2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

  • This has become our largest and most active forum because the physics GRE is just one aspect of getting accepted into a graduate physics program.
  • There are applications, personal statements, letters of recommendation, visiting schools, anxiety of waiting for acceptances, deciding between schools, finding out where others are going, etc.

TheBeast
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by TheBeast » Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:09 pm

For those perhaps waiting to hear from international institutions, I received an acceptance from University College London today via snail mail.

tradster
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by tradster » Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:32 pm

Just received the official email from the physics department at Berkeley! They also included the financial package too.

SPat
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by SPat » Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:59 pm

Berkeley!!! I though I was done with acceptances...
Am positively scared about deciding between my offers now

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HappyQuark
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by HappyQuark » Thu Mar 10, 2011 10:57 pm

University of Hawaii - Manoa acceptance today. It's nice to know that if all of my other apps fall on their face, paradise is still in the cards.

negru
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by negru » Thu Mar 10, 2011 11:56 pm

berkly also. but what a crappy email. i think reading the mit rejection email was more exciting than this

TheBeast
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by TheBeast » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:06 pm

McGill via their application portal.

tradster
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by tradster » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:23 pm

negru wrote:berkly also. but what a crappy email. i think reading the mit rejection email was more exciting than this
I thought it's alright...

negru
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by negru » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:43 pm

"Congratulations." ???

At least it's not
"Congratulations ... :( "

tdk333
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by tdk333 » Fri Mar 11, 2011 3:30 pm

Just received an acceptance from Penn State University. $20k per year as TA, including fellowship plus $4-6k for summer. Was also invited to the open house on April 1-2.

PS.- I am an international student but I am in the USA currently.

cryingsun
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by cryingsun » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:21 pm

Hmm...i never give so much attention to admission emails to notice any
difference in punctuation...maybe someone with an unusual ego pays particular attention to CONGRATULATIONS...

negru
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by negru » Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:17 pm

It is just interesting to note how applicants spend weeks or more on essays and every sentence in their application to make sure it all sounds perfectly (or hey at least the good ones do) and schools, who supposedly need the best applicants they can get, literally shoot themselves in the foot with really minor details. If they think applicants aren't as picky, man are they wrong. Who the hell would choose berkley now, in f-in mid march, when they get an email like this, the longer letter which is just as ridiculous and completely non-inspirational or motivating in any way, if they already got offers from similar institutions with nice emails starting in early feb? And then they're surprised their department sucks so much lately?

entanglement
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by entanglement » Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:19 pm

Comment Removed!
Last edited by entanglement on Tue Aug 16, 2011 5:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

negru
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by negru » Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:26 pm

Think they should switch Anne with Donna on the email writing.

fandangoya
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by fandangoya » Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:01 pm

I know people have received waitlist emails from Rutgers and also rejections.

I have received neither so I'm a little confused

vesperlynd
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by vesperlynd » Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:09 pm

negru wrote:Who the hell would choose berkley now, in f-in mid march, when they get an email like this, the longer letter which is just as ridiculous and completely non-inspirational or motivating in any way, if they already got offers from similar institutions with nice emails starting in early feb?
I may very well go there. :D

negru
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by negru » Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:10 pm

1. you're crazy.
2. unless im wrong you were accepted way earlier which makes it semi-ok.

vesperlynd
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by vesperlynd » Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:16 pm

negru wrote:1. you're crazy.
You should post your profile. You might gain some street cred on that point.

negru
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by negru » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:12 pm

vesperlynd wrote:
negru wrote:1. you're crazy.
You should post your profile. You might gain some street cred on that point.
I was going to say in your dreams, then I realized you can't even dream that good.

bfollinprm
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bfollinprm » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:15 pm

fandangoya wrote:I know people have received waitlist emails from Rutgers and also rejections.

I have received neither so I'm a little confused
I'm in a similar place with Seattle, Michigan, and NYU. Seriously, what's going on? Did they all forget I applied? Was my application so awesome that they took it, made copies, sent it home with every single one of their undergrads, and then forgot where they put it? Did they misread my email address?

I bet there's a very confused construction worker somewhere wondering why all these school keep sending him admissions information. He always did mean to go back to school, though, so maybe he'll take them up on one of these offers (the stipend support is nice, but he'd hate to have to leave Brooklyn).

bfollinprm
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bfollinprm » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:29 pm

@ Vesperlynd: I just noticed your profile came back, and it made me SUPER happy. You deserve every acceptance--some people just have difficulty accepting they might have flaws and find it easier to tear down those they envy. Good luck in your choice!

vesperlynd
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by vesperlynd » Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:54 pm

bfollinprm wrote:@ Vesperlynd: I just noticed your profile came back, and it made me SUPER happy. You deserve every acceptance--some people just have difficulty accepting they might have flaws and find it easier to tear down those they envy. Good luck in your choice!
Thanks!

