Schools Selecting a university for a Physics PhD

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The discussion centers on a physics graduate from Sri Lanka seeking advice on selecting the best university for a PhD program in Condensed Matter Physics and Nanophysics. The individual has strong academic credentials, including a 3.91 UGPA, high GRE scores, and a TOEFL score of 95, and has received offers from several universities, including the University of Virginia, Iowa State University, Washington State University, and Washington University in St. Louis, with a pending decision from Purdue University. A key point raised is that Iowa State University is particularly well-regarded for condensed matter physics due to its association with the Ames Laboratory and proximity to the Wisconsin synchrotron center, making it a strong option for research in this field. Overall, the universities mentioned are recognized for their quality programs, and the individual is encouraged to consider their specific research interests when making a decision.
sachithd83
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Hi all,

I am a physics graduate from Sri Lanka. I applied for several universities for Physics PhD program(Fall 2009). I want your help to select the best university for me. My research interests are Condensed Matter Physics and Nanophysics. My credentials are as follows.

UGPA - 3.91, GRE - Quan:790 Ver:310, GRE PHYSICS - 750, TOEFL - 95

I was accepted from the following universities, with a Teaching Assistantship.
University of Virginia, Iowa State University, Washington State University, Washington University - St. Louis (Hopefully in this week).
Still waiting for a decision from Purdue University.

I want to know what will be the best graduate program for me to pursue my career in the above fields. I'm wondering if anyone can give me some insight into above schools Physics programs.

Thanks in advance for any replies.
 
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All of them are wonderful universities, so congratulations, first of all.

As far as condensed matter is concerned, Iowa State is VERY well-known. It's proximity to Ames lab (it runs that lab for the Dept. of Energy) and also its proximity to the Wisconsin synchrotron center allow for many condensed matter experiments to be done. So you can't go wrong if you go there.

Zz.
 
Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...

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