What is a reasonable school for me
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 1:10 pm
I just want an answer as to where I could conceivably be accepted and what schools I should even think about applying to
My adviser is a nice guy but he wont give me hard truths.
currently a junior
Undergrad Institution: Cornell
Major(s): Physics and mathematics
Minor(s): none
GPA in Major: ~3.5 physics, ~3.5 mathematics
Overall GPA: ~3.5
Type of Student: white male
Research:
first summer in Astrophysics lab at another institution (reu)
Most of next summer in condensed matter lab
since then working in high energy lab
Haven't taken GRE or PGRE yet
but I got a 1560 (math and reading) on the sat so I'm usually fine at gaming those kinds of tests
Bonus:
ummm...
currently doing supervised reading in lie theory
planning on taking either grad quantum or grad qft or grad GR next semester
I'm interested in theory in general or high energy physics, but obviously those fields are incredibly competitive
like every official resource for grad school just asks "whats the best fit for you?" "where is the right place for you?"
as if exactly 50 graduating physics students think "you know what, Harvard is the best fit for me" and the absurd amount of competition plays no role
It feels like I'm falling out of a plane with some rope, a pocket knife, and a bed sheet
and in my survival manual under "falling out of an airplane" it just says "wheres the best place for you to fall?" "which place to fall is best fit for you?"
like I gotta *** figure out how to take this *** and turn it into a parachute
I can't think about what *** 'fits' me right now
so yea. Which schools can I apply to without metaphorically slamming into the ground?
My adviser is a nice guy but he wont give me hard truths.
currently a junior
Undergrad Institution: Cornell
Major(s): Physics and mathematics
Minor(s): none
GPA in Major: ~3.5 physics, ~3.5 mathematics
Overall GPA: ~3.5
Type of Student: white male
Research:
first summer in Astrophysics lab at another institution (reu)
Most of next summer in condensed matter lab
since then working in high energy lab
Haven't taken GRE or PGRE yet
but I got a 1560 (math and reading) on the sat so I'm usually fine at gaming those kinds of tests
Bonus:
ummm...
currently doing supervised reading in lie theory
planning on taking either grad quantum or grad qft or grad GR next semester
I'm interested in theory in general or high energy physics, but obviously those fields are incredibly competitive
like every official resource for grad school just asks "whats the best fit for you?" "where is the right place for you?"
as if exactly 50 graduating physics students think "you know what, Harvard is the best fit for me" and the absurd amount of competition plays no role
It feels like I'm falling out of a plane with some rope, a pocket knife, and a bed sheet
and in my survival manual under "falling out of an airplane" it just says "wheres the best place for you to fall?" "which place to fall is best fit for you?"
like I gotta *** figure out how to take this *** and turn it into a parachute
I can't think about what *** 'fits' me right now
so yea. Which schools can I apply to without metaphorically slamming into the ground?