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Guidance at my stats

Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 12:20 pm
by online
Hello everyone! I am kinda new to this wonderful forum. Any guidance about what colleges would be suitable for my profile, would be really appreciated. I am interested in pursuing theoretical physics. Quantum gravity, string theory and stuff like that.

[I copied the format seen below from some other post. Thank you kind user! ]

Undergrad Institution: Top private university in India
Degrees: Integrated dual degree program, MSc. Physics + B.E. Chemical Engg.
GPA in Major: ~3.1
Overall GPA: ~3
Length of Degree: 5 years (on going, final year, ends in May 2015)
Type of Student: International

GRE Scores :
Q: 168
V: 162
W: 4.0
P: Not out yet. No idea what it'll be.

TOEFL Total: 117

Research Experience:
- 6 months studies in classical field theory (about to be over)
- Simulation project in charged particle dynamics for a semester
- Course in introductory QFT (Got a 'B+')
- Will be doing a study oriented thesis in Gravitational Waves from Jan 2015 to May 2015

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: School stuff for "academic excellence".

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Taught in remedial classes for 1st year physics students for a semester, Taught mathematics to class 9th school kids for 2 semesters as a part time teacher.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: None as such.

Special Bonus Points: None as such. Was course topper for Numerical Analysis, if it is useful.


I don't think my application is a "strong" one compared to many others I have seen here. But, I'd like a feed back from anyone who can let me know where I stand and which colleges should I apply to? Specifically, which colleges would be considered as "safe" for me (cuz i have no idea)?

Thank you very much.

Re: Guidance at my stats

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 12:43 pm
by PathIntegrals92
You should look at the previous applicant profiles. It's available from 2008-2014. There are several posts from international students applying to hep-th.

It's hard to give you suggestions because your pgre score is not available yet, but if you look through the profiles you'll notice that international students basically need 900+ to get admission ( depending on school).

Your gpa just makes the minimum 3.0 requirement that all U.S graduate schools require.

Hope for the best with pgre!

Good luck!

Re: Guidance at my stats

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 12:55 pm
by Catria
PathIntegrals92 wrote:You should look at the previous applicant profiles. It's available from 2008-2014. There are several posts from international students applying to hep-th.

It's hard to give you suggestions because your pgre score is not available yet, but if you look through the profiles you'll notice that international students basically need 900+ to get admission ( depending on school).

Your gpa just makes the minimum 3.0 requirement that all U.S graduate schools require.

Hope for the best with pgre!

Good luck!
Most profiles with internationals are filled with top-20s so it might not be very helpful for what happens at the bottom of the ladder (Kentucky, W&M, that sort of thing)...

Re: Guidance at my stats

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:41 pm
by PathIntegrals92
[/quote]Most profiles with internationals are filled with top-20s so it might not be very helpful for what happens at the bottom of the ladder (Kentucky, W&M, that sort of thing)...[/quote]

That's true. However, still it's HEP-th. I'm speaking from experience as a domestic student, so it might be tougher for international students. I think you have a chance of getting in somewhere if you apply to a lot of places!

Maybe consider USC, Boston U (depending on pgre), Brandeis U, but there are several others. If you have a high pgre score, apply to a few top 20s/30s too. Just make sure you have very very strong LORs.

USC has a very strong hep-th group despite it not having high US News ranking or w/e. Take those ranking stuff with a grain of salt in my opinion.