==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

  • 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.

szhang
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:18 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by szhang » Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:55 am

Undergrad Institution:Top 2 in China; Major in Engineering Physics
GPA in Major:88/100 (maybe equal to 3.7 or so, I guess)
Overall GPA:87/100
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: above average in my major
Type of Student:International female

GRE Scores:
Q:800
V:480
W:3.5
P:870


TOEFL Total:102/120 IELTS Band Score:7.5/9.0

Research Experience: One year and a half at my school in High Energy Astrophysics with several International conferences; two years at other institutions in chemical physics with two papers; one year at my school in plasma physics with no significant results

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Scholarships all along my four years at school, for the GPA or the research experience; five prizes in the Physics or Maths Olympiad at high school

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:no

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: several prizes on the invention competition; editor-in-chief of an academic journal at my school

Special Bonus Points: summer visit to GSFC; visit to several Universities I applied for and kept in touch with two professors

Applying to Where:

Harvard- Astronomy - Experimental High Energy Astrophysics-rejected via email 2/26
Caltech - Astronomy - Experimental High Energy Astrophysics
MIT - Physics - Experimental High Energy Astrophysics-rejected via email 3/2
Princeton - Astronomy (actually not a proper choice for me)-rejected 02/02 via email
Columbia - Physics - Experimental High Energy Astrophysicsaccepted -via Email 2/23 with Faculty Fellowship
Cornell - Astronomy - Instrumentation
JHU - Phy. & Astronomy - Experimental High Energy Astrophysics-accepted via email 3/6
Virginia - Astronomy - Instrumentation-waitlisted 02/14 via email
Maryland - Astronomy - High Energy Astrophysics
Arizona - Astronomy - Instrumentation-rejected via email 2/26
UT-Austin - Astronomy - Instrumentation-rejected via Website 2/5
T A&M U - Physics - High Energy Astrophysics-accepted via email 3/2

Good luck to myself and everybody else
Last edited by szhang on Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:08 am, edited 4 times in total.

physicspam
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:41 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by physicspam » Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:06 pm

Undergrad Institution: One of the top physics dept in Turkey
Major(s):Physics & Electrical Eng.
GPA in Major:4.00
Overall GPA:3.95
Length of Degree:4 years
Position in Class:top
Type of Student:international

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 340
W: 4.0
P: 990

TOEFL Total:115/120

Research Experience: One semester of experimental quantum optics at a good phys dept in the US, information theory for senior thesis at local institution. No publications
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Merit based national fellowship
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for 3 semesters

All are physics departments, to be updated:
MIT - Physics - AMO&QI - rejected by e-mail 03/02
UIUC - Physics - AMO&QI - accepted by e-mail 02/19 - 20K TA - declined offer
Stanford -Applied Physics- accepted by e-mail 02/21 - Fellowship 33.4k for 3 years -declined offer
UCSB - Physics - CME&QI - rejected by e-mail 25/03
Princeton - Physics - CME&QI - Application transferred to EE, rejected
Harvard - Physics - AMO&CM - accepted by e-mail 02/10 - Fellowship 2450/month, 1 year - attending!
Caltech - Physics - Quantum Information - accepted by e-mail 02/09 - details to follow-declined offer
UChicago - Physics - CME&QI - Accepted on 03/04 by mail - declined offer
Cornell - Physics - CME - Rejected by e-mail 02/10 transferred to AP - withdrawn
Yale - Physics - QI - accepted by e-mail 03/02 - details to follow -declined offer
Maryland - Physics - AMO&QI - accepted by e-mail 03/02 - Fellowship+TA 28K -declined offer
Boston - Physics - CM - accepted by e-mail 02/08 - 18.4k + 9.2for summer -declined offer
Rochester - Physics - Quantum Optics - accepted by e-mail 03/02 - TA/RA 24K -declined offer
USC - Physics - Quantum Information & CM - accepted by e-mail 01/25 - 30k fellowship- declined offer
Last edited by physicspam on Sat Apr 03, 2010 7:00 am, edited 22 times in total.

bosonic
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:38 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by bosonic » Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:25 pm

Undergrad Institution: State University (top 5 in Brazil)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:
Overall GPA: 9.1/10
Length of Degree: 5
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: International white male

Master Institution: Same as undergraduate
Major: Physics
GPA: 4.0/4.0
Lenght of Degree 2

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 510
W: 3.5
P: 990


TOEFL Total: 108/120


Research Experience: Undergraduate research in chaos and integrability in Hamiltonian mechanics (no publication) and undergraduate thesis on the geometry of space-time. Master's research in gauge theories, 1 paper published in PRD and another one in preparation.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: A few undergraduate research fellowships.
Fellowship for master's degree.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for first semester graduate class on QM.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: During my undergraduate degree I spent 6 months as an exchange student at Caltech.

Special Bonus Points: Graduate classes in QM, EM, QFT and Differential Geometry.



Applying to Where:
Interested in high energy theory.

Boston University - Physics - Accepted by email on 01/27/2010 - Attending!
Maryland - Physics - Accepted by email on 03/04/2010 - Declined
Stony Brook - Physics - Accepted by email on 03/04/2010 - Declined
Rutgers - Physics - Accepted by email on 02/16/2010 - Declined
UPenn - Physics - Rejected in response to my email. 04/09/2010
Harvard - Physics - Rejected in response to my email. 03/09/2010
Princeton - Physics - Rejected by email on 02/19/2010
NYU - Physics - Rejected by email on 03/18/2010
Columbia - Physics - Rejected by email asking to check online status on 03/12/2010
Last edited by bosonic on Fri Apr 09, 2010 4:49 pm, edited 12 times in total.

YellowFlower
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:37 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by YellowFlower » Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:57 pm

Undergrad Institution: State University (top 5 in Brazil)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Biological Physics (not exactly like an U.S. minor)
GPA in Major:
Overall GPA: 7.8/10
Length of Degree: 5
Position in Class: above average
Type of Student: International White Female

Master Institution: State University (top 5 in Brazil)
Major: Physics
GPA: 3.75/4.0
Lenght of Degree: 2

GRE Scores:
Q: 790
V: 320
W: 3.0
P: 680 (2nd try)


TOEFL Total: 102/120

Research Experience: Undergraduate research in experimental biophysics (no publications) and in statistical physics (no publications). Master's research in statistical physics (1 paper accepted for publication).

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: A few undergraduate research fellowships. Fellowship for master's degree.

Special Bonus Points: Graduate classes in QM and Statistical Physics.



Applying to Where:

Research interest in Biophysics and Statistical Physics.

Boston University - Physics - 01/27/2010 Accepted via email [ATTENDING!]
Brandeis - Physics - 02/06/2010 Invited for visit / phone interview / 03/16/2010 Accepted via email declined
Northeastern - Physics - 02/05/2010 Accepted via email - declined
CUNY - Physics - 02/25/2010 Accepted via email declined
Rochester - Physics - 03/01/2010 Accepted via email - declined
Carnegie Mellon - Physics - 03/03/2010 Accepted via email declined
Maryland - Biophysics - 02/03/2010 Accepted via email declined
NYU - Physics - 03/29/2010 Rejected via email (after inquiry)
Rutgers - Physics - 03/06/2010 Rejected via website
Last edited by YellowFlower on Wed Apr 28, 2010 8:18 am, edited 15 times in total.

wmwolf
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:32 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by wmwolf » Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:56 am

Undergrad Institution: Mid-size, average state university, no particular reputation in physics
Major(s): Physics and Mathematics
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 4.00
Length of Degree: 4 Years
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: Domestic White Male

GRE Scores:
Q: 590 (84%)
V: 800 (94%)
W: 4.0 (41%)
P: 750 (65%)


Research Experience: One year on team working on theoretical astrophysics in conjunction with a top 10 school's researchers (advisor was adjunct professor there as well), extended three-semester project in infinite group theory with advisor in home math department, summer NSF REU at decent school doing research in theoretical astrophysics.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Presidential Scholar, various awards/scholarships within departments, Student Laureate (selected among all students in university for excellence in academics and extra-curriculars)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Mathematics and Physics tutor, former SPS president, former Astronomy club president, current Student Dean of College of Sciences

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Applied for Marshall Scholarship, Fulbright Grant, and Gates-Cambridge trust in hopes of studying at Cambridge. Passed through institutional committees, did not pass regional levels.

Special Bonus Points: Took graduate class in Abstract Algebra, received excellent recommendation from REU advisor

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Significant volunteer work outside of department

Applying to Where:

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Physics - Theoretical Astrophysics NEVER RECEIVED RESPONSE
UC Berkeley - Physics - Theoretical Astrophysics 3/17 REJECTED via e-mail
UC Santa Barbara - Physics - Theoretical Astrophysics 2/19 ACCEPTED via e-mail/website; (as of 2/25) 16.5K TA with possible Summer Research Funding - Attending
UC Irvine - Physics & Astronomy - Theoretical Astrophysics 1/25 ACCEPTED via e-mail with 2-year 10K fellowship, 5K Summer Research Funding, 16.5K TA -Declined
U Rochester - Physics & Astronomy - Theoretical Astrophysics 2/10 ACCEPTED via e-mail with 18k TA and 6k Summer Research Funding -Declined
UW Madison - Physics - Theoretical Astrophysics 1/27 REJECTED via e-mail
UW Madison - Astronomy - Theoretical Astrophysics 3/31 REJECTED via snail mail (dated 3/26) [only accepting 3 candidates]
U Arizona - Physics - Theoretical Astrophysics 3/1 ACCEPTED via e-mail with $15 K TA and possible summer $3.5K-7.9K RA -Declined
U Maryland College Park - Astronomy - Theoretical Astrophysics 2/10 ACCEPTED via e-mail with $18,610 TA and summer $5,606 RA -Declined
UW Milwaukee - Physics - Theoretical Astrophysics 2/12 ACCEPTED via e-mail, 11.5K 1/2 time TA, 1.7K Summer '11 TA 8K in Fellowships - Declined
Montana State U - Physics - Theoretical Astrophysics 2/26 ACCEPTED via letter with $13K TA -Declined
Cambridge - Applied Mathematics - MASt in Applied Mathematics (Part III) 1/22 ACCEPTED via letter; funding uncertain (and unlikely) -Declined
Last edited by wmwolf on Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:18 pm, edited 15 times in total.

