2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

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IaMkizzz
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:22 am

2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by IaMkizzz » Sun Sep 13, 2020 2:44 pm

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: NO GRE REQUIRED FOR THIS YEAR (WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED). However, if you have the scores, you might just post them here.


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/email + $Xk Fellowship + $XXk/X month TA)
School - Department - Research Interest (Feb. 23: Rejected via website/email)
Last edited by IaMkizzz on Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:55 pm, edited 2 times in total.

mysterymachine420
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2020 8:58 am

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by mysterymachine420 » Tue Nov 17, 2020 2:37 pm

Good luck to all!!

Undergrad Institution: Large state school ranked ~100 in physics (US News ranking)
Major(s): Physics, Mathematics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 4.0 (physics), 3.9 (Math)
Overall GPA: 3.98
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: School doesn't rank
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE: N/A


TOEFL: N/A


Research Experience:

- 2 years experimental cosmology (programming heavy). From this, I have one poster

- 9 months high energy theory. From this, I have one poster, one senior thesis, and 2 chalk talks

- 6 months on a pure math project for my math capstone

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
A few departmental awards
A few scholarships
Dean's list every semester
Member of Sigma Pi Sigma

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: 4 strong recommendation letters (I think). 3 of them are from my research advisors (one of which is a well-known prof in high energy theory) and one from a professor which I've had 3 classes with.

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

Applying to Where: All for computational astrophysics/cosmology unless noted otherwise.

Super Reach:
Stanford - physics (PhD) - Mar 1: Rejected (via email)
Caltech - physics (PhD) - Feb 19: Rejected (via email)
UC Berkeley - physics (PhD) - Mar 5: Rejected (via email to check status)
U Chicago - physics (PhD) - Jan. 29: Rejected (via email to check application status)
Yale - physics (PhD) - Feb 19: Rejected (via email to check application status)
Princeton - Astrophysical Sciences (PhD) - Feb. 5: Rejected (via email)
U of Washington - astronomy (PhD) - Feb. 3: Rejected (via email)
Colorado Boulder - APS (PhD) - Feb. 17: Rejected (via email to check application status)

Large Reach:
Stony Brook - physics (PhD) - Feb 19: Accepted (via email to check application status) $20k TA + $3k fellowship + either summer TA ($2,500) or summer research position ($5k). WILL ATTEND!!
Northwestern - physics (PhD) - Apr 7: Rejected (via email)
UC Santa Cruz - physics (PhD) - Feb 22: Rejected (via email to check application status)
Boston University - physics (PhD) - Mar 17: Rejected (via email)

Reach:
UC Riverside - physics (PhD) - Withdrew application
U of Illinois at Chicago - physics (biophysics PhD) - Feb 18: Accepted (via email) $20,615 TA
Vanderbilt - physics (PhD) - Withdrew application


Thoughts: I was expecting to get into a couple more schools than I did, but I am super psyched to be going to Stony Brook!! I think perhaps one of my letters was not as strong as I thought and I also think that the (lack of) prestige of my undergraduate school played a role in the number of rejections I received. This year especially I think the prestige of undergrad may have played an important role because of the lack of GRE (meaning that it's harder to judge students on an even playing field). It's also just hard to tell though, given that this year seemed to be wildly competitive compared to other years. I wish everybody on this site the best in their future endeavors!! My PM's are open if anybody would like to talk or ask questions!
Last edited by mysterymachine420 on Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:21 pm, edited 12 times in total.

xraygoth
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue May 19, 2020 6:11 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by xraygoth » Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:06 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small liberal arts school in California (why did I go here?), little reputation
Major(s): Physics & Math
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.46 (Physics), sub 3.0 in Math (I promise I'm not bad at math)
Overall GPA: 3.19 :roll: <---- Application goes in the trash now.
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Like 3/12 for physics GPA surprisingly
Type of Student: DWM

If I could redo undergrad, I would in a heartbeat.

Grad Institution: Large state school in California, decent reputation
Degree Type: M.S.
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.85
Overall GPA: 3.85
Length of Degree: 2
Position in Class: Top 3 for physics GPA maybe?

GRE Scores: N/A in 2020 b/c COVID, Scores are from 2019 - not reporting (but appear on M.S. transcript)
Q: 159
V: 160
W: 4.5
P: N/A

Totally winged the GRE when I took it for my M.S. application. My quantitative score was rather embarrassing...

TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: ) N/A

Research Experience:

1 year at undergrad institution working on a computational/theoretical study of high-energy accretion in black hole binaries. Produced the vast majority of numerical results. Work led to publication as 2nd author in ApJ as well as a poster presentation at APS April Meeting in 2019. Most work was completed working full time in the summer of 2018. Definitely wish I could've started earlier. My department did a poor job communicating research opportunities when I first started school (although they have gotten much much better). Hindsight is always 20/20...start as early as possible kids.

6 months at master's institution working on a GR-heavy neutron star project. No publications yet. Possibly co-authoring a book chapter on neutron stars for publication in 2021. Work leading up to thesis may result in 1st author publication in if I can pull it off.

My total research experience is probably 1 year full time spread across 3 years.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

-Dean's list a couple semesters in undergrad
-S^3-STEM Scholarship (NSF sponsored for being poor and in STEM)
-Honors in Physics Department
-Large academic scholarships, top 5% for incoming freshmen

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

-Mathematics tutor for two years in undergrad
-Graduate TA for 2 years in grad school

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: not really

Special Bonus Points:
-Handful of graduate classes from being in M.S.
-First-generation student, very low income
-Two rec letters are from research advisors from undergrad and grad institution, the other is a prof I took quantum and nuclear with in grad school and did very well in
-Only person in graduating class to major in both Physics & Math (and did pretty awful lol)
-Over 3 semesters of experience teaching undergraduate laboratories?


Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
Upward trend latter years of undergrad (minus the torturous last semester), and most notably so in grad school when I didn't have to worry about math instructors who seemed intent on you not understanding anything. I spent many many months working on my SOP extensively. Lots of feedback and recommenders seem to think it is pretty good. Probably won't matter as there's just too many impossibly impressive people on here with profiles like "3 first author pubs, 10 graduate courses by my 3rd year, 2 Nobel laureate recommenders, 3 REUs, NSF fellow, 4.0 GPA as a Physics, Math, CS triple major (finished in 3.5 years) and a proof of Goldbach's conjecture"

Applying to Where: All for computational astrophysics, cosmology, or closely related fields. My guess is there's an 95% chance I get in absolutely nowhere and a 5% chance I get in somewhere.

Beyond Reach:

Boulder - APS (Feb. 17: Rejected via email to check status)
UCSB - Physics (Mar. 23: Rejected via email to check status)
UC Berkeley - Astronomy (Feb. 1: Rejected via email to check status)
Stanford - Physics (Mar. 1: Rejected via email)
UCLA - Astronomy & Astrophysics (Feb. 26: Rejected via email to check status)
UCSD - Physics (Apr. 3: Rejected via email to check status)
Northwestern - Astronomy (Mar. 24: Rejected via email to check status)
USC - Physics
Rice - Physics (Feb. 21: Rejected via email to check status)
UC Irvine - Physics (Mar. 17: Rejected via email to check status)
UW - Physics (Mar. 16: Rejected via email)
UC Davis - Physics (Apr. 7: Rejected via email)
UC Santa Cruz - Astronomy & Astrophysics (Mar. 1: Rejected via email to check status)
UC Riverside - Physics (May. 7: Rejected via email)
Oregon - Physics (Mar. 1: Portal said "denied", no email)
UIUC - Physics (Mar. 9: Rejected via email)
Oregon State - Physics (Apr. 22: Rejected via email)

I am straight up NOT having a good time. I don't really have any options after this if I can't get an acceptance.

3/12: Definitely gonna be all rejections at this point. "You'll get into at least a few schools" they said. 0/17 GUH

3/16: Absolutely loving this
Last edited by xraygoth on Thu May 13, 2021 6:32 pm, edited 25 times in total.

hurbe002
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2019 5:45 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by hurbe002 » Thu Nov 19, 2020 2:06 pm

Undergrad Institution: Big state school (top 25 in physics)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.87
Overall GPA: 3.89
Length of Degree: 3 years (with 1 year at a CC as highschooler (4.0 gpa there) and 1 year at main institution as a highschooler)
Position in Class: no idea
Type of Student: just a white boi

GRE Scores : (revised or old version?) lol nah - couldn't even take it
Q: no
V: no
W: no
P: no


TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: ) N/A


Research Experience:
2.5 - 3ish years in a spintronics EE lab, lots of technical experience with photolithography, thin film deposition, vacuum systems, electrical/magnetic transport measurements. Currently have a patent in progress and a manuscript being drafted (most likely 2nd author, maybe co first)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
-deans list every semester
-undergrad research grant based on a written proposal
-got an award for being the top chemistry student for two semesters at the CC I went to in HS (grad admissions probably don't care about this but included anyway lol)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
-TA for intro courses
-Reviewer for an undergrad academic journal at my institution
-Volunteered as a judge at a statewide science fair

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:


Special Bonus Points:
-Took two semesters graduate quantum rather than the upper division as a sophomore - have the prof for this writing one of my letters
-my research advisor really wants me to stay at my home institution so that hopefully means I'll get a good letter from him

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
I think my SOP is pretty good based on feedback I have gotten from profs, I also plan on emailing professors whose research I am interested in

Applying to Where: Everything for CME unless otherwise noted

Cornell - Physics - Rejected via email 2/25
Stanford - Applied Physics - Rejected via email 2/19
Berkeley - Physics - Rejected via email 3/5
Yale - Applied Physics - Interview Request 1/15 -- Accepted! 2/16 - $37k stipend - WILL ATTEND
UChicago - Molecular Engineering - Accepted via informal zoom call with POI 1/20 - $36k RA -Declined
UMD College Park - Physics - - Accepted via Email 2/9 - Dean's Fellowship with TA or RA - $32k total -Declined
UIUC - Physics - Rejected via email 3/14
Columbia - Applied Physics
Johns Hopkins - Physics - Rejected via portal 3/1
Michigan - Physics- Rejected via email 3/12
UW Madison - Physics - Rejected via email 1/28
University of Washington - Physics - Accepted via email 1/22 - $1.5k Fellowship + $22k TA (9months) -Declined
Ohio State - Physics - Accepted via change in status portal 1/23 - $28k TA -Declined
UMN - Physics - - Accepted via email 1/26 - $27k TA -Declined
Last edited by hurbe002 on Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:26 pm, edited 25 times in total.

JerryZ
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:04 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by JerryZ » Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:27 pm

Undergrad Institution: UK top school, fine reputation with physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:
Overall GPA: First Class (Haven't converted to 4.0 scale yet)
Length of Degree: 4, with integrated master's degree
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: International male

GRE Scores : Taken, but probably won't matter
Q: 170
V: 160
W: 4.0
P: N/A


TOEFL: waived


Research Experience: Three summer internships in US. One project at home institution, and now carrying on master's project. No papers.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: nah

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: nah

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: All my project supervisors in the US are well respected in their fields, but only 2/3 will be solid letters I guess.

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

Applying to Where: all in directions of QIS/AMO

Princeton - EECS
Berkeley - Physics
Yale - Applied Physics
Harvard - Physics
Caltech - Applied Physics
Stanford - Applied Physics
MIT - Physics
MIT - EECS
UChicago - Molecular Engineering
UIUC - Physics
Last edited by JerryZ on Mon Nov 23, 2020 7:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

chiyooo
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jan 27, 2020 6:10 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by chiyooo » Sun Nov 29, 2020 4:10 pm

Undergrad Institution: historically women's liberal arts college in US
Major(s): physics
Minor(s): CS
GPA in Major: 3.45
Overall GPA: 3.52
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: average? we don't do rankings
Type of Student: white/asian female

GRE Scores: took them last year, but will not be submitting the scores anywhere


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


Research Experience: 1 REU over the summer in amo physics which resulted in a conference presentation in an undergrad session. About 2 years of experience in an atomic physics lab at my home institution which resulted in a publication and 2 conference presentations.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: scholarship at my school and random fellowship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Lab TA, SPS President, cross country, track

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I applied to GA Tech and Rice last year... also nothing in my application has really changed. I also contacted professors at most of these institutions and received positive feedback, but I heard it doesn't really mean much.

Applying to Where: (All for AMO physics, unless otherwise noted)

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (Invited for Interview and virtual open house 12/23-- This is the second stage in the app process)
UT Austin
Purdue
University of Virginia
CU Boulder
IU Bloomington
Rice (Informally informed of acceptance via email 1/7)
Georgia Tech
University of Connecticut
Stony Brook

Good luck everyone! I'm so curious about how things will go this year...

Update: Rice was my first choice so I guess my application process has concluded. :) To anyone applying to grad school for the second time with little change in your resume- there's hope. I guess contacting professors directly helped me out.
Last edited by chiyooo on Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

twogroup
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2020 1:15 am

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by twogroup » Tue Dec 01, 2020 1:37 am

Undergrad Institution: medium-sized private school, pretty good reputation in physics
Major(s): physics, math
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: ~3.88 in both
Overall GPA: ~3.88
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: dunno, maybe somewhat above average?
Type of Student: domestic Asian female

GRE Scores: didn't take either the general or physics GRE
TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: ) N/A

Research Experience: about 1 - 1.5 years at my school in experimental soft condensed matter, no papers or conference talks as of time of application, planned senior thesis in the same lab

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: only institution-wide: some summer research awards, merit scholarships, dean's list

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: a few years of various science and math outreach efforts

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: nothing especially!

Special Bonus Points:

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: a bit nervous about my letters, I only have one from a research advisor, although he is pretty well-known in the field and does a lot of cool work, other two from classes and not super sold on them since they won't be research related.

