Fantastic Grades But Zero Research
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2020 4:19 pm
Hi all!
I've tried browsing past results to see what types of schools I'd have a shot at, but I haven't found another person's profile matching or even that similar to mine, so I'm hoping someone with more insight into the process might be able to help me out. I'll put my stats below for reference. I went through undergrad thinking I wanted to be an actor, but did a math double major anyways for a better shot at a fallback job. Grad school wasn't at all on my horizon, so I didn't get to know my professors well and didn't do one single minute of research. After a year of doing acting and tutoring math and science on the side to make money, I realized I wanted to be a professor instead, and I also realized I care much more about physics than math. I took a couple physics undergrad classes last semester (waves, and quantum mechanics I) and knocked those out of the park. I have an acting job this semester so can't take classes, but will be studying E&M I, E&M II, and QM II on my own to stay caught up, with the plan from my QM professor being to then take graduate QFT in the fall (along with anything else that looks interesting that's being offered, tbd). I want to apply to graduate programs this fall, but am concerned at the lack of research experience since it sounds like that's incredibly important based on what most people are posting here.
Stats for me:
Degree: B.M. from NYU, double major in math and theatre
GPA: 3.93 (from undergrad degree, summa cum laude)
GPA from post-degree physics courses so far: 4.0
GRE: 170, 170, 5.5
pGRE: not taken yet but I'm very good at tests so I'm assuming at least 900, probably a 990 (yes I've looked at the practice tests)
Domestic mixed (asian/white) female
Research: ABSOLUTELY ZERO
Awards/honors: NYU honors program, dean's list, summa cum laude. I got some physics and math awards in high school but I don't think that would be really relevant anymore.
Rec letters: I'm thinking one from my quantum mechanics professor, one from my waves professor, and one from one of my theater professors since they know me incredibly well and can speak to my work ethic and character on a level that I think most STEM professors probably couldn't. (If that's a bad idea and I should do entirely STEM people also lmk)
Other relevant: Work full-time as a math and science tutor so have excellent teaching ability plus work experience (4+ years)
Basically, I know scores-wise I can shoot for just about any school, but since I have no research experience, should I set my sights lower?
ALSO I've been googling and asking around about how to gain research experience, but it looks like most research programs are restricted to undergrads currently enrolled in degree-granting programs, which I am not. If anyone has any advice or leads on getting research experience as a not-undergrad not-grad student, please please let me know
I've tried browsing past results to see what types of schools I'd have a shot at, but I haven't found another person's profile matching or even that similar to mine, so I'm hoping someone with more insight into the process might be able to help me out. I'll put my stats below for reference. I went through undergrad thinking I wanted to be an actor, but did a math double major anyways for a better shot at a fallback job. Grad school wasn't at all on my horizon, so I didn't get to know my professors well and didn't do one single minute of research. After a year of doing acting and tutoring math and science on the side to make money, I realized I wanted to be a professor instead, and I also realized I care much more about physics than math. I took a couple physics undergrad classes last semester (waves, and quantum mechanics I) and knocked those out of the park. I have an acting job this semester so can't take classes, but will be studying E&M I, E&M II, and QM II on my own to stay caught up, with the plan from my QM professor being to then take graduate QFT in the fall (along with anything else that looks interesting that's being offered, tbd). I want to apply to graduate programs this fall, but am concerned at the lack of research experience since it sounds like that's incredibly important based on what most people are posting here.
Stats for me:
Degree: B.M. from NYU, double major in math and theatre
GPA: 3.93 (from undergrad degree, summa cum laude)
GPA from post-degree physics courses so far: 4.0
GRE: 170, 170, 5.5
pGRE: not taken yet but I'm very good at tests so I'm assuming at least 900, probably a 990 (yes I've looked at the practice tests)
Domestic mixed (asian/white) female
Research: ABSOLUTELY ZERO
Awards/honors: NYU honors program, dean's list, summa cum laude. I got some physics and math awards in high school but I don't think that would be really relevant anymore.
Rec letters: I'm thinking one from my quantum mechanics professor, one from my waves professor, and one from one of my theater professors since they know me incredibly well and can speak to my work ethic and character on a level that I think most STEM professors probably couldn't. (If that's a bad idea and I should do entirely STEM people also lmk)
Other relevant: Work full-time as a math and science tutor so have excellent teaching ability plus work experience (4+ years)
Basically, I know scores-wise I can shoot for just about any school, but since I have no research experience, should I set my sights lower?
ALSO I've been googling and asking around about how to gain research experience, but it looks like most research programs are restricted to undergrads currently enrolled in degree-granting programs, which I am not. If anyone has any advice or leads on getting research experience as a not-undergrad not-grad student, please please let me know