MacCutcheon60
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:16 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by MacCutcheon60 » Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:14 pm

Undergrad Institution: Top 20 in General, Decent Reputation for Physics Undergrad.
Major(s): Physics & Math
GPA in Major: 3.76/4.00
Overall GPA: 3.71/4.00
Length of Degree: 3.5
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 560 (77%)
W: 3.5 (23%, note to future test takers: don't end your essays with winky-faces)
P: 790 (72%)

Research Experience: 2.5 years of irrelevant research, two REU's

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Nominated for a cool one.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA - two years

Special Bonus Points: Four grad classes. Did an REU at one of the school's I'm applying to.

Applying to Where: Will update as they come in.

UT Austin - Physics - CMT - Open house invite, 1/29 via email. Offer declined 3/20.
Univ. Wash - Physics - Exp. Und. - TA + 4K, 2/4 via email. Offer declined 2/25.
UCSD - Physics - CME - Accepted 2/22 via email. Offer declined 2/25.
Yale Applied - Physics - CME - Accepted 2/24 via email link. Attending!
UCSB - Physics - CME - Accepted 2/24 via email link. Offer declined 4/11
CU Boulder - Physics - Exp. Und. - Withdrawn 2/25.
UIUC - Physics - CME - Withdrawn 2/25.
UCLA - Physics - CME - Withdrawn 2/25.
UMD - Physics - CME - Withdrawn 2/25.
Last edited by MacCutcheon60 on Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:25 pm, edited 7 times in total.

his_dudeness
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:25 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by his_dudeness » Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:38 am

Undergrad Institution: Ivy, excellent reputation in physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: Unclear (no official dept GPA), but ~3.6
Overall GPA: 3.6
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: GPA is certainly respectable, but position is unclear
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 660
W: 6.0
P: 840


Research Experience: Worked in a different physics lab during each of the past three summers: cosmology group after freshman year, dark matter detection group after sophomore year, and condensed matter group after junior year. I'm currently working with the same condensed matter group while doing a senior thesis.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: None.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Other than the research experience, nothing.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: None.

Special Bonus Points: My recommenders are definitely well known. I also took one graduate condensed matter course.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: My school is known for its grade deflation policies.

Applying to Where:

Harvard - Physics - CM Exp - Rejected 2/28 via mail (postmarked 2/24)
Cornell - Physics - CM Exp - Accepted 2/9 via e-mail, 23.3K TA + summer funding + tuition - ACCEPTED OFFER AND WILL ATTEND
MIT - Physics - CM Exp - Rejected 3/2 via e-mail
Penn State - Physics - CM Exp - Accepted 2/12 via e-mail, TA + 5K fellowship + summer funding + tuition - declined offer
Boston University - Physics - CM Exp - Accepted 1/27 via e-mail, 18.4K TA + 9.2K summer funding + tuition - declined offer
Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Physics - CM Exp - Accepted 2/18 via e-mail, 20K TA + tuition + partial fee waiver - declined offer
UChicago - Physics - CM Exp - Accepted 3/3 via mail, 20.25K TA + summer funding + tuition - declined offer
UC Berkeley - Physics - CM Exp - Rejected 3/8 in response to inquiry
Stanford - Physics - CM Exp - Rejected via e-mail 2/24
UCSB - Physics - CM Exp - Rejected via online status 3/23
UCSD - Physics - CM Exp - Accepted 3/1 via e-mail, 16.6K TA + 11K award + tuition - declined offer
Last edited by his_dudeness on Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:39 pm, edited 21 times in total.

theoryl
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:22 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by theoryl » Sat Jan 30, 2010 8:37 am

Undergrad Institution: Public Mid-West lib arts (Reputation in Physics? maybe 2 on the scale of 5)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Mathematics
GPA in Major: 4
Overall GPA: 3.98
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: International male asian (not China, India, Japan)

GRE Scores:
Q: 770
V: 510
W: 4.0
P: 630

TOEFL Total: N/A since I graduated from an US institution

Research Experience:
During my undergraduate:
Experimental High Enegy Physics, 1 year+, no pub.
Experimental Condensed Matter Physics, 1 semester research project, no pub.
After undergraduate: Experimental High Energy Physics in a more renowned university, 6 months ago to present, no pub.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
A few prizes from the university itself but nothing major

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
None other than those stated in research experience

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
Not that I can think of.

Special Bonus Points:
The professor I worked with during undergraduate knows me very well and can provide a strong recommendation letter.
(In hindsight, I regretted not taking some grad courses in Physics)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
Been to CERN? :D

Applying to Where:

University of California, Santa Barbara - Physics - Experimental High Energy Physics - - rejected 3/26 via email
University of Wisconsin, Madison - Physics - Exp HEP - rejected 1/27 via email
University of Maryland, College Park - Physics - Exp HEP - rejected 3/20 via email
University of Rochester - Physics - Exp HEP - accepted 2/17 via email
University of Florida - Physics - Exp HEP - accepted 1/29 via email
Last edited by theoryl on Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:54 pm, edited 3 times in total.

SolarS
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:46 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by SolarS » Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:37 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small tech school, decently well-known in astro
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.88
Overall GPA: 3.93
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Near the top
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 590 (84%)
W: 4.0 (41%)
P: 830 (77%)

Research Experience: Two extragalactic/cosmology REU programs, the first of which led to two publications (one of them in Science) and a few conference proceedings.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Honors awards, Sigma Pi Sigma

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Astronomy/Physics club officer? Not sure this is really important.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Not really.

Special Bonus Points: One of my recommenders is fairly well-known in cosmology, can't think of anything else.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I'm kinda young? I hope this doesn't matter too much. 19 if you're curious

Applying to Where:

University of Chicago - Astro - Waitlisted 2/11 via email
Cornell - Astro - Waitlisted 3/17 via email
University of Arizona - Astro - Accepted 2/10 via email -- Declined offer
UC Los Angeles - Astro - Accepted 2/5 via email -- Attending!
UC Santa Cruz - Astro - Rejected via website 2/27
University of Michigan - Astro - Accepted 1/26 via email -- Declined offer
University of Maryland - Astro - Accepted 2/10 via email -- Declined offer
New Mexico State University - Astro - Accepted 3/9 via email -- Declined offer
Last edited by SolarS on Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:21 pm, edited 10 times in total.

gdunn02
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:51 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by gdunn02 » Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:18 pm

Undergrad Institution: Somewhat small, fairly well-known, liberal arts school
Major(s): Astrophysics and Math
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: Astrophysics: 3.72; Math: 3.4
Overall GPA: 3.62
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: NA
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 800
W: 4.0
P: 910


Research Experience: Undergraduate thesis done through Fermilab. 3 month Ace shift and research at Fermilab. 3 months research in Italy through LHC-CMS. 6 months back at Fermilab as a muon system expert and research. I should be listed as a coauthor in 2 publications, but this probably won't happen until after admission decisions are made.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: DoE/INFN Exchange Fellowship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: One year as a private tutor.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: One grad school class.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

Caltech - Physics - Experimental High Energy
Berkeley - Physics - Experimental High Energy Accepted 2/25
Stanford - Physics - Experimental High Energy Rejected 2/24
UW-Madison - Physics - Experimental High Energy Accepted 01/26
UChicago - Physics - Experimental High Energy
UM Ann Arbor - Physics - Experimental High Energy
Princeton - Physics - Experimental High Energy Rejected 2/19
Harvard - Physics - Experimental High Energy
MIT - Physics - Experimental High Energy Unable to process b/c of missing transcript

NDSEG
NSF
DoE SCGF
Last edited by gdunn02 on Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Maxos
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:33 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by Maxos » Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:47 pm

Undergraduate and Graduate Institution: medium-sized italian university with scarce reputation in Physics
Majors: Physics (BS) - Theoretical Physics (MS)
Overall GPA: 29.9/30
Length of Degree: 3(BS)+2(MS)
Position in Class: near top but too small a class for comparisons
Type of Student: International white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 640 (92%)
W: 3.5 (23%)
P: 900 (86%)


TOEFL Total: IBT 104 (29 reading 28 listening 23 speaking 24 writing)

Research Experience: some months working on my "theses" for BS and MS in non-perturbative phenomena in matrix models and topological string theories with no publications but a lot of expectations, ehehe

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: none

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: private tutor for some years

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:


Applying to Where:

Princeton University - Physics - HEP-th - Rejected 02/19 via e-mail
Stanford University - Physics - HEP-th - Rejected 02/24 via e-mail
SUNY-Stony Brook - Physics - HEP-th - Accepted 02/06 via e-mail - estimated minimum total stipend: 21500$ Will attend! SO HAPPY (and scared)
Rutgers University - Physics - HEP-th - Rejected 03/06 via web application status
Last edited by Maxos on Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:01 am, edited 12 times in total.

mitama
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:51 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by mitama » Wed Feb 03, 2010 5:05 am

Undergrad Institution: big state school
Major(s): Physics, Math, Astronomy
Minor(s): Computer Science
GPA in Major: 3.877, 3.906, 3.900
Overall GPA: 3.893
Length of Degree: 5 years
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: Domestic, female, Asian/Caucasian

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (2009, 94%)
V: 630 (2009, 90%)
W: 4.0 (2009, 41%)
P: 780 (2008, 71%)


Research Experience:
  • Three semesters on astronomical observing campaign, operating telescope with other students (tagged on two papers)
  • REU at UC Davis with Condensed Matter Theorist
  • Three semesters (1+2+3 units) with Condensed Matter Theorist at my university
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: A bunch of scholarships and whatnot from Physics and Astronomy departments

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: not especially

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
  • I've gotten a lot of programming experience (hence, CS minor). Mostly C, Java, and some Python, but have dabbled in a bunch of different languages.
  • Musician in university studio and ensembles for two years (well-rounded?)
Special Bonus Points:
  • female
  • GR class co-convened with grad GR class, sat in on grad Condensed Matter class
  • (for Davis app) REU advisor from Davis is one of my letter writers
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:


Applying to Where:

Stanford - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory Rejected 2/24 via email
UCSB - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory Rejected 3/25 via email/app check
UC Davis - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory Accepted 2/9 via email
Oregon - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory Accepted 1/28 via email
Washington - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory Accepted 2/4 via email
Cornell - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory Rejected 2/9 via email
Stony Brook - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory Accepted 2/6 via email
Last edited by mitama on Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:55 am, edited 6 times in total.

yageda01
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 4:07 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by yageda01 » Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:10 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small liberal arts, great professors
Major(s): Physics, Mathematics
Minor(s): Spanish
GPA in Major: 4.07 / 4.24 (we have A+=4.33... else 3.96ish / 4.00)
Overall GPA: 4.11 (3.96 without A+)
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: 2nd
Type of Student: male minority

GRE Scores:
Q: 790 (92%)
V: 470 (54%)
W: 5 (81%)
P: N/A


Research Experience: 2 summer internships studying neutron physics, math research, computational physics work

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: a few for math grades, big physics award, big award from school (given to 1 male senior), grant to study buddhism in china

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Math TA, computer tech

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: 2 physics papers, co-author and 3rd author.