Applying to Where: All for PhD programs in soft condensed matter and biophysics

Brandeis - Physics: went to the open house in February, haven't heard anything yet
Emory - Physics: accepted via email in late Feb, interviewed early Feb
Harvard - Physics: rejected via email in late Feb
MIT - Physics (decided to not apply at the last minute)
NC State - Physics: accepted via email in Feb
NYU - Physics: accepted via email in late Feb
Princeton - Physics (decided to not apply at the last minute)
UCSB - Physics: accepted via email in Feb, interviewed in early Feb
UPenn - Physics: rejected sometime in March
Yale - Physics: accepted via email in Feb, interviewed / talked to some profs in January


Writing this out somehow made me even more nervous. Nevertheless, best of luck to everyone who is applying this season and in the future! :D

-

An aside + unsolicited advice:
I felt like I was super awkward and / or bungled some of the interviews and was beating myself up for not being put together, but things turned out ok. Try to get out of your own head and not be too anxious about stuff like that!
Last edited by twogroup on Mon Apr 05, 2021 11:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

dagron
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:33 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by dagron » Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:57 pm

Good luck y'all
______________________________________________
Undergrad Institution: Top 20 US University, good reputation in physics
Major(s): Physics, Electrical Engineering
Minor(s): Mathematics
GPA in Major: 3.87
Overall GPA: 3.89
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Top 5-10%
Type of Student: International Asian Male

Research Experience: (Most recent to oldest)
2 years HEP-exp/CERN (REU at home university, senior thesis, 1 poster)
1 year Quantum Optics (REU at home university)
2 years Computational Mechanics (3 national conferences, 1 poster)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Deans Honor List, EE Honor Society

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Summer Internship at a company in Systems Engineering
Grader for a class under one of the profs I did research with
NASA funded independent project on mechanical design
Rocket Design club projects

Special Bonus Points: Current PI has a lot of connections in HEP-ex. Was told by him my letter will be strong.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I've contacted and met with at least one prof from each university and many have indicated they'd want me to join their group (yay!)
My third letter writer flaked on me, so I got a back up one. It’s the least important letter so maybe it won’t make a big difference. Kinda sucks tho :/

Applying to Where: (All for HEP-ex)

Caltech
MIT (18 Feb 2021: Rejected via email)
Stanford
Princeton (15 Feb 2021: Rejected via email)
Cornell
U Chicago (29 Jan 2021: Rejected via website)
UC Berkeley
UCLA (17 Feb 2021: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email from department - funding info to come)
UCSB
U Michigan
UW Madison (28 Jan 2021: Rejected via email)

(I know I'm gambling without any safeties, rip...)
Last edited by dagron on Thu Feb 18, 2021 11:52 pm, edited 8 times in total.

DarkSkinDude
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:43 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by DarkSkinDude » Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:48 pm

Good luck everyone! Grad apps are damn stressful haha.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undergrad Institution: Top 5 Canadian university. Good physics program but not particularly well known. Has a couple famous faculty members.
Major(s): Engineering Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.90
Overall GPA: 3.84
Length of Degree: 6 (2 years Phys Sci major + 3 years Eng Phys major + 1 year co-op)
Position in Class: Maybe top 2%? Based on a scholarship.
Type of Student: South Asian male, Canadian citizen.

GRE Scores: Nope (thankfully).

TOEFL: Nope. English is my first language.

Research Experience:

Four months of experimental biophysics research (NSERC funded).
One 3/12 author publication in open-access engineering journal (Nanomaterials).
Two 3/12 author conference abstracts.
One poster presentation at home institution.

Eight months of computational QM research with a CMT group (NSERC + dept. grant funded).
One 1/2 author publication in pedagogical physics journal (AJP).
One poster presentation at home institution.

Four months of (remote) CMT research with the same group (NSERC funded).
One 1/2 author publication in serious CM research journal (PRB).
Presented two sixty-minute chalk talks (remotely) to CM dept. at home institution.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
Four undergraduate research awards,
one percentile rank based scholarship,
other academic scholarships,
Dean's list every term.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
Four-months as a test engineer in the semiconductor sector. Lots of hands-on + programming work with microwave electronics instrumentation.
Also have worked as private tutor for high school math/physics/chemistry.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
Haha nah. I played collegiate football as a freshman but they won't care about that.

Special Bonus Points:
No grad classes, unfortunately, but was enrolled in 6 difficult courses basically every term (senior/junior level ECE + physics courses).
Wrote two first-author papers with one of my recommenders, so expecting a very solid reference.
Another reference is a big shot in CMT, personally knows at least one Prof at each institution I am applying to.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
Don't think so. I am apart of a visible minority, but I don't think that's gonna matter much.

Applying to Where:

Applying to CMT everywhere. Applying to CME at MIT and UCSB as well.

Yale - Physics PhD - Rejected via email on Feb. 19th
CalTech - Physics PhD - Rejected via email on Feb. 19th
Stanford - Physics PhD - Rejected via email on March 1st
Berkeley - Physics PhD - Rejected via email on March 5th
MIT - Physics PhD - Rejected via email on Feb. 18th
Princeton - Physics PhD - Rejected via email on Feb. 15th
Harvard - Physics PhD - Rejected via email on Feb. 23rd
Cornell - Physics PhD - Accepted via email on Feb. 18th ($29k-32k TA/RA funding guarantee for five years + $33k Cornell Fellowship for 1 year) - WILL ATTEND
UCSB - Physics PhD - Rejected via email on March 23rd
University of Toronto - Physics MSc - Accepted into direct-entry PhD via email on Feb. 2nd ($28.1k CAD entrance fellowship + 8.4k CAD summer RA) - DECLINED

Comments: I'm happy to go to Cornell, but I was expecting to get into more than 2 schools. If I had to make any changes, I would've tailored each application more to each institution. Application cycles are overall unpredictable, make sure you have safeties. I got 2/10, but it could've easily been 0/10 this year.
Last edited by DarkSkinDude on Sun Sep 12, 2021 5:58 pm, edited 25 times in total.

IaMkizzz
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:22 am

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by IaMkizzz » Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:41 pm

Good luck y'all! Wish me luck also!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undergrad Institution: one of the non-top UC schools
Major(s): Physics; Math
GPA in Major: 3.6
Overall GPA: 3.7
Length of Degree: 4 yrs
Position in Class: IDK
Type of Student: l'internationale

Master Institution: small Ivy
Major(s): Physics
GPA in Major: 3.8
Length of Degree: 2 yrs
Position in Class: IDK

GRE Scores: COVID-19

TOEFL:

Research Experience:

- One year + research in biophysics in master's study.

- One summer in undergrad doing nuclear physics

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
one term Dean's list


Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
nothing pertinent. teaching high schooler physics? didn't even bother to mention it in my app.


Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
Nah. Wish I did peace corp or Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme


Special Bonus Points:
Master study?


Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
My parents didn't go to school at all? I play flute? I am versatile? By versatile I mean I am willing to do any type of research.

Applying to Where:

(Physics unless otherwise specified)

Proper-distance-of-the-universe Reach:

Harvard (BioPhysics) (Need some hype here, bois. YOLO)
UT Austin - Invitation to Open House
Northwestern
UCSD

Interstellar Reach:

UIUC
Stony Brook
Penn State
Brandeis - interview scheduled 1/27 - Prof told me I am invited for the open house
UC Merced - language interview 1/28 - Accepted (email to chekck portal) Feb 02

14Hrs-Flight Reach:

Virginia Tech - Accepted Feb 08
U of Utah (Mechanical engineering) Interview on Dec - Accepted Jan 22
CityU - Accepted Feb 05
Last edited by IaMkizzz on Mon Feb 08, 2021 3:26 pm, edited 13 times in total.

HuanGabriel
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 4:18 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by HuanGabriel » Mon Dec 07, 2020 4:38 pm

Undergrad Institution: Medium school in Brazil. Not very known for physics.
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.76
Overall GPA: 3.76
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: International male

GRE Scores:


TOEFL: (R: 29, L: 30, S: 25, W: 21 :( )


Research Experience: Four years of research experience in my school. I have been working in HEP with the same advisor. One 1/3 published paper in a renowned journal. One 4/4 published paper in the same journal. One paper in a national journal. One presentation at a national conference. I am currently working on three papers.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Scientific initiation student scholarship for four years.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Two TA positions, one as TA of introduction to electromagnetism and the other as TA of QFT.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:

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

Applying to Where: All to condensed matter

Princeton - Ph.D. Physics (Feb. 15: Rejected via email :( )
Harvard - Ph.D. Physics (Feb. 23: Rejected via email to check portal. Already expected by now)
MIT - Ph.D. Physics (Feb. 18: Rejected via email)
Stanford - Ph.D. Physics (Mar. 1: Rejected via email)
UBC - MS Physics (May 10: Rejected via email)
ICTP - Diploma Programme (May 26: Rejected via email)

0/6, let's try again this year :(
Last edited by HuanGabriel on Wed May 26, 2021 8:26 am, edited 5 times in total.

Extlros
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2020 6:44 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by Extlros » Tue Dec 08, 2020 7:26 pm

Undergrad Institution: Large state school ranked ~50 in physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.90
Overall GPA: 3.83
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class:
Type of Student: Domestic Southeast Asian male

GRE Scores: Did not take GRE or physics GRE due to the pandemic.

TOEFL: N/A

Research Experience: ~3 years in an optics lab, ~1 year in crystal growth and characterization lab, 1 REU at a different institution on computational biophysics. Currently working on a manuscript for publication where I will be the 1st author (1/2). I will also be 3rd author (3/5) on another publication a fellow graduate student is currently writing. Sadly, none of these will be published/ready when I turn in my applications.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Several departmental awards and scholarships.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: My recommenders are well-known in their respective fields and have connections with professors at the universities I am applying to. I am taking graduate-level courses in statistical mechanics and condensed matter physics, which will be my field of study.

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

Applying to Where: All the schools I am applying to will be for Physics, specifically CME.
MIT Denied on 2/18 via email (damn...)
Columbia Denied on 3/17 via email to check portal
UC Berkeley Denied on 3/5 via email to check portal (another denial :( )
UC Santa Barbara-Accepted on 03/12/21 via email to check portal! --WILL ATTEND
UW Seattle-Accepted on 01/22/21 via email! (22k 9-month TA+1.5k fellowship)-DECLINED
These are pretty hard-reaching schools, but I feel confident that I can get into at least one. Good luck to all!

Thoughts thus far (3/5):
I feel like I am going to be denied from the rest...UC Santa Barbara hasn't given me an interview, and based on the trends thus far, I probably won't get in (a bunch of acceptances was given out previously looking at gradcafe and they just had their visit day). Meanwhile, Columbia apparently only has 8 spots. Just not a good year to be applying to graduate school. However, I am thrilled that I got accepted to the University of Washington. It is definitely a top school for 2D materials and I know I can do some incredible work there. I will wait to hear from the rest, just in case a miracle happens.

(3/14):
I somehow got into Santa Barbara...holy ****.

(3/18):
I am satisfied with the results this time around, considering the circumstances of this year. I will be declining my offer from the University of Washington and will choose to attend UC Santa Barbara. Kind of sad that I won't get to go to Seattle since it is such a wonderful city surrounded by beautiful forests, parks, and mountains, but I think I am able to find stuff like that here in Santa Barbara and the surrounding area. Good luck everyone, I wish you all the best in the future.
Last edited by Extlros on Thu Apr 08, 2021 12:39 pm, edited 13 times in total.

bnoether
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 5:06 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by bnoether » Sat Dec 12, 2020 12:49 am

Good luck you all :)

Undergrad Institution: top Brazilian school in Physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.8
Overall GPA: 3.7
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: average/top
Type of Student: International female

GRE Scores:


TOEFL: (R: 26, L: 29, S: 21, W: 27)


Research Experience: 2 years of research experience on cosmology at my university during undergrad + 1/2 year during master's. One 1st author publication in a good journal and 2 as a co-author on related topics. Some conferences and talks (including one in another country).

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: prize for best talk, top fellowships

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: a lot of summer schools (including one in another country).

Special Bonus Points: 7 grad classes (3 on cosmology, QFT1 and 2)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: sent email to at least one person in each university, advanced programming skills, personal website

Applying to Where: only to a few places. I will continue my master's in Brazil if I am not successful in my applications, or finish it in one year in case I am accepted. Mainly applying to my favorite universities on my research area/cosmology to see how it goes.

PSI - (Dec 14: Interviewed) (Dec. 17: ACCEPTED for M.Sc. via email)
Harvard - Physics - (Feb. 23: Rejected via email to check portal)
Princeton - Astrophysics - (Jan 15: Interviewed) (Feb. 5: Rejected via email)
UPenn - Physics
Max Planck - Astrophysics - (Feb 9: Interviewed) (Feb 11: informally ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email)
Last edited by bnoether on Tue Feb 23, 2021 7:06 pm, edited 7 times in total.

random1881
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2020 12:46 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by random1881 » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:02 pm

Undergrad Institution: large state school, ranked top 40 in US in physics
Major(s): physics
Minor(s): math
GPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 3.96
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: not reported
Type of Student: domestic white male

GRE Scores: NO GRE REQUIRED FOR THIS YEAR (WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED): didn't take

TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: ): N/A


Research Experience: 3 years (experimental condensed matter) at my undergraduate institution with one summer being supported as local REU student. 1 summer with a national lab via the SULI program (computational condensed matter). 2 papers currently in review process (1st author out of 2, 1st author out of 7) at mid tier journals. 1 paper currently being prepared for publication (1st author out of 2). 1 presentation at a national conference, abstract submitted to give another this year.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Several scholarships/fellowships from home institution.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for a semester, tutor for 2 years

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: N/A

Special Bonus Points: three letters of rec. from research PIs.

