Switching from Engineering to Physics for my MS
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:38 pm
Hi!
I'm an Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) student from Kolkata, India... However, it was never really by choice that I took up ECE. I always wanted to pursue Physics, having applied to the US for my undergrad education. My aid requirements were high and I saw myself get out on the wait list at a bunch of top Liberal Arts Colleges and one of the top Universities. That aside, as pretty much a desperation measure I had to get into ECE, which according to some Professors would make it relatively less difficult to return to Physics from.
I understand that I have to cover Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Optics and Wave Phenomena, Thermodynamics, Relativity and Modern Physics (Quantum, Nuclear&Atomic). While, obviously, at least 40% of this isn't covered as part of my college course.. I am studying on my own. In addition, I have just come off the back of a 2 month Summer Project with some members of the ALICE team to CERN (from India). My work was in High Energy Physics, and I'm in the process of working on a paper in the field, as a co-author, for publication. I will, of course, look to get some summer internships abroad over the next two summers. .
I am in my second year of college now and will look to go abroad, Europe or the US, for my Masters and/or PhD. in Physics. How feasible is this, if I have high aid requirements, and am looking to get into a top 50 institution? Is there any advice you guys can give me regarding how I should prepare, generally as well as specifically for the Physics GRE? What kind of a GPA am I expected to maintain, and what sort of TOEFL, GRE and GRE Physics scores am I expected to have? I'm looking to move into High Energy Physics or Astrophysics in the future.
How important are summer projects and/or papers going to be, in my applications? Should I apply for standalone MS programs or MS-PhD programs? Which would make it easier to get aid?
Apologies for the terribly long question... I look forward to any advice you guys can give me!
Thank you, in advance!
I'm an Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) student from Kolkata, India... However, it was never really by choice that I took up ECE. I always wanted to pursue Physics, having applied to the US for my undergrad education. My aid requirements were high and I saw myself get out on the wait list at a bunch of top Liberal Arts Colleges and one of the top Universities. That aside, as pretty much a desperation measure I had to get into ECE, which according to some Professors would make it relatively less difficult to return to Physics from.
I understand that I have to cover Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Optics and Wave Phenomena, Thermodynamics, Relativity and Modern Physics (Quantum, Nuclear&Atomic). While, obviously, at least 40% of this isn't covered as part of my college course.. I am studying on my own. In addition, I have just come off the back of a 2 month Summer Project with some members of the ALICE team to CERN (from India). My work was in High Energy Physics, and I'm in the process of working on a paper in the field, as a co-author, for publication. I will, of course, look to get some summer internships abroad over the next two summers. .
I am in my second year of college now and will look to go abroad, Europe or the US, for my Masters and/or PhD. in Physics. How feasible is this, if I have high aid requirements, and am looking to get into a top 50 institution? Is there any advice you guys can give me regarding how I should prepare, generally as well as specifically for the Physics GRE? What kind of a GPA am I expected to maintain, and what sort of TOEFL, GRE and GRE Physics scores am I expected to have? I'm looking to move into High Energy Physics or Astrophysics in the future.
How important are summer projects and/or papers going to be, in my applications? Should I apply for standalone MS programs or MS-PhD programs? Which would make it easier to get aid?
Apologies for the terribly long question... I look forward to any advice you guys can give me!
Thank you, in advance!