Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

  • 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.

username1
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by username1 » Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:16 pm

Just in at University of Washington, WSU came two days ago

andyietok
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by andyietok » Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:59 pm

Acceptance by email from MIT. :)

blaster00
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by blaster00 » Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:18 pm

@andyietok: What area were you applying for? and was the email from a Prof. or member of the admissions committee?

Also if you don't mind, maybe you could post stats?

I am starting to get antsy even though I know it is early... I'm not so good at waiting, espectially indefinite amounts of time...

Engage
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by Engage » Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:30 pm

accepted to MIT by email. 30k fellowship tuition and health insurance. sick!

abcdefg
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by abcdefg » Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:57 pm

username1 wrote:Just in at University of Washington, WSU came two days ago
Was it an email or a letter? And I'm assuming that this is the Physics dept. you're talking about, right?

andyietok
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by andyietok » Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:01 pm

@blaster00
I applied for HEP theory and the email was from the Chair of Graduate Admissions in Physics. Good luck!

PS: I'll post the stats later, got a few assignments to finish up.

username1
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by username1 » Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:12 pm

abcdefg wrote:
username1 wrote:Just in at University of Washington, WSU came two days ago
Was it an email or a letter? And I'm assuming that this is the Physics dept. you're talking about, right?
both were emails and both are for physics

geshi
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by geshi » Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:08 pm

Offer to visit Brandeis. They will make their decision after I visit.

blueplanet
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by blueplanet » Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:24 pm

Got an offer to MIT, 30k fellowship. U Penn with 25k fellowship, and UCSD that will just match any offer. Things have been goin well :D

meno
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by meno » Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:57 pm

Got accepted to Cornell yesterday! 2/5, via email

Maxos
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by Maxos » Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:02 pm

on 02/06

Stony Brook wrote: It is a great pleasure to inform you that you have been admitted to the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University. Our written offer will follow, with all the details, by regular mail (with a copy of the letter by email).


According to an agreement between the US graduate schools, you have until April 15, 2009 ( :D :shock: :lol: ), to accept or decline our offer. If you accept, you will be one of the approximately 25 students, selected from more than 400 applicants, to start their Ph.D. studies in our Department in the Fall of 2010.

My sincere congratulations, and hoping to see you in the Fall,

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grae313
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by grae313 » Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:12 pm

Maxos wrote:on 02/06

Stony Brook wrote: It is a great pleasure to inform you that you have been admitted to the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University. Our written offer will follow, with all the details, by regular mail (with a copy of the letter by email).


According to an agreement between the US graduate schools, you have until April 15, 2009 ( :D :shock: :lol: ), to accept or decline our offer. If you accept, you will be one of the approximately 25 students, selected from more than 400 applicants, to start their Ph.D. studies in our Department in the Fall of 2010.

My sincere congratulations, and hoping to see you in the Fall,
mmmm... copy, paste, all done. damn, that was easy.

Maxos
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by Maxos » Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:39 pm

grae313 wrote: [...]
mmmm... copy, paste, all done. damn, that was easy.
what a pragmatic people!

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notnaps
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by notnaps » Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:35 pm

According to the grad cafe Cornell sent out rejections today? I guess the fact that I haven't gotten one yet is a good sign??

Blarrrggghhh.

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YellowXDart
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by YellowXDart » Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:46 pm

There seems to be a LOT of grad school activity going on today.

matonski
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by matonski » Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:03 pm

Rejected from Cornell. Accepted to UC Davis. Both today 2/09 by email.

astro2009
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by astro2009 » Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:35 pm

accepted to caltech physics by email today (with interest in astrophysics)

ddubs
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by ddubs » Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:44 pm

Harvard applied physics today =)

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noojens
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by noojens » Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:02 pm

Wow, congrats folks - lots of good news today it seems!

campsoup
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by campsoup » Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:15 pm

i got in to caltech today by email : )

Engage
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by Engage » Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:20 pm

campsoup wrote:i got in to caltech today by email : )
Congrats! I got in too, pretty stoked about it!

terrence
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by terrence » Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:24 am

notnaps wrote:According to the grad cafe Cornell sent out rejections today? I guess the fact that I haven't gotten one yet is a good sign??