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

Applying to Where (all experimental condensed matter in physics unless otherwise noted):

Princeton - Feb. 15: rejected for Ph.D. via email.
Stanford (Applied Physics) - Feb. 22: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $11,820/quarter RA
MIT - Jan. 31: contacted for interview. Feb. 18: rejected for Ph.D. via email.
Berkeley - Mar. 05: rejected for Ph.D. via email to check application portal.
Cornell - Feb. 26: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $31k/year TA
Northwestern - Apr. 14: rejected for Ph.D. via email.
U. Illinois - Urbana-Champaign - Mar. 14: rejected for Ph.D. via email.
U. Maryland - Feb. 08: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $32k/12 month TA/RA + fellowship
U. Colorado - Boulder - Mar. 11: rejected for Ph.D. via email to check application portal.
Ohio State U. - Jan. 25: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $30k/12 month fellowship
U. Florida - Jan. 19: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $25k/12 month TA
Boston College - Jan. 29: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email to check application portal $32k/9 month TA + 3 month RA
U. Washington - Jan. 11: talked to a professor who seemed to indicate that I would likely get in. Jan. 22: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $22k/9 month TA + $1.5k fellowship + $10k fellowship -> will attend
Iowa State U. - Feb. 08: talked to a professor who seemed to indicate that I would likely get in. Mar. 04: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email TA $2100/month + $5000 fellowship
U. Tennessee - Knoxville - Nov.: invited by professor to tour school in early Jan. Jan. 20: Contacted for an interview. Jan. 28: unofficially accepted via call with professor. Feb. 15: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $25k/12 month RA + $15k/12 month (4 years) fellowship
Louisiana State U. - Feb. 03: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $25k/12 month TA/RA
Johns Hopkins' U. - Jan. 25: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $25k/9 month TA + $1.5k fellowship
Last edited by random1881 on Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:22 am, edited 34 times in total.

noether02
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:18 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by noether02 » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:35 pm

Undergrad Institution: Large public school in US, top 40 in physics
Major(s): Physics and Astrophysics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.74, 3.82
Overall GPA:3.80
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: No idea
Type of Student: Asian Female - international

GRE Scores: N/A
TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: )
N/A

Research Experience:
1 year -biomechanics with a natural history museum - worked on a code used by Duke Uni and presented work at a seminar
1 year- galactic astronomy work
2 years - CME - collaborative paper just published to mid tier journals
8 mons- LIGO gravitational wave research - 3 posters, 4 to go and senior thesis

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
University Scholar
Recipient of Center for Condensed Matter Sciences Grant
Multiple Dean’s List
SPS Distinguished Chapter Award

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
Tutor - physics, math, english and python programming
SPS - President, Ambassador, Historian
Sig Pi Sig- Founder and President
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space(SEDS) at Uni - President and VP
SEDS Singapore - director of chapter affairs
Space Systems Design Club - engineer council representative and secretary
MULTIPLE representations and presentations. also won chapter awards and grants for many

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP)
APS plasma physics conference - presented at expo
Engineer’s Week
SpaceVision
Fall and Spring research symposium
APS April Meeting
Manager for SPS zone


Special Bonus Points:
Famous recommender for LIGO work (forbes 30 under 30!!!)
Many connections
Took many grad classes and got A in all

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
Had a difficult second year (reasons explained in my statement)
first person in my family to go to grad school
Mostly applying to Astro programs unless stated otherwise
Interested in gravitational waves, black holes, galactic astronomy and cosmology

Applying to Where:

CANADA:
UToronto -

USA:
Caltech -
Columbia - Rejected 2/18
UFlorida -
Cornell -
Northwestern -
Maryland - Rejected 2/11
MIT - physics - Rejected 2/18
Stanford - physics -
UWash- Rejected 2/2
Penn State - Rejected 2/8
UIUC -
Rochester Tech -
UCLA -
Uof Arizona -
Boston Uni -
John Hopkins -
Harvard - Rejected 2/17
Vanderbilt -
LSU - physics -
UPenn -
Princeton - Rejected 2/5
UWisconsin-Madison -
Darthmouth -
yale -Rejected 1/29
Last edited by noether02 on Thu Feb 18, 2021 6:56 pm, edited 4 times in total.

bottomtier
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:03 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by bottomtier » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:44 pm

Undergrad Institution: Large US state school, Top 40 in Physics
Major(s): Astrophysics
Minor(s): N/A
GPA in Major: 3.75
Overall GPA: 3.79 (3.81 transfer)
Length of Degree: 3 at CCs + 2 at Uni: 5 for B.S.
Position in Class: high average probably
Type of Student: Asian American Female

GRE Scores: None of these matter since no school will take them
Q: 162 (78th)
V: 161 (88th)
W: 5 (92nd)
P: did not waste my money


TOEFL: N/A

Research Experience: Very weak. I only started my undergrad senior thesis research 6 months ago with 6 months left. In the field of solar/dark matter astrophysics. Results will be published as 1st author, so there's that. No conferences, talks, or posters. Only two in-person quarters at university before COVID + mostly online community college is a rough life.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: A couple Dean's Lists, Merit Scholarships, a couple military awards.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: No, but I worked full time during CC and work 24-32 hours a week during Uni in an unrelated field and volunteer(ed) at several animal shelters.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Random: One of the first female troops to train as infantry. Leadership: Assistant Commander at last military duty station.

Special Bonus Points: Female, Military Veteran.

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

Applying to Where: All experimental (Astro)physics PhD, 2nd choice experimental Biophysics PhD

Caltech (Rejected)
UCSB - Interview scheduled for 1/29 (Accepted via email 2/10, 33k TA/RA, WILL ATTEND)
UCB (Rejected)
Stanford (Rejected)
UCD (Rejected)
Last edited by bottomtier on Mon Apr 19, 2021 9:42 pm, edited 9 times in total.

Shachath_
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2020 12:33 am

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by Shachath_ » Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:13 am

Best wishes to everyone! Let's get this awful process out of the way and move on to do bigger and better things!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undergrad Institution: R1 Large state school - (US. News ~#50 Physics and ~#100 National Universities)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 3.97
Overall GPA: 3.91
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Department does not rank
Type of Student: Domestic Asian Male

GRE Scores: Did not take general or physics.

Research Experience:
1.5 academic years part-time, 1 summer full time, and 1 SULI internship (summer full-time) working with the same professor doing computational soft matter/materials science. Also got a first author (1/2) publication in a mid-tier journal from this just in time for all applications. Also planned to present at APS March 2020, but that was canceled last minute. Still got the abstract and presentation slides posted on the APS bulletin though.

1 additional semester (will be continuing full-time throughout spring semester and summer) doing computational biophysics.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's list every semester, Phi Beta Kappa, and some minor department scholarships/recognitions.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: None

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Officer for the chess club and won a couple of university and state-level tournaments?

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
One letter writer did a post-doc at Rice, so better odds there perhaps? Also, have experimental collaborators at UChicago, but I don't think that helps much other than padding my SOP with research interests.

Took a handful of Bio, Chem, and Comp Sci classes to help cushion myself since I'm jumping into different departments. Took/will take a handful of grad courses, but only relevant ones were mentioned in some of my SOPs since they won't show up on submitted unofficial transcripts.

Only had 2 research/PI letters with the third being a professor for an upper-level core physics course.

Also made sure to include my publication and posters in all applications using any available "extra materials", "portfolio", or just emailing attachments to admission coordinator options.

Applying to Where (Wide array of departments but everything was based on research/advisor match):

My interests and experiences are in a very interdisciplinary field, and one of my letter writers said that physics tended to be quite more difficult to get accepted into, so let's see how switching from physics to engineering works out. The list is a little reach heavy, but am applying knowing I have the option of guaranteed direct admit with funding to my current PI at my undergrad institution.

Super Reach:
Princeton (Chemical & Biological Engineering) - REJECTED for PhD via email Feb. 1
UChicago (Molecular Engineering) - ACCEPTED for PhD via email Jan. 24 $36k TA/RA + $500 moving
UPenn (Physics) - INTERVIEWED on Jan. 21; REJECTED for PhD via website Mar. 17
Columbia (Chemical Physics) - REJECTED for PhD via email Mar. 3
Northwestern (Materials Science & Engineering) - ACCEPTED for PhD via email Jan. 22 $34k TA/RA + $1k moving

Reach:
UIUC (Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering) - ACCEPTED for PhD via email Dec. 21 $31k TA/RA + $3k Fellowship + $1k moving + $2k education/academic allowance
Rice University (Physics) - WAITLISTED for PhD via email Feb. 9
UMich (Physics) - REJECTED for PhD via email Feb 26.
WashU St. Louis (Biophysics) - INTERVIEWED on Jan. 29; WAITLISTED Mar. 9 for PhD via email
Stony Brook (Physics) - ACCEPTED for PhD via email Feb 26 $20k TA + $3k Fellowship + $5k/2.5k Summer RA/TA

Safe:
Lehigh University (Chemical & Biological Engineering) - INTERVIEWED on Feb. 8; ACCEPTED for PhD via interview/email Feb. 8 $30k TA/RA

Notes
(3/14) First off... Happy Pi Day! Happy Birthday to Einstein! and RIP Hawking. I'm obviously very grateful for some awesome choices, especially in light of the unexpected obstacles from the pandemic influencing this cycle. I spoke to a PI at UPenn physics, and was told they had to cut their offers by about 50% this cycle. Anyways, I will almost certainly be attending UChicago PME. Clearly from my results, engineering programs are much easier to be accepted into. This is likely because of better funding in addition to more undergraduates in engineering going to the work-force instead of academia. So pro-tip for future applicants, when looking for "safties" (whatever this means in the context of grad applications), consider applying to engineering departments rather than looking for other programs/schools you don't love. Often times, physics professors have appointments/affiliations with other departments anyways. Or if you're like me and work in computation, you can probably find PoIs in any department. Plus, engineering departments give better stipends :P. Honestly, I'm a little disappointed that I won't be a "Physicist", but it probably won't bother me in the long run since I won't plan on becoming a professor. Best of luck to everyone in your future endeavors!!!
Last edited by Shachath_ on Thu Mar 25, 2021 8:56 am, edited 34 times in total.

Gggggggggggg
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2020 8:59 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by Gggggggggggg » Mon Dec 14, 2020 11:02 am

Undergrad Institution: Med-sized state, small physics department with lots of opportunities for undergrad research
Major(s): Physics
GPA in Major: 3.6
Overall GPA: 3.5
Length of Degree: 3.5 (would recommend staying for 4 years to maximize research experience, but I ran out of money so I graduated early)
Position in Class: N/A
Type of Student: DWM

GRE Scores: N/A

Research Experience: 2.5-3 years FEA/CFD. 2 peer-reviewed pubs, 1 conference paper.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: A few departmental awards, a couple conference awards.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
- 1.5 years industry R&D experience. Thought this would be helpful, but truth is most of the PIs I interviewed with did not even seem to be aware of this (even though it was near the top on my CV and mentioned in my personal statement). I think the lesson here for applicants may be that many PIs won't spend too much time reading your CV and PS. Alternatively, they may have just forgotten.
- TA for a few semesters. I doubt this directly helped my application, but can't be certain. Would definitely recommend maximizing research work and making sure you keep your grades up over doing TA work on the side. If you can do it all - great. If you can't - save your time + energy for research and classwork (as well as GRE under normal circumstances)

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: N/A

Special Bonus Points: N/A

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Applying only for what I have some degree of experience with, all of my letter writers are people I've worked with in the past. Would recommend this path to all applicants: apply for what you're familiar with and ask for letters from people who can directly speak to your competence within that specific field.

Applying to Where:

All Soft Matter Experiment/Microfluids/+Modeling

Boston U - Mechanical Engineering - Accepted
University of Virginia - Mechanical Engineering - Never heard back from them
UT Austin - Mechanical Engineering - Interviewed, never accepted but never formally rejected
Rice - Chemical & Biomedical Engineering - Rejected
MIT - Mechanical Engineering - Rejected
Princeton - Mechanical Engineering - Rejected
Johns Hopkins University - Rejected for PhD but offered unpaid Masters
University of Pennsylvania - Mechanical Engineering - Accepted
Stanford - Mechanical Engineering - Rejected
MIT - Computational Science and Engineering - Rejected

I would also recommend doing what I did here if you can get the money together to send out enough applications. Went against many recommendations that I was shooting too high with this list, and while they were right, I was still able to get in at a couple great places. Some of this can really just be luck. Is some particular professor at one of these elite schools looking for someone who you could fit the bill for? You won't know if you don't try, and you may just get lucky. Obviously make sure you have schools on that list you can get into, but take some chances with some tougher to get into programs.
Last edited by Gggggggggggg on Sat May 29, 2021 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

henr7110
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2020 5:42 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by henr7110 » Mon Dec 14, 2020 6:11 pm

Undergrad Institution: foreign, rank top 50 in physics, top 30 in bio sciences
Major(s): Nanoscience
GPA in Major: 4
Overall GPA: 4
Length of Degree: 5 years
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: International male

GRE Scores: N/A

TOEFL: (R: 30, L: 30, S: 30, W: 28)

Research Experience: Statistics in biophysics.
One 1st author paper accepted for review in a good journal, one 4th author published in decent journal and two 3rd author manuscripts in preparation.
Three month project doing machine learning and statistics at famous US university with well known biophysicist
Several side-projects on x-ray scattering, computational chemistry and developmental biology

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
1 Poster award at local mini-conference
1 Graduate scholarship nation-specific
(won a nation-wide research competition in high-school)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
1/2 year TA in electrodynamics,
1 year lab assistant in biophysics lab(s)

Special Bonus Points:
Got a good recommendation from the PI at my project at the US university he is quite famous in the bio sciences.

Biggest concern/weak point:
I have a background in computational and statistical biophysics but wish to do more mathematics-based theoretical biophysics.
My recommenders where 1 biochemist (doing biophysics), 1 theoretical physicist (doing biophysics and a biologist (doing biophysics).
Due to my diverse background I am in doubt as to wether I have enough theoretical track-record for a physics department, but lets see.

