==> Sticky: 2009 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

Ok, so by Helio's request I am starting a profile thread.
Please, everybody who has their PGRE scores out and has already made up their mind where to apply post their profile.

For dates and information on Fall 2009 Open House see [here].

Here is the template:

______________________________________________
[b]Undergrad Institution:[/b] (School or type of school, such as big state, lib arts, ivy, technical, foreign (what country?)... Overall Reputation in Physics?)
[b]Major(s):[/b]
[b]Minor(s):[/b]
[b]GPA in Major:[/b]
[b]Overall GPA:[/b]
[b]Length of Degree:[/b] (Are you graduating after 3, 4, or 5 years?)
[b]Position in Class:[/b] (No numbers needed, but are you top? near top? average? struggling?)
[b]Type of Student:[/b] (Domestic/International, male/female, minority?)

[b]GRE Scores:[/b]
[b]Q:[/b]
[b]V:[/b]
[b]W:[/b]
[b]P:[/b]


[b]TOEFL Total:[/b] (if applicable, otherwise delete this)

[b]Research Experience:[/b] (At your school or elsewhere? What field? How much time? Any publications (Mth author out of N?) or conference talks etc...)

[b]Awards/Honors/Recognitions:[/b] (Within your school or outside?)

[b]Pertinent Activities or Jobs:[/b] (Such as tutor, TA, SPS officer etc...)

[b]Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:[/b]

[b]Special Bonus Points:[/b] (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...)

[b]Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:[/b]

[b]Applying to Where:[/b]

[u]School[/u] - Department - Research Interest
[u]School[/u] - Department - Research Interest
[u]School[/u] - Department - Research Interest
______________________________________________

[Copy and paste the above to keep the formatting. -grae313]
[Stickied - grae313]

I will be the first one to add my profile:

Undergrad Institution: Small liberal arts college, top 15, strong but small physics program, so not largely known
Major(s): Physics/Math
GPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 3.99
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: 4/732
Type of Student: International - Eastern European, but studying in the US

GRE Scores:
Math: 800
Verbal: 650
Writing: 4.5
P: 930 - 91st %


Research Experience: 1 year optics research resulted in a minor publication. 2 years of Low-temperature Physics research - one conference, hopefully will result in a major publication in the near future.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
Bronze Medal on the International Physics Olympiad after my senior year in high school.
Award for the best student in the intro Physics classes in my school
among the top 200 students in the Putnam Math Exam

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
TA-ing and Grading for the past 2 years
Vice-president of my SPS chapter


Applying to Where:

MIT - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Rejected, mail, 3/1
UIUC - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Accepted, email, 2/18, 1yr fellowship ~20k -- declined
Cornell - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Accepted, 2 1yr fellowships ~21k and 25k, letter 2/6 -- ATTENDING!
Columbia - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Rejected, email inquiry 3/3
U Chicago - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Rejected, email inquiry 3/3
Yale - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Rejected, website 2/11
Brown - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Accepted, fellowship, email 2/17-- declined
JHU - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Accepted, email 2/2-- declined
Rutgers - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Accepted, email 2/20, 24k TA-- declined
Stony Brook - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory -- declined
UW-Madison - Physics - Condensed Matter Theory - Accepted, email 1/30, 20k TA-- declined
______________________________________________

Undergrad Institution: very small school in Canada
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): none
GPA in Major: 4.0
Overall GPA: 4.0
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: 1 (this sounds more impressive than it is, this is a small school)
Type of Student: international white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 620 (89%)
W: 3.5 (19%)
P: 950 (93%)

Research Experience: 2 NSERC USRAs (both at my undergrad institution), 1 in computational biophysics, and 1 in theoretic group methods

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Several in-school awards/scholarships, and the NSERC USRAs

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: marked for a couple of my profs, also taught a tutorial for one class

Special Bonus Points: I'm taking a grad classic mech course

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:


Applying to Where:

CalTech - Physics - Experimental Quantum Optics - Rejected Feb 27 by email
MIT - Physics - Experimental Atomic Physics
Harvard - Physics - Exerimental Atomic Physics
University of Toronto - Physics - Experimental Quantum Optics - Accepted
University of Calgary - Physics - Experimental Quantum optics
Max Planck Institute in Erlangen, Division 1 - (physics) - Experimental Quantum Optics

Undergrad Institution: Average Canadian University
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.96
Overall GPA: 3.95
Length of Degree: 5 years
Position in Class: First

GRE Scores:
Q: 790 (92%)
V: 520 (66%)
W: 5.0 (77%)
P: 900 (87%)

Research Experience:
2 years full-time research (without taking courses at the same time) in 6 research groups in various fields, all related to physics or math.
8 months part time (senior project during school term)
1 paper published (5 of 7) in unrelated physics field
2 papers under review (big 1 of 2 in hep-th and small 1 of 1 in non-physics field)
2 conference posters
2 conference presentations

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
Award for top gpa
2 national research awards (USRA)
Various awards / scholarships for academic record

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
TA (teaching turotials 6h/week and grading)

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
2 very well-known recommenders
3 grad QM classes

Special Bonus Points:
1 recommender published papers with 2 of the supervisors I am applying to work with

Applying to Where: (all in hep-th / gravity)
Harvard - Physics - hep-th Rejected after email inquiry (25/2)
Penn State - Physics - hep-th Accepted by email (18/2), 25.5k[Declined]
Stanford - Physics - hep-th Rejected by email (26/2)
Princeton - Physics - hep-th Rejected by email (26/2)
UCSB - Physics - hep-th Waitlisted pending external funding, by email inquiry (9/3)
UC Riverside - Math - Applied Math Waitlisted, by email inquiry (11/3)
Maryland - Physics - hep-th Accepted by email (6/3)[Declined]
Chicago - Physics - hep-th Rejected by mail (10/3)
Waterloo - Physics - hep-th Accepted by email (15/1)[Declined]
Alberta - Physics - hep-th Accepted by email, 39.5k (3/2) [Declined]
Perimeter Scholars - Physics - hep-th Accepted by email (3/19) [Will Attend]

Thanks you guys listen to me more than the people I work with... and reading the three above just makes me feel like an idiot btw... wuhu

Undergrad Institution: Everybody knows by now I think - somewhere around 40 in physics
Major(s): Physics, Mathematical Economics
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 3.75
Overall GPA: 3.73
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: 2 out of 4 (i know pathetic class size)
Type of Student: International, male, a piece of paper is about the right shade

GRE Scores:
Q: 770
V: 480
W: 4.0
P: 700 <--- I know I know I suck at standardized test


Research Experience:
1. 3 years in Solar physics - MDI, MWO, the works
2. 1 Summer in condensed matter
3. 1 Summer non-accelerator HEP in Germany

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: The usual Dean's List Blah blah

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: SPS VP

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
Took over Ph.D. thesis from grad student and basically had to run with it. Got "help" by 2 other undergrads. Right now teaching the new grad student

Special Bonus Points:
Solar physics: Connections to Stanford (working with their cluster and software, visit to group, know professor), Boulder (worked with their software), Yale (worked with their software)
Non-accelerator HEP: Connections to UWash, very similar project
2 recs that basically say that I am one of the most experienced people they have ever had and would have hired me as an observer

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:


Applying to Where:

Stanford* - Physics - REJECTED - via email 02/26
Boulder* - APS - REJECTED - via snail mail (hand signed impressive) 02/28
USC* - Physics - ACCEPTED via admissions chair - Declined
Yale* - Astronomy - REJECTED via email/status page 02/05
UIUC - Physics - DES - REJECTED - via email 03/25
JHU - Physics - SDSS - WAITLIST/REJECTED - via email 03/25 after inquiry via phone
UCLA - Physics - Stellar Astronomy - REJECTED - via email to online portal 03/20
NYU - Physics - SDSS - REJECTED - via email 04/02
UT - Astronomy - Stellar Atmosphere - ACCEPTED via email 01/21 - $22k RA/TAship - Declined
UWisc - Physics - IceCube/Cuore - ACCEPTED via email 01/30 - same numbers at last year, nothing definitive - ACCEPTED OFFER
UWash - Physics - KATRIN/Majorana - REJECTED - 04/08 email - only took since 10/27/08
OSU - Physics - Pierre Auger - WAITLISTED called 03/25
Penn State - Astronomy - IceCube/AMANDA - ACCEPTED via phone/email 16k TA (9 months) + 5.3k (summer) + 4k (fellowship) = 25.4k - Declined
UHawaii - Astronomy - Solar Astronomy -WAITLISTED email 02/16 - REJECTED on Apr 14, 2009 at 5:21 PM PST via email - honestly? it tool you THAT long to tell me

*Solar Physics

Undergrad Institution: US Liberal Arts, prestigious in general (top 10) but not particularly in physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math, Computer Science
GPA in Major: 3.89
Overall GPA: 3.72
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Near top (or top maybe, I don't know) of physics majors, not amazing overall (top third or so)
Type of Student: Bland domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 620 (89%)
W: 4.5 (58%)
P: 910 (88%)

Research Experience: Two REUs, and two research projects at my school. One article in press with me as bajillionth author, one first author paper submitted. Two other first author papers 'in preparation', and 3 papers with me as author 4-5 or so also 'in preparation'. My name has been on several conference posters (but mostly way far down the author list), and I presented one at APS.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: School departmental physics awards, our equivalent of the Dean's List, Sigma Xi.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for 2 lab classes

Special Bonus Points: Connections to UCLA and Berkeley through research. I think two letters of rec should be very positive, and I have two others that should be good (one from each research adviser).