Blarrrggghhh.
Same here. I don't know how to interpret the fact that I didn't hear anything though.

mobytish
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by mobytish » Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:37 am

Rochester's Optics program just sent out acceptances. I'm in!

Mataka
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by Mataka » Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:01 pm

So according to thegradcafe Harvard and Princeton started to send acceptance letters, any winner around here we should congratulate ?

AO
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by AO » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:19 am

mobytish wrote:Rochester's Optics program just sent out acceptances. I'm in!
I was at the Center for Adaptive Optics Fall retreat this year and there was a large Rochester presence. I was really impressed with their presentations. Congrats!

arieszen
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by arieszen » Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:09 am

has anyone heard from UIUC engg school yet?

terrence
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by terrence » Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:14 am

Mataka wrote:So according to thegradcafe Harvard and Princeton started to send acceptance letters, any winner around here we should congratulate ?
Also, according to the profiles thread, someone has already been waitlisted at Harvard...this could mean
that everybody who hasn't heard yet is already out.

CKtalon
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by CKtalon » Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:23 am

terrence wrote:
Mataka wrote:So according to thegradcafe Harvard and Princeton started to send acceptance letters, any winner around here we should congratulate ?
Also, according to the profiles thread, someone has already been waitlisted at Harvard...this could mean
that everybody who hasn't heard yet is already out.
I have similar sentiments :(

Mataka
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by Mataka » Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:29 am

Man, this application season is so not going how I was hoping it would. I know I can't complain too much because I did get one acceptance, but still, I was hopping to get more than one, and at this point it looks unlikely ...

terrence
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by terrence » Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:37 am

Mataka wrote:Man, this application season is so not going how I was hoping it would. I know I can't complain too much because I did get one acceptance, but still, I was hopping to get more than one, and at this point it looks unlikely ...
I wouldn't be so negative. Even though schools are running earlier than usual this year (I don't really know why),
it's not even mid-February yet...

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grae313
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by grae313 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:25 pm

It's still really early. The bulk of acceptances have most likely not gone out yet. The way you guys are talking would make sense during the last days of February or early March, not early February.

Mataka
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by Mataka » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:28 pm

grae313 wrote:It's still really early. The bulk of acceptances have most likely not gone out yet. The way you guys are talking would make sense during the last days of February or early March, not early February.
Well, like terrence said, it seems schools are running earlier this year ...

terrence
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by terrence » Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:39 am

Rejected from Cornell via email on 02/11. I knew that having a master's wouldn't help
(as it is stated on their website), still I thought I had a reasonable chance. I was wrong :|

newt11
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by newt11 » Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:35 am

Today will be acceptance day for some people :)

Maxos
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by Maxos » Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:30 am

Anything you know that we don't? Perhaps from new jersey?

Mataka
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by Mataka » Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:44 am

terrence wrote:Rejected from Cornell via email on 02/11. I knew that having a master's wouldn't help
(as it is stated on their website), still I thought I had a reasonable chance. I was wrong :|
Sorry to hear that ... about the master's, did you actually read that on their website ? I originally though that having a master's would help quite a bit, but I'm starting to think it may be the opposite ...

delton
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by delton » Fri Feb 12, 2010 11:34 am

terrence wrote:Rejected from Cornell via email on 02/11. I knew that having a master's wouldn't help
(as it is stated on their website), still I thought I had a reasonable chance. I was wrong :|
Yeah, I was rejected from Cornell on 2/09. I'm currently a grad student in my first year (at my undergrad institution) and am looking to transfer. I was told by my advisor that having a year of grad school would be beneficial, but according to Cornell's website its not. I'm kindof annoyed because Cornell was one of my top choices. I'm debating about having my app forwarded to Applied Physics, but I don't think much of the research there interests me.

abcdefg
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by abcdefg » Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:44 pm

delton wrote:I'm debating about having my app forwarded to Applied Physics, but I don't think much of the research there interests me.
I keep hearing about forwarding applications after getting rejected. Can someone please explain this process to me?

meggo
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by meggo » Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:15 pm

abcdefg wrote:
delton wrote:I'm debating about having my app forwarded to Applied Physics, but I don't think much of the research there interests me.
I keep hearing about forwarding applications after getting rejected. Can someone please explain this process to me?
Cornell gives applicants the option to have their application forwarded to another department if their first choice doesn't let them in. I applied for astronomy, but opted to have my application forwarded to Applied & Engineering Physics if I don't get into astro, because the professor I want to work with has a joint appointment in astronomy & applied physics.