Applying to Where:

MIT - Physics - Feb. 18: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email. Awaiting offer
Stanford - Applied Physics - Feb. 23: ACCEPTED for Ph.D. via email $11,820/quarter month RA
Princeton - Physics - Feb. 15: Rejected via email
Caltech - Physics - Feb. 19: Rejected via email
UC Berkeley - Physics - Feb. 17: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email + $10.7k Fellowship + $30.8k/10 month TA
Harvard - Physics -
Last edited by henr7110 on Tue Feb 23, 2021 4:29 am, edited 4 times in total.

cheerfulsquirrel
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2020 6:06 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by cheerfulsquirrel » Mon Dec 14, 2020 6:26 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small liberal arts school
BS Major(s): Physics, Math, Philosophy
Minor(s): CS, Astronomy
GPA in Major: 3.95
Overall GPA: 3.94
Length of Degree: 4

MS Major(s): Math
Overall GPA: 4.0
Length of Degree: 1 (accelerated program)

Position in Class: near top?
Type of Student: DWM

GRE Scores: N/A

Research Experience: 2 years of full-time equivalent research experience across 4 projects all at home institution:
14 months FTE - computational condensed matter, 1st author paper under review at saucy journal
3 months FTE - machine learning applied to astronomy, 4th author in APJ
4 months FTE - astronomy, 1st author on small note in RNAAS
5+ months FTE - quantum foundations, computational and theory, paper in prep (1st, mentioned on CV and SOP, maybe by letter writer)


Awards/Honors/Recognitions: A few merit-based scholarships, magna cum laude (no summa at my uni), very competitive undergraduate research grant for 1 summer, funding from adviser for 2 other summers

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: a couple of years between: TA for physics + math, tutor for math, study group leader for physics w/ calc intro series.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: all of my code is available on Github, linked to this in SOP along with linking to papers. I think having easy access to my code might help considering that I'm applying for computational programs. A few talks and posters.

Special Bonus Points: first-generation, grew up poor, took a gap year in order to save before undergraduate due to lack of parental support. This might help? Tons of grad classes in math, with a focus on computational and physics adjacent subjects.


Applying to Where: All for computational/theoretical astrophysics/cosmology
Harvard Astronomy Rejected 2/18
Princeton Astrophysical Sciences (Interview 1/20) Rejected 2/5
Columbia Astronomy (Waitlisted 2/15)
Yale Physics Rejected 2/19
Cornell Astronomy
Stanford Physics
UIUC Astronomy (Interview 2/3) Rejected 2/19
CU Boulder Physics
UC Berkley Physics
MIT Physics Rejected 2/19
UW Astronomy (Interview 1/27) Rejected 2/2
Georgia Tech Physics (Waitlisted 2/18)

Good luck everyone, stay sane<3



2/19: ....
Last edited by cheerfulsquirrel on Fri Feb 19, 2021 5:06 pm, edited 4 times in total.

justanotherstudent
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:04 am

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by justanotherstudent » Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:36 am

Undergrad Institution: Liberal Arts College (Top 20)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Chemistry
GPA in Major: 4.0
Overall GPA: 3.95
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Top 5%
Type of Student: domestic white female

GRE Scores:
Verbal: 170 (99th percentile)
Quantitative: 166 (87th percentile)
Writing: 4.5 (80th percentile)
PGRE: 830 (71st percentile)
Yes, I'm submitting scores to schools that give the option. I studied too freaking hard for that mediocre PGRE score not to.

Research Experience:
- 1 summer @ national lab (AMO - experimental)
- 1 REU at university (AMO - experimental)
- 4 years + 1 summer at home institution; 2 publications, one first author; several poster presentations; thesis (AMO - experimental)
- 6 months @ national lab (AMO - computational)
- 2 years as R&D optical engineer

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Highest Honors (for thesis), a few academic awards at home institution

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutored for a couple of years

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Nope

Special Bonus Points: Connections to a couple universities, but not my top choice ones

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I graduated 2.5 years ago and currently work as an engineer. Mostly posting here because it's hard to find anyone with a similar profile, so if anyone out there has a liberal arts college degree + random industry experience, this is for you.

Applying to Where:

UC Berkeley - AMO experiment
MIT - AMO experiment - rejected 2/18
CU Boulder - AMO experiment - accepted 2/22
Stanford - AMO experiment - rejected 3/1
UCLA - AMO experiment - accepted 2/16
UW Seattle - AMO experiment - accepted 1/23
UC Irvine - AMO experiment - accepted 2/4
USC - AMO experiment - interview early January - accepted 2/25
University of Arizona - Optics - accepted 2/5
UT Austin - AMO experiment
Last edited by justanotherstudent on Wed Mar 03, 2021 12:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

coastalsunset
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2020 4:29 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by coastalsunset » Tue Dec 15, 2020 4:54 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small, STEM-focused school (US)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 4.0
Overall GPA: 3.86
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: N/A
Type of Student: domestic white female

GRE Scores:
Verbal: 170 (99th percentile)
Quantitative: 168 (92nd percentile)
Writing: 5.0 (92nd percentile)
PGRE: 850 (74th percentile)
Took these 2+ years ago, submitting to a few schools since I have them

Research Experience:
2.5 years of experimental soft matter research (resulted in one nth-author paper in a good journal, and a senior thesis project)
1 summer of experimental quantum info research
1 summer of computer science research

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
One well-known national scholarship
International math modeling contest winner
A few college/department scholarships and awards

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
3 years of tutoring/grading courses in physics/math/CS
2 years of student government
2 terms of volunteer-teaching courses in prisons
Post-grad: 1.5 years at a software company

"Special" Bonus Points: female and LGBTQ (mentioned in personal history/diversity statements for some schools)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I've been working in industry (tech) since I finished college in mid-2019, so that could either be a pro or a con!

Applying to Where: all for experimental hard/soft condensed matter or biophysics, ordered by reply date

University of Washington - Physics (PhD) - ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email + 1.5k Fellowship + $22k/9 mo TA (Jan 12)
Colorado School of Mines - Physics (PhD) - ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email + $27k TA (Jan 19)
University of British Columbia - Physics (Masters) - ACCEPTED for M.Sc via email + $25k CAD TA/RA (Jan 20)
Northwestern University - Applied Physics (PhD) - ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email + $34k RA/Fellowship (Jan 27)
University of Chicago - Physics (PhD) - ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email to check portal + $26.8k TA + 9k summer RA + $1k relocation + $3k one-time research funding (Jan 29)
University of Pennsylvania - Physics (PhD) - ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email + no exact #s, but around $34k (Feb 5)
MIT - Physics (PhD) - REJECTED for Ph.D via email (Feb 18)
New York University - Physics (PhD) - ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email + at least $29k/9 mo stipend + $10.5k first-summer research stipend + $1k fellowship, can TA for $ separately (Feb 23)
Georgia Tech - Physics (PhD) - ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email - $29k TA + $7.5k in four-year fellowships (Mar 1)

This definitely went better than I expected. I think my rec-letter writers must've written good letters, and applying after working for a while didn't hurt my applications.
One thing to keep in mind when checking out acceptance letters/stipend packages is whether or not the package covers health insurance and/or student fees, since those can add up quickly
Last edited by coastalsunset on Thu Apr 15, 2021 4:59 pm, edited 16 times in total.

gmirg
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2020 7:54 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by gmirg » Tue Dec 15, 2020 8:15 pm

Undergrad Institution: California school - good/high reputation in physics
Major(s): Physics and Mathematics
GPA in Major: 3.93 (physics) and 3.98 (math)
Overall GPA: 3.94
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: top (~2%)
Type of Student: International

Graduate Institution: Intense theoretical physics masters program (one of the best in the world).
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: N/A
Overall GPA: N/A
Length of Degree: 1 year (M.Sc)
Position in Class: N/A
Type of Student: International

Research Experience:
- 1 year theory experience in holography/quantum info in undergrad
- 1 year theory experience in AdS/CFT in undergrad, resulted in Honors thesis and paper (to appear)
- 1 summer research in a top-school in the UK, resulted in one presentation
- 1 grad school research, resulted in paper (to appear)
- No publications at the time of applying, but two papers are to appear soon (hopefully before Jan) and I mentioned it in the app.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
- 1 big scholarship
- 2 small scholarships
- 3 departmental awards
- highest honors and honors at graduation
- dean's List.

Special Bonus Points: lots of (very advanced) grad classes from my masters. 2 of my referees are world leading experts in the field I am applying for--they have many connections.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I sent 3+ writing samples from small projects/thesis which are related to research field I am applying for. Hopefully I get to send the 2 papers I am working on before January.

Applying to Where: all PhD in hep theory/strings/quantum info

Stanford
UC Berkeley
UC Santa Barbara
MIT
Harvard
Princeton
University of Chicago - Rejected
Brandeis University - Invited to open house on 1/31
University of British Columbia
Cambridge - Invited for Interview on 1/29
Oxford
Last edited by gmirg on Wed Feb 03, 2021 4:29 am, edited 4 times in total.

ztruwk
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2019 3:20 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by ztruwk » Tue Dec 15, 2020 11:12 pm

Undergrad Institution: big private school in US, top 40 in physics
Major(s): physics
GPA in Major: 3.6
Overall GPA: 3.7
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: above average
Type of Student: domestic white female

Grad school: Perimeter PSI master's

Research Experience: ~18 months full time post-bac in quantum optics (mostly theory). Have a nearly complete manuscript (first-author) that I submitted with all my applications. Also master's research in black hole thermodynamics.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Sigma Pi Sigma, master's scholarship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: tutor for a year in undergrad, two mentorship positions, one volunteer outreach position

Applying to:
(all for hep-th, quantum information/quantum gravity)

British Columbia
UC Berkeley
UC Santa Barbara
Harvard
MIT Feb. 18: Rejected via email
Last edited by ztruwk on Sun Feb 21, 2021 6:08 pm, edited 3 times in total.

User avatar
Nishikata
Posts: 241
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:37 am

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by Nishikata » Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:56 am

Undergrad Institution: Well-reputed university in Asia.
Master's program institution: University of Tokyo (QS ranked 10th in physics, ranked 19th in Materials Science)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Nanoscience, Engineering Materials (UG only)
Overall GPA:4.65/5
Master's GPA: no official GPA, but transcript is all As.
Length of Degree: 4 years + 2 years
Position in Class: top
Type of Student: International Asian Male

GRE Scores :
Q:N/A
V:N/A
W:N/A
P: 980 (95%)

TOEFL: N/A (applied only where my UG degree would exempt me)

Research Experience

2 computational projects on graphene and hydrogen defects on semiconductors. Got co-first author and second author in these.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean’s List, Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Prize

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 3 years as semiconductor engineer, bonded to work as part of financing my undergrad degree.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Physics Club President. Helped organizing major olympiad during my tenure.
Resident Cluster Leader at my dormitory.

Special Bonus Points:
The more I grew up the more I realize I am not so special. Especially as COVID-19 took my pGRE scores which would have been a plus.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
Tried to make it simpler this year. Looking back on my previous apps, it seems that some components weren't so relevant after all.

Applying to Where:

Harvard - Applied Physics - computational materials science work (Feb. 26: Rejected via website)
MIT – Physics - ab initio CMT (Feb. 18: Rejected via email)
Stanford – Materials Science (Jan. 28: Rejected via website)
Caltech – Applied Physics - Ab initio materials science - can use my PGRE (Mar. 2: Rejected via email)
Yale – Applied Physics - quantum error correction / quantum materials - can use my PGRE (Feb. 17: Rejected via website)

This may be the final roll of the dice to get that top dreams.
If I don't get in, I will be considering my options inside and outside academia.

March 2: it's not happening. Time to consider more life options.
Last edited by Nishikata on Tue Mar 02, 2021 9:44 pm, edited 6 times in total.

MikeTheSurfer
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:13 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by MikeTheSurfer » Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:34 pm

Undergrad Institution: one of the top UK schools
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): -
GPA in Major: N/A
Overall GPA: N/A
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: very near Top
Type of Student: International

GRE Scores: N/A

TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: ) N/A

Research Experience: some papers in reputable journals including 1/3 in quantum mechanics, 1/2 biophysics, 3/4 machine learning (undergrad journal though) + 1/2 preprint in classical mechanics. On top of this, unpublished summer research in experimental physics and for my senior thesis I do project in CMT. Several research presentations during conferences or seminars.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: some research scholarships and other awards at the uni; some high school awards;

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: tutoring experience in maths and physics.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: In my final year I take plenty of grad classes in the intended field of study and related ones. I expect strong reference letters.

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

Applying to (all CMT):
UIUC
Harvard
Princeton
MIT
Stanford
UCSB
UC Berkeley
Yale
Cornell
Caltech
U. Chicago

Let's see how it goes! Good luck to everyone :)

physicswannabe
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2020 8:21 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by physicswannabe » Wed Dec 16, 2020 8:33 pm

Undergrad Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
Major(s): Physics and Astrophysics
Minor(s): N/A
GPA in Major: 3.7
Overall GPA: 3.2
Length of Degree: 3
Position in Class: Above average
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores: I took the GREs with the intent of retaking for better scores.. then COVID- didn't submit my scores but: something like ~70th percentile for PGRE


TOEFL: N/A


Research Experience:
1) One year of observational astronomy remotely controlling a telescope.
2) One year electrical engineering photonics research project with a distinguished faculty member

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Made Dean's list my last three semesters

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Online Tutor

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...)
I took first year grad quantum, an upper div grad general relativity course where I had a pretty insane final project, intermediate mathematical physics. I also have a connection to a professor who's generally pretty well known in quantum information science/AMO physics that worked with a Nobel laureate at the time of their Nobel prize win.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
There's a pretty strong upward trend in terms of all of my grades-- I've always done pretty well in my math/physics courses, but performed exceptionally well my final two years. I had a surgery that put be out of class my final semester so I have a W and a bunch of Bs for that semester, but explained the situation in a supplemental paper.

Also, I graduated in Winter 2019. I took a year off to get research experience but then COVID. I filled the time with doing online tutoring. Hopefully this discrepancy doesn't kill my apps. :?

Applying to Where:
For Quantum Information Sciences and AMO research except for the few where I note any differences.

Super reach:
MIT - Sent Dec 15th -(Rejected via email)
Caltech - Sent Dec 15th- (Feb 19th: Rejected via email.. right after news that a close family member passed)

Reach:
UCSB - Sent Dec 15th - (Mar 23rd: Rejected via portal (no email))
Michigan Ann Arbor - Sent Dec 15th - (Feb 24th: Rejected via email)
UPenn - quantum matter - Sent Dec 15th - (Rejected via portal (no email))
CU Boulder - Sent Dec 15th - (Rejected via email to check portal)
I also applied for the IQ Biology program at CU Boulder, denied from that on Feb 16th.