Applying to Where:
I'm not entirely sure what I want to do - either AMO or plasma experiment, but I'm leaning towards plasma. I've worked on research projects involving both, so I can sell myself as either at the moment.
MIT - Physics - Plasma experimental - Accepted 2/17 by mail, ABB-MIT fellowship (21k/9mo for the first year). [Will attend]
Princeton - Plasma Physics - Plasma experimental - Interviews 1/30, 2/9. Accepted 2/24 by e-mail (22k/9mo fellowship + 8k summer RA). [declined]
Berkeley - Physics - Plasma/AMO experimental - Accepted 2/20 by e-mail (26k TA/RA + 2k fellowship). [declined]
Maryland - Physics - Plasma/AMO experimental - Accepted 2/27 by e-mail (30k JQI Fellowship). [declined]
UCLA - Physics - Plasma experimental - Accepted 2/20 by e-mail, (20k/9mo fellowship + option to TA/RA). [declined]
Wisconsin - Physics - Plasma experimental - Accepted 1/30 by e-mail (17.5k TA/RA + 1k fellowship) [declined]
Harvard - Physics - AMO experimental - Rejected 2/24 after I asked via e-mail.
Stanford - Physics - AMO experimental - Accepted 2/27 by e-mail (32k TA/RA). [declined]
Caltech - Physics - AMO experimental - Accepted 2/11 by e-mail (26k RA). [declined]
Boulder - Physics - AMO experimental - Accepted 2/20 by e-mail (~20k TA/RA + 10k 'signing bonus' fellowship). [declined]

Screw you Harvard, almost a clean sweep. I was definitely not expecting this...

Fellowships:
NSF - Limbo, then awarded 5/18.
NDSEG - Rejected 3/31 by e-mail.
DOE NNSA SSGF - Awarded 4/8 by e-mail. [Accepted fellowship.]

Undergrad Institution: Big public school in US, top 30-40 for physics
Major(s): Engineering Physics, Mathematics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: ~3.7 in physics/engineering related
Overall GPA: ~3.6
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: no idea... higher up there than most
Type of Student: Domestic, white

GRE Scores:
Q: 770 (88%)
V: 400 (33%)
W: 4.0 (37%)
P: 700 club

Research Experience:
1. 1 year at NASA Space grant: presented at university
2. 1 summer REU: presented at lab + poster
3. 1 month study abroad experience in Italy, working at national lab
4. 1 semester Independent study working on relativistic quantum (Klein-Gordon, Dirac, etc.)
5. 1 summer McNair research with NMR: presented at Berkeley + poster + presented at local school
6. 1 year Honors thesis: Fermions in strong gravitational fields (cosmology related)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
McNair scholar, honors awards, etc.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
Physics Grader

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
World record with a hobby of mine, involving puzzle solving

Special Bonus Points:
General Relativity, first generation college kid (McNair)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

UCLA - Physics PhD-Rejected (March 11, 09) [Email/website]
UCSD - Physics PhD- Rejected (March 16, 09) [Email/Website]
UCSB - Physics PhD- Rejected (March 4, 09) [Website]
UC Berkeley - Physics PhD- Rejected (March 9, 09) [Phone inquiry]
Boston U - Physics PhD- Rejected (April 2, 09) [Phone inquiry]
Brown - Physics PhD- Rejected (March 6, 09) [Phone inquiry]
UPenn - Physics PhD- Rejected (March 26, 09) [Phone inquiry]
NYU - Physics PhD- Rejected (April 2, 09) [Email]
Caltech - Applied Physics PhD- Rejected (April 1, 09) [Email]
Harvard - Applied Physics PhD- Rejected (March 21, 09) [Snail Mail]
Columbia - Applied Physics PhD- Rejected (March 16, 09) [Email/Website]
Yale - Applied Physics PhD- Rejected (February 24, 09) [Email/Website]
Stanford - Applied Physics PhD- Rejected (March 3, 09) [Email] (Application transferred to Masters of iCME)
Cornell - Applied Physics PhD- Rejected (March 5, 09) [Email] (Application transferred to Masters of EngPhys)

U of Arizona - Applied Mathematics PhD- Accepted, 20k + 1 year 10k Fellowship (March 17, 09) [Email] - Declined offer
Cornell - Engineering Physics MEng - Accepted (March 9, 09) [Email] - Declined offer
Stanford - Computational & Mathematical Engineering MS/PhD - Accepted (April 6, 09) - Accepted offer and will attend

Undergrad Institution: An ordinary engineering college in India; No reputation whatsoever in Physics
Major(s):Electrical Engineering
Minor(s):We don't have that concept
GPA in Major: Do not know GPA, but it is 61 percentage total marks; i.e. called First Class in our university.
Overall GPA:
Length of Degree: 4 Years
Position in Class: Struggling for first two years. More than average for last two years.
Type of Student: International Male [Indian]

GRE Scores:
Q:780 [90 percentile]
V:540 [71 percentile] Phew!!
W:4.0 [37 percentile]
P:940 [92 percentile]
TOEFL Total: 106

Research Experience:
More than 2 years of R&D work in embedded systems, device drivers, wireless sensor networks..but sadly nothing in physics

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Nopes

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Lot of backlogs..

Applying to Where:
Applying for HEP experiment, phenomenology and computational physics..

Rochester - Physics - HEP Exp/Phenomenology - Accepted - Email - 02/20/2009 - $17,640 TA for 9 months & RA for summer - Offer Declined - 4/14/2009
Texas A&M University - Physics - HEP Exp - Accepted - Email - 02/28/2009 - $1850/month TA/RA - Offer Accepted & Attending - 4/14/2009
Pittsburgh - Physics - HEP Exp/Comp. Physics - Accepted - Email - 02/16/2009 - $22,597 TA - Offer Declined - 4/10/2009
Syracuse University- Physics - HEP Exp/Comp. Physics - Accepted - Email - 02/26/2009 - $19,500 TA - Offer Declined - 3/31/2009
Brandeis- Physics - HEP Exp - Accepted - Email - 02/06/2009 - $23,100 TA - Offer Declined - 4/9/2009

Waterloo- Physics - Quantum Foundation/Theoretical Physics - 02/24/2009 - Preliminary Approval by Admissions Committee - Now to search a supervisor


Hawaii- Physics - HEP Exp - Wait listed - phoned on 3/4/2009 {An email after the deadline asking whether I am still interested in receiving assistantship - 4/17/2009 - Declined the same day}
University of Florida - Physics - HEP Exp - Wait listed - email on 4/10/2009

Purdue - Physics - HEP Exp - No response ever.

Washington University in St.Louis- Physics - Comp. Physics - Application Withdrawn - 4/11/2009
Buffalo SUNY- Physics - HEP Exp/Cosmology - Application Withdrawn - 4/1/2009

University of Southern California- Physics - Theoretical Physics - Rejected Again - email - 4/14/2009 [earlier rejected on 3/25/2009]
Perimeter Institute (PSI)- Physics - Theory - Rejected - emailed on 04/06/2009
Boston - Physics - HEP Exp - Rejected - emailed on 3/31/2009
Rutgers - Physics - HEP Exp - Rejected - Thru Online Status - 03/28/2009
Stony Brooks - Physics - HEP Exp - Rejected - email - 3/25/2009
Virginia Tech- Physics - HEP - Rejected - Thru Online Status - 02/16/2009

Undergrad Institution: University of Valencia, Spain. Probably top-5 (not so many in Spain). Big center of Particle Physics nearby.
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.84 (9.72)
Overall GPA:
Length of Degree: 5 years.
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: International male -European.