Special Bonus Points: Excellent recommendations (so I trust), minority? (dual citizenship)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
pretty diverse student for domestic physics major--I really took advantage of the liberal arts system, for example I studied abroad, did research in buddhism in china, lots of volunteer work, frat bro... Attended conferences & presented research. given a few talks...

Applying to:

U Michigan - Nuclear Engineering - Plasma - Accepted 2/4 with RA via e-mail
MIT - Nuclear Science & Engineering- Fusion - Accepted w/ RA for ICF fusion via e-mail 2/12
UC Berkeley - Nuclear Engineering- Fusion
U Rochester - Physics - ICF - Accepted 2/10 w/ RA or TA via e-mail
UC Davis - Applied Physics- Fusion - invited to open house 2/10

DOE Fusion Fellowship
Last edited by yageda01 on Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:49 pm, edited 6 times in total.

qbit_jtm
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:10 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by qbit_jtm » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:23 pm

Undergrad Institution: Drexel University
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Mathematics
GPA in Major: 3.69
Overall GPA: 3.76
Length of Degree: 5 year co-op program (i.e three 6-month internships during the 5 years
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: domestic male

GRE Scores:
Q: 750 (83%)
V: 540 (72%)
W: 4.0 (41%)
P: 640 (41%)

Research Experience: Six month internship doing nuclear physics research at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory - Technical Report published first author

Six month internship for Penn State Navigation Research Development Center doing magnetic and GPS navigation work nothing really to show for it except some code that will be in a prototype small craft navigation unit (maybe)

Part-time researcher in Low Temperature and Quantum Device Lab. on campus for last 4 years or so - Presented posters at SIgma Pi Sigma Congress 2008, Arts and Sciences Research Day, contributed to Undergraduate given talk at 2009 APS meeting, will be giving presentations at April and March meetings.

Six-month internship in magnetism and Spin Electronics Group at Trinity College Dublin. Worked on magnetism in semiconductors. Second Author publication was submitted to IEEE on Magnetics, should be published in June.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
A. J. Drexel Scholar (general academic scholarship that made me choose Drexel)
Dean's List for three years straight
Henry S. Chen Memorial Award in Physics (physics dept. award)
2006 winning Marsh White Award proposal
2008 winning Sigma Pi Sigma undergraduate Research Award proposal
2009 SPS Leadership Scholarship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Raised Drexel's SPS chapter from non-existence in 2006 and served as Preisdent for two years (06-08) then V.P. for one (08-09)

Volunteered for a year at The Franklin Institute, science center of Philadelphia

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

Yale - Physics -Experimental Condensed Matter - Rejected via online system 2/15
Boston University - Physics -Experimental Condensed Matter - Rejected via snail mail 3/1
UMD CP - Physics -Experimental Condensed Matter - Rejected I would think by now 4/19
UC Irvine - Physics -Experimental Condensed Matter - Accepted via email with small fellowship and TA ship 2/3 - (Declined 3/22)
UC Riverside - Physics -Experimental Condensed Matter - Accepted via email with fellowship and TA ship 2/9 - (Declined 2/24)
Johns Hopkins U. - Physics -Experimental Condensed Matter - Accepted via email with TA ship and small fellowship 2/16 - Will Attend!!
Rutgers - Physics -Experimental Condensed Matter Rejected via online system 4/19
Last edited by qbit_jtm on Fri May 07, 2010 5:06 pm, edited 15 times in total.

lapen
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:03 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by lapen » Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:23 pm

Undergrad Institution: Medium sized state school with no reputation in physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Mathematics
GPA in Major: 4.0
Overall GPA: 3.9
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: International male

GRE Scores:
Q: 790
V: 540
W: 4.0
P: 740

Research Experience: Two REU's with no publications

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: President's and Dean's Lists, few other minor honors

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutor, TA(one semester)

Applying to Where: Research Interests mentioned: Theoretical astrophysics/Cosmology -- very likely to change

University of Pennsylvania - Physics and Astronomy - Rejected by email/web on 04/09/10
Northwestern - Physics and Astronomy - Accepted by email on 02/18/10 - Offer declined
Penn State - Physics - Accepted by email on 02/12/10 - Will Attend!
University of Florida - Physics - Accepted by email on 01/28/10 - Offer declined
Brown University - Physics - Accepted by email on 02/18/10 - Offer Declined
Johns Hopkins - Physics and Astronomy - Accepted by email on 02/16/10 - Offer declined
Last edited by lapen on Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:16 pm, edited 7 times in total.

alej21
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 1:24 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by alej21 » Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:32 pm

Undergrad Institution: Private, top 5 or so in physics
Major(s):Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.7
Overall GPA: 3.7
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class:above average
Type of Student: Domestic Female

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 680
W: 5.5
P: 720 (59%)


Research Experience: REU @ UIUC in computational astrophysics after sophomore year, summer research at my school in experimental AMO this past summer

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutoring, dorm staff position as tech support/teaching a one unit class on computer skills

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: soldering/machining skills

Special Bonus Points: My main recommender, the prof I worked for last summer, is well respected in his field

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Finished required for major classes by end of third year, also dabbled in electrical engineering and materials science courses. Taken several programming courses as well.

Applying to Where:

Stanford - Physics - Experimental AMO rejected by email 2/24
U. Washington - Physics - Experimental AMO accepted by email 2/4 w/ TA ship and scholarship - declined offer
Harvard - Physics - Experimental AMO rejected by mail 2/26
MIT - Physics - Experimental AMO rejected by email 3/2
Caltech - Physics - Experimental AMO rejected by email 3/12
Princeton - Physics - Experimental AMO rejected via email 2/19
U. Michigan - Physics - Experimental AMO accepted via email 2/26 w/ fellowship and TAship - declined offer
U. Colorado @ Boulder - Physics - Experimental AMO accepted by email 2/26 with fellowship and TA or RA Accepted offer, will attend!
University of Arizona - Physics - Experimental AMO accepted by email 2/24 w/ TAship - declined offer
Last edited by alej21 on Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:47 pm, edited 11 times in total.

muons
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:22 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by muons » Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:30 pm

Undergrad Institution: Liberal arts state school, top 50 in physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.95
Overall GPA: 3.97
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: top in physics department
Type of Student: US citizen but born in Asia


GRE Scores:
Q:800
V:530
W:4.5
P:990


Research Experience: first summer at some REU at some small school. second summer at my own university in HEP research. third summer I went to CERN through another REU. no publication.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: a couple scholarship at my school

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: tutor for two semesters, SPS officer + president now

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
I won third place in some small state wise math competition as a freshman?

Special Bonus Points: a bunch of grad classes, GR, 2 semester QM, 3 semesters QFT, grad group theory, and EM, stat mech (currently taking). Plenty of math classes like analysis, topology and differential geometry.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
1 recommendation from well known theorist, 1 other well known theorist agrees to give phone calls to all the places I'm applying to. A big connection to Princeton (my recommender knows them personally). All my recommendations are supposed to be really really good.

Applying to Where: all in high energy theory

Princeton - accepted via email on 2/19, first year fellowship
MIT - accepted via email on 2/4 with 1 year fellowship
UChicago - accepted via email (my general GRE score was missing but then they admitted me after I email them a copy) - TA offer declined
Berkeley - accepted via email - TA offer
Stanford - accepted via email on 2/23 - 3 year fellowship 33k+ per year! w00t!
Harvard - accepted via email on 2/10. 1 year fellowship offered.

:D it's gonna be a tough choice...
Last edited by muons on Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:53 pm, edited 6 times in total.

blueplanet
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:08 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by blueplanet » Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:00 pm

Undergrad Institution: Big State, top 50 in Physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 3.94
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Top-ish
Type of Student: U.S. Citizen

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 520
W: 5.0
P: 930



Research Experience: Did analysis on CDF at Fermilab, wrote paper on that (PRL). Worked for 2 summers at CERN on ATLAS.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Honor societies, Goldwater Scholarship, Dept Scholarship, University Scholarship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Campus Tutor, SPS President

Special Bonus Points: One of my letter writers is a well known member of ATLAS, don't know if that helped much.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

MIT - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/4 with fellowship
U Penn - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 1/25 by phonecall
Caltech - Physics - HEP Experiment
Berkeley - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/25 by e-mail
NYU - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/12 by email
Columbia - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/18 by email $30k/year fellowship
Yale - Physics - HEP Experiment - Invited to open house. Called, apparently I'm in. 2/23. Got official decision 2/25
UCSD - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 2/5 by phonecall, will match any other offer
UCLA - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/9, financial details coming
Stanford - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/23 by email

Hertz Fellowship - Made it to 1st interview round, rejected. (It's for applied physics, kinda figured...)
NSF -
DOE Graduate Fellowship -
Last edited by blueplanet on Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:31 pm, edited 9 times in total.

xecution
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:39 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by xecution » Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:49 am

Undergrad Institution: One of the top universities in Turkey
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.22
Overall GPA: 3.12
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: %5
Type of Student: International

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 %94
V: 330 %16
W: 2.5 %3
P: 800 %73


TOEFL Total: 98

Research Experience: Data analysis of an previously done nuclear physics experiment.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for 3 courses in different semesters. 1 summer internship

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: A grad course from an notable instructor.

