Undergrad Institution: RPI
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): none
GPA in Major: ~3.27
Overall GPA: 3.27
Length of Degree: 4 years
Type of Student: Domestic male
Masters Institution: RPI
Major(s): Physics
GPA: 3.06
Length of Degree: 1 Year
GRE Scores :
Q: 163 (86%)
V: 157 (74%)
W: 4.5 (80%)
P: 630 (36%)
Research Experience: Undergrad: ~1.5 years in solid state physics. 1 year in astrophysics analyzing Hubble images. Grad: 1 year analyzing Spitzer spectrum. I am working on an 1st author APJ letter based on my masters thesis/project that will hopefully be done by the time I am applying.
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Was a paid researcher at RPI for two summers. I am currently an adjunct instructor at a university (don't want to give up too much info) rewriting the curriculum for and teaching Physics I labs. I also tutor privately.
I have already applied to grad schools for the past two cycles now and have been wait listed and ultimately rejected every time. Basically, I would like to know whether applying for programs in Physics Education might give me a better chance at getting in somewhere, and if so, where can I realistically get into.
A bit of research on my own has led me to find this site: http://www.compadre.org/per/programs. This lists schools who do research in Physics Education. Looking at the list, there are a lot of great schools (U of Washington, OSU, CU Bolder, U of A, ASU, Northwestern, etc.), but I don't know if I could realistically get into any of them. Anyone on here have any experience in apply to Physics Education research programs or know how much rank/PGRE/GPA vs teaching experience affects an application? Or just in general if I stand a chance?