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 480 (55%)
W: 5.0 (77%)
P: 990 (96%)

TOEFL Total: 110
IELTS Total: 7.5

Research Experience:
- 1 year computational optics, soliton physics.
- 1 semester experimental thermodynamics.
- 3rd year project at Imperial College. 1 year, QFT and Lattice QFT.
- 2 months summer program in Germany. Lattice QCD.
- Currently working in Lattice QCD.
No publications so far.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
Honourable mention at International Physics Olympiad 2004.
Honourable mention International Mathematical Competition 2007-2008.
Bronze medal at OIMU (Spanish speaking countries putnam version) 2006.
"La Caixa" Fellowship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
Private tutor for 3 years, several undergrad courses.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:
"La Caixa" Fellow: tuition fee + 27k for the first two years.
Recomenders from 3 different countries. Two with big connections to Mit and Harvard. Specially one was Junior Fellowship at Harvard.
Grad courses: General relativity, Advanced QM, QFT, Elementary particles, Advanced Math, Advanced Classical Mechanics. All grad level.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

MIT - Physics - HEP theory Accepted / phone call 02/09 (extra 250 dollars, total 2350/month with La Caixa fellowship Attending
Harvard - Physics - HEP theory Rejected / email 02/23 answer to an inquiry for open house information
Stanford - Physics - HEP theory Rejected / email 02/26
Caltech - Physics - HEP theory Accepted /email 02/11 (financial info next week) Declined
Princeton - Physics - HEP theory Rejected / email 02/26
UCSD - Physics - HEP theory HEP theory Rejected / email 03/14
Columbia - Physics - HEP theory Accepted / snail mail 02/23 (Faculty fellowship, extra 9000$ the firsts years, at least 30000 the last three) Declined
UW Seattle - Physics - HEP theory Withdrawn, 02/09

Undergrad Institution: Liberal Arts College with no physics reputation but wonderful professors!
Major(s): Physics, Mathematics
Minor(s): n/a
GPA in Major: 3.97
Overall GPA: 3.93
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 790 / 92%
V: 670 / 95%
W: 6.0 / 96%
P: 980 / 95% (got a 780 / 72% when I took it last year)

TOEFL Total:

Research Experience:A summer of work in Quantum optics at a big state school. Summer REU at CERN. A nine month research fellowship at CERN. One publication in which I am just one author among many. Gave talk at a regional conference on my HEP research. Co-presented a talk on computational physics with our Physics department head.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Pi Sigma, National Merit Scholar, Dean's List, physics excellence award from my department, school-wide award for potential in graduate school, Fulbright fellowship.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for two years in general physics and physics tutor. Worked in software development for a consulting firm. SPS President.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I graduated from college two years early, but I don't know if that helps or not.

Special Bonus Points: Not really...

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Took PGRE last year with minimal studying and scored 780 / 72%

Applying to Where:

Chicago - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/27 by email. TA -- Offer Declined.
Princeton - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/25 by email. Standard 1 yr Fellowship + TA -- Offer Declined.
Cornell - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/4 by snail-mail. TA + 1 yr Fellowship. -- Offer Declined.
Michigan - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/24 by email. TA + Fellowship. -- Offer Declined.
Harvard - Physics - HEP Experiment - Waitlisted 2/20 by email. Accepted 4/15 by phone call. 1 yr Fellowship + TA/RA. -- Offer Accepted.
Stanford - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/27 by email. TA/RA -- Offer Declined.
MIT - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted unofficially 2/6 by email from admissions committee member, official acceptance came in the mail later. 1 yr Fellowship -- Offer Declined.
Berkeley - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted unofficially 2/21 by email, official email came later. TA + Fellowship -- Offer Declined.
Penn State - Physics - HEP Experiment - Accepted 2/24 by email. Fellowship. -- Offer Declined.
Oxford - Physics - HEP Experiment - Invited for an interview 2/10 by email. Conditionally accepted (based on funding) 2/22 by email. Awarded Clarendon Scholarship 2/26 by email (full tuiton+fees and a stipend) -- Offer Declined

Fellowships:
NDSEG - Physics - HEP Experiment - Rejected by email 3/31

Verdict: I was very torn between Berkeley, Stanford, and Harvard. In the end I just flipped coins to decide.

Undergrad Institution: Smaller Liberal Arts University. No real physics reputation.
Major(s):Physics
Minor(s):Mathematics
GPA in Major:3.96
Overall GPA:3.96
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Top in my department. In the top 5% over the whole senior class.
Type of Student: White Domestic Male

GRE Scores:
Q:730 (79%)
V:560 (77%)
W:4.0 (37%)
P:820 (77%)

Research Experience:

2 REU's at state school in top 50 for physics- Condensed Matter Experiment
Worked with the same professor both times. Getting a letter from him.

2 years of research at home institution-Condensed matter Theory. 1 (possibly 2) conference presentations. Listed as 3rd author out of 4 on abstract. Possibly a journal article but not before apps are due. I would be third author on this article as well.

Senior Research Project in scanning probe microscopy.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

Half Tuition Scholarship (In school)
Goldwater Nominee (did not win)
2nd Place at IEEE SAC conference in the hardware competition
Sigma Pi Sigma
One general (i.e. non physics) honor society.
Dean's List
Will get award for highest GPA for a Physics Major.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

Physics Tutor for 3 years- tutored individually and managed group sessions
Past SPS President and VP
One of the organizers and judges for a Local High School Physics Competition.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

I built an STM from scratch for my senior project. I mentioned this in my SOP and applications where possible.

Special Bonus Points:

I think my letters from professors at home will be spectacular. The REU letter will also be great. Also, one of my letter writers is a Harvard Alum. Another has advised MIT PhD candidates.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Hopefully my respectful (I won't say great since I think it could be better) PGRE score will make my lower than average QGRE score meaningless.

Applying to Where:

Harvard - Physics- Condensed Matter Experiment- REJECTED 3/9 by snail mail
MIT- Physics- Condensed Matter Experiment - REJECTED 2/28 by snail mail
U Penn -Physics- Condensed Matter Experiment - REJECTED 3/30 by online status check
Cornell-Physics- Condensed Matter Experiment - REJECTED 2/24 by email
Chicago-Physics- Condensed Matter Experiment- REJECTED 3/7 by snail mail
Boston U-Physics- Condensed Matter Experiment -ACCEPTED by email 2/10 w/ 12 month TA-$27,300 Will Attend!
Pittsburgh-Physics- Condensed Matter Experiment - ACCEPTED by email 2/10 w/ 12 month TA-$22,597Declining Offer
Penn State-Physics- Condensed Matter Experiment-ACCEPTED by email 2/18 w/ 12 month TA-$23,705 Declining Offer
Boston College-Physics- Condensed Matter Experiment- Invited for Interview Declined interview and withdrew application
Northwestern-Physics-Condensed Matter Experiment - Decided not to apply.

And Boston it is...

Undergrad Institution: Small liberal arts school in New York. Known better for physics 40 years ago. Strong math department. Small class sizes.
Major(s): Physics and Mathematics
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: Physics: 3.55, Math: 3.36
Overall GPA: 3.39
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Top fifth
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 740
V: 560
W: 5
P: Really, really bad...

Research Experience: Independent projects since sophomore year. Physics REU at SUNY Stony Brook in summer of 2008 (theoretical solid state -- heat conduction in molecular dynamics). Senior research in thin film hydrogen absorption (abstract submitted by advisor for presentation at 2009 APS March Meeting -- I am listed as the second author).

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Sigma Pi Sigma, Pi Mu Epsilon, 2008 Mary Reklis Award for Physics (college honor).

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Graded algebra based intro physics homework sophomore year. Teaching assistant for calculus based intro physics recitation sessions since sophomore year. Last year and this year I am tutoring/TAing for both algebra based and calculus based intro courses. Also work as a one-on-one tutor, as well as an "on-call" type tutor for math and physics at a help center on campus (since junior year). Have also had other jobs including telemarketing for university donations and at a computer tech support center.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Nothing really that I haven't already included.

Special Bonus Points: Probably only that my advisor for senior research has been very active with publications/collaborations lately. Also applying to a lot of the universities those who are writing recommendation letters attended. One of the professors writing me a letter of recommendation just published a textbook in linear algebra that is getting a good reception. It is already being adopted at quite a few colleges in the US.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: My general chemistry grades might not be so good, considering I want to get into experimental condensed matter.

Applying to Where:

SUNY Stony Brook - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment
University of Minnesota - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment Rejected 02/18/2009 by e-mail
Ohio State University - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment
Georgia Tech - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment Rejected 03/03/2009 by e-mail
University of Rochester - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment Rejected 03/06/2009 by e-mail
Northern Illinois University - Physics - Condensed Matter Experiment Accepted 02/26/2009 with ~$15k/10 months TA.

I guess the GRE really is important.

Undergrad Institution: Top 5 public U in the US
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.8
Overall GPA: 3.8
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Top 5%?
Type of Student: Overrepresented Majority

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 610 (87%)
W: 5 (77%)
P: 810 (75%)

Research Experience: 3+ years research with one group, two papers and three SURFs associated. Extra BME SURF. Extensive fab experience. Also did something nifty in math.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Undergrad scholarship, gap year scholarship, research award, two named SURFs.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Research.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Will have taken six graduate physics courses by graduation (and hopefully smoked them), excessive amount of credit hours.

Special Bonus Points: Strong recommendations, charm?

