Troubles applying for US PhD after Cam Part III

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  • Thread starter Thread starter Stan Marsh
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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the challenges faced by students applying for US PhD programs after completing the Part III program at Cambridge University. Key issues include the timing of exam results, which are released in June, conflicting with US PhD application deadlines in December and January. This discrepancy prevents students from using their Part III performance in applications. Additionally, international students face difficulties obtaining recommendation letters from instructors until after the results are published, complicating the application process further.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Cambridge Part III program structure
  • Knowledge of US PhD application timelines and requirements
  • Familiarity with the importance of recommendation letters in graduate applications
  • Awareness of research assistantship opportunities in academia
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the specific application timelines for US PhD programs in your field
  • Explore strategies for obtaining recommendation letters from previous instructors
  • Investigate research assistantship (RA) opportunities in Physics or related fields
  • Consider options for taking a gap year to strengthen your application profile
USEFUL FOR

International students considering a PhD in the US, particularly those transitioning from the Cambridge Part III program, as well as academic advisors and admissions counselors seeking to understand the challenges faced by these applicants.

Stan Marsh
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Hello everyone,
I have just got admitted by Part III at Cambridge. This is a great program so I probably will go there.
One thing concerns me is the troubles applying to US college PhD after finishing Part III. Since all Part III exam results come out around June, and deadlines in applying for US PhD are mostly Jan or Dec the year before, it seems one cannot use his/her Part III performance. This may cause great trouble for the admission to evaluate your materials.
What's more, I have heard that instructors usually do not write the recommendations for you until the Part III math results is out (if you are an international student). That's another big problem.

If anyone knows anything about this, please tell me about it. Really appreciate your help!
 
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This is usually the problem with 1 year masters. Most of the students in Part III are those who did their UG in Cambridge, so getting a letter will be easy, but for internationals it is quite hard. If I were you, I will look for some RA kind of job (don't know if it is possible for Physics) or take an year off and spend time with family!
 

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