Odds on Grad School Admissions

In summary, the person asking for advice has a overall GPA of 3.1 and a physics GPA of ~3.55 due to poor performance in their first year of school. They have done well in other areas, including two years of undergraduate research, two second-author publications, and high scores on the GRE and PGRE. They are also a lab TA and will have two good letters of recommendation. They are unsure of what range of schools to apply to, but have been advised to focus on departments with research in their areas of interest. They are also considering pursuing a master's before a PhD due to their lower GPA. However, their publications are in respected journals and they have contributed to the research. Overall, they are worried about their
  • #1
dsamsonite
3
0
Due to poor performance the first year or so of school, I have an overall GPA of 3.1 and a physics GPA of ~3.55. I've done pretty well otherwise, at least I think I have. Can someone tell me what range of schools to which I should be applying.

GPA: 3.5/3.1 Major/Overall (all As for the past three semesters)

Research: Two years undergraduate research. Two second-author publications. A couple of poster presentations and one small talk.

GRE: I am in the 90th percentile on the GRE and PGRE.

Other: Lab TA for two semesters. White American male.

I will have two very good letters or recommendation.

I know I can get in somewhere, I'm just not sure where I should apply.
 
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  • #2
I would aim for departments that are doing research in areas that you're interested in rather than an apporiate "range" of schools. Academic pedigree doesn't count for nearly as much as people seem to think it does.
 
  • #3
Thanks for the response. Yeah, I am planning on applying to places that have professors doing research in areas that I am interested.

The problem is, I can't apply to twenty schools. I didn't know if I would be able to weed some out based on my poor GPA.

Also, should I improve my prospects by pursuing a master's before a phd? I'm just worried about my GPA.
 
  • #4
Firstly, as a caveat, I know nothing about the US system, but from what I've read of people's stats over the years here, your GRE, research and letters look to make up for a low(ish) GPA. If your transcript clearly shows that your poorer grades were in lower years, and you write a personal statement thing (or whatever it's called) that also highlights this, then I don't see why you'd be rejected because of that. Still, there may be some automatic lower limit that I don't know of. What are your publications like; are they in respected journals in your field? How much input did you have in them?
 
  • #5
Yeah, the publications are in respected journals. I collected data for them and worked with my adviser on some of the experimental setup. I 'helped' him write one of them, but I think he could have done it without me, haha. My roommate seems to think that I won't have a problem getting into a school that I want, but I'm just worried I guess.
 

What are the odds of getting into grad school?

The odds of getting into grad school vary depending on a variety of factors such as the competitiveness of the program, your academic qualifications, and your application materials. Generally, the odds are higher for less competitive programs and lower for highly competitive programs.

How can I improve my odds of getting into grad school?

To improve your odds of getting into grad school, you should focus on strengthening your academic qualifications, such as maintaining a high GPA and taking relevant courses. Additionally, you should ensure that your application materials, such as your personal statement and letters of recommendation, are strong and tailored to the specific program you are applying to.

What are the most important factors in grad school admissions?

The most important factors in grad school admissions vary depending on the program, but generally, they include academic qualifications, research experience, letters of recommendation, and a strong personal statement. Some programs may also consider factors such as work experience and extracurricular activities.

What are some common mistakes to avoid in grad school admissions?

Some common mistakes to avoid in grad school admissions include submitting a generic personal statement, not following application instructions, and not having strong letters of recommendation. It is also important to avoid submitting incomplete or late applications.

Do I need to have research experience to get into grad school?

Having research experience can certainly strengthen your application for grad school, but it is not always a requirement. Some programs may prioritize research experience, while others may focus more on academic qualifications. It is important to research the specific program you are applying to and understand their priorities in admissions.

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