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where (Significant other status)

Cornell - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Accepted via thick envelope 5 February with 1 year fellowship (Accepted) (Will enroll)

Harvard - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Accepted via email 20 February, all first-years get fellowship (Accepted with fellowship, but her program sounds awful) (Declined)
U Washington - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Accepted via email 17 January with small fellowship (Accepted with fellowship) (Declined)
CU Boulder - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Accepted via email 20 February with standard TA or possible RA and small signing bonus (Accepted)(Declined)
UC Berkeley - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Accepted via email 2 March with standard TA, summer work and 2k bonus (Accepted with RA) (Declined)
UIUC - Physics - Solid State Experiment -Rejected via email 25 March (Accepted with fellowship)
UC Davis - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Accepted via email 6 February with 1/2 TA and fellowship (Accepted with fellowship) (Declined)
MIT - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Rejected via thin envelope 2 March (700 applicants for 40 slots) (Not accepted)
MIT - EECS - Solid State Experiment - Rejected via status page at an unknown date
Stanford - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Rejected via email 26 February (Accepted)
UCSB - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Decided not to apply
UC Irvine - Physics - Solid State Experiment - Decided not to apply

Good luck!

Undergrad Institution: Top 25 in Physics
Major(s): Physics, Applied Math, Astronomy
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.367 Physics, 3.391 Astronomy, 3.625 Applied Math
Overall GPA: 3.636
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Top 20% in whole University
Type of Student: white male, domestic

GRE Scores:
Q: 750 (83%)
V: 620 (89%)
W: 4.5 (58%)
P: 810 (75%)


Research Experience: 1 Year (still in progress) Theoretical Plasma Physics. APS poster co-author. Senior Thesis searching for rare decays at CDF.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: university scholarship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: math tutor through university

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: 2 very good letters I think.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I play in a semi-popular local rock band?

Applying to Where:

McGill - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 2/13 Letter
UC Davis - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 2/06 Email
UCLA - Physics - HEP Experiment Rejected 3/21 Online Status Page
UCSD - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 1/26 Phone Call
Johns Hopkins - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 2/02 Email
Boston U. - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 2/13 Email
NYU - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 2/13 Email
U. Colorado - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 3/2 Email
U. Washington - Physics - HEP Experiment
Brandeis - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 2/06 Email
U. Florida - Physics - HEP Experiment Accepted 1/23 Email
______________________________________________

Undergrad Institution: Top 10 in physics
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): none
GPA in Major: 3.8
Overall GPA: 3.8
Length of Degree: 6 years (3 community college + 3 at the university)
Position in Class: who knows?
Type of Student: domestic white female

GRE Scores:
Q: 790 (92%)
V: 530 (68%)
W: 4.0 (37%)
P: 790 (73%)


Research Experience:
- one year work with prof 10hrs/wk - HEP Experiment
- 2 SULIs again in HEP experiment
- currently holding a year long full time position at a national lab working on one of the experiments at LHC

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: couple departmental awards

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for a semester, tutor for a year but that was in community college, grader in another semester.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: nope

Special Bonus Points: all my recommenders are well known within their field, I have taken 3 of extra physics classes including one grad course (but got a B so that might actually hurt... ), I have 4 recommendation letters

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where: all HEP experimental, I was specific about my interests in my SoP

Berkeley - Accepted - E-mail 02/20
Chicago - Rejected - E-mail response to inquiry.
Columbia - Accepted - E-mail 02/17
U Penn - Accepted - Phone call 02/06 - Offer Declined 02/26
U Washington - Accepted - E-mail 01/28
Stony Brook - Application withdrawn 02/19
UCSC - Application withdrawn 02/09

Harvard - Rejected - E-mail response to inquiry. I am not surprised at all. I have my $100-worth proof that they don't accept you just cause you are a female as some people have implied. Now, I can fully rejoice in my acceptances and in the years to come I will continue demonstrating that they are well justified.

Undergrad Institution: average institute of technology, decent astrophysics program, not much else
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.6
Overall GPA: 3.6
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Near top
Type of Student: Average domestic male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 610
W: 5.0
P: 680


Research Experience: 3 summers at Los Alamos Lab, mostly nuclear engineering research. 2 posters, experience designing my own experiments, running them and writing a report on results, but for group and unpublished. posters presented at summer student symposium.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Sigma Pi Sigma, school scholarship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Grader for ODEs, Physics II

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Studied in England for a semester

Special Bonus Points: None

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

Cornell - Applied Physics - CME Rejected 3/5 by email
Berkeley - Physics- CME Rejected 3/16 by email
UCSB - Physics- CME Decided not to apply
UCSC - Physics - CME Rejected 3/5 by email
Boulder - Physics- CME Rejected 3/10 by email
UWash - Physics- CME Rejected 4/7 by email
UOregon - Physics - CME waitlisted 3/12 then rejected 4/15
Colorado School of Mines - Physics- CME waitlisted
UDelaware - Physics- CME Accepted!!! 1/9 by email with $30k IGERT PV fellowship

Things didn't work out quite as hoped, with only one acceptance and a lot of money wasted on rejections. I think I aimed too high, got bad GRE scores (I was expecting at least 800) and had a tough year. For future applicants I recommend taking the GRE early so you will have time to retake, or at least some indication of where you can get in. Also be careful deciding on safety schools, I thought mines, oregon and del would all be safe and I would probably get into UCSC. Turns out I only got into del, which has good research in what I want to do (PV) but weak in overall physics. Good luck to all future applicants!

Undergrad Institution: big private school, ranked 40-60 in physics
Major: Physics
GPA in Major: 3.83
Overall GPA: 3.77
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: whitebread male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94)
V: 780 (99)
W: 5.5 (90)
P: 900 (87)

Research Experience: One REU in computational non-linear dynamics -- presenting at March APS meeting, will be publishing as first author but not published yet. Started working this year in computational cosmology at my institution.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: scholarship for physics excellence from school, another big generic scholarship from school, Dean's List.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for gen phys II, paid and volunteer tutor at school.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: good bit of programming proficiency/experience.

Special Bonus Points: Recommenders have h-indices of 35, 34, and 10. I don't think this actually matters but it was fun to calculate. One grad astrophysics course.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: it's a pretty generic app.

Applying to Where:

Stanford - Physics - computational astro/cosmo - accepted by email 2/27 -- $32k (academic year TA/RA) -- offer declined
Chicago - Physics - computational astro/cosmo - rejected in response to email inquiry
Columbia - Astronomy - computational astro/cosmo - never informed of acceptance or rejection
UCSB - Physics - computational astro/cosmo - accepted by email 2/20 -- $17k (academic year TA) and summer RA positions are available -- offer declined
Berkeley - Physics - computational astro/cosmo - accepted by email 2/20 -- $28k (academic year TA + summer RA + fellowship) -- will attend!
Washington - Physics - computational astro/cosmo - accepted by email 2/03 -- $19k (academic year TA + fellowship) -- offer declined
Wisconsin - Physics - computational astro/cosmo - accepted by email 1/30 -- $22k (academic year TA + summer RA + fellowships) -- offer declined
UCSC - Physics - computational astro/cosmo - accepted by email 2/20 -- $21k (academic year TA + fellowship) -- offer declined

I'm in a slightly unusual situation, so I don't know how much help it'll be overall...

Undergrad Institution: State engineering school
Major(s): Applied Physics
Minor(s): Applied Math
GPA in Major: 3.85ish
Overall GPA: 3.79
Length of Degree: 4.5 years
Position in Class: Near if not at the top for physics students, no clue rest of university
Type of Student: American as apple pie female

GRE Scores:
Q: 740
V: 570
W: 4.5
P: reaaaaaaaally bad



Research Experience: Summer REU 2007, independent study/minor lab work this past summer that wasn't quite as productive as I'd have hoped...

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Honors college, Outstanding UG Student Award.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: SPS VP, tutored physics and pre-calc, Physics I homework TA last semester. Also help run weekly journal/physics topic discussion group.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Very active within the department (open houses, accepted student days, etc) and was on committee for programs for first year women students the past year.

Special Bonus Points: I hate to say it, but being female is probably all I got going I also already got to visit the lab I am interested in working with, but I don't think they have any say in admissions....

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Well I obviously didn't put this on my application but I am locked to the NJ/NYC area due to my fiance's job. In addition, since I graduate this month I was trying for a spring admission so depending on how that goes I'll either update with ACCEPTED! or some other schools for my "round two" applications - I should find out within a few weeks!

