Admissions What are my chances for PhD in physics after my MSc physics?

[Astroparticle]

Hello, everyone, I have a BSc in physics with a GPA of 3.6 in a 4.0 system. After my BSc, I was working in my country for about 2 years at a research institute, and at that time I didn't truly understand what is research and what I should specialize furthermore in physics, etc.
Now, I'm studying abroad and almost finishing my MSc.
The problem is I will graduate with a GPA of 4.2 in a 5.0 system. The reason for this considerably low GPA is that it is the very first time I'm studying abroad and due to the pandemic, with which my start of the MSc program was coinciding, and my extreme homesickness, my very first semester GPA was basically f'cked up. But after the homesickness period ended, and I adjusted to the education system here, my GPA started increasing after my first semester. I'm studying in Europe and thanks to the MSc nature of this program, I have taken many different subi-field courses. In the second half of my MSc, I truly understand what specific field I want to. But it was after I started working on my MSc thesis, unfortunately. My MSc thesis field is space plasma physics. But I want to do either particle physics or astrophysics Ph.D. after my graduation.
What are my chances for Ph.D. in physics considering my first-semester low GPA and slightly different sub-field thesis?

 

[jedishrfu]

The problem in the US is that the MS and PhD are somewhat linked. You can get an MS at a lot of universities but some don't have PhD graduate studies and transferring to one that does will mean getting accepted into a PhD program and likely retaking some or all courses you took to get your MS. Next you'll need to pass a qualifying exam before getting accepted into a program.

Basically, the graduate studies programs prefer that candidates are recent young undergrads with a BS in Physics and they will train them into PhD people. This preference makes it difficult to transfer in with an MS at least that has been my experience.

@Vanadium 50 and @PeterDonis and @bhobba will have a better grasp here.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Since programs vary by country it would be helpful to know where you are coming from and where you want to go to.

 

[Choppy]

For what it's worth, lots of people successfully change subfields between an MSc and a PhD. You have to climb the learning curve again of course. In my experience (Canada) transferring fields doesn't count against you. The people on admissions committees can recognize that not everyone figures out what they really want to do right out of undergrad.

A sub-par performance in the graduate program will be a potential flag though. I can't say by how much. I don't know your system. An upward trend is good, but remember you'll be competing against people who've had high marks all the way through.

 

[Astroparticle]

I'm from a Czech university, and I want to go to any EU countries or English-speaking countries like the US, Canada, Australia, etc. So, pretty much open to any options.
I know first-semester performance causes sound like an excuse, but believe me, homesickness truly affected me, I even needed psychological consultations.
So, what are my options, and what should I do or improve considering my current situation?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Normally, one goes to graduate school one tier down from their undergraduate. This is a distribution of course, but that's kind of where it is centered.

I would say Charles University is comparable to perhaps Indiana or Iowa State in the US. Less strong universities will have corresponding less strong peers.

You will probably need to center your applications two tiers down because of your record.,

The least damaging thing to do is to apply to small deparments that are strong in your subfield of interest. The highly ranked tend to be big, so you can use this to your advantage.

 

[Astroparticle]

I see. What do you think PGRE in this case? I know what PGRE is, but I haven't started preparing for it. Will this help my situation?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Obviously it will only helop for schools that look at it.
Will a high score help? It can't hurt.

 

[Vanadium 50]

sound like an excuse

It is an exclude. Perhaps a good excuse, but an excuse nonetheless.

The problem is that grad school is competitive. The question that will be asked is not "is he a nice guy and should we give him a chance?" but "we have N slots to fill amd who are the strongest candidates?"

This particular excuse has another problem. People will ask "If moving from Brno to Prague (picking two cities at random) caused debilitating homrsickness, what will happen if he comes here to Australia?"

 

[Astroparticle]

Yeah, but why I'm saying it's truly affected is I'm from a non-EU country and it is the very first time I'm studying abroad. Back in my home, I always stayed at my home, not going out that much even in my home country. I was kinda spoiled in the sense that I'm basically under the guidance of my parents living with them. So, I have experienced living abroad life for the first time and now I'm good at it. I'm sure that such extreme homesickness won't appear again.
What is done is already done. Do you think my case is hopeless?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Do you think my case is hopeless?

Did you read what I wrote?

You will probably need to center your applications two tiers down because of your record.,