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Physics PhD programs vs Applied Physics PhD programs

Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:49 am
by Mr. Blue
Either there is a very obvious answer to these questions, I can't use the search function correctly, or somehow this topic has not been asked before but does anyone here know the major differences between applying to a physics PhD program versus an applied physics program?

Was planning to apply to several applied physics programs anyway (research related), but after getting my subject gre score back I figure I might apply to a couple more (depending on the answer to one of the questions below).

Basically most of my questions boil down to how the application process and applicant pool differ, but just to summarize the main questions:
*Do pure physics majors face a disadvantage when applying to applied physics phd programs?
*Are applied physics programs more/less competitive than physics programs to get into and is the stuff required (gpa, letters, research, published papers, gre) looked at differently/hold different weight in the application process when compared to physics? (I know this question is a bit confusing, not sure how to phrase it)
*How much weight do they give to the PGRE (or do you need it at all, the requirements page for most of the applied physics/science programs only list general gre and don't mention any subject gres).


And any other information people have about the differences between these two programs would also be helpful.

Thank you.

Re: Physics PhD programs vs Applied Physics PhD programs

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:12 pm
by abattleofwords
Mr. Blue wrote: *Do pure physics majors face a disadvantage when applying to applied physics phd programs?
*Are applied physics programs more/less competitive than physics programs to get into and is the stuff required (gpa, letters, research, published papers, gre) looked at differently/hold different weight in the application process when compared to physics? (I know this question is a bit confusing, not sure how to phrase it)
*How much weight do they give to the PGRE (or do you need it at all, the requirements page for most of the applied physics/science programs only list general gre and don't mention any subject gres).
I have exactly the same questions!

For my field, which is experimental condensed matter, there are professors both in physics and applied physics departments.