2025 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

[ChadmannWeyl]

This is the most useful resource PhysicsGRE has to offer. If you have used this information in the past or are currently using it to help decide upon schools, I highly suggest you help out and post your own profile once you have applied to schools. Future members of this forum will find it very useful! Don't be shy!

Copy and paste the template below in your reply to keep the formatting.

Note from moderator: Profile threads are best when they only have profiles. Please avoid making other posts on this thread. If you wish to discuss profiles, it is helpful to have a separate "profile discussion thread", as was done in some past years. Thanks.

______________________________________________
Undergrad Institution: (School or type of school, such as big state, lib arts, ivy, technical, foreign (what country?)... Overall Reputation in Physics?)
Major(s):
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:
Overall GPA:
Length of Degree: (Are you graduating after 3, 4, or 5 years?)
Position in Class: (No numbers needed, but are you top? near top? average? struggling?)
Type of Student: (Domestic/International, male/female, minority?)

GRE Scores: If you have them


TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: )


Research Experience: (At your school or elsewhere? What field? How much time? Any publications (Mth author out of N?) or conference talks etc...)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: (Within your school or outside?)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: (Such as tutor, TA, SPS officer etc...)

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

School - Department - Research Interest Feb. 28: (WILL ATTEND for Ph.D. Accepted via website/email + $Xk Fellowship + $XXk/X month TA)
School - Department - Research Interest (Feb. 14: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via website/

[ChadmannWeyl]

Undergrad Institution: Large State School
Major(s): Physics, Math (Honors)
GPA: 3.99/4.00
Physics/Math GPA: 4.0
Type of Student: Domestic Male

GRE Subject Test in Physics:
Not taking

Program Applying: Mathematical Physics (TQFT, higher category theory, applications to topological phases of matter and higher symmetries in QFT)

Research Experience:
Summer after sophomore year:
- IAS Park City Math Institute: Summer school in quantum information + 3 week research project in dynamical systems
- Polymath Jr. Remote research program: researched combinatorial representation theory & applications to lattice models in physics

Summer after junior year:
- REU at large state school: Researched topological phases of matter, tensor categories, and TQFTs. Achieved a really nice result, but no publication.

Senior year:
- Writing thesis in TQFT and higher representation theory with professor at my school.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
- Presented summer research at Young Mathematicians Conference & JMM in January.
- Multiple large scholarships from physics/math departments and honors societies.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
Private math, physics, and SAT tutor for a couple years

Graduate Courses Taken (by graduation):
Math: Algebraic Topology, Differentiable Manifolds, Higher Representation Theory/TQFT I&II, Algebraic Geometry II
Physics: QFT I, GR I, QFT II, Quantum Gravity

Any Miscellaneous Points that Might Help:
2 of my letter writers are well known in the field that I am applying for and regard me very highly.

Physics Schools I am applying to (Also applying to math schools)

Harvard -
MIT -
Chicago -
Stony Brook -
UCLA -
NYU -
UCSD -

[5437ly]

Hey all! I’ve been stalking this forum for a while so I figured I’d contribute now that I’m applying. Good luck to everyone!

Undergrad Institution: Top Canadian school
Major(s): Astronomy and Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.81/4.0
Overall GPA: 3.83/4.0
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Above class average
Type of Student: Canadian female

GRE Scores: none

Research Experience:
(All at my institution)
Summer research program in astro observation/some theory, publication is in preparation (4th author)
Summer research program in Astro observation, continued the project to be my undergrad thesis, aiming to pub by April. Presented at Canadian Undergrad Physics Conference.

