adviser, who I haven't taken a class with, count?
 
ehrenfest said:
Does my adviser, who I haven't taken a class with, count?

I'm only a third year myself, but from my experience with REU letters of rec, it is usually good to get a letter from someone who knows you well and has had you for class so they can comment on your work ethic and such. It is also very useful to have a letter from someone who can comment on your research abilities and potential. I would consider the second more important if you are going to grad school, since your class room ability can already be somewhat assessed using your GPA.
 

Similar threads

Schools How good and well-known is the physics program at RPI?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
Other Physics PhD after working for few years
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Admissions Curious about my grad school prospects
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Admissions Graduating a year early anxieties + grad school
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Admissions Feedback for my grad school SOP for theoretical particle physics
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Admissions Research experience for physics grad school application
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Courses Advanced Math for Computational Material Science Engineering
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Schools Help with shortlisting graduate programs in HEP-PH/TH
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
Admissions Grad School Admissions: Which do I Bother With?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Admissions Need advice for Low GPA / Good Research / HEPth PhD application
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
7K