Physics GRE Discussion Forums

I'll apply to grad school next fall but I'm going to graduate on May 2010.
Is this usual? Could I have problems with my applications?

mahar wrote:I'll apply to grad school next fall but I'm going to graduate on May 2010.
Is this usual? Could I have problems with my applications?

If you mean you're applying for admission to grad school in the fall of the year you graduate from an undergraduate school it's not unusual at all. Prepare applications in the fall of 2009, graduate in May of 2010, go to grad school in the fall of 2010.

Actually, I can't help but ask, is this a serious question?

coreycwgriffin wrote:

mahar wrote:I'll apply to grad school next fall but I'm going to graduate on May 2010.
Is this usual? Could I have problems with my applications?

If you mean you're applying for admission to grad school in the fall of the year you graduate from an undergraduate school it's not unusual at all. Prepare applications in the fall of 2009, graduate in May of 2010, go to grad school in the fall of 2010.

Actually, I can't help but ask, is this a serious question?

you forgot the spiritual journey that every physics incoming graduate student has to take.. called... buying the jackson

Actually I've known many (probably most of those I've met) graduate students who never took Jackson, simply because it didn't relate to their research.

Then again, I'm not in the states.

tmc wrote:Actually I've known many (probably most of those I've met) graduate students who never took Jackson, simply because it didn't relate to their research.

Then again, I'm not in the states.

Wow...I know most US grad schools require a course in E&M that almost always uses Jackson. Well, I guess if you pass the placement exam in E&M you wouldn't have to take it.

I (rather my school) used Griffiths. He is funny

For graduate school?

confused_p wrote:I (rather my school) used Griffiths. He is funny

The three Griffiths texts are indeed amazing. I used him for E&M last year, and for Quantum now.

confused_p wrote:I (rather my school) used Griffiths. He is funny

I agree with cato88, griffiths is an undergrad text.

They are good undergraduate texts though. My teacher for upper level E&M spoke horrible english, never would of passed the course if it wasn't for griffiths having written a really decent book, same for my advanced quantum class.

evilclaw2321 wrote:They are good undergraduate texts though. My teacher for upper level E&M spoke horrible english, never would of passed the course if it wasn't for griffiths having written a really decent book, same for my advanced quantum class.

Yeah I agree, I like griffiths. I know a lot of people that think he is too informal and wordy, but I like a textbook that will sit me down and explain things in good ol' fashioned english.

grae313 wrote:

evilclaw2321 wrote:They are good undergraduate texts though. My teacher for upper level E&M spoke horrible english, never would of passed the course if it wasn't for griffiths having written a really decent book, same for my advanced quantum class.

Yeah I agree, I like griffiths. I know a lot of people that think he is too informal and wordy, but I like a textbook that will sit me down and explain things in good ol' fashioned english.

It's not just that his writing explains things well, but it's actually entertaining. That's hard to come by in a math or physics text.