Cosmology/HEP-TH Could use some help narrowing down my list
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 3:54 am
I'm having a bit of trouble determining which schools are matches and which are reaches for me. I'd like to focus on early universe/theoretical cosmology/particle physics.
Here is the relevant info about myself...
School: State school not known for research
Major: Physics B.S.
Minors: Math, Astronomy
GPA: 3.86 cumulative, 3.87 in-major, 4.0 math, 4.0 astronomy
General GRE: 167/157/5 for Q/V/AW
Physics GRE: 890 (84%)
Research: Three quarters of research on galaxy clusters/large-scale structure including a summer stipend from my university. No publications. Presented poster at well-known annual astronomy conference.
Here are the grad schools I'm currently considering:
UPenn <-- Probably my first choice
Stanford
CU Boulder
UC Santa Cruz
UC Davis
U British Columbia
UC Santa Barbara
U Washington
Penn State
Carnegie Mellon
Dartmouth
Yale
Boston University
A lot of people may question my Dartmouth choice (I know it isn't great for physics) but I think it's a solid backup for me. I think having Prof. Alexander as an adviser would be a good match for me. Either way, am I overshooting? Also, what are other good safety schools for theoretical cosmology? Thanks in advance!
Here is the relevant info about myself...
School: State school not known for research
Major: Physics B.S.
Minors: Math, Astronomy
GPA: 3.86 cumulative, 3.87 in-major, 4.0 math, 4.0 astronomy
General GRE: 167/157/5 for Q/V/AW
Physics GRE: 890 (84%)
Research: Three quarters of research on galaxy clusters/large-scale structure including a summer stipend from my university. No publications. Presented poster at well-known annual astronomy conference.
Here are the grad schools I'm currently considering:
UPenn <-- Probably my first choice
Stanford
CU Boulder
UC Santa Cruz
UC Davis
U British Columbia
UC Santa Barbara
U Washington
Penn State
Carnegie Mellon
Dartmouth
Yale
Boston University
A lot of people may question my Dartmouth choice (I know it isn't great for physics) but I think it's a solid backup for me. I think having Prof. Alexander as an adviser would be a good match for me. Either way, am I overshooting? Also, what are other good safety schools for theoretical cosmology? Thanks in advance!