Post
by HubbleBubble » Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:26 am
In terms of schools in the midwest, have you considered WashU? They aren’t top tier for physics, but they have a lot of astroparticle people, and it is good to apply to a mix of schools anyways. Plus St. Louis and the area around the campus are very lovely.
In terms of interest, it is perfectly fine to apply and not be committed to one area. However, it is very important that you demonstrate you have a clear plan, an understanding of what graduate school is, and are interested in their program specifically. Applying to a specific field/professor is an established way to show interest in a program and a commitment to a research degree, but not necessarily the only way. Basically, admission committees want to filter out people who just want to continue undergrad life, who might not follow through on a long research project, or who aren’t actually interested in their specific department. (EDIT: it is commonplace now to contact potential supervisors by email which can help your application in various ways - maybe you could contact multiple people per department? Something to consider, if not absolutely necessary, although you should act soon if so)
It is also helpful in selecting programs to know what professor has the most successful students or what school is best in what area, since those are more predictive for your future than general rankings etc. But picking based on location and community vibe is equally valid, so you are fine!!