Less reach:
University of Wisconsin Madison - also applied for MS in nuclear engineering - Sent Dec 15th- (Jan 28th: Rejected via email)
Johns Hopkins - Sent Dec 15th - - (Mar 1st: Rejected via portal (no email))
Georgia tech experimental - BEC - Sent Dec 30th (Feb 15th: informal rejection via email (official rejection on Mar 6th)
Penn State University - Due Jan 15 - (Mar 1st: Rejected via email)

Match:
Vanderbilt - AMO - Sent Dec 30th - (WILL ATTEND for Ph.D. Accepted via website/email on April 14th + $32k/10 month TA)
University of Oregon - QIS - Due Jan 15 - (Mar 1st: Rejected via portal (no email))
Virginia tech - experimental condensed matter physics - Sent Dec 30th -(Mar 22nd: Rejected via portal (no email))
University of Southern California - Sent Dec 30th - Accepted to MS quantum info but denied from PhD quantum info, both around mid May, long after decision deadline.
Colorado school of mines - quantum engineering - Sent Dec 15th - (Mar 1st: accepted via email to check portal)
UCSD - Sent Dec 15th- Rejected without email. Around mid April

Safety:

Montana state university - Quantum systems Due jan 10th - Rejected upon inquiry. This was surprising!


Edit: I've only heard back from a few places and I'm already freaking out...

Edit 2: Bittersweet day, a few rejections but my first acceptance. Depending on the rest of the decisions I may get my masters and apply again after.

Edit 3: I forgot to update this! Wow! The day before the decision deadlines I got a response from Vanderbilt for a 32k stipend and tuition waiver! I immediately accepted and I'm so excited to be attending in the fall. The flurry of rejections had me down since February but it all worked out in the end luckily. To those anxiously reading the dates and results for 2022 admissions: There's no such thing as a safety and apply to everything. I didn't think I'd get into Vanderbilt! It's worth dropping the cash to roll the dice.
Last edited by physicswannabe on Sun Jun 27, 2021 5:32 pm, edited 23 times in total.

ElFrijolitoBailarin
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:39 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by ElFrijolitoBailarin » Thu Dec 17, 2020 1:18 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small liberal arts school. No reputation in physics. Physics Dept. is 4 professors :lol:
Major(s): Physics, Math, CS
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 4.00
Length of Degree: 3.5 years (December graduation)
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: Domestic hispanic.
Research Experience:
2+ years in theoretical/computational AMO. Advisor is very well known in field. 3 posters and 3 oral presentations at several conferences. 2nd author on two papers, one in PRA and one in PRL.
3+ years on computational particle physics on a big department collaboration, ~1 year with other collaboration in same field. ~5 posters, 3 talks.
1 REU at UChicago in condensed matter physics, well known advisor in field.
Research for capstone projects in CS and math also.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
• Summa Cum Laude (2020)
• President’s List (Fall 2017 to Fall 2020)
• Department award (Spring 2020)
• SIMIODE Differential Equation Modeling Challenge 2nd Place (Fall 2019)
• University Physics Prize (Scholarship based on physics test result for admission)(2017)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
Worked as private tutor for AP physics, calc and stats.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
I can ride a unicycle!! WoWoW

Special Bonus Points: Born in Mexico? Hola Señorita como esta?

Applying to Where: All Physics for QI/QC except otherwise indicated. I have no safeties :? :shock: :o
SUPER REACH:
MIT - Interview in mid Jan,Rejected
UChicago - -Rejected - January
Stanford (Applied Physics) - ACCEPTED mid Feb via portal - WILL ATTEND
Caltech (Applied Physics) -Interview in mid Jan, ACCEPTED 2/09 via portal
UCBerkeley -ACCEPTED early MArch via email

REACH:
UofI Urbana-Champaign - ACCEPTED mid Feb via email
UCBoulder - Staff Researcher reached out for quasi interview, I declined further processing.
UofMichigan Ann Arbor - Withdrawn, still accepted, withdrawal sent too late?
UT-Austin Withdrawn
U-Madison Wisconsin - ACCEPTED early Feb via portal
UCLA - ACCEPTED late Jan via portal
Carnegie Mellon -Rejected
Rice - ACCEPTED late Jan via portal
Ohio State - ACCEPTED early Feb via portal

Edit 1:
Well, somehow, by the hand of G-d, I made it into Caltech. Probably my 1st choice unless I hear back from MIT and maybe UChicago. Wish everyone best of luck. What a ride.

Edit 2:
Rejected from MIT. Not surprised after the interview, which was less than optimal. Looks like I'm waiting to hear back from Stanford and Uchicago, then choose between those 2 and Caltech. Oh well, overall happy with results, but ofc would have LOVED to attend MIT.

Edit 3:
Stanford accepted me! At this point imma just look at its research against Caltech's and come to a decision. Super pumped

Edit 4:Lol had gotten rejection from uchicago back in january, but didn't see it until now (mid march). I had a tough time deciding but it looks like I'll be going to Stanford! Best wishes to all.
Last edited by ElFrijolitoBailarin on Tue Mar 16, 2021 7:36 pm, edited 10 times in total.

Ekotar
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2020 6:49 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by Ekotar » Thu Dec 17, 2020 6:58 pm

Undergrad Institution: Highly ranked public school with an elite reputation in physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.78
Overall GPA: 3.80 (Post-transfer) 3.68 (pre-transfer)
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: top 20% at the college level, top 15% in major.
Type of Student: Domestic White Male

GRE Scores: I didn't get to submit them anywhere, but 170Q/169V/5.0AWA from January


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


Research Experience: an REU in radiative counting/spectroscopy, 2 years (Sept 2019-Present) at a national lab in high voltage studies of Liquid Xenon

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Nothing major, just dean's list type stuff

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Taught math at my CC, currently working on a team that builds remote access versions of teaching experiments in response to covid19 (rec letter for this calls me a "rockstar" multiple times), also admin a student electronics maker space

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: took graduate QFT, run my own business, a few A+'s.

Special Bonus Points: my thesis supervisor is a very big deal in my subfield, has been the spokesperson of international collaborations

Applying to Where:

Stanford - Physics - Dark Matter Detection/Neutrinos Rejected via email on Mar 1
Harvard - Physics - Neutrinos Interview invite Jan 22, interviewed Jan 25 Rejected via portal Feb 23
Yale - Physics - Neutrinos Rejected via portal Feb 18
MIT - Physics - Dark Matter Detection/Neutrinos Rejected via email Feb 18
CalTech - Physics - General Particle/Neutrinos Rejected via portal Feb 19
Maryland - Physics - Dark Matter Detection/Neutrinos Update email that says offer will likely come ("You are under active consideration, but our budget is uncertain and will be clarified soon") Feb 12
UCLA - Physics - Dark Matter Detection/Neutrinos
UCSB - Physics - Dark Matter Detection/Neutrinos Admitted via portal on Feb 11, $33k 12-month support via TA/GSR
Chicago - Physics - Dark Matter Detection/Neutrinos Rejected via portal on Jan 29

Also applied to Knight Hennessy Scholars at Stanford. Rejected via portal on Feb 3

Edit Mar 1: I think I'm taking a year or two off and re-applying, if I ever go to grad school at all.
Last edited by Ekotar on Mon Mar 01, 2021 4:54 pm, edited 9 times in total.

dance_magic_dance
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2020 7:30 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by dance_magic_dance » Thu Dec 17, 2020 8:11 pm

Undergrad Institution: big public school - good reputation in physics
Major(s): physics and applied math
Minor(s): N/A
GPA in Major: 3.778
Overall GPA: 3.884
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: pretty good - maybe near top
Type of Student: domestic white female

GRE Scores:
Q: 168 (92%)
V: 164 (94%)
W: 5 (92%)
P: N/A


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


Research Experience: 1 year of particle physics at home institution (1 2nd author publication), 1 semester abroad at CERN (1 plenary talk at biannual conference), 1 more year of particle physics at home institution (1 nth author publication), 1 renewable energy internship (1 1st-author conference paper in prep), and 8 months of data-driven COVID modeling* (1 2nd author publication; another in prep; 1 plenary talk at COVID conference)

*The COVID modeling came by surprise. I was (and am) planning to transition into renewable energy, hence the internship. However, this year had other plans.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 3 departmental scholarships, 1 honors program academic award, 1 particle physics collaboration research grant, COVID conference student scholarship, Goldwater Scholar 2020

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: not much - worked as an instructor at a math summer camp for 2 months (2019)

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: female

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I'm changing fields from particle physics to electrical engineering/mechanical engineering/applied physics, all for renewable energy. Applied physics isn't as big of a jump, but I have to justify my change in interests.

Applying to Where:

NYU - ECE - Energy Systems (Dec. 14: Interview) - Unofficial rejection Feb. 14 via email from POI
Columbia - Applied Physics -
Cornell - Applied Physics - Renewable Energy - ACCEPTED Feb. 16 via email
Princeton - EE - Applied Physics (Jan. 11: Interview) - Waitlisted Feb. 11 via email
Harvard - Applied Physics - Materials and Photonics - Rejected Feb. 26 via email to check portal
MIT - EECS - Applied Physics and Devices - ACCEPTED Jan. 26 via email - WILL ATTEND!!!
UC Berkeley - Applied Science and Technology - (Jan. 29: Interview) - ACCEPTED Feb. 10 via email
Stanford - Applied Physics - CME - ACCEPTED Feb. 22 via email
Caltech - Applied Physics - Photonics (Jan. 23: Interview) - ACCEPTED Feb. 9 via email to check portal
UCSB - ECE - Controls (Jan. 15: Interview) - ACCEPTED Jan. 15 via email to check portal
UCLA - Physics - CME - Unofficial acceptance Jan. 29 via email from POI
UIUC - MechSE - Applied Physics/Energy & Environment - ACCEPTED Feb. 15 via email
University of Michigan - Applied Physics - Energy Systems - ACCEPTED Feb. 15 via email
University of Chicago - Physics - CME - Rejected Jan. 29 via email to check portal
CU Boulder - Physics - Renewable Energy - Rejected March 11 via email to check portal
Penn - Physics - CME (Jan. 15: Interview) - Unofficial acceptance Feb. 5 via email
Last edited by dance_magic_dance on Sun Apr 04, 2021 10:43 pm, edited 37 times in total.

PretzelE
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 4:53 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by PretzelE » Sat Dec 19, 2020 7:00 pm

Undergrad Institution: Big 10 School
Major(s): Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.45
Overall GPA: 3.37. Would've been around 3.6, but had a pretty rough freshman year
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: not tracked at school
Type of Student: DWM

GRE Scores: didn't take it (the one good thing to come from Covid)

Research Experience:

2.5 years studying terahertz spectroscopy with various levels of devotion/involvement. Led to an invitation for an oral presentation at APS March Meeting 2020, but that was cancelled due to COVID. Invited to present at MM 2021, did present at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Symposium and a department colloquium. Two publications pending-- one first author, one buried in the author list.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

-Dean's list in most semesters
-A few research fellowships from the University Office of Undergraduate Research
-A pair of departmental scholarships/awards
-Large academic scholarships

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

-Worked at NanoSystems Lab for two years
-Resident Advisor
-Teaching assistant for intro astronomy labs
-some STEM volunteering stuff
-chair of leadership committee for astro department

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: not really

Special Bonus Points:
-Took three graduate classes (biophysics, condensed matter, and computational physics)
-First-generation student, low income
-Worked throughout college in addition to double major
-One of the papers I will be on was a collaboration between Colorado State and USC

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
Significant upward trend after freshman year. Managed to finish with strong grades after catching COVID the week of midterms this fall, if that counts for anything.

Applying to Where: All PhD. Not really sure what's gonna be reach or "safety," so I'm more or less just casting a wide net and hoping for a success somewhere :?

Ohio State (CME) ACCEPTED via email 3/2. $28368/yr stipend
UC Santa Barbara (CME)
Rice (applied physics / CME) ACCEPTED via informal email 1/14. Official notification to check status on 2/3. $31500/yr stipend
Rensselaer (CME)
UC Santa Cruz (CME) REJECTED via email to check portal, 2/22
Virginia Tech (CME)
Pittsburgh (CME)
Texas A&M (applied physics / AMO)
CUNY (Photonics track) Received email for interview 2/10. ACCEPTED via email to check portal on 2/17. $30733/yr stipend
Penn State (CME) REJECTED via email to check, 2/26

SUPER relieved to have an acceptance!! Rice was my #1 choice, so unless an offer from another school blows me away, I'm pretty much set!
Last edited by PretzelE on Tue Mar 02, 2021 2:02 pm, edited 12 times in total.

hollow20
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2020 3:03 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by hollow20 » Sun Dec 20, 2020 3:25 pm

Undergrad Institution: Top 20 private research university
Major(s): Physics, Math
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.51
Overall GPA: 3.69
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: not tracked at school
Type of Student: Domestic female

GRE Scores: lol nope

Research Experience: 3 years in experimental nuclear physics, 1 co-authored paper and some smaller posters. 1 REU with a national conference poster. 1 year in experimental particle physics/machine learning, paper in preparation now but won't be ready in time for graduate school decisions. Currently working on senior thesis.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Physics scholarship, competitive study abroad position, Dean's List 2x, member in 2 honors programs, and some smaller scholarships and grants.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: SPS officer for 3 years, TA for 2 years, Lab Assistant for 6 months.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: nah not really

Special Bonus Points: Woman in Physics whoop whoop! Also taking an advanced physics concentration

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: first generation graduate student? had to work a lot to pay for school

Applying to Where: All for experimental nuclear physics Ph.D., unless otherwise noted.