Pubs: no pubs yet but some expected as mentioned above

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
NSERC Undergrad Research Award
Hon. Mention for summer research award & hon. Mention for conference poster
Deans list, prize in astronomy for having the highest grade in a course

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: tutored a little in math, an executive for my school’s astronomy club (in 4th year)

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: outreach talk for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

Special Bonus Points: some places I’m applying , my referees have colleagues there

Applying to Where:
I’m applying mainly based on if they have research I like, so there’s a wide variety of schools here. Some are biggg reaches but worth it to try I guess

Canada:
University of Toronto - Astro(PhD)- observational Astro -
McGill - Physics (Masters) - observational Astro -
York University - Physics(Masters) - observational Astro-

US:
Harvard - Astro(PhD) - observational Astro-
U Wisconsin Milwaukee - Physics(PhD) - observational Astro-
Rochester Institute of Tech- Physics(PhD) - observational Astro-
MIT- Physics(PhD) - observational Astro -
Ohio State University - Astro(PhD) - observational Astro
West Virginia University - Physics(PhD) - observational Astro
Caltech- Astro(PhD) - observational Astro-
UCSD- Astro(PhD) - observational Astro
UCSB- Astro(PhD) -observational Astro


Expecting a lot of rejections but hoping to get in somewhere! Good luck to everyone

[advaithm261]

______________________________________________
Undergrad Institution: Institute of Eminence in India known for Science Education and Research
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.88
Overall GPA: 3.88
Length of Degree: 5 years
Position in Class: 3rd in department
Type of Student: International Male from India

GRE Scores: PGRE score of 930 but with only an 85th percentile score


IELTS : overall 7.5


Research Experience: 4 month project in early universe cosmology in an Internationally acclaimed university. 1 year 3 months research in HEP-TH in general relativity quantum gravity and black holes in top indian university. 3 month summer project in astroparticle physics from a reputed German research institute

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: INSPIRE award for top 1 percentile students pursuing science in India.
DAAD-WISE fellowship for summer research.
First rank award of semester ( which if I was in US would have been called dean's list I guess)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Only worked as Research assistant.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I dont know whether this helps but I was an academic batch Representative. I also worked as content creator in science clubs

Special Bonus Points: I have special bonus cons of being international student and having unnecessary burdens like IELTS.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

Penn- Physics- HEP-TH
Washington- Physics- HEP-TH
Brown-Physics-HEP-TH
Penn state- Physics- HEP-TH
NYU-Physics-HEP-TH
Stony brook- Physics- HEP-TH
UC-Davis-Physics-HEP-TH

Europe
University of Edinburgh-Physics-HEP-TH

Will update as and when things happen

[bear2ss]

Undergrad Institution: Somewhere in Asia
Major(s): physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:3.91/4.00
Overall GPA:
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: International male

Program Applying: Condensed Matter Theory, Quantum Information, Computational physics with machine learinng

GRE Scores: Nah

TOEFL: (R:28 , L:27 , S:23 , W:24 )


Research Experience:
2 papers as the first author in preprint
1 paper as the first author in preparation

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: No big deal

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:
My three letter writters are coauthors of my papers (from USA, Japan, and China), if that helps

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
This is my second year of application. Didn't receive any offer last time. Wish me good luck!

Applying to Where:
The following list is recommended by my USA letter writer

Mega reach:
MIT
Yale

Reach:
Duke
Johns Hopkins
U Penn
Northwestern
Umich
Columbia

Target:
CU boulder
UCSB
Rice
UC Davis (CS program)
USC
University of marryland
UT Austin
UIUC
Gtech
Ohio State
Arizona State University
Penn State
Virginia Tech
University of Washington

Safety:
University of Florida
Boston College

Feel free to drop a email if you are also applying: farnorthroad@gmail.com

[Lamxy]

Undergrad Institution: Top state University in Nigeria, dont know about international recognition.
Major(s): Physics With Electronics
GPA in Major: 3.73
Overall GPA: 3.67
Length of Degree: 4 Years
Position in Class: Top 3% (3/ 45)
Type of Student: African Male

GRE Scores: Nah way too expensive


TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: ); N/a


Research Experience: Undergraduate Institution, research assistant
Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles for super capacitors and antimicrobial studies of nanoparticles.
1 1st author publication
2 2nd author publication
1 2nd author under reviews

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: N/a

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA and laboratory Assistant for one year at a polytechnic and Adjunct lecturer presently

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: some volunteering and community works

Special Bonus Points: n/a

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: n/a

Applying to Where:

All Phd expect MTU and FSU and CSU CME/CMT

University of Nevada Reno-
Wayne State University -
Clemson University-
Florida international University-
West Virginia University-
University of Utah- MSE-
New mexico State University -
University of Toledo-
Colorado State University -
Florida State University-
Michigan Technological University -

Good luck to me as this is my second application cycle did not get any offer last year.
Good luck to everyone

graceakintayo1@gmail.com if you are also applying.

