Hi,
I wish to return back to physics to get my PhD in Astro/Cosmo (Th/Ex) after a break of 5years.
Would doing some research project with a professor (in the same city/country) help in admission process?
Or, would it have negative impact?
Would showing in SOP that I have self studied certain areas of Physics be worth or a stellar PGRE score be better?
Thank you.
Research project(s) before Physics return
Re: Research project(s) before Physics return
Research experience is practically a must if you are aiming for mid- or top-tier schools right now. It will help a lot if the work you have done in your break was engineering or lab research related to astro. Otherwise, working on a research project with a prof would be helpful. It depends on what your background is but if you're planning on applying to grad schools in the upcoming cycle then I would recommend finding a prof doing experimental work.Would doing some research project with a professor (in the same city/country) help in admission process?
Or, would it have negative impact?
Self-studying areas of physics is almost worthless in an application. Even if you're doing a directed study with a professor, it's worth one sentence max in your SOP (that's not to say don't do it - just to emphasize that they are evaluating you as a potential researcher, not a just potential student). The pGRE score is most helpful, particularly if you are applying outside your home country.Would showing in SOP that I have self studied certain areas of Physics be worth or a stellar PGRE score be better?
Due to the pandemic, practically every grad school waived the GRE requirements for the past application cycle. I would be shocked if any more than a couple of schools reinstated that requirement this year, but in your case if you have a good score you should send it everywhere that it's optional.
Re: Research project(s) before Physics return
Thanks, that actually makes sense.