Duke - (Feb. 16: WAITLISTED for Ph.D. via email to check portal)
Michigan State - (Feb. 4: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email + $33,600/12 month Fellowship + $6,000 Summer '21 RA)
Yale - (Feb. 19: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email to check portal + $36,750/12 month TA/RA) (WILL ATTEND!)
University of Michigan - Experimental Particle Physics (Feb. 24: Rejected via email)
University of Virginia - (Feb. 1: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email to check portal + $20,000/9 month TA/RA + $6,800 Summer RA + $2,500 Fellowship)
UIUC - (Mar. 14: Rejected via email)
Texas A&M - (Feb. 11: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email + $32.6k/12 month Fellowship)
University of Kansas - (Jan. 25: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email + $18.5k/9 month TA/RA + fellowship nomination)
Last edited by hollow20 on Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:47 pm, edited 10 times in total.

danielsgrun
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2020 4:32 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by danielsgrun » Mon Dec 21, 2020 10:34 am

Undergrad Institution: Usually among top 5 in Brazil
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): -
GPA in Major: 9/10
Overall GPA: 9/10
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: 3/11
Type of Student: International

Grad Institution: same as undergrad
Master's: Physics
GPA: A in every class (on a scale from A to D, A being the best grade)
Length of Degree: usually 2 years, I'll take 2.5 years
Position in Class: unknown
Type of Student: International

GRE Scores: N/A

TOELF: (R: 30, L: 29, S: 25, W: 23)

Research Experience:

i) Undergrad:

- more than 1 year in Extragalactic Astrophysics, no publications;
- 1 year in Quantum Integrability and Mathematical Physics: no publications;

ii) Grad:

- 2 years in Quantum Integrability / theoretical AMO: 1 paper submitted, 1 paper to be submitted soon;

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
- more than 2 years of "standard" research scholarship for undergrads (CNPq);
- "outstanding prize" for the presentation of my research in a Seminar for Undergraduates;
- ranked 2nd on the Master's Entrance Exam (EUF) at my University;
- research fellowship for master's students, from Universität Innsbruck.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
- tutoring activities as an undergraduate, "Teaching Training Program" as a grad student;
- engaged in several advanced schools, workshops and conferences (some of which abroad);
- poster and oral presentations on research outputs.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:

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

Applying to (all experimental AMO):
- UChicago: Molecular Engineering (Jan. 24: Rejected via website/email)
- Rice: Physics
- Columbia: Physics
- UW-Madison: Physics (Jan. 29: Rejected via website/email)
- UAlberta: Physics (Dec. 21: ACCEPTED for PhD via website/email + CAD 29k stipend + CAD 3k Fellowship for QUANTA Project on first year)

I believe I should have applied to more schools, but let's see what happens. Good luck everyone! :D
Last edited by danielsgrun on Sun Jan 31, 2021 7:15 am, edited 3 times in total.

Nightzeit
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2020 8:04 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by Nightzeit » Mon Dec 21, 2020 1:00 pm

Undergrad Institution: State school known for teaching and health science. Very small physics program.
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Mathematics
GPA in Major: 3.75 (currently)
Overall GPA: 3.78 (currently)
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: We don't do numbers, but compared to other physics majors, I'm at the top (not necessarily #1, but well in the top group).
Type of Student: disabled domestic white female

GRE Scores: N/A


TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: ) N/A


Research Experience: two independent projects, each in a separate unsolved problem in mathematics, anticipating these to someday evolve into papers. One I did a presentation on. I have also done a few other less involved/less concrete independent projects that I won't detail into.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 3 academic-related scholarships, dean's list, nothing super extraordinary worth mentioning specifically

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: disabled; unable to legally collect income. Was a member of our SPS.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: came up with an idea for something that could be constructed to potentially eliminate an invasive species. Proposed the solution, but was told it was infeasible to execute at that point in time. This is mentioned in my CV. In general, my volunteer work was all outreach related and at least loosely related to science/physics.

Special Bonus Points: first generation college student. Both of my parents dropped out of high school/vo-tech with a GED, but this isn't apparent on all applications. Have a grant that will pay for part of grad school.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: one of my recommenders had a late latter to several schools.

Applying to Where: all for theoretical cosmology, leaning preference for gravitational/relativity theory over the other things cosmology gets paired with.

(listed in no particular order)

Princeton University - Feb. 15: REJECTED for PhD via email
Cornell University - Feb. 19: REJECTED for PhD via email
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Feb. 18: REJECTED for PhD via email
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Mar 1: REJECTED for PhD via email
Lehigh University - Feb. 21: REJECTED for PhD via email to check portal
Tufts University - Feb. 19: REJECTED for PhD via email; asked if I would like my application to be considered for admission to the Master's program and would be recommended for a 40% of tuition scholarship with no TA/RA positions. I affirmed that I would like to be considered for the Master's program. Feb. 24: ACCEPTED for Masters via email + 40% Tuition scholarship, no TA/RA

Taking a gap year isn't out of the question.

Update 1: Princeton was my number 1... but this wasn't unexpected.
Update 2: MIT email said there were over 1500 applicants for less than 50 seats.
If I end up applying again next year, I'll add a few more schools to my list.
Update 3: Tufts email said there were over 200 applicants for 7 seats.
Cornell explicitly states on their website that they do not accept late letters of recommendation. I had a late letter to every school. However, I believe I was rejected from Cornell during their second wave.
A university that I decided not to apply to called me on the phone asking if I needed assistance completing my application. It was past their due date for financial aid consideration but apparently it seems they have a second deadline for admission without consideration for aid. I was surprised given how many applicants there are this year. I informed them that I was not considering applying there for the 2021-22 admission year.
Update 4: Penn State said they had over 500 applicants.
Likely going to Tufts
Last edited by Nightzeit on Mon Mar 01, 2021 10:49 pm, edited 6 times in total.

Senorstuimus
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2020 1:48 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by Senorstuimus » Mon Dec 21, 2020 2:36 pm

Undergrad Institution: Top 10 Physics School in US - Located in California
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.5
Overall GPA: 3.33. Had a few injuries both sophomore and junior year than impacted it
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: not tracked at school
Type of Student: DWM

GRE Scores: Nope.

Research Experience:

2.5 years of AMO, Laser Photonics, and microwave photonics at small R&D company in California. Worked directly on these project with tangible research experience in developing test plans as well as executing them. Develop and conducted experiments directly related to project goals. 3 conference proceedings (2 in the works now)

Unfortunately, no undergraduate research due to ROTC time commitment. Hopefully this wont kill my app

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

-Dean's list one quarter

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

-Project manager for 5 projects at small R&D company. While project manager, still worked on a lot of research involved.
-US Army reserve platoon leader, direct leadership experience

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: not really

Special Bonus Points:
-US Army officer

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

Applying to Where: All for experimental AMO, Applied Physics, or ECE

UC Santa Barbara
UC Berkeley - Physics, Rejected 03/06/2021 via email
UC Irvine - (interview request 2/26)unofficial acceptance 3/18/21
UC Los Angeles
UC San Diego - (interview request 1/20) Interview held 1/21
Stanford - Physics, Rejected 03/01/2021 via email
Yale - Applied Physics, Rejected 2/16/2021 via the website, no email
Caltech - Applied Physics, Rejected 03/02/2021 via email
University of Michigan
University of Washington - Applied Physics, Rejected 03/15/2021 via email
University of Colorado Boulder - Physics, Rejected 03/11/2021 via email
UNC
Duke - Physics, Rejected 03/01/2021 via email
Last edited by Senorstuimus on Fri Mar 19, 2021 11:58 am, edited 13 times in total.

muryelgp
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2019 9:34 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by muryelgp » Tue Dec 22, 2020 8:57 pm

Undergrad Institution: Top 10 South America (Brazil)
Major(s): Physics
GPA in Major: 7.5/10
Length of Degree: 4 years

Undergrad Institution: Same as Undergrad
Major(s): Physics
Minor: Astrophysics
GPA in Major: 8.8/10
Length of Degree: 2 years


Type of Student: International Male

TOEFL: (R: 30, L: 30, S: 23, W: 23)


Research Experience: 3 Years during undergrad (part-time), 2 year during Master's (almost full-time), all in Extragalactic Astrophysics. 2 papers submitted to the MNRAS. Several Poster presentations and talks. Several advanced schools and conferences. +30h telescope observations experience.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Undergrad research scholarship for 3 years, Master's scholarship.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for one semester. Some outreach activities.

Special Bonus Points: Some famous collaborators and strong LoR's! Know researcher in most institutions where I've applied, I've contacted several POI's and got very good feedback from them (several were able to get a fee waiver for me).



Applying to Where: USA, Canada, and the Netherlands (Great Astro departments there), all for Astro programs or Astro research in Physics programs. (per country, from the 'dream' ones to more 'safe' ones):

Netherlands:
Leiden Observatory - Astronomy - Call for an interview in 02/15-16 - Rejected
Groningen - Astronomy - Rejected 01/28
Amsterdam - Astronomy - Waitlisted 01/21 - Rejected 02/08
Utrecht - Physics (GW) - Rejected 02/04
Amsterdam - Physics (Dark Matter) - Rejected

Canada:
Western Ontario - Astronomy - Accepted via e-mail 02/10, CAD$28k/year, but have to pay tuition and fees - Declined
McMaster - physics - interview with POI 02/04

USA:
JHU - Astronomy - Accepted via e-mail 02/02, $25k/9month TA + $8k summer RA + $1.5k one time Felowship - WILL ATTEND!
Uni Maryland - Astronomy - Rejected 02/11
Penn State - Astronomy - Rejected 02/08
Vanderbilt - Astronomy - interview Waitlisted - Rejected
Carnegie Mellon - Physics - - Rejected 02/08
Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) - physics - interview with POI 02/08 Waitlisted - Withdraw
Kansas - Physics - Accepted via e-mail 02/08 $18.5k/9month TA - Declined
NMSU - Astronomy - Waitlisted - Withdraw
Kentucky - Physics - Accepted via e-mail 04/05, $19k/9month TA + $3k summer RA + $2k one time Felowship - Declined
Oklahoma - Physics - interview - 1 position on the Waitlisted - Withdraw
Last edited by muryelgp on Mon Apr 05, 2021 2:02 pm, edited 13 times in total.

zantetsuken
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2020 3:21 am

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by zantetsuken » Wed Dec 23, 2020 3:17 pm

Undergrad Institution: (Small private tech school, not well-known in physics)
Major(s): Computer Science, Game Development
Minor(s): none
GPA in Major: 3.92 (technically not reported on transcript)
Overall GPA: 3.94 (technically not reported on transcript)
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: not reported, but ~top
Type of Student: domestic white male

GRE Scores: (I submitted to some schools that allowed it)
Q: 166
V: 165
W: 5
P: N/A

Postbac Institution: Large public university, well-known for physics+astro
Overall GPA: 3.95
13 physics/math/astro classes


Research Experience:

1) Condensed matter experimental research with a lecturer at the postbac school for a little over a year. Two conferences, no paper. Not in my chosen field.

2) Theoretical astrophysics with a prof at the postbac school for a little under a year (ongoing). Abstract submitted for conference and paper-writing in progress (2nd author). This is in my field.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: At my undergrad comp sci school I received a lot of local awards (top student in major, etc). Nothing in physics; nothing national scale.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Worked at a large tech company as a software engineer between undergrad and postbac for >5 years. Some teaching experience from a summer job while an undergrad.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: not sure if I sold my time in the tech industry well, but I did cool stuff there.

Special Bonus Points: 2 LOR from research supervisors (don't know strength) and 1 LOR from tech manager that should be as strong as a non-physicist LOR can be (?)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: no

Applying to Where:

MIT - Physics Rejected Feb 18 via email
Harvard - Astronomy Rejected Feb 17 via email to check app
Harvard - Physics Rejected Feb 23 via email to check app
Princeton - Astrophysics Rejected Feb 5 via email
NYU - Physics Rejected April 5 via email to check app
Columbia - Physics Rejected March 17 via email to check app
U Penn - Physics and Astronomy Rejected March 17
Johns Hopkins - Physics and Astronomy Rejected March 1 via email to check app
Yale - Astronomy - Rejected Jan 29 via email to check app
University of Maryland - Astronomy - Interview Requested Jan 27, Waitlisted 2 weeks later
U Pittsburgh - Physics and Astronomy
Stony Brook - Physics and Astronomy - Accepted via email to check app on Feb 19, $3k fellowship, $20k TA
Brown - Physics and Astronomy - Rejected March 17

My stated interests was always a blend of Cosmology and Astro-particle-pheno stuff, open to theory and observation.

Well, this has been a bumpy ride. I knew it would be tough and wasn't sure how my time in the tech industry would play out. So far it seems that 7 years as a software engineer culminating in one very good LoR means rather little to graduate schools.
Last edited by zantetsuken on Mon Apr 05, 2021 6:23 pm, edited 6 times in total.

Borscht
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 11:46 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by Borscht » Wed Dec 23, 2020 7:54 pm

Undergrad Institution: Respected US private college, known for physics.
Major(s):Physics, Math
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.80
Overall GPA: 3.64
Length of Degree: (Are you graduating after 3, 4, or 5 years?) 2+3
Position in Class: (No numbers needed, but are you top? near top? average? struggling?) Currently, probably, closer to the top.
Type of Student: (Domestic/International, male/female, minority?) DWM
Last edited by Borscht on Mon Mar 08, 2021 8:46 pm, edited 19 times in total.

surfacespider
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2020 2:23 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by surfacespider » Thu Dec 24, 2020 2:38 pm

Undergrad Institution: Large US state school top 50
Major(s): Physics, Math
GPA in Major: 3.6 physics. 3.4 ish math (3.5 in physics if you exclude research classes i had to take to work with my prof)
Overall GPA: 3.6
Length of Degree: 3.5 years
Position in Class: no idea

GRE Scores: NO GRE REQUIRED FOR THIS YEAR (WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED).
took a year off after graduation to prepare for this then got cancelled lmao

Research Experience: 2.5 years doing biophysics research at my school. 1 reu kinda related to biophysics. 1 internship in engineering between hs and college. no publications

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: just typical deans list semester honors. research scholarship from my university nothing major

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: undergrad lab ta for one semester

Special Bonus Points: main recommender who i worked with is an up and comer seems to know lots of people. one grad class. mixed race. LSAMP for 2 years

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

Applying to Where: all of this is for biophysics research mix of programs because some biophysics programs are more biochem than physics. I applied to so many because I got fee waivers to most of these universities really look into these. i got one just because of the school i went to.