Applying to Where:
Carnegie Mellon U - Physics - Experimental HEP - Accepted on 3/03 via email TA 2000$/mnth Attending!
University of Virginia - Physics - Experimental HEP - Accepted on 3/31 via email Offer declined on 04/08 via emal
Northeastern University - Physics - Experimental HEP - Accepted on 3/05 via email TA ~18K for 9 months Offer declined
UW Madison - Physics - Experimental HEP - Rejected on 1/28 via email
UC Irvine - Physics - Experimental HEP - Rejected on 3/19 via email
U Washington Seattle - Physics - Experimental Astrophysics - Rejected on 4/13 via email
Northwestern University - Physics - Experimental HEP - Application withdrawn
Boston University - Physics - Experimental HEP - Application withdrawn
U Illnois Chicago - Physics - Experimental HEP - Application withdrawn
Brandeis University - Physics - Experimental HEP - Phone interview on 2/13 - Application withdrawn
U Pittsburgh - Physics - Experimental HEP - Wait listed on 3/26 via email - Application withdrawn
UMASS Amherst - Physics - Experimental HEP - Wait listed on 1/28 via email - Application withdrawn
Last edited by xecution on Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:53 am, edited 15 times in total.

jedi_master
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:44 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by jedi_master » Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:19 pm

Undergrad Institution: top 15 US News, no physics reputation
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): none
GPA in Major: 3.94
Overall GPA: 3.83
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: top 15%
Type of Student: domestic Caucasian female

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 740 (99%)
W: 5.0 (81%)
P: 810 (74%)


Research Experience: one REU at top 5 physics school (condensed matter), one USRP at NASA center (planetary science), DAAD RISE (biophysics), senior thesis (nonlinear dynamics)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: standard GPA awards

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: tutor for one year

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

Ohio State University - Physics - CME - Accepted via email 2/5
Pennsylvania State University - Physics - CME - Accepted via email 2/10
University of Michigan - Physics - CME - Accepted via email 2/17
Yale University - Physics - CME - Accepted via email 2/25
Harvard University - Physics - CME - Waitlisted + invited to open house via email 2/10
UIUC - Physics - CME - Accepted via email 2/18
University of Colorado - Physics - CME - Accepted via email 2/25
UC Berkeley - Physics - CME - Accepted via email 2/28
UCSB - Physics - CME - Accepted via email and post 2/23
MIT - Physics - CME - Rejected via email 3/2
University of Maryland - Physics - JQI/CME - Accepted via email 2/25
Stanford University - Physics - CME/Quantum Electronics - Accepted via email 2/23
Caltech - Applied Physics - Quantum Electronics - Accepted via phone call 2/10

NSF - Physics - Honorable Mention via email 4/6
NDSEG - Physics - Rejected via email 4/12
Last edited by jedi_master on Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:39 pm, edited 12 times in total.

bibimbop
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:16 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by bibimbop » Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:50 am

Undergrad Institution: Top 5 private
Major(s): Physics, maybe Math depending on this final semester
Minor(s): Philosophy
GPA in Major: 3.9/4.0
Overall GPA: 3.7/4.0
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: no idea
Type of Student: domestic non-minority male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800, 94%
V: 720, 98%
W: 5.0, 81%
P: 990, 95%

Research Experience: an REU in radio astronomy at an observatory, followed by two year-long theoretical astrophysics experiences with profs at my school, no publications

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: --
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: relativity grader? not much here
Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: --
Special Bonus Points: 3 grad classes (QFT, Stat Mech, Astrophysics)
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: --


Applying to Where:
I am applying everywhere for theoretical astrophysics (with a noted interest in computational methods).

Sidenote: It was interesting trying to decide whether to apply to physics or astronomy departments, since either one is usually fine for astrophysics. My mentor suggested that I apply to the astro departments for Harvard, Princeton, and UChicago but other than these I applied to physics departments

Princeton - Astrophysics Dept: Rejected 02/01 via email
Cornell - Physics Dept: Accepted 02/03 via email
UChicago - Astronomy & Astrophysics Dept: Accepted 02/05 via email
OSU - Physics Dept: Accepted 02/05 via email
Harvard - Astronomy Dept: Accepted 02/06 via snailmail -- Will attend!
Caltech - Physics Dept: Accepted 02/09 via email
UC Berkeley - Physics Dept: Accepted 02/25 via email
Last edited by bibimbop on Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:47 pm, edited 5 times in total.

terrence
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:59 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by terrence » Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:23 am

Undergrad Institution: Western European University, decent reputation in physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): N/A
Overall GPA: 3.8 in BS, 4.0 in MS
Length of Degree: 5 years
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: International, male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800, 94%
V: 620, 89%
W: 4.0, 41%
P: 860, 81%


TOEFL Total: 114

Research Experience: 1 yr in HEP-ph for MS thesis, 2 publications; research in mathematical physics for BS thesis (3 months)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: a scholarship inside my home institution and one at national level

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: presentation at international conference

Special Bonus Points: two recommendations are from well known theorists

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: --
Applying to Where:

Boston University - Physics - waitlisted - rejected, email in response to inquiry, 04/21
Berkeley - Physics - rejected, email, 03/11
Harvard - Physics - rejected, email in response to inquiry, 03/01
UCSB - Physics - rejected, email to check website, 03/25
NYU - Physics - accepted, email, 02/12
Princeton - Physics - rejected, email, 02/19
Stanford - Physics - rejected, email, 02/24
Cornell - Physics - rejected, email, 02/11
Caltech - Physics - rejected, email, 03/12
Last edited by terrence on Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:30 am, edited 11 times in total.

mdrake
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:41 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by mdrake » Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:03 pm

I joined just for this thread. This has helped me a lot to evaluate my own chances of getting in.

Edit 2/11: First Acceptance! No More Stress! :mrgreen:
Edit 3/1: I totally thought I was getting rejected from texas. They were one of my top picks. WooHoo!!!

Undergrad Institution: UMass Amherst. Big State School, relatively good physics reputation but not overly great.
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: ~3.7
Overall GPA: ~ 3.6
Length of Degree: 3.5 years, finished a semester early
Position in Class: Not sure, but close to top.
Type of Student: Domestic White Male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 480 (57%)
W: 5.5 (92%)
P: 600 (32%)

Research Experience: 4 semesters with one professor that go as follows. Independent Study for 1 semester at UMass. Worked on Monte Carlo techniques and building tools to get ready for research. 2 semesters of research with same professor working on Monte Carlo Simulations of crystal surface growth. Since I graduated a semester early, I'm now working for same professor on the project, but getting paid instead of credit. Significant results are coming soon and I am promised to be a co-author on the paper(s) that come out of it. Possibility of going to conferences and giving talks.

Summer REU at University of Minnesota doing experimental work on superfluids. Made a paper (non-published), poster, and a talk. Worked with a professor who has been in the field for ~50 years and is writing a recommendation for me.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Few small scholarships but nothing too major.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Worked at a hardware store for ~6 years. Very comfortable with hands on. Also, see above job description.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Founded a Quidditch club at my school

Special Bonus Points: One professor who is writing a recommendation has been a professor at Stanford. My research professor taught at UMaryland for some time. Professor from REU has been around a long time in the study of superfluids and is well known.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Part of many clubs, including Juggling club, Math club, Quidditch club, Set club

ATTENDING U Texas Austin - 16.5K 2-year TAship (summer support not guaranteed) + tuition + health insurance

Applied to:

U Florida - Computational / Condensed Matter Theory Accepted by email 2/11. Up to $500 to pay for visit, 21K 12-month TAship + tuition + health insurance. Declined offer 3/27
U Minnesota Twin Cities - Computational / Condensed Matter Theory Withdrew application 3/2. Decided I liked Florida better.
UC Davis - Computational / Condensed Matter Theory Withdrew application 3/27
Stanford - Computational / Condensed Matter Theory Rejected via email 2/24, no surprise there
U Michigan - Computational / Condensed Matter Theory Rejected via email 2/19
UW Madison - Computational / Condensed Matter Theory Rejected via email 1/28
U Oregon - Computational / Condensed Matter Theory Rejected via email inquiry 2/8
U Maryland - Computational / Condensed Matter Theory Rejected via e-mail 3/20
Last edited by mdrake on Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:49 pm, edited 13 times in total.

alien013
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:05 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by alien013 » Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:29 pm

Undergrad Institution: Out of state private university, Good Reputation in Physics, especially in condensed matter.
Major(s): Physics
Overall GPA: approaching 3.00 from the lover bound :)
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: somewhere in the middle

Grad Institution: same
Major(s): Physics
Overall GPA: 4

Type of Student: International male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 280
W: 3.0
P: 70%

TOEFL Total: 86

Research Experience: 3 years experience, 3 publications in good journals (1 more submitted), a few conference presentations.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: there are a few...

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 3 years of TA, RA

Special Bonus Points: Good SOP and references (I guess)

Applying to Where:

Research interest: Solid State Quantum Optics.

Maryland - Physics Rejected via email
Columbia - Applied Physics
Yale - Applied Physics 2/23 Rejected via email
Rice - Applied Physics Rejected
UCSD - Physics Rejected via email
USC - Physics Rejected via email
Duke - Physics 2/18 Rejected via email
Northwestern - Physics Rejected
UBC - Physics Rejected
Boston - Physics Rejected
UCF - CREOL 2/18 Accepted via email with 26k Fellowship
Last edited by alien013 on Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:40 am, edited 11 times in total.

User avatar
philosophysicist
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:24 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by philosophysicist » Mon Feb 08, 2010 12:00 am

Undergrad Institution: UC in Southern California, top 10/20 in physics depending upon specialization.
Major(s): Physics, Mathematics
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 3.51, 3.59
Overall GPA: 3.41
Length of Degree: 5
Position in Class: No idea, probably average
Type of Student: Male, Hispanic Minority

GRE Scores:
Q: (1st) 700 71%, (2nd) 720 75%
V: (1st) 550 75%, (2nd) 520 67%
W: (1st) 5.5 92%, (2nd) 5.0 81%
P: 550 20%


Research Experience: Experimental cosmology with a fairly young, up and coming professor. Summer at Caltech with a very well-known professor, publication in review. Currently working in experimental high energy physics, second publication submitted to international conference.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Couple of small time academic awards for GPA above 3.5

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Intern at an engineering firm, working with experimental high energy physics group for money.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I was president of the astronomy club here for a year and I obtained a grant to build a 12-inch telescope. I have initiated a lot of community outreach in physics and astronomy.

Special Bonus Points: Hopefully my minority status and publications help overcome my bad GRE scores and mediocre GPA

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Just the outreach and publications.

Applying to Where:

Research interests in observational astronomy, extrasolar planets. All applications to Astronomy/Astrophysics programs with preference in exoplanets.

Cornell - Rejected by mail 2/25
Univ. of Colorado - Boulder - Rejected by mail 2/17
Univ. of Washington - Seattle - Rejected by email 4/14
UC Berkeley - Rejected by email 2/19
UC Santa Cruz - Rejected by email 3/1
Univ. of Arizona - Rejected by mail 2/19 and email 2/24
Univ. of Texas - Austin - Rejected by email 3/3
Caltech - Rejected by email 3/17
Boston University - Rejected by email 4/13
NYU - Rejected by email 3/29

NDSEG-Rejected by email 4/12

Okay so it's official, nothing will overcome a horrible PGRE score. Better luck next year =)
______________________________________________
Last edited by philosophysicist on Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:59 am, edited 12 times in total.

inko1nsiderate
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:24 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by inko1nsiderate » Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:56 am

Undergrad Institution: Small state school, reputation unknown
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 3.59
Overall GPA: 3.27
Length of Degree: 5 years
Position in Class: Top to middle of class (less then 10 in the class)?
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 640 (57%)
V: 600 (86%)
W: 5.5 (92%)
P: 560 (22%)



Research Experience: One summer in microbiology, almost two years in physical organic chemistry.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Minor academic awards for GPA.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: None that I can think of.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Invited to present my chem research at an undergraduate research symposium in 2008. A few publications from doing science outreach to Native Americans during a service learning course.