Did anyone who was admitted to Berkeley early (either 2/7 or 3/3) get notified about funding? This is frustrating. It seems like only the people who were admitted on 3/10 heard about funding.

axiomofchoice
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by axiomofchoice » Sun Mar 13, 2011 2:13 am

vesperlynd wrote: Did anyone who was admitted to Berkeley early (either 2/7 or 3/3) get notified about funding? This is frustrating. It seems like only the people who were admitted on 3/10 heard about funding.
I did receive funding details on about 3/8 (I received the acceptance on 3/3), but I also did also bug them for it. Maybe the fact that you haven't received funding details is good news that you may get fellowship there :D

BobD
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by BobD » Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:39 am

axiomofchoice wrote:
vesperlynd wrote: Did anyone who was admitted to Berkeley early (either 2/7 or 3/3) get notified about funding? This is frustrating. It seems like only the people who were admitted on 3/10 heard about funding.
I did receive funding details on about 3/8 (I received the acceptance on 3/3), but I also did also bug them for it. Maybe the fact that you haven't received funding details is good news that you may get fellowship there :D
Classmate of mine received official acceptance in early March along with University fellowship offer.

vesperlynd
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by vesperlynd » Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:51 pm

BobD wrote:Classmate of mine received official acceptance in early March along with University fellowship offer.
Was s/he nominated for a fellowship or did they receive the fellowship? Thanks.

BobD
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by BobD » Sun Mar 13, 2011 2:17 pm

I asked: there was an admission letter from the graduate school and one from the physics dept. a couple of days later both saying he was admitted and that he has been awarded the fellowship, including details regarding the amount and duration. If you were nominated but didn't receive such notification I think you could call or email Monday and ask.

vesperlynd
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by vesperlynd » Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:14 pm

BobD wrote:I asked: there was an admission letter from the graduate school and one from the physics dept. a couple of days later both saying he was admitted and that he has been awarded the fellowship, including details regarding the amount and duration. If you were nominated but didn't receive such notification I think you could call or email Monday and ask.
Thanks. I appreciate it. Looks like more phone calls tomorrow.

bfollinprm
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bfollinprm » Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:30 am

UT Austin accepted loads of internationals today via website--still no news for this Virginian.

bbsmitz
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bbsmitz » Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:55 pm

Just got waitlisted at Michigan via email... not really an acceptance, but hey.

bfollinprm
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bfollinprm » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:43 pm

bbsmitz wrote:Just got waitlisted at Michigan via email... not really an acceptance, but hey.
I just checked my status online. It said
A decision has been made. Your program of application will inform you of the decision.
Oh really? When? I asked yesterday and they told me (via email)
We have not made a decision regarding your application yet. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Left hand, meet right hand. I want you to text each other whenever you decide to do something.

bfollinprm
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bfollinprm » Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:03 pm

Also, waitlisted at Texas (I think). Called, Matt said he needed to "pass along information about students who have declined" Will know in next several days.

kapil_ds
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by kapil_ds » Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:31 pm

Waitlisted by Harvard Planetary Science on email enquiry.

Kapil

axiomofchoice
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by axiomofchoice » Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:13 pm

We just tied the class of 2008! One more profile and we will be kings and queens :lol:

vesperlynd
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by vesperlynd » Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:29 pm

axiomofchoice wrote:We just tied the class of 2008! One more profile and we will be kings and queens :lol:
Not quite. :( Someone on page 3 deleted their profile.

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satyad18
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by satyad18 » Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:07 pm

On inquiry, Syracuse said I'm on their back up list.

pqortic
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by pqortic » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:25 am

with one more profile, we will beat the previous years record. Good Job everybody!

negru
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by negru » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:57 am

pqortic wrote:with one more profile, we will beat the previous years record. Good Job everybody!
and the honor of posting this particular profile goes to non other than.... : ME, of course! who else.

gaze upon it mortals and weep.

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quizivex
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by quizivex » Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:43 am

pqortic wrote:with one more profile, we will beat the previous years record. Good Job everybody!
Sweet! :) But people who post their stats often forget to update their decisions, or disappear before they come out. So a bunch of incomplete profiles have to be removed each year. We'll need a lot more to guarantee beating 2009... so keep them coming folks... especially all you lurkers out there :D

vesperlynd
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by vesperlynd » Wed Mar 16, 2011 3:03 am

negru posted his profile ... I thought it would never happen. Congratulations, negru!

vish
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by vish » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:12 pm

Cornell Astro, Feb 10. Stipend: TA ship + Summer ~ $34K

I'd like to thank all the contributors, this forum has helped a quite a bit in getting through the process. The least I could do, is contribute back!

bfollinprm
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bfollinprm » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:15 pm

vish wrote:Cornell Astro, Feb 10. Stipend: TA ship + Summer ~ $34K

I'd like to thank all the contributors, this forum has helped a quite a bit in getting through the process. The least I could do, is contribute back!

Then post your profile!

vish
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by vish » Wed Mar 16, 2011 6:11 pm

I knew atleast one person would be impatient enough to do this... :)
@bfollinprm: I was just filling it up by the time, you posted. Nonetheless, I hope it helps the cause.

bfollinprm
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bfollinprm » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:37 am

Anyone else get their financial info from UCSD yesterday? I was surprised to not be offered a supplemental fellowship...I was under the impression that in previous years this was basically universal. Did this happen to anyone else?

17k/9 months is abject poverty in SoCal, bordering on homelessness.

bfollinprm
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bfollinprm » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:39 am

vish wrote:I knew atleast one person would be impatient enough to do this... :)
@bfollinprm: I was just filling it up by the time, you posted. Nonetheless, I hope it helps the cause.

Thanks :D! It's not impatience, it's salesmanship--get em while they feel they owe you ;)

matto07
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by matto07 » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:53 am

bfollinprm wrote:Anyone else get their financial info from UCSD yesterday? I was surprised to not be offered a supplemental fellowship...I was under the impression that in previous years this was basically universal. Did this happen to anyone else?

17k/9 months is abject poverty in SoCal, bordering on homelessness.
Same story here. Looks like I'm not going to Cali.

bck2school
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by bck2school » Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:12 pm

matto07 wrote:
bfollinprm wrote:Anyone else get their financial info from UCSD yesterday? I was surprised to not be offered a supplemental fellowship...I was under the impression that in previous years this was basically universal. Did this happen to anyone else?

17k/9 months is abject poverty in SoCal, bordering on homelessness.
Same story here. Looks like I'm not going to Cali.
Add the fact that UCSD is in La Jolla which is expensive even by typical San Diego standards and that you're looking at long term residence in your office or the library :D

t2kburl
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by t2kburl » Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:54 pm

Now that I have decided where I am going and what I'll be researching, I can't seem to stop thinking about it. I have found a couple of books to read to get me going on it and I can't put them down!
I hope this effect lasts!

fandangoya
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by fandangoya » Sat Mar 19, 2011 11:59 am

If anyone can offer me any advice I'd appreciate it....I'm mainly deciding between two schools now to attend next year. I really enjoyed the department/professors/grad students and the area of one of them, but the other has more well known research.

What do you think I should consider more in my decision?

TheBeast
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by TheBeast » Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:32 pm

fandangoya wrote:If anyone can offer me any advice I'd appreciate it....I'm mainly deciding between two schools now to attend next year. I really enjoyed the department/professors/grad students and the area of one of them, but the other has more well known research.

What do you think I should consider more in my decision?
Don't underestimate the value of the "feel" factor. Considering that you'll be spending several years working towards your PhD, you want the experience to be somewhat enjoyable. From your description, it appears that you get a much better vibe from the place with the less known research.

Consider how much more well known the research is at the other place and whether that difference is worth the potential lack of happiness by attending. This might be an easy choice if the two schools are similarly ranked for your intended research or harder if they are in wildly different tiers of the research spectrum.

Consider as well how likely you might be to actually get involved with some of the well known research. Is it just one prof who's well known? How many students are taken on by this group, on average, each year?

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WhoaNonstop
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by WhoaNonstop » Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:36 pm

Hey everyone, I'm back from my ~3000 miles of driving to visit College of William and Mary and Brown University. Both schools were wonderful and I hope to have my decision by the end of the day. I was also rejected by Santa Cruz, so that makes my choice a little bit easier (sounds like it's not a good time to be in California anyways).

fandangoya wrote:If anyone can offer me any advice I'd appreciate it....I'm mainly deciding between two schools now to attend next year. I really enjoyed the department/professors/grad students and the area of one of them, but the other has more well known research.

What do you think I should consider more in my decision?
If the school that you really enjoyed has enough research options for you (say around three or so), I would suggest going there. If there is only one specific project you like at that school, that could be risky. However, although it is easier to jump into well known research rather than less known, there is still the prospect that if you really enjoy where you are at, your work will be more productive and therefore you may indeed be able to make a lot more of that research. As long as the difference in the schools isn't drastic (say Princeton vs. Nebraska), I think you should make your decision based on overall happiness at the school.

-Riley

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WhoaNonstop
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Re: 2011 Acceptances and profile discussions

Post by WhoaNonstop » Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:59 am

I have made my decision! Looks like William & Mary is going to be the top party school by US News for the next 5 years. ;)



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