Need safety for HEP...

[phy0306]

Hi everyone, it's my first post in this forum! I'm an international student looking for good HEP programs. My ultimate goal is to do HEP theory, but I know it is highly competitive, so I will also go for experiment.

Undergrad Institution: One of the top in Hong Kong
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Mathematics
GPA in Major: ~3.6
Overall GPA: ~3.4
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: top 10-20%
Type of Student: International Male

GRE Scores :
Q: 170
V: 152
W: 3.5
P: 990

TOEFL Total: 103

Research Experience:
- 3 months hep exp at UCB
- 6 months nonlinear optics theory (current)
no publications

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Some exchange research scholarships

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Teaching at high schools and privately tutoring for two years.

Letters of Recommendation: One from my supervisor in LBNL, two from my current supervisors (two professors)

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: No.

Special Bonus Points: Exchange to UCB for a semester? 2 graduate courses?

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: No I guess.

Applying to Where:

All for HEP
Harvard
Princeton
UC Berkeley
UChicago
Columbia
UMichigan
Yale
UPenn
Wisconsin-Madison
Penn State
UC Davis
Rutgers

1. How strong is my application? Do I stand a good chance for an offer?
2. What schools should I add or drop?
3. While theory is highly competitive, should I indicate both th and exp as my research interests? Or just exp?
4. Is it possible to change subfield or even department in graduate schools?

Really need advice!!!! Please help!!!!

[phy0306]

Can someone help???

[PathIntegrals92]

You can check out Case Western, University of Kentucky, USC, Stony Brook for hep-th!

If you really want to do Hep-th, putting down hep-ex with the intention of switching might not actually work. It all depends on funding.

On the other hand, putting down hep-th does not mean you will get to do that either.


If I were you, I would indicate an interest in both.