Special Bonus Points: A recommender was an APS fellow in 2000.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I started out in college as a double major in Biochem and history, switched to physics after taking junior level EM relatively recently (~1.5 years ago). A distinct upward trend in my grades, strong performance in upper-division physics coursework (only 2 Bs). One of my letters is by my research supervisor in chemistry (probably counts against me).

Applying to Where:

UT Austin - Physics - Hep-th - Rejected, 5/06 by snail mail
Michigan - Physics - Hep-th - Rejected, 2/19 by email
Syracuse - Physics - Hep-th - Wait-listed, 3/30 after email inquiry - Withdrew application
Oregon - Physics - Hep-th - Rejected, 2/25 by snail mail
UC Davis - Physics - Hep-th - Rejected, 3/29 after email inquiry
UC Riverside - Physics - Hep-th -Accepted, 02/10 by email, TA, fellowship, summer support - Accepted Offer
Last edited by inko1nsiderate on Thu May 06, 2010 8:50 pm, edited 8 times in total.

psfcnut
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:40 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by psfcnut » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:00 pm

Undergrad Institution: MIT
Major(s): Nuclear Science & Engineering, Physics
GPA in Major: 3.6, 3.6
Overall GPA: 3.4
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: above average
Type of Student: Domestic Caucasian male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 580 (82%)
W: 3 (10%)
P: 820 (75%)

Research Experience: 3 years research on campus in basic plasma physics (1 pub. as 2nd author, one pending as 4th)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: none

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 2 semesters as grader

Special Bonus Points: 2 very good rec letters from experimental plasma physicists/engineers. 5 grad classes. (computational math, adv. calculus, E&M, 2 levels of plasma physics)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Plenty of extracurriculars???

Applying to Where:

Physics

MIT - Experimental Plasma Physics - Accepted 2/12 via email Offer Declined
Princeton - Experimental Plasma Physics (PPP) - Waitlisted via email 2/17
UCLA - Experimental Plasma Physics - Accepted 2/16 via email Offer Accepted!!!!!!!!!
UCSD - Experimental Plasma Physics - Accepted 2/22 via email Offer Declined
UW Madison - Experimental Plasma Physics - Accepted 1/19 via email Offer Declined

Engineering

UW Madison - Electrical and Computer Engineering - Plasma Physics and Fusion - Accepted 1/19 via email Offer Declined
UW Madison - Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics - Plasma Physics and Fusion - Accepted 1/13 via email Offer Declined
MIT - Nuclear Science and Engineering - Experimental Plasma Physics and Fusion - Accepted 2/19 via email Offer Declined
Last edited by psfcnut on Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:20 pm, edited 8 times in total.

wangbtc
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:29 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by wangbtc » Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:42 am

Undergrad Institution: not so good university in asia
Major(s):physics
GPA in Major:3.6
Overall GPA:3.24
Length of Degree:4
Position in Class:3%
Type of Student:international asian

Graduate Institution: Institute with good reputation in asia
Major(s):physics
Overall GPA:3.4
Length of Degree:2
Position in Class:in the middle


Q:730
V:310
W:3.0
P:710


TOEFL Total:93

Research Experience:research assistant,2 years in HEP at high ranking institute, 2 years in quantum optics

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
First placement from among all graduates in the departmentClass

Applying to Where:

1. University of Minnesota Twin-Cities rejected 04/03
2. Brown University rejected 03/04
3. Duke University rejected 02/19
4. Rice University rejected 04/01
5. University of Virginia rejected 03/05 = ="
6. University of Arizona
7. Indiana University--Bloomington rejected 02/22
8. University of Massachusetts—Amherst
9. Case Western Reserve University rejected 02/05 = ="
10. City University of New York Graduate school and University Center
11. Syracuse University
12. Tufts University rejected 04/06
13. University of New Mexico accepted 03/09 17k TA for two years
14. Northeastern University
15. University of Nebraska—Lincoln accepted 02/24 19k TA


All apply for HEP experiment
Last edited by wangbtc on Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:44 am, edited 7 times in total.

nemo
Posts: 36
Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:04 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by nemo » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:21 pm

Undergrad Institution: (Big State foreign (Eastern Europe) acceptable)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): none
GPA in Major: 9.83/10
Overall GPA:
Length of Degree: (4 years)
Position in Class: (the first, top position in a 100 students class)
Type of Student: (International, male, white)

GRE Scores:
Q: 740
V: 520
W: 3.5
P: 740


TOEFL Total: 114/120 IELTS 8/9

Research Experience:
Research in DFT for molecules, molecular dynamics(self made fortran code for mol. dyn. simulation), Some theoretical research in string theory, AdS/CFT duality at a master in Paris, Various presentations in a phys. dept in US

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
Graduate Classes in the USA
Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
TA in physics in USA
Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
Lots of minor presentations in various departments, with little importance...
Special Bonus Points:
Letters from my professors in the USA and one from Paris, don't know if it counts...
Graduate Classes (Electrodynamics, Quantum in the USA and QFT, QCD, weak interaction and all the other master classes in Paris, also a class in string theory at ENS paris)
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
I was in quite a lot of places... Europe and USA, hope it helps for diversity but may be a little too much...
Applying to Where:
NYU - Physics
Maryland - Physics
Penn State - Physics
Rice - Physics
JHU - Physics
Northeastern - Physics
Boston University - Physics
Rochester University - Physics
Rockefeller University - Biophysics - Rejected via snail mail on Feb. 16
Brandeis University - Physics
______________________________________________
Last edited by nemo on Tue Feb 16, 2010 11:26 am, edited 2 times in total.

CMSmonkey
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:20 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by CMSmonkey » Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:49 pm

Undergrad Institution: Big state, top 30 in physics.
Major(s): Physics, Math
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 3.97
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: top
Type of Student: Domestic male

GRE Scores:
Q: 790
V: 570
W: 5.0
P: 800

Research Experience: Two years in high energy experiment at my school.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Awards from physics and math departments at my school.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: none

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: none

Special Bonus Points: Grad classes in physics and math. A great rec from my research advisor.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: My name is on several papers released by a large high-energy collaboration (>1000 authors).

Applying to Where:

Research interests: High energy theory/phenomenology.

Cornell - Accepted Feb 11 email
U Minnesota - Accepted Feb 11 email
Princeton - Rejected Feb 19 email
Stanford - Rejected Feb 24 email
U Michigan - Accepted Feb 26 email, modest fellowship
Harvard - Rejected Feb 27 mail
MIT - Rejected Mar 02 email
U Chicago - Rejected Mar 05 email
UC Berkeley - Rejected Mar 11 email
Columbia - Rejected Mar 11 website
Caltech - Rejected Mar 11 email
UCSB - Rejected Mar 24 website
Last edited by CMSmonkey on Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:04 am, edited 15 times in total.

klmn
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:47 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by klmn » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:33 pm

Undergrad Institution: UG: top technical univ in India; grad: a tier-3 unheard of univ with no reputation in physics in the U.S
Major(s): Engineering Physics in UG, Physics in Grad
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:
Overall GPA: 6/10 in UG, 4/4 in grad
Length of Degree:
Position in Class: Bottom of class in UG, kinda top in Grad
Type of Student: Asian male

GRE Scores:
Q:770
V:510
W:3.5
P:950


TOEFL Total:108/120 (waived due to U.S. degree)

Research Experience: research(experimental) internship in europe during UG, UG thesis in StatMech, research in CMP during M.S. in US univ, nothing published yet but 2 in draft stage, no conference

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: nothing much, a GPA based invitation to join phi kappa phi(dont think its worth anything)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: worked as TA and tutor at US univ

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

Area: Complex systems, nonlinear dynamics, Statmech
Dept: Physics

Michigan, Ann Arbor - Rejected Feb 19
Maryland - Rejected
Northwestern - Rejected May 6
Duke - Accepted Feb 11 - attending
Boston - Rejected
GeorgiaTech - Accepted Mar 1 - declined offer
Northeastern -
RPI - Accepted Mar 3 - declined offer
Last edited by klmn on Tue May 18, 2010 4:41 pm, edited 10 times in total.

andyietok
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:43 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by andyietok » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:29 pm

Undergraduate: Big Canadian School, top 3 in physics in Canada
Majors: Math, Physics
GPA:3.9
Length of Degree:3
Position in class: unknown
Type of student: International, Asian

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 700
W: 4.0
P: 990

Research Experience: One summer USRA at some other Canadian university on AdS/CFT

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Departmental Honors, University Scholarships

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: 4 good recommendations, Grad Courses in QFT, String, EM, Riemannian Geometry, Algebraic Geometry etc.

Applying to Where:

All in HEP theory

Princeton rejected via email, 02/19
MIT accepted via email, 02/04 (fellowship $2400/month)
Harvard rejected via post 03/02
UCB accepted via email, 02/25 financial details pending
Caltech accepted via email, 02/22 financial details pending
UCSB
UChicago accepted via postal, 03/12
Cornell rejected via email, 02/10
PI accepted via email, 03/09
Last edited by andyietok on Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:02 pm, edited 4 times in total.

Smattacus
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:12 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by Smattacus » Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:11 am

Undergrad Institution: Caltech
Major(s): 2 Majors: Physics, Business Economics and Management - awarded 2008
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 2.77 I think
Overall GPA: 3.0
Length of Degree: 4 yr
Position in Class: None calculated. Probably fairly low.
Type of Student: domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 780 (oops)
V: 640
W: 4.5
P: 760

Research Experience:
-Asteroid observation and orbit determination, high school nerd camp.
-Work at a hydrogen battery company on a prototype summer before college.
-LIGO SURF the summer after my freshman year doing experimental physics on resonance and noise absorption / dissipation.
-Caltech surf in a plasma physics lab after my junior year - unfortunately, this didn't go so well. Still have my interest in this, however.
-Research in cosmology, simulating shear maps, and by extension, the 3d distribution of dark matter. This is the research that made me realize I wanted to go to grad school. Unfortunately, I started this at the end of my senior year and continued it up until:
-Work on a supernova finding telescope at Caltech. I've worked on this for about a year and a half since graduation. Papery goodness. And it's been a great experience.
-Observational astronomy with a doc at my job on some dwarf galaxy stuff.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Fred and Jean Felberg named SURF award, Eagle Scout, student leadership positions

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I played water polo...

