5 TIPS: How to get into Physics Grad School

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** 5 TIPS ** How to get into Physics Grad School
Presented by: Dr. Charlotte Palmer and Dr. Jena Meinecke (University of Oxford)

(1) Get research experience:

-- Why? To help focus your interests, enable informed career decisions, and prove to grad schools that you are ready for grad research
For mainland Europe, look at major labs (e.g. CERN, DESY, Max Planck Institute, The Erasmus Programme, etc)
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(2) Find a Prospective Advisor:

-- Why? This can focus your application and assure grad schools that you are serious about research. This helps with your research proposal.
-- Where to find one? Isolate topics that interest you. Who is a leader in this field? Contact them! Keep emails short and to the point.
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(3) Focused, strong Statement of Purpose (research proposal)

-- Start by finding topics that interest you (e.g. fusion)
-- TIPS:
(a) Show unique interest in the topic.
(b) Demonstrate a deep understanding of current research.
(c) Get specific about your grad project (e.g. experimental or theoretical? what equipment is needed? how long will it take?)
(d) Identify what YOU are bringing to the table
(e) Communicate WHY this research is important
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(4) Quality Recommendations

-- Before requesting: develop meaningful relationships with your mentors/instructors by asking questions and showing enthusiasm for physics
-- When requesting: send them information about you (e.g. CV or research proposal)
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(5) Good grades CAN help

However,
-- Good grades do not guarantee great scientists. Make sure you are ready for the grad research culture
-- Poor grades will NOT prevent you from being a successful scientist
(a) Focus on good grades in your final years.
(b) Compensate with a glowing recommendation(s) & research proposal.
(c) It is more important WHO you work for than WHERE you work.
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** BONUS TIP: You do not need to be in a physics department to do physics research.

-- Consider tangential fields such as engineering
-- Why? to avoid obtaining competitive physics GRE scores
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Music:
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

Movie clips:

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We hope you found this video helpful! If so, PLEASE LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! We will send you virtual hugs :)

We have A LOT more to say on each tip and will create more videos to discuss the nitty-gritty details. Stay tuned.

SimplifytheEquation

I'm going back to school to become a physicist in 2022 so I'm eternally grateful for this information!

jordancox

So cool to see a PhD student in physics that also started their undergraduate at a community college. I am doing the same and would love to email you or see more videos on this topic :)

logan

I'm an undergrad physics major at UCLA applying to research internships so this video is very helpful :)

annakinderman

Super thankful for this video. I'm a sophomore in college in the US and I'm very anxious about my grades especially with how hard this semester has been moving online. You helped relieve some of that stress and reminded me that grades aren't the end of the world and I still have 3 years to show that I'm ready for grad school!

nickallbritton

Very high quality information and love the funny clips in between!!

JessicaLamOWAY

My sincere thanks to you both for creating this video, I am planning for physics phd and this will definitely help me.

physicsAIandscience

lets hear more! im trying to apply soon i already graduated in june 2019

Tiffanyilse

i’m a student in SouthKorea. Thank you for giving me great advice! it’s really helpful👍👍

jeehunsung

Thank you very much! This is really helpful information for me as I'm currently filling out my grad school applications.
Maybe you could make a video extending the information on how to write a strong statement of purpose, that would be awesome.
Thanks again!

victorvalera

A lot of graduate program (even the top ones) are starting to no longer consider general GRE or physics GRE in the application.

Brassard

I'm curious how much the undergrad program effects your chances of getting into the grad program you're seeking. Are good grades at a top school more valuable than great grades at a "lesser" school.

And aside from the school, the physics program. Our son is awaiting his college decision letters so we've yet to see, but would he be just as well off as an undergrad in a quality school with a small physics dept (8 grads per year, and no grad program), or a big physics dept at a school known for science (not a tech school, a liberal arts with a strong science rep)?

I can see benefits to both. In a small dept you have a chance to shine and get a great recommendation letter. You'll not be competing for opportunities on campus, and if your one of the top students there you'll have internship opportunities. At the larger school you'll have access to more equipment, more professors, more significant research projects being done right there.

On the downside: for the small program you might not have professors strong in the areas you want to pursue. You can learn basic research techniques, but not have a strong background in a particular area you want to apply to in grad school. For the large program you have to fight to stand out, fight for research projects and fight for internships.

Does either route open or close doors?

davidcherelin

i think this freaked me out more about grad school lol

cleo

Hi Charlotte and Jena! Thanks so much for the tips. I graduated recently with a BS in mechanical engineering and am currently working as an engineer, but I REALLY want to change my career path and pursue theoretical physics. Do you have any tips for someone that is out of school already and is looking to apply to physics masters programs with not much of a background in research?

alylipski