What sort of schools should I be looking at?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concerns of a student in a Math and Physics program in Canada regarding their academic performance, graduate school applications, and the types of institutions they should consider applying to. The conversation includes reflections on GPA, research experience, and the impact of perceived competition among peers.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses anxiety about their academic performance and questions their suitability for graduate school despite maintaining a GPA of 3.7 and receiving a renewable entrance scholarship.
  • Another participant suggests that the reputation of the undergraduate institution may influence graduate school prospects and notes that a GPA of 3.7 is generally considered good, although they acknowledge differences in grading systems.
  • A third participant inquires about the specific university the original poster is attending, speculating it might be one of the top institutions in Canada for math and physics.
  • The original poster confirms they are attending a top school but wishes to maintain some level of anonymity.
  • The original poster contemplates taking a fifth year to gain more research experience and improve reference letters, seeking feedback on whether this is advisable.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the original poster's concerns about their academic standing and future prospects. There are varying opinions on the significance of GPA and the importance of the undergraduate institution's reputation.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects uncertainty regarding the implications of GPA and research experience on graduate school applications, as well as the subjective nature of academic performance comparisons among peers.

Who May Find This Useful

Students in STEM fields considering graduate school, particularly those concerned about academic performance and institutional reputation.

colldood
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Hello PF. I am finishing my third year of a Math and Physics program in Canada. I am getting very anxious about my marks and grad school, and what sorts of schools I should look into applying to / expect to actually get into. I'm asking partially because my friends always seem to be doing significantly better than me, so I'm really doubting whether I should even stay in the field. I really do enjoy mathematical physics and I want to study it (for a living if things work out), but I'm worried I'm just not good enough to get anywhere. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I am simply horrible at tests/exams and do poorly on them. So:

My GPA has been a consistent 3.7 throughout the years. I've been receiving a renewable entrance scholarship each year (if that is relevant). I worked with a professor in a math REU-type thing last summer (but we didn't do any serious research). This year I will be working for a physics prof and it will probably be more serious (math is hard to do anything in really as an undergrad).

I'm considering taking a 5th year, to get more research experience/ better reference letters (comments on whether this is a good idea would also be appreciated).

So the question is, am I doomed? What sort of schools might I expect to get into (assuming I get a good GRE score -- probably in math actually, in which case I'd be applying for mathematical physics) with this kind of GPA and three consecutive summers of research (with possibly research courses in the next two school years). Which schools are longshots? Which ones are impossible?
 
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I guess it depends on how good your undergraduate university is considered. You haven't really said anything about that. I'd suspect that getting a 3.7 at a top university and getting positive references from professors well known in your field.

Also Isn't 3.7 very good? I'm from Australia so our grading system is different, but I thought that 3.7 was good.
 
Hi, I just wanted to ask which school are you in I'm guessing one of McGill, Waterloo, Toronto
 
Yes I wanted to try to stay a bit anonymous but it's one of the top schools in math and physics here.
 

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