Special Bonus Points: In addition to working a full time position at this astronomy gig, I'm taking a graduate course at Caltech in plasma physics, which is super interesting.

Basically, I didn't think I'd be able to get into grad school coming straight out of Tech with my record and some things that went not so well, so I ended up taking two years off in order to find out what I like about science, whether I want to continue with it, and I think the answer is pretty obvious. SCIENCE.

And to see that life on the other side is, in fact, puppies, rainbows, and ponies like I was told it was. It is, it's pretty sweet.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I couldn't get a letter from the guy I worked with in the plasma physics lab. Considering I state in my application SOP that this is my interest, this is kind of a big one. Rather than beating around the bush, I took this head on, and flat out told them in my SOP / supplementals what happened and why. The same guy is teaching the plasma physics course that I'm taking now, so it's not like there are bad feelings or anything.

Applying to Where:
All are physics / plasma. Experimental probably. I want to get back to messing with things with my hands in addition to looking at accretion disks.

UT Austin - Invited to Open House Feb 3rd -> Accepted March 9 via status webpage
U of Iowa - Accepted unofficially with RA Feb 6th(on a kinda cool project, too!)
Princeton PPP -Rejection Feb 19th email
UCSD - Rejected Mar 16th email
UCLA - Rejection March 1 email -> online status
UCBerkeley - Rejection March 10 email
UCIrvine - Rejected Mar 16th email
UCSB - Rejected Mar 23rd email
MIT - Rejection March 2nd email
UMD -

NSF -

To those of you out there waiting a year or two, or with a GPA like mine, don't give up! If you stick to it and you find out what truly interests you and engages you, then you can spend that time making an excellent case for yourself! Getting the research experience, showing you can think in that mindset and make real contributions, and finally, that you're not the kind of person to give up on a tough problem, or when things outside your control mess things up, matters a lot.
Last edited by Smattacus on Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:37 pm, edited 4 times in total.

wooot
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:37 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by wooot » Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:54 pm

Undergrad Institution: Ivy with good physics rep.
Major(s): Applied Physics
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 4.1 out of 4.3
Overall GPA: 4.0 out of 4.3
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Above Average, not top
Type of Student: Domestic White Male :/

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 620
W: 5.5
P: 870

Research Experience: Two REUs at top research schools, 1.5 years of research at school (Astro simulations).

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: None

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutor, science 'reporter'

Applying to Where:

(All for Astrophysics/Theory)

CalTech - Physics -
Columbia - Astro - Accepted Feb 17 (Faculty Fellow)
Cornell - Astro - Accepted Feb 16
Harvard - Physics - Rejected Feb 26 - (via Postal)
MIT - Physics - Rejected March 2
Stanford - Physics - Rejected Feb 24
UC Berkeley - Physics - Rejected March 11
U Chicago - Physics - Rejected March 6
UT Austin - Astro - Accepted Feb 1

Analysis: Evidently, GPA and research are not enough for aspiring theorists to have their pick of top grad schools. It seems a mediocre GRE score can and will negate 4 years of excellence. That, or schools didn't like my SOP.
Last edited by wooot on Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:19 pm, edited 9 times in total.

AltoClef
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:00 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by AltoClef » Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:12 pm

Undergrad Institution: Ivy with good physics reputation
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): N/A
GPA in Major: 3.51
Overall GPA: 3.50
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Above average, but definitely not top
Type of Student: Domestic, generic white boy

GRE Scores:
Q: 790
V: 650
W: 5.0
P: 940

Research Experience: Worked with two professors here at my school doing particle detector R&D, and spent lots of time learning clean room nanofabrication techniques (which I think is *somewhat* rare for undergrads) - later will be listed as a coauthor on a presentation for IPAC 2010 (which hasn't actually happened yet). Also, REU in high energy experiment during summer of 2009, with a paper presented at the final undergrad research symposium.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's list for a few semesters, National Merit Scholarship in high school

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Physics Tutor for a few years, TA for introductory mechanics course for 1 semester

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: None physics related...

Special Bonus Points: All three recommenders have worked at SLAC, and my most important one (director of a large lab here on campus) got his Ph.D. at UChicago. I'm crossing my fingers hoping things like this matter!

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I'm in a band! Also, I was included on a national a cappella compilation CD for a solo I sang in 2009. Maybe physicists appreciate good singers...

Applying to Where:

Boston University - Physics - Accepted 2/11 via e-mail, 18.4K TA + 9.2K summer funding + tuition [Declined]
CalTech - Physics - AMO Experiment - Rejected 3/12 via email
Columbia - Physics - HEP/AMO Experiment - Accepted 2/22 via email, 30.6k Faculty Teaching Fellowship + tuition
Harvard - Physics - AMO Experiment - Rejected 2/26 via snail mail
NYU - Physics - Soft Matter
University of California, Berkeley - Physics - HEP/AMO Experiment - Accepted 2/28 via email, ~25k stipend + 2k Additional Stipend + tuition
University of Chicago - Physics - HEP Experiment - Rejected 3/1 via snail mail
University of Colorado, Boulder - Physics - AMO Experiment - Accepted 2/26 via email, stipend plus 4k signing bonus
University of Rochester - Institute of Optics - Optics - Accepted 2/10 via email, 28k stipend (Sproull Fellowship) + tuition
Stanford - Physics - AMO Experiment - Rejected 2/24 via email
Last edited by AltoClef on Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:44 pm, edited 8 times in total.

TrueBLUE
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:38 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by TrueBLUE » Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:38 pm

Undergrad Institution: Pretty well known in my country. (one of the IITs)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): N/A
GPA in Major: 8.75/10
Overall GPA: 8.75/10
Length of Degree: 5 years
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: International

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 650
W: 4.5
P: 990 (2nd time); 880(1st time)

Toefl: 113 but speaking 23 :oops:

Research Experience: One summer working on low temperature physics at UCB. Good fab experience, both experimental and modelling work in nanoscale physics particularly on lithography techniques during an internship in Europe. Some experience in lasers at IISc. Presently working on designing nano-bio conjugates for sensor applications as a part of my thesis at my home institute. Sadly no publication :cry:

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: A few National Scholarships & Fellowships, Institute Award for highest CGPA

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: None

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Some modest accomplishments in national Olympiads.

Special Bonus Points: All four recommenders know me well, grad level courses on QFT, Many Body Theory, Superconductivity, Mesoscopic Physics

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I Play football. Lots of extra-curriculars particularly in Dramatics, Elocution and Quizzing. Though doubt they would matter much.

Applying to Where:

Stanord - Applied Physics
Princeton - Physics - CME - Rejected 2/20 via email
Cornell - Physics - CME - Accepted 2/13 via e-mail, 23.3K TA (9 months) + insurance + tuition
University of Chicago - Physics -CME
Yale - Applied Physics - Rejected 2/23 via website
U C Berkeley- Physics - CME
Columbia - Physics - CME
UIUC - Physics - CME
U Maryland - Physics - CME
Rutgers - Physics - CME - Accepted 2/17 via e-mail, 23.112K TA(10 months) + insurance + tuition
Last edited by TrueBLUE on Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:04 am, edited 6 times in total.

Ft437w
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:25 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by Ft437w » Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:51 pm

Undergrad Institution: US private school. Top 30 in physics, top 15 overall (US News).
Major(s): Physics.
Minor(s): None.
GPA in Major: 3.59.
Overall GPA: 3.66.
Length of Degree: 4 years.
Position in Class: Above average, I think.
Type of Student: Domestic, white male.

GRE Scores:
Q: 790 (92%).
V: 710 (98%).
W: 6.0 (98%).
P: 630 (39%).

Research Experience: Four years in a great condensed matter experiment group at my university. Have worked on everything from writing software for in-house microscopes to microfabrication of quantum Hall probes (via e-beam lithography) to measuring charge transport in low dimensional electronic systems.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's List, endowed scholarship from the physics department, endowed scholarship from the school, National Merit scholarship, a few summer grants to do research at home university.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutor for students in the first-year physics sequence, SPS member.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Working on a senior thesis for departmental honors. Have written a number of educational modules for and gave a presentation to educators about teaching nanoscale sciences to high school students.

Special Bonus Points: Audited a grad mathematical methods course, currently taking grad classical mechanics.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Active in the university community. I also made it very clear that I'm passionate about research and knew exactly who I'd want to work with at each school I applied to.

Applying to Where: (will add more as I hear back)

Penn State - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment - Accepted 2/12 via email.
University of Minnesota - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment - Accepted 2/11 via email.
Ohio State - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment - Accepted 2/12 via email.
University of Michigan - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment - Rejected 2/19 via email.
New York University - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment - Accepted 3/05 via email.
Columbia University - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment - Rejected 3/13 via website.
Last edited by Ft437w on Sun Mar 28, 2010 2:15 pm, edited 4 times in total.

higgs_boson
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2009 1:14 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by higgs_boson » Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:06 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small Liberal Arts College in the midwest. No big reputation in Physics
Major(s): Physics, Math
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 3.86
Overall GPA: 3.85
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Top 5%
Type of Student: International, male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 550
W: 3.5
P: 810 (11/2009), 700 (4/2009)




Research Experience: One summer + 3 semesters of AMO research at my school. Two summers (including one REU) of another AMO research at a top 15 university (One third author publication). One semester of chemical physics research at a national lab.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Outstanding physics major. Dean's list every semester

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutor, grader for 3 years. One year SPS president.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I have taken GR and Quantum Optics.

Special Bonus Points: At least two good recommendations. One famous in the field

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

MIT - AMO/Quantum Information Rejected 3/2 via email
Colorado - AMO Experiment Accepted 2/25 via email TA(and possibly RA) + signing bonus Attending
Berkeley - AMO Experiment Rejected 3/8 after phone inquiry
Caltech - AMO/Quantum Information Experiment Rejected 3/13 via email
Michigan - AMO Experiment Accepted 2/26 via email, department fellowship + GSI Declined
Harvard - AMO Experiment Rejected 2/27 via snail mail
Washington-Seattle - AMO Experiment Rejected 3/18 via email
UT-Austin - AMO Experiment Accepted 3/15 via email Declined
Last edited by higgs_boson on Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:32 pm, edited 8 times in total.

fjornada
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:32 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by fjornada » Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:19 pm

Undergrad Institution: Top 5 in Brazil, known for Physics
Major(s): Physics
Overall GPA: 4.0/4.0
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: top
Type of Student: International, regular male

Grad Institution: same as the undergrad one
Major(s): Physics
Overall GPA: 4.0/4.0
Length of Degree: 2 years
Position in Class: top

GRE Scores:
Q: 770
V: 490
W: 4.0
P: 990

TOEFL Total: 111

Research Experience: about 5 years working with CMT (more specifically computer simulation of materials). Some experience in CME. No paper published, one in progress. Several posters and oral presentations.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Academic Honors, "Youth Researcher Award" from my University, undergrad & grad Fellowships

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for 2 years (high school level physics). Founded/Worked in a TI company for about 1 year during my MSc.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Two well-known international summer schools in ab-inito simulation of materials

Special Bonus Points: Last semester I gave some lectures in ab-initio simulation of materials. Oh, and I have already taken graduate courses using good old Jackson :D

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Some misc. activities, such as being director of a committee in a model UN during grad years?