Applying to Where:

Rutgers - Physics - HEP Experimental (spring 2009) ACCEPTED 1/9 with TA position

Undergrad Institution: Engineering school in Argentina, 2nd in the country, no physics
Major(s): electromech engineering
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:
Overall GPA: 8.55/10.00 (yeah, grade deflation. This is endemic in my country where, in practice, there are no 10s. Plus, I hated some engineering stuff!!)
Length of Degree: 5 years career
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: international male

GRE Scores:
Q: 730 / 79% (ouch! I got sick the day before)
V: 690 / 89%
W: 4.0 Not happy with this one, but who cares
P: 810 (75%)

TOEFL Total: 110/120

Research Experience: Strong research experience in astroparticle physics. 5 years in an int cosmic ray collaboration. Research visits (longer than 1 month) to Germany, France, Czech Republic, Italy and 2 labs in Argentina. 3 publications as short listed author, 8 papers as member of the Collaboration, 3 ICRC Proceedings. 4 internal papers. I've worked in several groups inside the Collaboration. many presentations in meetings/workshops/conferences. Member of the LOC for the national astro conference.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Italy INFN Reseach fellow (2 years), several small scholarships from local foundations.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 1 year Adjunct for Introd Classical Mechanics at reputed university (at least in Argentina.) I have worked a lot in scientific outreach, I enjoy doing that also. Experience in code development for DAQ, detector monitoring, calibration and data analysis.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I was hired by the experiment to fill in a permanent researcher position.

Special Bonus Points: I've been working with somebody from the UWisc faculty for over 3 years now and this Professor has kindly invited me to join his group. He might even be a part of the admission committee. I could have gotten a recommendation letter from a Nobel Prize winner but I was told not to look for it as it would have "overdone" the application a little bit (man, I'm regretting not asking it now, what an idiot I am!!). some language skills that could be useful in an int collab: italian, spanish, english and some french

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I really do love astrophysics! (I hope this will show up)

Applying to Where:

University of Wisconsin-Madison - Astroparticle physics ACCEPTED with TA/RA ~ 24k (01/20) Will attend (duh!)

Yes, a clean sweep!

Undergrad Institution: small lib art college. Not famous
Major(s): Astrophysics
Minor(s): math
GPA in Major: 3.84
Overall GPA: 3.67
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: top
Type of Student: domestic

GRE Scores:
Q: 760
V: 480
W: 4
P: 720 (60%)


Research Experience:
- one summer research at my school in astronomy, AAS +APS poster presentation
- one summer at a national lab in physics
- on-going senior research at my school
- one semester independent study

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: school physics/math rewards, member of blah blah ...

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: three years lab assistant

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: trying hard to come up with something... no nothing

Special Bonus Points: no

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
i'm not an english native speaker, if that's gonna help with my verbal score.
I would have about perfect major GPA if not for one bad semester in my 2nd year, i don't know if that helps.

Applying to Where: all astronomy (except UCSB+UCSD are in physics department)

UC SB
UC SD
UC SC
Columbia
U Washington
U Hawaii
UT Austin - Accepted! 22K per year TA fellowship -> Attending
Ohio State
Boston U - Accepted. 18K for 8 months. TA fellowship

---------------------
I'm not sure if I should even bother apply to UCSB and Columbia.



______________________________________________

Undergrad Institution: Technical University
Major(s): Physics
Overall GPA: 3.6
Length of Degree: 5 years
Position in Class: Top or near top
Type of student: International, Male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 280
W: 3.0
P: 680 (54%)


TOEFL Total: 613 Paper Based.

Research Experience:
- 2 years on Organic electronics for my thesis with 3 research groups on different fields
- 1 year research on computational Optics -Solitonics-
- 6 months on Kerr effect
no publication.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
- Rank 46 in National Math Olympiad in junior year of high school
- Scholarship for undergraduate studies with tuition fee waiver
- Distinguished Undergraduate Research Project Award.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
- TA in Quantum Mechanics Course and Grader of basic Physics, two Semesters,
- Assistant in Modern Physics Lab, 6 months,
- REU in Vacuum Techniques Lab, two summers, Working with STM
- Tutoring high school and freshman students, 3 years

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
- Founder of a new student based nanotechnology group in University

Special Bonus Points:
- Passing Electrodynamics graduate course with high grade (if that is counted bonus).

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

All for Experimental Condensed Matter Physics

CMU------------------ rejected - by email - 3/31/09
Minnesota------------ rejected - by email - 2/18/09
Penn State----------- rejected - by email - 3/27/09
Pittsburgh------------ rejected - by email - 3/13/09
Oregon--------------- rejected - Asked by email - 5/3/09
UIC------------------- Accepted - by email from department - 4/17/09 (full tuition and fees plus ~21k stipend) - Offer Declined
Florida--------------- Never heard anything from them!
Wash St. Louis------ Application Withdrawn - 4/20/09
LSU------------------- Application Withdrawn - 4/20/09
Case----------------- Application Withdrawn - 4/20/09
New Mexico--------- Application Withdrawn - 4/20/09
__________________________________________________________________________________________

I got admitted to a funded Master Program. will apply again in next two years for top PhD programs.

Undergrad Institution: Liberal Arts State School... not much of a physics reputation. Feeder school for a higher-level state school.
Major(s): Physics, Mathematics
Minor(s): (none)
GPA in Major: 4.0, 4.0
Overall GPA: 3.9
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: 1st out of 10
Type of Student: Domestic Male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 610 (87%)
W: 4.0 (37%)
P: 650 (45%)

Research Experience: None... writing a thesis; I decided to go to grad school less than 6 months ago.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Honors scholar, numerous departmental awards and scholarships in both mathematics and physics, honors merit scholarships, couple of honors societies, Dean's Lists, Chancellor's Awards, etc.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: SPS member, review leader/tutor for my upper-div courses.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Writing an undergraduate thesis on the Jaynes-Cummings Model in quantum optics.

Special Bonus Points: Connections to UNC-Chapel Hill.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I can program like nobody's business...

Applying to Where:

North Carolina - Chapel Hill - Physics - HEP Theory/Gravitation - Accepted (02/05), Fellowship + 1/3 TA + Health + Goodies ~ $40k - ACCEPTED OFFER
North Carolina State - Physics - HEP Theory/Quantum Optical Theory - Interview Feb. 19-20 - Accepted (03/04, email) $24,000 TA
Duke University - Physics - HEP Theory/Quantum Optical Theory - Rejected (02/11)
UIUC - Physics - HEP Theory/Quantum Optical Theory - Rejected (03/25)
Wake Forest - Physics - HEP Theory/Quantum Optical Theory - Interview Feb. 12-14 - Withdrew Application

Undergrad Institution: Big State School
Major(s): Philosophy
GPA in Major: 2.5
Overall GPA: 3.2 (I thought philosophy loved me )
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: not sure, and not good ( bottom 25% )
Type of Student: white dude

Master's Institution: Bigger Less Competitive State School
Major(s): Physics (theoretical)
GPA in Major: 4.0
Overall GPA: 4.0
Length of Degree: 5 years (lots of ups and downs - no easy or short path for me)
Position in Class: ?
Type of Student: the same as the previous institution

GRE Scores:
Q: 780(90%)
V: 660(94%)
W: 5(77%)
P: 640(42%) Awful - I have terrible test taking anxiety like a number
of dudes here - I should probably get my self diagnosed so I can get double
time, although that just sounds wrong. It's been with me since I can remember.
Hopefully it won't cause me to wait another year.

Research Experience:
I did do a masters thesis and its contents were talked about on a poster .

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
Tutor for 8+ years in math and physics. TA for more than 2 years.

Special Bonus Points:
Not to my knowledge. I've finished an MS at a not so rigorous institution as
opposed to others who have finished a BS (or even an MS) from a competitive
institution - not saying that what I did was easy, but most likely comparable
to these undergraduate classes and no higher.

Like many I have a lot of computing skills, but if one is serious about physics
then it appears highly probable that one acquires these skills. So I am not too
certain how different I am to others in this area.

Applying to Where:
UC SC Physics - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - rejected - email - 3/5/09
UC D Physics - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - rejected - web 4/12/09
UC Irvine - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - rejected - email - 4/9/09
Purdue - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - they are too lazy to send me a rejection letter/email
U Oregon Physics - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - rejected - snail mail - 2/20/09
U Hawaii Physics - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - TA Early April - ACCEPT - it's no Harvard but it is Hawaii and more importantly I have somewhere to go for next year, YES!!
U Minnesota - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - rejected - email - 2/18/09
UMass Amherst - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - waitlisted -> rejected
U Indiana Bloomington - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - rejected - snail mail - 2/04/09
JHU - Physics (& Astronomy) - HEP - they are too lazy to send me a rejection letter/email

Undergrad Institution: Medium sized state school, but little known for physics or math.
Major(s): physics and math
Minor(s): political science
GPA in Major: 3.9 in physics, ~3.6 or 3.7 in math
Overall GPA: 3.80
Length of Degree: 5 years
Position in Class: 1st, 2nd or 3rd in class
Type of Student: domestic female

GRE Scores:

Q: 670
V: 590
W: 5
P: 530

Research Experience:

Lots of experience starting as a sophomore. Did some internships that were quite good, and spent last year and half working on general relativity/mathematical physics project.