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notnaps
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by notnaps » Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:36 pm

Waitlisted at Cornell via e-mail.. Its nice to actually hear from somewhere I guess!

geshi
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by geshi » Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:56 pm

Just got accepted to Ohio State today via email!!! Woot!

delton
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by delton » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:04 pm

meggo wrote: I applied for astronomy, but opted to have my application forwarded to Applied & Engineering Physics if I don't get into astro, because the professor I want to work with has a joint appointment in astronomy & applied physics.
yeah , I decided to have my app forwarded. (note: they gave an option on the application, where I put "Applied Math".. then in the rejection email, they said I could have my app forwarded to any department by replying)

I heard that there is enough flexibility that grad students in Applied Physics can do research with Profs in other departments.

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grae313
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by grae313 » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:10 pm

delton wrote:I heard that there is enough flexibility that grad students in Applied Physics can do research with Profs in other departments.
This is true, we have lots of students in physics groups from AEP and vice versa. You can work for whoever you want as long as they'll take you.

AO
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by AO » Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:22 pm

Just got accepted to the University of Iowa for plasma physics. In they email they said an offer is in the mail and that they will give me $500 towards traveling expenses to come out and visit.

geshi
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by geshi » Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:18 pm

AO wrote:Just got accepted to the University of Iowa for plasma physics. In they email they said an offer is in the mail and that they will give me $500 towards traveling expenses to come out and visit.
Same for me, not plasma though. I didn't specify a research area.

fc_pga
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by fc_pga » Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:45 pm

Rejected from Cornell physics today (Feb 11). The first meaningful response I got thus far.

(This means that my chances for most other schools are slim - one of my recommenders has a 'personal friend' there. I am an international student anyway)

geshi
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by geshi » Sat Feb 13, 2010 12:49 am

fc_pga wrote:Rejected from Cornell physics today (Feb 11). The first meaningful response I got thus far.

(This means that my chances for most other schools are slim - one of my recommenders has a 'personal friend' there. I am an international student anyway)
I was under the impression that most schools hadn't started doing international applicants yet. I could be mistaken though. I know at least some programs send out domestic acceptances first, then they start looking at the internationals.

terrence
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by terrence » Sat Feb 13, 2010 5:45 am

Mataka wrote:
terrence wrote:Rejected from Cornell via email on 02/11. I knew that having a master's wouldn't help
(as it is stated on their website), still I thought I had a reasonable chance. I was wrong :|
Sorry to hear that ... about the master's, did you actually read that on their website ? I originally though that having a master's would help quite a bit, but I'm starting to think it may be the opposite ...
Thank you, looking at the profiles thread it seems to me that this year admission at Cornell was even more competitive than usual: there is someone who has already gotten into both Harvard and Caltech but was rejected from Cornell...
To clarify, Cornell's website explicitly states that admission of students with a master's is 'unusual', as far as I know they are a special case though.

Also, I got into NYU on 02/12.

fc_pga
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by fc_pga » Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:13 am

Is that a domestic student? What is his/her area of specialty?

I was applying to CMT anyway.
terrence wrote:Thank you, looking at the profiles thread it seems to me that this year admission at Cornell was even more competitive than usual: there is someone who has already gotten into both Harvard and Caltech but was rejected from Cornell...
To clarify, Cornell's website explicitly states that admission of students with a master's is 'unusual', as far as I know they are a special case though.

Also, I got into NYU on 02/12.

terrence
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Re: Physics updates/acceptances (2010)

Post by terrence » Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:26 am

fc_pga wrote:Is that a domestic student? What is his/her area of specialty?

I was applying to CMT anyway.
You can find his/her profile in the profiles thread. From what I can remember his/her area of specialization should be CME.



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