Applying to Where:

** Applying to Physics - CMT **

Cornell - Waitlisted 02/12 via email.
Yale - Invited to open house 2/23 via email. Officially accepted 2/25.
Harvard - Rejected 03/03 after email inquiry.
MIT - Rejected 03/02 via email.
Princeton - Rejected 02/19 via email.
Columbia
Berkeley - Accepted 02/26 after phone inquiry.
Stanford - Rejected 02/24 via email.
Last edited by fjornada on Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:29 pm, edited 9 times in total.

kittycat
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:31 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by kittycat » Mon Feb 15, 2010 7:02 pm

Undergrad Institution: small crappy liberal arts school with virtually no reputation in physics (but a good reputation in engineering and math)
Major(s): BS Physics, BA Mathematics
GPA in Major: 3.98
Overall GPA: 3.98
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: top
Type of Student: domestic white female

GRE Scores:
Q: 790 (92%)
V: 610 (88%)
W: 3.5 (23%)
P: 700 (54%)

Research Experience:
University of Michigan REU at CERN (3 months, summer 2009): experimental high energy physics, CMS tracker commissioning (noise analysis with ROOT), attended a lecture program, workshop on detectors, tours of the LHC

undergraduate research at my institution (spring - fall 2008): atomic and molecular physics, specifically the associative ionization of cesium, nothing particularly spectacular or relevant to my interests for grad school
I'm currently doing my senior thesis on this topic.

no publications

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship - Honorable Mention (2009)
Sigma Xi, Sigma Pi Sigma, Pi Mu Epsilon
Eugene P. Chase Phi Beta Kappa Prize - academic award at my institution
Marquis scholarship - my school's highest 4 year academic scholarship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
calculus tutor, lab TA, grading for introductory physics courses
SPS president for 2 years
Math club vice president

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
I have a lot of experience with programming - C++, Java, Python, ROOT, etc.

Special Bonus Points:
Well I am a girl in HEP which is kind of rare so I guess that might earn some brownie points....
My adviser from CERN seems to have a few connections.

Applying to Where:
All schools are in HEP experiment (physics).
Harvard - Rejected 2/28 via snail mail (postmarked 2/24... I have no idea why they wasted the money to mail it when email is much quicker and free)
MIT - Rejected 3/2 via email
Princeton -Rejected 2/19 via email (no surprise here lol)
Cornell - Accepted 2/11 via email with TA (I was later emailed by a professor who knows my adviser from CERN and likes my application) - Offer accepted. Yay!
Rutgers - Accepted 2/5 via email with fellowships - Offer declined.
University of Michigan - Rejected 2/24 via email (kind of strange since I participated in their REU, but I probably wouldn't go there anyway...)
University of Chicago - Rejected by snail mail postmarked 2/26
Carnegie Mellon - Accepted 2/20 via email with TA - Offer declined.
Yale - Rejected 2/15 via online status change
Columbia - Online status update on 3/12. I get an error when I try to visit the site so I can only assume it's a rejection.
Rochester - Accepted 2/10 - Offer declined.
Boston University - Accepted 2/12 with TA - Offer declined.
Johns Hopkins - Accepted 1/27 - Offer declined.


DOE Fellowship - did not receive
NSF Fellowship - Honorable Mention in the spring, then I was offered the fellowship in May because other recipients had turned the offer down
Last edited by kittycat on Sun Jun 20, 2010 2:12 pm, edited 11 times in total.

bulldog
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:08 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by bulldog » Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:00 pm

Undergrad Institution: Medium-sized state school, physics department of no reputation
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.4
Overall GPA: 3.2
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class:
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 670 (64%)
V: 640 (92%)
W: 3.5 (23%)
P: 800 (73%)

Research Experience: An NSF-funded REU in Computational Materials Science (I did molecular dynamics simulation); several small projects at home institution, one of which led to work done at JLab.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: SPS VP; Dean's Student Advisory Council (nominated to position by departmental administration); several physics departmental scholarships; a College of Arts & Sciences scholarship for upperclassmen; a College of Agriculture scholarship (h yeah); a university scholarship for entering freshmen.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I've done some grading, etc., for a few physics professors.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: No.

Special Bonus Points: Slight southern accent.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Two of my recommendations were probably very good, but the other one may have been garbage (or, at least, insubstantial). I have a couple nasty grades.

Applying to Where:

(All are Physics, CME)

Oregon State University - Withdrawn 3/4 Subsequently rejected ~ 4/01
University of Central FLorida - Accepted 2/24 via automated email, no specific financial offer mentioned Declined 3/4
Washington State University - Accepted 2/15 via email, TA $1675/mo. + Health Insurance + Tuition Declined 3/4
University of Oregon - Accepted 3/3 via email, unofficially, TA offer details to follow Declined 4/13
Texas A&M University - Accepted 2/12 via Postal Service, TA $1850/mo. + Tuition + $2k fellowship for fees Declined 4/13
University of Texas -
University of North Carolina -
University of Washington - Accepted 3/5 via email,Tuition+Health Insurance+TA $1600/mo.+$4000 Scholarship Will attend!
University of Colorado at Boulder - Rejected 3/5 via email
Last edited by bulldog on Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:09 pm, edited 3 times in total.

mike164
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:45 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by mike164 » Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:22 am

Undergrad Institution: Engineering institution in India . No reputation in Physics. Not an ' institute of technology'
Major(s): Electrical Engineering
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 75/100
Overall GPA: 75/100
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: average

Graduate Institution:Small state school in US. No reputation in Physics. Not even ranked by US news.
Major(s): Physics [MS + thesis]
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 3.90/4.00
Length of Degree: 3.5 years [ Took my time to take all undergrad courses in physics except freshmen courses due to my engineering background]

Type of Student: International male

GRE Scores:
Q: 780
V: 480
W: 4.0
P: 980


IELTS Total: 8.0/9.0 (Speaking 8.5/9.0 )

Research Experience: Undergrad - Two years in electrical engineering. One international peer-reviewed conference paper (archived in IEEE and IET). One national conference paper. One best research paper award. Several presentations at research symposiums.

Graduate - 1.5 years in experimental optics. One first author paper in a top international journal in optics. Two more in preparation with good results (recommenders would have mentioned about this). One international conference paper. One invited talk at a international symposium in Moscow organized by the electromagnetic academy at MIT. Reviewer for two top international journals in optics.


Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Renewable research grant awarded by my University based on my research proposal.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Graduate TA for two years - Instructor for undergraduate labs

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: None

Special Bonus Points: One international summer school at MIT. Audited courses at Harvard.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: 3.5 years for an M.S. might seem odd.

Applying to Where:

Physics - Experimental AMO

MIT -
University of Colorado Boulder -
University of Washington Seattle - Accepted on 02/05. TA + fellowship + summer TA
Duke University - Accepted on 02/10. TA + fellowship
Yale University - Rejected via website on 02/15
Rice University -
University of Maryland College Park -
UIUC -
Ohio State - Accepted via e-mail on 02/17 with TA.
Rochester -
UC Berkeley -
Stanford - Rejected via e-mail on 02/24
Columbia -
University of Michigan Ann Arbor - Rejected via e-mail on 02/19
Last edited by mike164 on Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

pmontu33
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:59 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by pmontu33 » Thu Feb 18, 2010 12:26 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small public school in Venezuela, with a good reputation in science and engineering
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): N/A
GPA in Major: 4.06/5.0
Overall GPA:N/A
Length of Degree: 5 1/2 (average above 6 years)
Position in Class: top

Type of Student: White male Hispanic

GRE Scores:
Q:800 (p94)
V:700 (p97)
W: 4.5(p63)
P: 910 (p87)

TOEFL: iBT 115/120 (speaking 29/30)
IELTS Total: 8.0/9.0 (Speaking 7.5/9.0 )

Research Experience: One Summer project, undergraduate thesis (of one semester as an exchange student), collaboration with minor research projects

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Gold in physics Olympiads while in high school, Honorable mention in Latin American Olympiads

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for over 3 years, math/quant teacher for GRE and GMAT.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: some extracurricular activities in MUN's, member of a small NGO.

Applying to Where:

Physics - Nuclear Experimental (including nuclear structure, relativistic heavy ion physics, neutrinos/muons)

MIT - rejected via email 03/02
Stanford - rejected via email 02/24
UC Berkeley - rejected via email 03/11 (Dreaming's cheap :| )
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - accepted via email 02/19 with $20,000 1-year teaching assistantship
Yale - rejected via email 03/11
Columbia - rejected via email 03/12
Washington, Seattle -
SUNY at Stony Brook -
OSU - accepted via email 02/09 with $25,000 1-year fellowship
MSU - accepted unofficially via email 02/24 (details to follow)
Indiana at Bloomington - rejected in response to inquiry 03/08 (rejection by snail mail took forever)
Last edited by pmontu33 on Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:27 pm, edited 9 times in total.

PBPHUDMD
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:48 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by PBPHUDMD » Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:55 am

Undergrad Institution: big state, well-known for physics
Major(s): Physics
GPA in Major: 3.93
Overall GPA: 3.90
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: don't know
Type of Student: domestic/male

GRE Scores:
Q: 770
V: 690
W: 5.0
P: 730 (60%)


Research Experience: 1 summer nanotechnology research internship with poster session: computational bio/atomic-physics project; 3+ semesters and a summer of computational energy research in one CM-theory group

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: large internal scholarship for science/engineering, honors list

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: a few work study jobs

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: one first author publication on computational applied physics research

Special Bonus Points: a variety of physics electives like particle physics, solid state, quantum information, quantum optics; good programming experience in C++, perl, matlab, labview

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: worked very closely with principal investigator who wrote one recommendation.