Numerous presentations including national conferences, Posters on Capitol Hill, APS meetings, student conferences. Will be taking current research to gravity meeting and SPS zone meeting in the spring to give a talk.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

New exciting award! I'm the College of Science Undergrad. Researcher of the Year for 2008!!!
Rhodes Scholar Finalist
Goldwater Honorable Mention
APS award for best presentation at meeting
Undergraduate Research Fellowship from my university
Some smaller scholarships and 4 year academic scholarship from my institution as well. Hopefully will get NSF fellowship!?

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Was secretary of SPS chapter for a year, member of Sigma Pi Sigma, member of reputable undergrad. research team that launches stuff into space via NASA (really well-known in some circles), designed & led experiment for NASA's Vomit Comet program, graded ODEs and introductory modern physics for 2 semesters. Am now teaching an introductory physics lab.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Two graduate math classes (multilinear algebra and differential geometry) and graduate physics class ... there's lots else, but none going in the applications (not physics related)

Special Bonus Points: No connections, no famous people. But I'm a female, maybe that will help? And my letters will be quite good, because all my recommenders know me very well and are based on good research.

If only I could explain that despite my PGRE and QGRE, I actually spend my free time reading Misner, Thorne and Wheeler's "Gravitation", manipulating solutions to the Einstein equations, and computing Killing vector fields and isometry groups. I can't remember polygons, but I can do tensors!! WTF??

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

UC SB - Physics - Gravity, mathematical physics (theory) - Rejected on website 3/3
Penn State - Physics - Gravitational physics (theory) - Rejected via email 3/26
UW Milwaukee - Physics - Gravitational physics (theory) - Accepted via email/phone 3/5 with TAship + fellowship + fellowship for next summer
Maryland - Physics - Gravitational physics (theory) - Rejected via email 3/9
Utah State - Physics - Mathematical physics/theory - Master's program - Accepted 1/18, but no finanicial aid for the master's program

Undergrad Institution: Medium-sized state school. Not a particularly well-known school, but in my experience those who do know of our program have a favorable impression.
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Math
GPA in Major: 3.87 (Increased to 3.89 after Fall 2008, updated transcript sent)
Overall GPA: 3.72 (Increased to 3.75 after Fall 2008, updated transcript sent)
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Unknown, but probably top 15% or above
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 730 (79%)
V: 630 (90%)
W: 4.5 (58%)
P: 750 (66%)

Research Experience:
A year of research at my own school plus 2 REUs at different schools (all on topics which could be considered experimental condensed matter). Combined research resulted in two conference presentations, one submitted paper for publication, and two papers ‘in preparation’, but nothing published yet.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Scholarship, Dean’s List, and something which could be loosely classified as an external award for ‘science tutoring’.

Special Bonus Points: Letters of recommendation from each of my three research advisors. Although I do not know what they wrote, all three letters should be good, and (at least in theory) they could even be very good to excellent. At one of the school I am applying to I have prior experience conducting research with the professors who heads the graduate admissions committee and also wrote one of my letters of recommendation.

Applying to Where:

In all cases, I am applying to the Physics department for Experimental Condensed Matter

UC Riverside - Accepted – Phone Call (Jan. 22) - 1 year Fellowship ($14,000) + Teaching Assistantship ($11,000) + Summer support - Declined Admission
Ohio State --- Accepted – Email (Jan. 30) - Teaching Assistantship ($16,750 / 9 months) + Summer support - Declined Admission
U Oklahoma -- Accepted – Email (Feb. 11) - 2 year Fellowship ($26,000 / 12 months), then Teaching Assistantship - Declined Admission
Rice ----------- Accepted – Email (Feb. 17) - Fellowship ($2000) + Multi-year "Rice Fellow" / Teaching Assistantship ($25,700 / 12 months) - Declined Admission
Penn State --- Accepted – Email (Feb. 18) - Fellowship ($4,000) + Teaching Assistantship ($19,705 / 12 months) - Will Attend!
UT Austin ---- Accepted – Mail (Postmark Feb. 26) - Teaching Assistantship ($16,550 / 9 months) - Declined Admission
Cornell ------- Rejected - Email (Feb. 19)
Stanford ----- Rejected - Email (Feb. 26)
UCSB --------- Rejected - Website (March 4)
U Maryland -- Rejected - Email (March 9)
UIUC --------- Rejected - Email (March 25)

Undergrad Institution: Not sure. US News rank it around 60th
Major(s): Physics/Math
GPA in Major:3.99
Overall GPA:3.96
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Top or near top, I think
Type of Student: Asian, international but take undergrad in US

GRE Scores:
Q: 770
V: 430
W:
P:700 (610 last April, also took Nov8)

Research Experience: Around a year about simulation of rotating stars. No major result.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Top 100 GPA in junior (like that's gonna do any good...)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: None

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: I'm doing pretty well in my grad CM class (first or second place in the class I think). The professor is writing me a recommendation as well.

Applying to Where:

Applying for Astrophysics/Cosmology theory

Princeton
Chicago
SUNY Stony Brook
Michigan
Ohio State
Penn State
Rutgers
Florida
UO

Result: All reject except UO. Going there.

Undergrad Institution: UC Berkeley
Major(s): Astrophysics
GPA in Major: 3.5
Overall GPA: 3.3
Length of Degree: 5 years
Type of Student: domestic, male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 670 (95%)
W: 5.0 (77%)
P: 850 (81%)

Research Experience:
*REU w/ National Radio Astronomy Observatory - AAS poster
*Summer project on GRBs at Berkeley - AAS poster, 4th (of 4) author on paper

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
*Graded Astro HW for 5 semesters
*Tutor for one year

Applying to Where:

Columbia - Astronomy - Wait List
Cornell - Astronomy - Accepted
Hawaii - Astronomy One paper recommendation never arrived
Ohio State - Astronomy One paper recommendation never arrived
Penn State - Astronomy - Accepted
Texas - Austin - Astronomy - Rejected
Virginia - Astronomy - One paper recommendation never arrived
Wisconsin-Madison - Astronomy Wait List
Boston University - Astronomy - Accepted

I accepted Penn State's offer

Undergrad Institution: Big State - Top 15 Physics
Major: Physics
Minor: Math
GPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 3.45
Length of Degree: Long,Long Time
Type of Student: Domestic Male

GRE Scores:
Q: 740
V: 530
W: 5.0
P: 900


Research Experience: 3 Research Projects: 3 years in experimental plasma, research project is honors thesis; 1 year in theoretical astrophysics, soon to submit publication; 1 semester doing independent project

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Sigma Pi Sigma

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Math and Physics Tutor 1 semester

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: 1 publication in medical journal

Special Bonus Points: 1 grad class, 3 strong endorsements from research supervisors all of whom I had taken courses with and received the highest grade in all those courses.


Applying to Where:

UCLA - Physics - Exp. Plasma - Accepted 03/02 by email [Declined]
UCSD - Physics - Exp. Plasma - Accepted 03/02 by email [Declined]
UT Austin - Physics - Exp. Plasma - Accepted 02/02 by email [Declined]
MIT - Physics - Exp. Plasma - Accepted 04/01 by phone [Accepted]
MIT - Nuc. Sci. & Eng. - Exp. Plasma - Rejeceted - never received response
Princeton - PPL - Exp. Plasma - Waitlisted 02/24 by email [Withdrawn]
UW Madison - Physics - Exp. Plasma - Accepted 01/30 by email [Declined]
Caltech - Applied Physics - Exp. Plasma - Accepted 02/16 by email [Declined]
Yale - Physics - Astrophysics - Rejected 02/11 by email
Duke - Medical Physics - Radiation Therapy - Rejected 02/18 by email

Undergrad Institution: Ivy, great reputation
Major(s): Astrophysics
Minor(s): Applied Math
GPA in Major: 3.86
Overall GPA: 3.81
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Near top
Type of Student: European female, doing my undergrad in the US

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94 %)
V: 520 (66 %)
W: 5 (77 %)
P: 970 (94 %)



Research Experience: At my school: One summer program, two semester projects, senior thesis. No publications though hopefully thesis work will lead to one.
Also, did a summer research program in Germany last summer, which will eventually be submitted for publication though not until February or so.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Nope. (This is the problem with going to über-competitive schools )

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: One semester TA'ing astronomy for non-majors, peer academic adviser, various tutoring experience

Special Bonus Points: Well-known recommenders, all who have been my research advisers at some point

Applying to Where:

Applying to Astronomy/Astrophysics, especially interested in Cosmology:

Harvard -- Admitted (email) 2/9
U Chicago -- Admitted (email) 2/2
UC Berkeley -- Rejected (in response to email) 2/20
CalTech -- Rejected (in response to email) 2/20
UC Santa Cruz -- Admitted (email) 2/3
U Washington (Seattle) -- Admitted (phone/email) 2/9
U Arizona -- Admitted (phone) 2/13
Ohio State -- Admitted (phone/email) 12/29

Undergrad Institution: In India, well known in Engineering
Major(s): Engineering
Minor(s): Physics
GPA in Major:
Overall GPA:
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: International

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94 %)
V: 740 (99 %)
W: 5.5 (90 %)
P: 940 (92 %)


TOEFL Total: 111

Research Experience: 2 summer projects (granular materials) outside, and 1 year research experience at my school. No publications.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Scholarship in university

Special Bonus Points: Taken grad classes, 1 well known recommender (in engineering).

