3 semesters to go, where to even begin?
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:19 pm
I am looking to finish undergrad in Fall '08, due to me taking an extra semester I am already going into the grad school hunt assuming waiting for Fall '09 would be much better than try for programs that will start for Spring '09.
1) When should I take the GRE(s)? I was thinking of taking the general one this fall (or is it too late to sign up?) but I have no idea when to take the physics one. Due to how my school schedules classes (and why I am taking this extra semester to graduate) I will not have taken QM until my final semester, though I did pick up some of it here and there from my other classes. Is this going to really screw me over?
2) How do I begin looking for schools without knowing my GRE scores? I don't really know what I want to go in for specifically since I haven't had too much research experience right now (currently in an optics REU but finding the electrical circuit design components more interesting than the actual optics, will be volunteering/working with a biophysics prof at my school starting in the fall) so it's probably best to go for a school that's not just really good in only one specialization.
I guess the disclaimer I have to put on where to apply is I want to stay within 250-300 miles of NYC and prefer a suburban or urban location, but since there's no lack of schools in that radius I don't think I'm not limiting myself too much. But maybe I am. There's just so much out there, I don't really know where to begin. My advisor said while not 4.0 perfect, my grades are good enough to get me most anywhere, so it's just how much reasearch I can get under my belt and how I do on my GREs will be the big ones.
3) Foreign language requirement. I've been looking at some programs, and it looks like at least half of them want me to be able to read either Russian, German, Chinese, etc etc. This is bad for me, since I'm a full-blooded American whose foreign language knowledge is limited to butchering the pronunciation when ordering off restaurant menus. While I'm not opposed to learning another language, it seems nifty even if it wasn't required, I don't know if it's possible TO learn enough by the time I need to apply. I know there's no way I'm the only person in this situation, any advice on what I can do or which language is preferable? Decided to not deal with learning another language looks like it will knock far too many schools off my list far too quickly.
I think those are all the big ones, but if I think of more questions I'll be sure to ask them too!
1) When should I take the GRE(s)? I was thinking of taking the general one this fall (or is it too late to sign up?) but I have no idea when to take the physics one. Due to how my school schedules classes (and why I am taking this extra semester to graduate) I will not have taken QM until my final semester, though I did pick up some of it here and there from my other classes. Is this going to really screw me over?
2) How do I begin looking for schools without knowing my GRE scores? I don't really know what I want to go in for specifically since I haven't had too much research experience right now (currently in an optics REU but finding the electrical circuit design components more interesting than the actual optics, will be volunteering/working with a biophysics prof at my school starting in the fall) so it's probably best to go for a school that's not just really good in only one specialization.
I guess the disclaimer I have to put on where to apply is I want to stay within 250-300 miles of NYC and prefer a suburban or urban location, but since there's no lack of schools in that radius I don't think I'm not limiting myself too much. But maybe I am. There's just so much out there, I don't really know where to begin. My advisor said while not 4.0 perfect, my grades are good enough to get me most anywhere, so it's just how much reasearch I can get under my belt and how I do on my GREs will be the big ones.
3) Foreign language requirement. I've been looking at some programs, and it looks like at least half of them want me to be able to read either Russian, German, Chinese, etc etc. This is bad for me, since I'm a full-blooded American whose foreign language knowledge is limited to butchering the pronunciation when ordering off restaurant menus. While I'm not opposed to learning another language, it seems nifty even if it wasn't required, I don't know if it's possible TO learn enough by the time I need to apply. I know there's no way I'm the only person in this situation, any advice on what I can do or which language is preferable? Decided to not deal with learning another language looks like it will knock far too many schools off my list far too quickly.
I think those are all the big ones, but if I think of more questions I'll be sure to ask them too!