Applying to Where: interested in AMO , condensed matter, or in between. All programs required PGRE

UC Santa Barbara - Physics - accepted via post mail 2/20, TA or RA Will attend !
UIUC - Physics - accepted via email 2/18, TA Declined offer

Colorado Boulder - Physics - rejected via email 3/22
Stanford - Physics - rejected via email 2/24
Harvard - Physics - rejected via post mail 2/24
MIT - Physics - rejected via email 3/2
Washington, Seattle - Physics - rejected via email 3/18
Michigan - Physics - rejected via email 2/24
Last edited by PBPHUDMD on Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:01 pm, edited 11 times in total.

goers1
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2010 3:04 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by goers1 » Sat Feb 20, 2010 3:29 am

Undergrad Institution: State school in the Midwest, pretty average at physics
Major(s): Physics and Mathematics
Minor(s): Spanish
GPA in Major: 3.97
Overall GPA: 3.97
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 790
V: 600
W: 5.5
P: 840 (79%)


Research Experience: Three years with a nuclear physics (proton spin) guy testing and designing trigger electronics

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Lots of stuff within the school and department, nothing national

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Research job (see above), I tutor a sophomore level modern physics course

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Talked about a little side project I have inventing some bowling electronics. Fun fun.

Special Bonus Points: Grad classes I guess.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Interested in some AMO stuff and some nuclear physics stuff and novel beam physics.

Applying to Where:

U. of Chicago - Physics rejected 3/5 via email
Cornell - Physics rejected 2/12 via email
Illinois-UC - Physics accepted 2/18 via email, $20k/11 mo. TA
Maryland-CP - Physics accepted 3/1 via email, $21k TA
U. Michigan - Physics accepted 2/18 via email, department fellowship
Northwestern - Physics accepted 2/16 via email, fellowship
Stanford - Applied Physics rejected 3/1 in response to inquiry
U. Texas-Austin - Physics accepted 3/1 via website, 3/8 financial offer $16.5k TA + $5k fellowship
Last edited by goers1 on Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:21 am, edited 4 times in total.

coolz21
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 2:29 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by coolz21 » Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:50 pm

Undergrad Institution: Small Liberal Arts School
Major(s): BA Physics
GPA in Major: 3.40
Overall GPA: 3.34
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: middle?
Type of Student: domestic white female

GRE Scores:
Q: 740 (80%)
V: 490 (60%)
W: 4.0 (41%)
P: ...

Research Experience:
REU in biophysics over the summer, through that I got to do some research at Argonne National Lab

undergraduate research at my institution nothing very exciting

3rd author of one manuscript submitted to Science but who knows if they'll publish it, it should eventually get published somewhere.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
Academic Scholarship but nothing fancy
and no Sigma Pi Sigma

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
physics club

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Nope


Special Bonus Points:
I'm a girl and I think I got pretty good recommendations

Applying to Where:

Brown-Biophysics - Rejected via website (3/4) (surprise surprise)

Northwestern-Biophysics-
Duke-Master's Medical Physics-Admitted (4/6)
Washington University St. Louis-Biophysics-
Michigan State -Biophysics-Rejected
Purdue-Biophysics-Admitted (2/12) 17.5K TA Waiver
Emory -Molecular Biophysics- Admitted (2/04) 21K TA Tuition Waiver
Florida State University-Biophysics- Admitted (2/18) 18K TA Tuition Waiver
Wake Forest-Biophysics-waitlisted (3/10)
South Florida-Biophysics-(2/08) Admitted details to come
UIC-Biophysics-Admitted to master's (2/5) 1680/month TA Tuition Waiver
Last edited by coolz21 on Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:40 pm, edited 5 times in total.

drastawi
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:16 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by drastawi » Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:28 pm

Undergrad Institution: relatively good lib arts (around 30), pretty strong physics
Major(s): Physics, Math
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:4.0
Overall GPA:3.96
Length of Degree: 3 Years
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: Polish white male

GRE Scores:
Q:800 (94%)
V:650 (93%)
W:4.0 (41%)
P:950 (92%)
Math:800 (87%)

Research Experience:
One HEP summer research, a coauthor on a paper
One REU in solar physics, possibly coauthor on 3 papers (still in review and preparation)
One semester looking for pulsars (hope for a paper in near future)
One semester looking at galaxy clusters (still too early to think about a paper, but who knows)
No conferences

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: $15k scholarship for gpa and classes, several minor awards

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: tutor, on campus computer help
Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I have done tons of advanced math classes starting from my freshman year, 4 astrophysics, finished 2 majors in 5 semesters

Special Bonus Points: relatively known recommenders (two of them stanford phds, so it must have helped me with that school), finished college in 3 years

Applying to Where:
All Physics

Princeton - Rejected by email 2/19
Harvard -Rejected by mail 2/26
Stanford -Accepted by email 2/23 with $33k !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Caltech -
Yale -Accepted by email 3/1 by inquiry after I got invitation to their open house. Apparently I was already accepted but nobody bothered to inform me...
Columbia - Accepted by email 2/22 ! $31k
Santa Barbara -
Chicago - Accepted by email 3/1
CU Boulder - Accepted by email 2/24 $26k TA+ 6k bonus-11k tuition
UPenn -

______________________________________________
Last edited by drastawi on Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:09 pm, edited 8 times in total.

michael
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:21 am

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by michael » Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:46 pm

Undergrad Institution: Cambridge, England
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): no such thing in england
GPA in Major: basically an A
Overall GPA:
Length of Degree: 5 (with masters, but I took a year longer than I should have)
Position in Class: in the top quarter
Type of Student: International (Irish) 24 yo
GRE Scores:
Q: 790
V: 510
W: 4.0
P: 910 (870 last year / waste of money to repeat it as I hardly went up)

Research Experience: One third author pub, one first author not yet submitted (but mentioned in app). Organic electronics in cambridge, radio astro in Zurich, aeronautical engineering in Belfast, and non linear dynamics in philly (UPenn).

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: stuff for good grades

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: occasional bar work

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: can pour a good pint of guinness

Special Bonus Points: prof I worked with at UPenn knows dude I want to work with at Harvard well. Prof I worked with in cambridge knows people at MIT and Stanford.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I clearly am a second time applicant (old GRE scores). Some grades were very high, but some were very not high. I think my references will have been very good.

Applying to Where:

Harvard - Applied Physics - Soft matter - assumed rejected (never heard anything from them by April 15th)
MIT - Electrical Engineering - organic electronics - rejected 15 feb
MIT - Physics - CME - rejected 2 March
Caltech - Physics - QI - Accepted 22 feb - here comes the sun!
Stanford - Applied Physics - organic electronics - rejected 25 feb
Berkeley - Physics - CME - rejected 8 March

Note to future international applicants: If you are determined to go to the US and have a similar profile to me, I advise a few safety schools too. I had been offered a place in Cambridge, so I just applied to places I would rather go than stay in my home uni. Good luck!
Last edited by michael on Mon Apr 19, 2010 8:30 pm, edited 4 times in total.

quark314
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:53 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by quark314 » Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:09 am

Undergrad Institution: US private school, top 30-ish in physics
Major(s): Physics
GPA in Major: we don't really have GPAs, but it would be around 3.4 if we had them
Overall GPA: ditto, around 3.5
Length of Degree: 4 yrs, graduated '09
Position in Class: No idea...
Type of Student: domestic white female

GRE Scores:
Q: 790, 92%
V: 620, 89%
W: 5.0, 77%
P: 680, 52%


Research Experience: At my home institution: three different labs over the course of four years, including a senior thesis project in astro. At another university with a top reputation in physics: two summers in the same lab doing research in my field of interest.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Graduated with honors. Sigma Xi.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Graduated last year. Now working as a research assistant at a private lab. Extensive tutoring and outreach experience.

Special Bonus Points: Two excellent letters, one good letter. Also, all three of my letter writers are people with whom I did research, not people whose classes I took, which might be a bit odd/unusual. My letter-writers have connections at a few of the schools. I dunno how much that really helps.

Applying to Where: interest in astro/cosmology. All PhD except where otherwise noted.

UCSD - Physics - Accepted 3/4 by email - 16.6k TA (9mo) + 11k fellowship - [DECLINED]
Wisconsin - Physics - Accepted 1/19 by email - 14k TA (9 mo) + 1k fellowship - [WILL ATTEND]
McGill - Physics (masters) - Accepted 2/25 by website, 3/1 by post (letter dated 2/22) - 19k TA/RA - [DECLINED]
Rochester - Physics - Accepted 2/10 by email - 24k TA/RA (12mo) + 2k fellowship - [DECLINED]
Yale - Physics - rejected 2/15 email saying to check the website
MIT - Physics - rejected 3/2 by email
Columbia - Physics - rejected 3/12 by email
Michigan - Physics - rejected 2/19 by email
Chicago - Physics - rejected 2/22 by post - I kind of love that they used an actual typewriter to address the envelopes. Too bad they don't love me.
Berkeley - Physics - rejected 3/5 by email
CalTech - Physics - rejected 3/12 by email
Stanford - Physics - rejected 2/24 by email
UPenn - Physics - rejected 4/15 by email to check website.
Last edited by quark314 on Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:39 am, edited 12 times in total.

chakademus
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:26 pm

Re: ==> Sticky: 2010 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results

Post by chakademus » Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:38 pm

Undergrad Institution: MIT
Major(s): Physics
GPA in Major: 4.8/5
Overall GPA: 4.8/5
Length of Degree: 4 Years
Position in Class: Good, I guess
Type of Student: Domestic, Latino

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 680
W: 4.5
P: 800

Research Experience: 2 (largely unproductive) semesters with Dark Matter group (and no rec to show for it), Currently building experiments for a teaching lab as my undergrad thesis.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: None

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Have tutored and TA'd

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I've never done any summer research. Instead I've done lots of work with science outreach programs for urban youth. One of my recommendations came from the assistant dean who runs the programs. I was worried that schools would think this showed a lack of commitment to physics, whereas I'm hoping it shows a commitment to more than just physics.

Applying to Where:

Princeton
- Physics - Rejected by email 2/19
UCLA - Physics - Accepted by email 2/9 - 20k Fellowship + RA
CalTech - Physics - Accepted by email 2/22 - 30k Fellowship
UCSB - Physics - Accepted by email 2/22 (No Financial info yet..)
Harvard - Physics - Rejected by snail mail (late Feb)
Stanford - Physics - Accepted by email 2/23 (No Financial info yet..)
UC Berkely - Physics - Accepted by email 3/1 - 23k Fellowship
Last edited by chakademus on Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.



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