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: International student, so probably hard to get into top universities

Applying to Where:

School - Univ Chicago (soft cond matter, experimental) (Accepted 2/27) (Declined)
School - Yale - applied physics (Rejected 2/12)
School - Cornell - applied physics [(Rejected)
+ engineering (accepted at MIT, Princeton) (going to MIT)

Undergrad Institution: Hanyang University in Korea(Republic of)
Major(s): Physics
GPA in Major: 3.3/4.0
Overall GPA: 3.21/4.0
Length of Degree: 4-years
Position in Class: 89%
Type of Student: international male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 / 94%
V: 650 / 93%
P: 990 (96%)

TOEFL Total: nov.

Research Experience: summer seminar of algebras, 1 international published article(japan)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: several academic scholarships from university

Special Bonus Points: I get almost every credit about math of my university. and i will speaking and listening of Japanese

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I want to study on black hole and neutron star.

Applying to Where:

MIT-Astrophysics(theory)-reject
UCSB-Astrophysics(theory)-reject
Maryland-Astrophysics(theory)-reject
Minnesota-Astrophysics(theory)-reject
Texas at Austin-Astrophysics(theory)-reject

Undergrad Institution: Mid-size private school in Midwest, top 50 for physics
Major(s): Physics, math, music performance
Minor(s): Music composition
GPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 3.99
Length of Degree: 5 years with the music major
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 720 (98%)
W: 5.5 (90%)
P: 910 (88%)

Research Experience: Four years of dark matter phenomenology research with two different professors at my school, summer internship at a national lab doing nuclear theory. First author on two papers: one published in Phys. Rev. D, one submitted to Phys. Rev. C

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Goldwater, top junior physics major, Phi Beta Kappa, best oral presentation at a local research symposium

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Teach general GRE for Kaplan

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Co-organizing a graduate mathematical physics seminar, founded a physics study group to help freshmen physics majors for upper-level classes

Special Bonus Points: Six graduate math classes; grad quantum, stat mech, and classical mech

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Studied abroad in France and took three physics courses, all in French (one with Alain Aspect!)

Applying to Where:

MIT - Physics - HEP Theory (phenomenology) ------------- Accepted 2/9 by phone, with 12- month fellowship ($2408/month) - WILL ATTEND starting Fall 2010
Harvard - Physics - HEP Theory (phenomenology) --------- Accepted 2/20 by e-mail, with 12-month fellowship ($2375/month)
Princeton - Physics - HEP Theory (phenomenology) ------- Accepted 2/25 by e-mail, with 1-year fellowship ($25000)
Berkeley - Physics - HEP Theory (phenomenology) -------- Accepted 2/20 by e-mail, with TA and summer fellowship ($2312/month)
Stanford - Physics - HEP Theory (phenomenology) -------- Accepted 2/27 by e-mail, with TA and RA ($2675/month)
Cornell - Physics - HEP Theory (phenomenology) ---------- Accepted 1/29 by snail mail. With 1 year TA and 2 year graduate fellowship ($2756/month)
Johns Hopkins - Physics - HEP Theory (phenomenology) - Accepted 2/2 by e-mail, with TA and $3000 fellowship ($2305/month)
NYU - Physics - HEP Theory (phenomenology) ------------ Accepted 2/13 by e-mail

University of Cambridge - Part III (Applied Math and Theoretical Physics) - Accepted, will attend and defer US grad school for 1 year

Undergrad Institution: Asia, not reputable
Major(s): physics
GPA in Major: 3.99
Overall GPA: 3.93
Length of Degree: ~5
Position in Class: 1
Type of Student: international

GRE Scores:
Q: 790
V: 530
W: (unknown)
P: 940 (92%)


TOEFL Total: 114/120 on iBT

Research Experience: 2 conference talks, 3 conference posters, 2 projects in the works including a thesis, 1 minor publication (local refereed journal), 2 publications

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: summa cum laude, undergraduate scholarships, science award from a government institution

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: member of a research group

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: varsity member of university

Special Bonus Points: minority, my country produces 1 strong candidate every 3 years or so.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: gr grad classes

Applying to Where:

UC Berkeley - Physics - HEP Theory - rejected 3/6, called Donna
UC San Diego - Physics - HEP Theory - accepted 3/10
UC Davis - Physics - HEP Theory - rejected
UCSB - Physics - HEP Theory - rejected 3/5
UCLA - Physics - HEP Theory - accepted
Chicago - Physics - HEP Theory - accepted 3/3 (snail mail), TA/fellowship
Michigan - Physics - HEP Theory - accepted 2/26, GSI/fellowship
UIUC - Physics - HEP Theory - rejected
Stanford - Physics - HEP Theory - rejected 2/27
Cornell - Physics - HEP Theory - accepted 2/9, TA/fellowship
Columbia - Physics - HEP Theory - rejected 3/16

Undergrad Institution: Small liberal art college that send a few students to physics graduate programs each year
Major(s): Astrophysics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 4.0
Overall GPA: 4.0
Length of Degree: 4 year
Position in Class: Near top
Type of Student: Domestic white female

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 650 (93%)
W: 4.5 (58%)
P: 760 (67%)

Research Experience: Summer research at my school and a REU. Sophomore research at my school. Senior thesis. No publications.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Goldwater Scholar, mysterious school award, school thesis fellowship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Physics tutor, IT job, president and former treasurer of relevant club

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: Recommenders with colleagues?

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Junior year abroad. Inability to write a non-bizarre personal statement (am working on this...).

Applying to Where:

Berkeley -Astronomy - Planetary science Waitlisted 02/04 by e-mail Withdrew application
CalTech - Geological and Planetary Sciences - Planetary Science Accepted 1/22 by e-mail Declined
Colorado - Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences - Planetary science Accepted 02/02 by post Declined
Cornell - Astronomy - Planetary science Accepted 02/03 by e-mail Declined
Harvard - Astronomy - Planetary science Accepted 02/09 by phone Attending
Michigan - Astronomy - Planetary science Accepted 1/28 by e-mail Declined

______________________________________________
Undergrad Institution: Big State, top 20 in physics
Major(s): physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.6
Overall GPA: 3.7
Length of Degree: 6 yrs (worked during the lower division years)
Position in Class: right side of the Gaussian, probably within 1 sigma of the mu
Type of Student: white
GRE Scores:
Q: 790 (92)
V: 620 (89)
W: 4.0 (37) dough!!
P: 820 (77)

Research Experience: 1 year doing magnetic simulations in a lab at my school during undergrad, 2 years after graduation working in a radiology lab. 2 clinical radiology journals, several abstracts (one accelerator physics related, a couple dealing with image morphing and segmentation), 1 first author abstract in MRI data post-processing, a bunch of posters, one talk at a radiology symposium

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: physical science department award at the community college

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: worked as tutor for 2 years, full time research work since graduation in 06

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points:

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: returning student, worked 3 years before college.

Applying to Where:

Chicago - Medical Physics
Berkeley/UCSF - Bioengineering - Medical Imaging invited to open house 01/27
Wisconsin - Medical Physics - Imaging / Therapy accepted 01/31 (no funding details yet)
Stanford - Applied Physics - Medical Imaging rejected 03/04 by mail
MIT - Nuclear Engineering - Medical Engineering / Medical Physics rejected 2/12 by mail
UCLA - Medical Physics - Imaging / Therapy invited to open house 01/09

______________________________________________

Undergrad Institution: Large state school, strong in applied physics but lacking on the theoretical side
Major(s): Physics & Mathematics
GPA in Major: Physics - 3.77 Mathematics - 3.68
Overall GPA: 3.58
Length of Degree: 6 years
Position in Class: I'm near the top for the physics program, above average for the math
Type of Student: White-bread American Male

GRE Scores:
Q: 760
V: 620
W: 4.0
P: 520

Research Experience: Physics education, atmospheric physics, condensed matter theory for the last two years. I've been involved in research for four years. I've been involved in two poster sessions and have given one conference talk.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Major school scholarship that paid all tuition/fees for two years, a smattering of smaller scholarships, a sizable research grant through my school. Sigma Pi Sigma, Sigma Xi outstanding research award (twice), Dean's list off and on through all six years.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: SPS undergraduate representative for my chapter, grader for two 400 level classes, tutor, taught a year-long workshop for the introductory physics sequence.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: My recommendations are strong! All three professors know me on a research / student / personal basis. Also, I'm a crackerjack programmer and most of my research has been computational.

