Math Subject GRE for Theoretical Physics Application
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:45 pm
Hello All,
I'm a physics/math double major planning on applying to some physics Ph.D programs. Unfortunately my application isn't looking quite as strong as I would like. 3.5ish overall GPA, 3.8ish physics GPA, from a small liberal arts college without a well-known program, decent amount of research with (hopefully) two published papers, decent letters of rec but not from famous people.
However, I am an excellent test taker, and I am pretty sure I will do very well on the general and physics GRE. My question is, would a good math subject GRE be attractive? Particularly for theoretical physics? If I try hard I think I could get >80%. And what about scoring on the Putnam exam? I'm also a member of Pi Mu Epsilon, but I doubt that will mean much.
Also, half of the research I did is in (applied) math. How much less valuable it that? Do letters of rec from math professors mean less?
(And as always, miscellaneous advice is welcome)
Thanks!
I'm a physics/math double major planning on applying to some physics Ph.D programs. Unfortunately my application isn't looking quite as strong as I would like. 3.5ish overall GPA, 3.8ish physics GPA, from a small liberal arts college without a well-known program, decent amount of research with (hopefully) two published papers, decent letters of rec but not from famous people.
However, I am an excellent test taker, and I am pretty sure I will do very well on the general and physics GRE. My question is, would a good math subject GRE be attractive? Particularly for theoretical physics? If I try hard I think I could get >80%. And what about scoring on the Putnam exam? I'm also a member of Pi Mu Epsilon, but I doubt that will mean much.
Also, half of the research I did is in (applied) math. How much less valuable it that? Do letters of rec from math professors mean less?
(And as always, miscellaneous advice is welcome)
Thanks!