[rumplespacking]

Undergrad Institution: Top Engineering Institute in India. Good reputation for engineering, probably not so much for physics.
Major(s): Engineering Physics
Minor(s): NA
GPA in Major: 8.4/10 (3.88/4 using the iWES GPA calculator)
Overall GPA:
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: No official stats but top 10 probably
Type of Student: Domestic (Born in the USA baby ), South Asian Male

PGRE Scores: 910


TOEFL: (R: 30 , L: 30 , S: 30, W: 27) (Didn't think I'd need them but UCLA and UCB wouldn't budge )


Research Experience: 1 year of experience in a CME lab at home institution (1 national conference presentation, 3rd author publication, 1st author manuscript is under review), 1 summer at a national lab in the US, did a lot of x-ray optics stuff at a synchrotron and I worked remotely after the summer (1st author manuscript under preparation, hopefully we submit it in Jan), 1 year experience at a spintronics lab at my home institution, worked there for 4 months after graduation, working remotely right now (no pubs, maybe 1-2 down the line if I get the data I need)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: NA

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Was on the university's debate team, I transitioned into a student mentor role after junior year. Also had a student mentorship role at the Astronomy club.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: NA

Special Bonus Points: A couple of grad classes related to Condensed Matter and Applied physics (Magnetism and Superconductivity, Nanoelectronics and Nanophotonics, Optoelectronics). All of my letter writers will be research advisors and pretty strong since I've been productive at these labs. One of my LOR writers has colleagues at some of the places I'm applying to.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Had a rough freshman year in terms of grades (covid) but there's been a strong upward trend since then. I really focused on my interests and background in CME/Applied Physics and emphasized my fit with the faculty in my statements. Additionally, the manuscript that's under preparation is going to be submitted to PRL, I mentioned that to highlight the quality of the work I did.

Applying to Where: (CME for all except UCSB)

MIT - Physics
UC Berkeley - Physics
UCLA - Physics
UC San Diego - Physics
Stanford - Applied Physics
Rice - Applied Physics
Ohio State - Physics
Cornell - Applied Physics
Northwestern - Applied Physics
University of Tennessee Knoxville - Physics
University of Minnesota - Physics
UC Santa Cruz - Physics
UC Santa Barbara - Materials - Functional and Quantum Materials

Fingers crossed lol

[figuringlifeout212]

Undergrad Institution: T20; Strong reputation for nuclear physics, well-known for STEM in general
Major(s): Physics (Honors Track)
Minor(s): French
GPA in Major: 3.951
Overall GPA: 3.948
Length of Degree: 4 years + 1 gap year
Position in Class: Top 10%
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores: Didn't take; not applying for theory so it wasn't horribly worth it

Research Experience: 3 years of HEP-Ex research at undergraduate institution (3 publications, 10 presentations); SULI at Fermilab for Summer 2022 (Presentation); Spent Spring and Summer 2023 at CERN doing a medical particle physics project; Gap year doing neutrino research at Fermilab

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Phi Beta Kappa; Undergraduate fellowship for research/academics (x2); Magna Cum Laude (only Physics student with that distinction); Research grant for CERN project

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutored Calculus for first three years of undergrad; TA'd sophomore through senior year in several physics courses (labs, computational, etc.)

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I took several graduate physics courses my senior year. I had two semesters of QFT, a condensed matter course, and a Group Theory course. I mentioned them in my SoP, and made sure to have one of the profs write a letter of rec where he also quoted the other professors that had me for graduate classes.