Applying to Where:

Physics:
U. New Hampshire - Comp. Solar Physics - Accepted 02/06 via email w/ 14.1K TA + 6K RA summer support. Will attend!
NYU - Comp. Astrophysics - Withdrew my application.
Northwestern - CMT - Rejected 03/19 via website.
Stony Brook - Comp. Astrophysics / Nuclear Theory - Rejected 03/24 via email.
McGill - Astrophysics / CMT - Rejected 03/16 via website.
U. Wisconsin, Madison - Plasma Theory - Rejected 03/10 via email.
U.C. Santa Cruz - Comp. Astrophysics - Rejected 03/05 via email.
U. Michigan, Ann Arbor - Astrophysics / CMT - Rejected 02/26 via email.
Brown - CMT - Rejected 03/06 via email.

Applied Math:
U. Washington - PDEs / Scientific Computation - Accepted 02/20 via email to M.S. program w/ no funding. Turned down.
Columbia - Atmospheric Modeling / Scientific Computation - Withdrew my application.
U. Michigan, Ann Arbor - Mathematical Physics / Scientific Computation - Rejected 03/18 via email.
U. Wisconsin Madison - PDEs / Scientific Computation - Rejected 02/25 via email.

Undergrad Institution: (Ivy, not HYP)
Major(s):Physics, Computer Science
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:3.85
Overall GPA:3.85
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Near Top
Type of Student: White Male

GRE Scores:
Q:800
V:720
W:5
P:980


Research Experience: 5 Summers of research in theoretical and computational physics. The last one was through a grant given out by my school, and the one before that was through the SULI program. No publications yet, but I'm planning to do an Honors Thesis.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Nothing Significant

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: I think that all of my recommendations should be really great. I've done research with two of them, and I know all 4 of them on a personal basis, and they all like me a whole lot. I'm planning write an honors thesis, and I'm also a good programmer. I've taken a graduate-level class in solid state physics and another in algorithms, and I plan to take two graduate-level classes next semester.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

Berkeley - Physics - TheoryAccepted 2/20 With TAShip
UCSB - Physics - TheoryAccepted 2/24 With TAShip
Stanford - Physics - TheoryAccepted 2/27 With TA/RA Ship
Harvard - Physics - TheoryRejected 3/2
MIT - Physics - TheoryAccepted 2/5 With 1 Year Fellowship!!!!!
Princeton - Physics - TheoryRejected 2/26
Yale - Physics - TheoryAccepted 2/7 With TAShip

Undergrad Institution: A premier engg. col. in India, but not so famous for research
Major(s): Physics (Masters)
Minor(s): Electrical and Electronics Engg. (Bachelors)
GPA in Major: 8.4/10 (3.2/4)
Overall GPA: 7.6/10 (2.8/4)
Length of Degree: 5 year course
Position in Class: top 5 in Physics, bottom 10 in E.E.E. (awe'fff balance!)
Type of Student: International male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 630 (90%)
W: 3.5 (20%)
P: 750 (66%)


TOEFL Total: 107/120

Research Experience: Summer internships in leading research institutes in India (IISc, IMSc, IGCAR) quantum optics, quantum nonlinear dynamics, 2 month internships each, publication underway in quantum nonlocality (nonloaclity without inequalities)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: NTS, KVPY (Govt. schols)

Special Bonus Points: yearlong visitorship at IMSc, Chennai

Applying to Where:

U Michigan - optics - exp/theory-Rejected (2/27)
U Maryland, Col. Park - JQI- exp/theory-Rejected (3/09)
U Southern Cal - quantum condensed matter- exp/theory-Rejected (3/24)
U Rochester - quantum optics - exp/theory-Rejected (3/24)
U Boston -quantum condensed matter- exp/theory-Rejected (4/2)
Penn State U -optics- exp-Rejected (4/12)
Louisiana State U - quantum information theory-Accepted-22.9k$-TA- (4/22)-Will attend
U New Mexico - quantum information science- exp/theory Rejected (4/24)

Undergrad Institution: Top 5 Private
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): CS
GPA in Major:~3.5
Overall GPA:~3.5
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: probably average?
Type of Student: Domestic male, white, but originally from a different country

GRE Scores:
Q: 800
V: 650
W:5.0
P:840

Research Experience: 2 summers + school years at a DOE lab. No publications, but talk during parallel sessions. Will be doing honors thesis on tau polarization.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Nothing since high school. National merit scholar and all that jazz...

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: SPS President, computer consultant + teaching basic computer literacy class, was a managing editor at daily newspaper (not really pertinent, but partly explains my gpa)

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: One Nobel laureate as a recommender. Took QFT. Total of 23 physics classes so far... which might be a lot?

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Some recommendations may be late.... (not my fault)

Applying to Where:

Berkeley -Physics - Expt Undecided (maybe HEP or astro)
MIT -Physics - Expt Undecided (maybe HEP or astro) 2/5: Received informal e-mail claiming acceptance from admissions committee member.
UCSB -Physics - Expt Undecided (maybe HEP or astro) REJECTED (3/4, online notification)
UCLA -Physics - Expt Undecided (maybe HEP or astro) ACCEPTED (3/6 by e-mail)
UCSD -Physics - Expt Undecided (maybe HEP or astro) ACCEPTED (3/2 by e-mail)
Caltech -Physics - Expt Undecided (maybe HEP or astro) ACCEPTED (2/23 by e-mail)
Washington -Physics - Expt Undecided (maybe HEP or astro) ACCEPTED (1/28 by e-mail)
Arizona -Physics - Expt Undecided (maybe HEP or astro) ACCEPTED (2/27 by e-mail at 12:14 a.m.) (
Colorado -Physics - Expt Undecided (maybe HEP or astro)REJECTED (3/10 by e-mail)

Undergrad Institution: Indian Institute of Technology...good physics program
Major: Engineering Physics
GPA in Major: 9.03/10
Overall GPA: 8.87/10.... the department average is slightly less than 7
Length of Degree: 4 years
Position in Class: 2
Type of Student: Indian male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800/94%
V: 800/99%
W: 4.5/58%
P: 990/96%


TOEFL Total: 115/120

Research Experience: No publications...
Two summer projects in Europe relating to nanostructures (simulation) and molecular physics (theory)
Undergrad thesis on carbon nanotubes (experiment)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Top 25 in National Physics and Chemistry Olympiads after school
2-3 minor scholarships

Special Bonus Points: 2 of my recommenders are European (the Profs with whom I have done my projects)

Applying to Where:

Princeton - Physics - Condensed Matter - Rejected, e-mail 2/26
Cornell - Physics - Condensed Matter - Accepted 27k-30k (TA+Summer). Snail mail. Postmarked 02/10
UIUC - Physics - Condensed Matter - Rejected, e-mail 3/25
Columbia - Physics - Condensed Matter - Rejected, e-mail 3/4. In reply to my mail
Maryland - Physics - Condensed Matter - Accepted, e-mail 3/6, ~26k, Departmental Fellowship, Half TA or RA - Declined
UPenn - Physics - Condensed Matter - Rejected, Website 3/30
Harvard - Applied Physics - Condensed Matter - Rejected, Snail Mail. Reached home. 3/30
Stanford - Applied Physics - Condensed Matter - Rejected, e-mail 3/10. In reply to my mail
Rice - Materials Science - Decided not to apply

Undergrad Institution: Large private, top 50 physics
Major(s): Physics and Chemistry
Minor(s): Mathematics
GPA in Major: 3.93
Overall GPA: 3.88
Length of Degree: four years
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student: white domestic male

GRE Scores:
Q: 800 (94%)
V: 610 (87%)
W: 4.5 (58%)
P: 830 (78%)

Research Experience: Two years at home institution in computational molecular physics with one poster presentation and one first author paper in preparation; REU at LANL in Physics doing computational atomic and plasma physics w/ a first author paper in press (Phys. Rev. E); REU at Boston University in Chemistry doing computational chemistry w/ second author paper in preparation.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Goldwater, various university awards

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: General Physics TA

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: Six grad classes (four in chemistry, two in math, none in physics )

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

Princeton - Physics - CMT - Rejected, 2/26, by e-mail
UPenn - Physics - CMT - Accepted, 1/31, by e-mail w/ $25.5k TA
UI:UC - Physics - CMT/Computational Physics - Accepted, 2/13, by unofficial e-mail w/ $25k TA+Fellowship
Boston University - Physics - CMT/Computational Physics - Accepted, 2/27, by e-mail w/ $27.3k TA+RA
Univ Southern California - Physics - CMT/Computational Physics - Accepted, 1/20, by e-mail w/ $27k TA
**Apologies for distractions due to my chemical physics/chemistry programs (below); just thought I'd help those in the future who may be split chem/physics like myself.**
Harvard - Chemical Physics - Theory and Computation - Accepted, 2/3, by e-mail w/ $25k
Columbia - Chemical Physics - Theory and Computation - Accepted, 1/14, by phone w/ $30k - Will attend!
Maryland - