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Physics Admission GPA

Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 8:26 am
by kitaewolf
Hi, I'm currently a sophomore in UC Berkeley, interested in majoring in physics. I am considering to go to grad school afterwards, and I have few questions.
First, even if I don't go to grad school, would I have good job opportunity with physics Bachelors?
Second, what is the GPA requirement for top tier school? (When I mean GPA requirement, I'm not talking about minimum! I mean GPA for competitive admission that I can safely say that the graduate school will admit me if I have the rest of the package pretty well sorted out). Could you specify in terms of overall and technical GPA, and which one is more important?
Third, what is the competitive, safe admission GPA for upper or medium high schools, and their view and importance on overall and technical GPA?

I understand the questions are a lot. So any feedback in any part of the question will be very helpful. Thank you!

Re: Physics Admission GPA

Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 8:38 am
by midwestphysics
The most important link of them all...
http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2561

The answers to your question....
http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3421
http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2824
http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1847
http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=975

There's more depth to your question but every part has been asked a 1000 times so search the forum.

Re: Physics Admission GPA

Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 12:01 pm
by grae313
There is no GPA that can guarantee your admission anywhere. You should browse the profile threads to see what sorts of GPAs get into which sorts of programs and you'll find there is quite a range. Other aspects of one's application and the rigor of the undergraduate institution come into play. Graduate schools will care most about your grades in upper division physics classes. For job prospects with a bacherlors, you should talk to your professors and career counselors at your school to see where people from your department who have not gone on to graduate school have gone.

Re: Physics Admission GPA

Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 10:05 pm
by negru
I would worry more about your upcoming general GRE scores

Re: Physics Admission GPA

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 5:43 am
by YodaT
negru wrote:I would worry more about your upcoming general GRE scores
I would worry more about the distant PGRE than the upcoming general. I'm just gonna buy a general GRE prep-book a week before the exam, read through it, and run through several on-line practice exams... then take the general GRE.

But seriously, don't waste your time on it. I had dinner with some professors from Berkeley this past weekend and they offered to review my grad school applications (before submission to offer some pointers) and they stressed the PGRE... and are really pushing for me to get my publications out more than anything. They basically said more than half of the schools I'd apply to will only look at the general to make sure I didn't completely fail it and will read through the SOP to make sure I'm sane, have an interest in physics (research), and check for any mitigating circumstances in my app (which I have).