Special Bonus Points: This is my SECOND application cycle. I applied last year with poor advice (my undergraduate advisor is in his 80s, so all of what he told me was quite outdated and led me to applying to what I now know are odd programs for HEP), and I got rejected from pretty much everywhere. I did receive an offer + fellowship from a decent program, but I deferred because everyone at my undergrad institution was shocked that I didn't get into a better place and told me I should take a gap year and try again with their help. So if you wonder why I only applied to top programs, it's because I already had an offer somewhere

Info on Letters:

1) Undergrad Advisor - 8/10. He really wanted to write me a letter, and although his graduate school advice was outdated I've seen a lot of what he's written in academia as his student and I trust his style of writing. He said he has a lot of great things to say about me, and knows me very well.

2) Post-Bac Advisor - 10/10. She was the one that told me I should defer and asked me if she could write a letter. I had her as a professor in undergrad twice, TA'd for her, AND now have done research with her. She actually told our Physics department that she wanted me to stay as HER PhD student, but knew that I deserved a shot to be at the best institution(s). She's quite young, but is leading the graduate admissions for the Physics department, so I couldn't have asked for a better writer.

3) Honors Program Dean & DiffEq/Group Theory Prof - 9/10. I got to read this letter, and it was very sweet. It detailed him getting to know me as a sophomore, talked about the rigor of the honors program and what it means to be in it (had to be selected going into undergrad; only take ~80 kids out of 2,200 accepted applicants), detailed my time in Geneva and what it meant to be selected for that program, and then also talked about me as a senior and how well I did in his GT class and QFT I/II.

4) SULI Mentor - ?/10. This one befuddles me. I really like the guy, but I have NO idea what he wrote. I had him write last year, and our lead of graduate admissions saw his letter (I had everyone send in their letters to them after I chose to defer so I could get holistic advice on my application) and he told me that it was really short. Positive, but not very detailed. I'm close with the guy, though, so I spoke with him for a while about all the advice I got on my application (and the apparent bias against lab scientists for graduate admissions committees??? idk, just something I was told; it's apparently due to the style of writing for lab jobs vs academia) and he said he'd add in a bunch more stuff and ask one of his professor friends from grad school for advice on strengthening the rec. I'm just crossing my fingers that he isn't writing that I went behind his back or something lol

Applying to Where (all HEP-EX PhDs, and in no particular order):

MIT
Stanford
CalTech
Harvard
UC Berkeley
Cornell
Columbia
Yale
UPenn
Princeton
UChicago
UCLA
Northwestern
Rochester
UW Madison

[Pipolar]

Undergrad/Master Institution: French School, very strong in physics
Major(s): Applied Physics
Minor(s): Mathematics, Computer Science
GPA in Major: 3.98
Overall GPA: 3.98
Length of Degreen: 4
Position in Class: No idea
Type of Student: International male

Master Institution: Ivy School (Double Degree with my french school)
Major(s): Applied Physics
Overall GPA: 4.04
Length of Degreen: 1.5/2
Position in Class: No idea

GRE Scores: Not Taken

TOEFL: Not Taken this year

Research Experience: 4 months internship on Raman Spectroscopy in a Startup in France, 6 months internship in a solide state group in France on Quantum Dots (1 patent in prep), 1 year at group on Integrated Photonics in US (Maybe 1/2 paper if we get the data), 3 months internship on confined exciton in a lab with lab researcher and a Stanford Prof (nothing yet).

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: None

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Volunteer Mentor for undergrad during my time in France, TA for a numerical simulations class here in US

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: One of my recommenders is well-known and a friend or former PhD advisor to the PIs of some of the groups I am applying to

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I already have an offer for a PhD in Switzerland through my 3 months internship. That's why i'm only applying for reach universities.

Applying to Where: All for Photonics

Stanford - Applied Physics
Columbia - Applied Physics
Berkeley - Electrical Engineering
Princeton - Electrical Engineering
Louisiana State University - Electrical Engineering
Caltech - Applied Physics
Harvard - Applied Physics