Please help me choose where to apply
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 4:45 am
I am from India. I am applying for astrophysics phd.
GRE Physics - 940 (90th percentile)
General GRE - 162+162+4
IELTS - 8.5
CGPA - 8.27/10 from a good university (not an iit)
Research experience - Two summer internships and a project. Did a bit of research by myself after college as well. All related to astronomy/astrophysics. No publications
Work experience - 2 years at ISRO, not related to astronomy or physics
Letters of Recommendation - Decent, I guess.
Other - I good at programming. (does this make a difference?)
My grades in physics courses are mostly As (with one S and few Bs) but grades in astronomy courses are not so good (Bs and Cs), though they are advanced courses. Math grades are not great either.
What are my chances at getting into Caltech/UC-Berkley?
The other universities I am planning to apply are
1. UC-Santa Barbara
2. Penn State University
3. University of Virginia
4. UW-Madison
5. University of Maryland
Is this list reasonable? Should I apply to more/less number of universities? Should I try for more top universities?
GRE Physics - 940 (90th percentile)
General GRE - 162+162+4
IELTS - 8.5
CGPA - 8.27/10 from a good university (not an iit)
Research experience - Two summer internships and a project. Did a bit of research by myself after college as well. All related to astronomy/astrophysics. No publications
Work experience - 2 years at ISRO, not related to astronomy or physics
Letters of Recommendation - Decent, I guess.
Other - I good at programming. (does this make a difference?)
My grades in physics courses are mostly As (with one S and few Bs) but grades in astronomy courses are not so good (Bs and Cs), though they are advanced courses. Math grades are not great either.
What are my chances at getting into Caltech/UC-Berkley?
The other universities I am planning to apply are
1. UC-Santa Barbara
2. Penn State University
3. University of Virginia
4. UW-Madison
5. University of Maryland
Is this list reasonable? Should I apply to more/less number of universities? Should I try for more top universities?