Berkeley - biophysics
Johns Hopkins - biophysics
UCSD - biophysics
UCSF - biophysics
Cornell - physics
u chicago - physics
NYU - physics
UPenn - physics
michigan - physics
harvard - physics
princeton - physics
stanford - physics
caltech - physics
u oregon - physics

letmeinplease
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2020 9:38 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by letmeinplease » Thu Dec 24, 2020 9:50 pm

Bachelor's Institution: Ivy League w/ good physics
Major: Astrophysics
GPA in Major: (unofficial) 3.65
Overall GPA: (unofficial) 3.18
Length of Degree: 4 Years

Master's Institution: Top 10 (?) in UK
Major: Theoretical Physics
GPA in Major: Nothing yet
Overall GPA: Nothing yet
Length of Degree: 1 Year

Type of Student: British White Male, First-Generation College Student, Low-Income Background

GRE Scores: Thank you COVID?

Research Experience (consecutively):
1 ) ~2.5 Years in Bachelor's Institution - Astrophysics and Cosmology research (1 first authored publication, 1 nth authored publication)
2 ) 3 Months in Master's Institution - research in Theoretical Astrophysics.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
Nothing really :/

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
Higher education outreach activities, research assistant every summer during undergrad.

Bonus Points: (Hopefully) good recommendations from top (famous?) people in the field.

Applying to Where:

This is my second time applying. 15 rejections last year (hence the masters degree). Wish me luck, and good luck to all.

UK:
Cambridge - Astronomy (Invited to interview Feb 10, Waitlisted March 1) (Accepted March 15)
Oxford - Astrophysics (Invited to interview Feb 15)
Kings College London - Theoretical Cosmology
Notthingham - Cosmology
Edinburgh - Astronomy (Rejected Jan 27)
Queen Mary London - Astronomy (Invited to interview Feb 18)
Durham University - Astronomy and Astrophysics (Accepted March 13)
Imperial College London - Astrophysics
St Andrews - Astronomy
Newcastle - Cosmology
UCL - Astrophysics (Invited to interview Feb 25)
Sussex - Astronomy (Invited to interview Feb 16)

US (shoutout to Columbia, Yale and Harvard for the international fee waiver):
Columbia - Astronomy (Rejected Feb 18)
NYU - Physics
UPenn - Physics
UChicago - Astronomy (Rejected Jan 29)
Johns Hopkins - Astronomy (Interviewed Jan 4) (Rejected Mar 1)
Yale - Astronomy (Rejected Jan 29)
Harvard - Astronomy (Rejected Feb 17)
Stony Brook - Physics (conc. Astro?) (Rejected Mar 8th)

Europe (non-UK):
Leiden - Astronomy
IMPRS @ Max Planck Astrophysics

Some updates:
1/31:
Feel like likely rejections from JHU, Leiden and IMPRS given info I've seen on GradCafe. Starting with 3 rejections is making me feel uneasy, especially considering 15 rejections last year. Fingers crossed something comes through this year.
2/16
A big list of interviews piling up. Starting to make me feel much more optimistic than last year.
3/14:
An actual acceptance, and one of my top picks! Things are finally looking positive. The US has not been kind to me.
3/15:
The gods are kind, Cambridge here we come I suppose
Last edited by letmeinplease on Mon Mar 15, 2021 2:58 pm, edited 16 times in total.

soniarani
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2020 1:20 am

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by soniarani » Fri Dec 25, 2020 7:07 am

Grad Institution: IIT Bombay(MSc Physics); highly reputed
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 8.59/10
Overall GPA:
Length of Degree: 2
Position in Class: average
Type of Student: International Asian female

GRE Scores: Not appeared as covid - 19


TOEFL: (R: 28, L: 30, S: 28, W: 28)


Research Experience: One summer internship of two months at KIT, Germany but outside my current field (particle physics). Two projects at IITB with two profs in my field. Currently doing a remote project with a prof in KTH, Sweden. No publications.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: --

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: --

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: female? does it help?
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Field - Theoretical condensed matter physics, PhD
Applying to Where:

UIUC - (Accepted on Jan 18 for PhD with 24k USD)
University of Wisconsin Madison
Rice University
Georgetown University
Northeastern University
University of Notre Dame
Indiana university
Case western reserve university
Univ of Rochester

This is it for me I guess! I wanted to get into UIUC from the list but never thought I could! First Response from this univ only.
Last edited by soniarani on Thu Jan 21, 2021 6:55 am, edited 2 times in total.

rodrigo.freundt
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2019 9:28 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by rodrigo.freundt » Sat Dec 26, 2020 5:30 pm

Undergrad Institution: Top Peruvian university, no reputation in physics.
Major(s): Electronics Engineering
Minor(s): n/a
GPA in Major: n/a
Overall GPA: n/a
Length of Degree: 5 years, graduated in 6.
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: International latino male

GRE Scores: n/a

TOEFL: (R: 29, L: 27, S: 23, W: 24)

Research Experience: More than 3 years in radio astronomy instrumentation at home university (undergraduate intern + graduate research assistant). First-authored paper in indexed journal. Poster presentation.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Fully funded undergraduate scholarship. Young Scientist Award.
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Currently working as site engineer in a major cosmology experiment in the atacama desert in Chile. TA in Space Science course.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I was granted fee waivers and travel assistantships to attend summer schools and workshops in astronomy/astrophysics.

Special Bonus Points: Some connections. Emailed potential PIs at every school I am applying to, very good response ratio. Two of my recommenders are well-known in experimental cosmology.

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

Applying to Where: All in experimental CMB and 21cm cosmology (instrumentation/data analysis).

Cornell University - Astronomy (Mar. 8: ACCEPTED for PhD via email, 28,6k RA + 11,3k summer research) WILL ATTEND
Yale University - Physics (Feb. 19: REJECTED for PhD via link to application portal)
University of Toronto - Astronomy and Astrophysics
McGill University - Physics (MSc) (Jan. 19: INTERVIEWED) (Feb. 1: ACCEPTED for MSc via email)
University of British Columbia - Astronomy (MSc) (Jan. 19: ACCEPTED for MSc via email)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Astronomy
University of West Virginia - Electrical Engineering (Jan. 19: ACCEPTED for PhD via email)
Washington University St. Louis - Physics (Feb. 4: ACCEPTED for PhD via email)
University of Wisconsin-Madison - Physics (Jan. 28: REJECTED for PhD via email)
University of Minnesota Twin Cities - Physics (Jan. 28: REJECTED for PhD via link to application portal)
Last edited by rodrigo.freundt on Mon Mar 08, 2021 5:44 pm, edited 8 times in total.

astroperson12
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2020 2:52 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by astroperson12 » Tue Dec 29, 2020 3:13 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small state school, not well known.
Major(s): Astronomy
Minor(s): Mathematics and Creative Writing
GPA in Major: 3.58
Overall GPA: 3.61
Community College GPA: 3.10
Total GPA: 3.32
Length of Degree: 3 years + 4 years at community college
Position in Class: Not specified, named outstanding graduate by department out of about <15 graduates
Type of Student: Domestic white female

GRE Scores: n/a

Research Experience: Various projects and labs since August 2018, amateur published astronomy research since February 2018, 2 REUs, and I am a research mentor for community college students who want to do amateur research and publish it. I have 2 papers, one first author

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Very long list. Dean's list, various scholarships, two minority pre-doctoral programs, funded undergraduate researcher

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Various tutoring jobs, mostly in calculus, submission reader for journal, volunteer for major organization in field as outreach ambassador

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Fiction writer with various published works, total of 9 oral research presentations and 4 posters, on two diversity committees, various outreach presentations and projects

Special Bonus Points: One of my REU PIs is fairly famous and reached out to professors letting them know I was applying to programs, researched resources and community colleges at every program I applied to and wrote about how I wanted to use those resources and work with local students.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Got fee waivers for every program, low income, lots of stuff in my diversity statements

Applying to Where:

Donations:
University of Washington- Astronomy Rejected February 2
Harvard- Astronomy Rejected February 7
University of Chicago - Astronomy (Interview!!!! contacted 1/6) Rejected


Reach:
Cornell University - Astronomy Rejected April 15 after confusing emails indicating I may have been on some kind of wait list
University of Washington- Physics Rejected March 16
UT Austin- Astronomy Interview WaitlistedRejected April 13
New Mexico State- Astronomy ACCEPTED! $18k in regular year, $6k in the summer, additional $7500 fellowship for first 2 years
University of Penn - Physics Interview Accepted (March 13) days after emailing department to indicate I had received NSF, was offered a fellowship to bring up the NSF to the typical student stipend but no dollar amount was ever offered so I do not have an indication of what a typical salary offer would be.
Brown - Physics ACCEPTED! February 11, initial offer was for a TA position for $36,808/year (including summer) this was bumped up by the university to $40k when I received the NSF GRFP - WILL ATTEND
Wisconsin Maddison - Astronomy Rejected February 19
UC Santa Cruz - Astronomy Rejected March 1
UCLA - Astronomy Rejected March 16
UC Santa Barbara - Physics Astro emphasis Rejected March 23
UC San Diego - Physics Rejected April 3

Medium reach:
University of New Mexico - Physics ACCEPTED! March 4, $17k/year TA salary, plus $1k/year incentive to recruit "promising students"
University of Virginia - Astronomy Rejected March 18

Fellowships:
NSF GRFP AWARDED

Final thoughts: This cycle was awful. I heard from many people I knew on admissions committees that I would have been in programs I did not get into had it not been for the size of application pools. I think this came down to my connections, as my research field is small and I had some specialized expertise that can be hard to come across in undergraduates. A lot of it as well was poor research matches. It was stressful and I did not have a good time but glad to be in a good program.
Last edited by astroperson12 on Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:35 pm, edited 9 times in total.

bahar.physics
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:38 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by bahar.physics » Tue Dec 29, 2020 5:17 pm

[deleted]
Last edited by bahar.physics on Tue Jan 26, 2021 6:41 pm, edited 11 times in total.

Rosy
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 1:43 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by Rosy » Sun Jan 03, 2021 2:11 pm

Undergrad Institution: Top 50 national university
Major(s): Physics & Astronomy
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.96
Overall GPA: 3.87
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Don't rank, probably towards the top
Type of Student: Domestic, female

GRE Scores: nope

Research Experience:
2.5 years at my university, including one summer, doing cosmology research using machine learning. Presented this at a couple of conferences and a paper is in the works.
1 REU at another university, worked abroad on dark matter detection. Presented at one conference.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's list all eligible semesters, Sigma Pi Sigma inductee

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: SPS officer all four years (including President one year), helped found a women in physics group, TA for 4 semesters, led a camp for high school girls interested in physics, lots of outreach, tour guide at my University's observatory

Special Bonus Points: 2 grad classes (data analysis and cosmology), female, LGBT+

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Applied to NSF-GRFP

Applying to Where: all for astronomy PhD (unless the school only offers physics), specifically cosmology

UC Berkeley - Astronomy - Rejected 2/1 that hurted
Harvard - Astronomy - Rejected 2/17
University of Washington - Astronomy - Rejected 2/2
University of Chicago - Astronomy - Rejected 1/29
UIUC - Astronomy - Interview! (request sent 1/20) Accepted!!! (2/15), Academic Year Assistantship $19,747.44 + Summer Fellowship $4,388.32 - Will attend!!!!
UCSB - Physics - Interview! (request sent 1/27), waitlisted (3/27) Rejected 4/20
Northwestern - Astronomy - Rejected 3/25
Columbia - Astronomy - Rejected 2/18
Ohio State - Astronomy - Interview! (request sent 1/8) invited to virtual visit (2/15) short list/wait list Accepted!!! (4/3) $28,368 first year fellowship + $2,000 start-up research fund - declined
Pittsburgh - Physics and Astronomy - Rejected 4/14
Purdue - Physics - Accepted!!! (2/16), Annual Salary $20,650 - declined
University of Rochester - Physics and Astronomy - waitlist 3/16 Rejected 4/20

I'm very nervous, wishing everyone lots of luck!!

Update 2/15: Just received my first acceptance! It feels amazing because I was so scared that it was too late in the game to hear any good news.

Update 4/20: Love that U of R and UCSB waited until 5 days after the deadline to reject me lol
Last edited by Rosy on Tue Apr 20, 2021 11:36 am, edited 20 times in total.

wortola5
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2021 11:24 am

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by wortola5 » Mon Jan 11, 2021 12:02 pm

Undergrad Institution: Honors College at Community College (CC) and then transferred to Top 35 physics University (U.S. News)
Major(s): Physics and Mathematics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:3.9(College), 3.8(University)
Overall GPA: 3.9 (College), 3.7 (University)
Length of Degree: 2+2.5
Position in Class: Don't know :?:
Type of Student: Domestic, Male, Hispanic

GRE Scores: (Only sent to UF, UC-Riverside, UCF, and FIU that were still requiring it :roll:)
Q: 160
V: 151
W:4
P: Not taken

Research Experience: At the community college I spend 1 year working on two projects on data analysis for space weather physics (Funded), but no publications, but two poster presentations and one oral presentation. At the University, I did my senior thesis in computational cosmology, but no paper or presentations have come out of it yet, but will start writing the paper in about a month ( :? Not that helpful now for the application process, but happy that this is happening soon).

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Graduated with Highest Honors and Distinction from CC. Merit based scholarship at both CC and University. Dean's List. Recognition award in mathematics at my Community College. Third place recognition on my first research oral presentation.


Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I was a tutor and lab assistant for introductory physics classes when I was in my last year at the community college. Also, I got a master in plumbing and I started a business in partnership with my dad in the middle of Covid-19 (Not sure this helps, but I mentioned it in some of my applications :D )

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I am a State Certified Plumber, know how to play three instruments, I have a YouTube channel teaching physics.

Special Bonus Points: I took Introductory Particle Physics at the Graduate level, and first course in graduate QM. Two of my recommenders are very well respected and known in their fields and are the professors with whom I did my research. The third recommender is a professor with whom I have taken 4 physics classes and knows me really well. Overall expecting strong Letter of Recommendations.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Not that I remember!

Applying to Where: Applying to Theoretical/Computational Cosmology

High Reach:
Caltech - physics - Rejected Feb. 19 - via email
Stanford - physics - Rejected March 1st - via email
UC-Berkely - physics - Rejected March 5th - via website
Large Reach:
UC-Irvine - physicsRejected - March 17th 2021 - via website
University of Florida (UF) - physics - Accepted Jan. 20th via email - $25k/year TA + $2000/year Grinter Award (3 years) - WILL ATTEND!!!
UC-Riverside - physics
USC - physics

Reach:
University of Central Florida (UCF) - physics - Applying for mathematical physics (Don't have Cosmology)
Florida International University (FIU)- physics - Applying for Theoretical Nuclear Physics (Don't have Cosmology)

Grants/Scholarships:
Stanford Knight Hennesy Scholars - Rejected - Feb 3,2021 - via webstie
NSFGRFP - Rejected - March 23rd 2021 - via email

UPDATE:
I have not heard anything yet from the last 4 schools on my list, but at this point I don't care, I am going to the Gator Nation!! If I had to change something from my applications, which I think affected my decision, it would be the fact that in my research statement I did not research professors at these universities. Instead, I found a gap about our understanding of the early universe and proposed a project in this area without the consideration of what professors are doing in these specific universities. My last research advisor warned me about this, but I chose not to listen. So my advice to you is to research professors at the universities you are applying and propose (or talk about) a research project which professors at these universities are working on or might be interested in!!

Also, Start early, applying to graduate school can be frustrating, however do not give up, you got this!!!

Hopefully this will be helpful.
Last edited by wortola5 on Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:56 am, edited 8 times in total.

crowley
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2021 6:22 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by crowley » Thu Jan 14, 2021 6:37 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small private school, good engineering rep, meh physics rep
Major(s): Astrophysics
Minor(s): Computer Science
GPA in Major: 3.62
Overall GPA: 3.63
Length of Degree: 4 Years
Position in Class: Top or near top of astrophysics class, but there's only 4 people so...
Type of Student: Domestic White Male

GRE Scores:
V: 162
Q: 159
A: 4


TOEFL: NA


Research Experience:
Worked at the USDA as a Summer Student for 3 Summers in high school.
3 semesters building a working python model of the light curves of magnetic variable stars. Presented an iPoster on this research at AAS237.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Deans list 2 semesters

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I'll be a grader for a sophomore level astronomy class next semester.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I have a pet gecko, and I used an Arduino and Python to monitor and automate the temperature and humidity requirements in her tank. I mentioned this in my personal statement, but I'm not sure what points it'll get me.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: My research advisor loves the work I've been doing, so I hope I got a stellar (haha) recommendation from her. I got an A in a graduate level quantum mechanics course, and I got a recommendation from that professor.

I'm applying with a focus on multi-messenger astrophysics, specifically neutrino astrophysics.

Applying to Where:

University of Maryland-College Park: Rejected 4/2/21 via email
University of Wisconsin-Madison: Rejected 1/19/21 via email
Johns Hopkins University: Rejected 3/01/21 via email
University of Washington: Rejected 2/3/21 via email at 12am (nice)
Tufts University: Waitlisted 2/19/21 via email, Rejected 4/21/21 via email

What do you guys think my chances are? Seeing all these 4.0s on here has my expectations low, but I'm hoping I at least get into one of these schools.

Well I guess that's that. 0/5
Last edited by crowley on Wed Apr 21, 2021 5:06 pm, edited 9 times in total.

GWs1916
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2020 6:39 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by GWs1916 » Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:18 pm

Undergrad Institution: Well ranked in Latin America
Major(s): Physics
Master: Theoretical Physics
Major GPA: 3.8 of 4.0 approx (converted)
Overall GPA : 3.5 of 4.0 approx (converted)
Master GPA: 4.0 of 4.0 (converted)
Length of Degree: 4.5 years(Undergraduate) + 2.5 years (Master)
Position in Class: Near top
Type of Student: Male International

GRE Scores: N/A in 2020 b/c COVID

TOEFL: 96 (R:28 , L:23 , S:22 , W:23)

Research Experience:
- Summer Research:  Turbulence in the weakly non-linear regime/1 month/Neither publication nor poster.
- Undergraduate Research Project: Propagation of gravitational waves on a FLRW metric/1 semester/ended in a Thesis of 60 pages/4 poster presentations and 3 oral talks in national and continental meetings/Published in a recognized journal (Main Author).
- Postgraduate Research Project: Cosmic Inflation in modified models of Gravity/2 years/ongoing Thesis/2 poster presentations and 1 oral talk in national and international meetings/Published in a recognized journal (Single Author).

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Bachelor's Degree awarded with Maximum Distinction. Fully funded Fulbright Scholarship for the US doctoral program.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
- Tutored Physics courses in a non-profit organization.
- Eight-times Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Linear Algebra, General Physics, Thermodynamics, Modern Physics).
- Two-times Graduate Teaching Assistant (General Relativity and Advanced Classical Mechanics).
- Five-times Assistant Coordinator in a Calculus course (administrative work with a huge responsibility).
- Executive Director of a SciCom non-profit student organization.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: First generation college student from a Low-Income Background.

Special Bonus Points: I took Graduate courses (General relativity, Quantum field theory I, Advanced Quantum Mechanics, etc) with a good performance in all of them. I was Teaching Assistant of General Relativity, the main course of my research field. I published a paper by my own on a related topic of my research field. I organized a School of Gravity at the most important physics center of my country.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I led a non-profit volunteer organization for a year, which may impacted my GPA in some way. I have a personal commitment with Science Communication (I have given talks and live streams talking about physics in a language for all audiences).

Applying to Where: ASTRO-PH (cosmology) or HEP-TH (gravity) in each university. I'm interested in Theoretical Cosmology, Cosmic Inflation, Primordial Non-gaussianity, Dark Energy/Matter models and modified theories of gravity, and the theoretical analysis of Gravitational Waves. Also, I'm interested in the interface between Particle Physics and Gravitation, Effective Field Theory of Gravity and Quantum Gravity models.

Super Reach:
UC Berkeley - Physics, Ph.D. (Mar 6: Rejected via email to check portal)
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Physics, Ph.D. (Mar 16: Rejected via email)
Chicago University - Physics, Ph.D. (Jan 29: Rejected via email to check portal)
Johns Hopkins - Physics, Ph.D. (Mar 1: Rejected via email)
Penn State University - Physics, Ph.D. (Feb. 11: ACCEPTED via email + $8,640/semester TA + $4,000 Fellowship) (WILL ATTEND!)
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign - Physics, Ph.D. (Feb. 17: Informally Accepted via email + $24,266/9 month TA)

Reach:
Brown University - Physics, Ph.D. (Mar 17: Rejected via email to check portal)
UC San Diego - Physics, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison - Physics, Ph.D. (Jan 28: Rejected via email)
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities - Physics, Ph.D. (Jan. 27: ACCEPTED via email + $20,287.80/9 month TA + $6,762.60 Summer RA)
UC Davis - Physics, Ph.D. (Mar 26: Rejected via email)
Dartmouth College - Physics, Ph.D. (Mar 23: Rejected via email to check portal)

Match:
University of Pittsburgh - Physics, Ph.D. (Mar 17: Rejected via email to check portal)
University of Southern California - Physics, Ph.D. (Mar. 31: ACCEPTED for Ph.D via email with 32k between internal scholarship, Fulbright scholarhip and TA/RA. First year without mandatory TA)
Rice University - Physics, Ph.D. (Waitlisted)
University of Virginia - Physics, Ph.D. (Feb. 1: ACCEPTED via email to check portal + $20,000/9 month TA/RA + $6,800 RA + $2,500 Fellowship) - Withdrawn
Carnegie Mellon University - Physics, Ph.D. (Feb 8: Rejected via email to check portal)
Indiana University Bloomington - Physics, Ph.D. (Mar 17: Rejected via email to check portal)
Last edited by GWs1916 on Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:55 pm, edited 27 times in total.

newslick
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2021 4:00 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by newslick » Sun Jan 17, 2021 4:53 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small state school, no reputation in physics (or anything for that matter)
Major(s): Astronomy/Mathematics
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: ~3.78/~3.70
Overall GPA: 3.55 (got a few Cs in literature classes)
Length of Degree: 5
Position in Class: Don't measure, but definitely near top
Type of Student: Domestic white male

Masters Institution: Small technical institute, known for engineering, ranks ~55 in physics
Major(s): Physics
Overall GPA: 4.00
Length of Degree: 2

GRE Scores: Nope

TOEFL: N/A

Research Experience:
About 5 months in undergrad doing computational research with a math professor, no publication but I did a little presentation to the math department about it.
About 6 months in undergrad doing exoplanet data analysis and assisting with preparations for a publication, got an nth author on the paper.
About 1 year working on a masters thesis, plasma astrophysics and ISM oriented. Will result in a first-author publication, but won't be put together until later this year (maybe?).

Awards/Honors/Recognition: Standard deans list in undergrad, a few honors societies, etc.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Graduate TA for a year and a half, doing intro physics courses and upper-level thermodynamics and galactic physics courses. Undergraduate mathematics tutor as well.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I mean, I'll have a masters degree and have been a successful grad student, so I don't know if that really helps or not.

Special Bonus Points: My masters advisor, who is also writing one of my letters, has a few connections at one of the places I'm applying to, so that might help a little. Also, I've contacted faculty members at most of the places I'm applying to.

Applying to Where: All expressing interest in ISM/plasma astrophysics research

Shouldn't have wasted my time applying:
Columbia - Astronomy - REJECTED via email 2/18
Princeton - Astrophysical Sciences - REJECTED via email 2/5 (can't say I'm not a little disappointed)
Maryland CP - Astronomy - REJECTED via email 2/11
Johns Hopkins - Phys. & Astro. - REJECTED via email 3/1

Still probably wasted my time:
Stony Brook - Phys. & Astro. - REJECTED via email 3/8
Boston U - Astronomy- REJECTED via email 3/5
Carnegie Mellon - Phys. & Astro. - REJECTED via email 2/8

Might get in, might not:
UVirginia - Astronomy - REJECTED via email 3/17
Dartmouth - Phys. & Astro. - REJECTED via email 3/23
UMass Amherst - Astronomy - (Invite for interview 1/21) WAITLISTED via email 2/7
U of Rochester - Phys. & Astro. - REJECTED via email 2/19
Drexel - Phys. & Astro.

The odds are hopefully in my favor here:
Rutgers - Phys. & Astro. - REJECTED via email 2/12
U of Delaware - Phys. & Astro.- ACCEPTED via email 2/22 Declined

Update: Looks like I'm taking a year off to work on research because this cycle was worse than I thought it would be. I was told that the one person I was interested in working with at Delaware is not taking new students, but they accepted me anyway?? I'll be declining that offer.
Last edited by newslick on Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:28 am, edited 14 times in total.

ALM2021
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:50 pm

Re: 2021 Applicant Profile and Admission Results

Post by ALM2021 » Tue Jan 19, 2021 10:36 pm

______________________________________________
Undergrad Institution: Big state school, pretty good reputation in physics
Major(s): Physics and Astronomy
Minor(s): N/A
GPA in Major: 3.50
Overall GPA: 3.43
Length of Degree: 5
Position in Class: Not reported, though I think I was a little below average
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores: NO GRE REQUIRED FOR THIS YEAR (WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED). N/A

TOEFL: (R: , L: , S: , W: ) N/A


Research Experience:

About a year as an undergrad volunteer in a neutrino astrophysics group, mostly doing programming and some writing(i.e., grant proposals we didn't get/papers we haven't published lol), but no publications. Stayed in the same group after graduating working on a different project as a paid research assistant. One conference talk at APS. Also some work in a connected lab as an undergrad, maybe ~5 months overall.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

Nay

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

Research assistant in my undergrad lab after I graduated, though I officially started just a few months before applications were due. Also one semester as a TA.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Deans list a few of times, but not as many as most people in my major I would guess.

Special Bonus Points:

Confident one of my recommenders wrote me a really nice letter and one probably wrote at least a good one; they've both been on the admissions committee before, so they know what committees are looking for in a recommendation.

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

Two rec letters are from the professors overseeing the labs I worked in and the other one was from a collaborator with one of the groups, so at least they all could definitely say they knew me decently well enough and can speak to my research abilities. A couple of big deficiencies in my transcript caused by a bad mental health semester, but generally an improvement afterwards so hopefully they recognize that.


Applying to Where (Mostly for either cosmology or astroparticle research):
(They're all reaches)

U. Wisconsin-Madison - Astronomy -- Jan. 19: First response! (and rejection...)
U. Wisconsin-Madison - Physics -- Jan. 28: rejection #2
Ohio State - Physics -- Apr. 30: This was just updated in the last week or so; no email or anything
Ohio State - Astronomy -- Feb. 16
U. Arizona - Astronomy -- Feb. 22 (Edit: saw the update on the website 2/22; got a PDF letter of rejection in email on 2/24 dated 2/12)
U. Washington - Astronomy -- Feb. 2: I thought the email was very kind spirited :lol:
UT Austin - Astronomy -- Mar. 10: This was my last astro school I've heard back from--I think I'll be back next year!
Penn State - Astronomy -- Feb. 8
Maryland - Physics -- Apr. 7
UCSD - Physics -- Apr. 3: I'm pretty sure that I was rejected a long time ago and they just took a while to send out rejections

Frankly, I don't feel great about my odds (especially after my first rejection haha). I have a feeling that this year might be especially rough for someone with my resume since schools might be hesitant to take "risks" on people with a weaker transcript(or they might just take fewer people overall?) and not enough research to compensate, but that could just be me trying to console myself in advance. I welcomed the cancellation of the GRE at the time, but I do feel like it would have been an opportunity to improve my application. Hopefully schools continue to cancel it or make it optional in the future, but if I end up applying again I'll happily invest some serious effort into it.

Anyway, good luck everyone!

Update April 30: Just got my last decision! Not a surprise with the way things were trickling out the past couple of months, but still too bad :[. Anyway, I'll update this with some thoughts a little later. See you next year everyone!
Last edited by ALM2021 on Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:41 pm, edited 12 times in total.



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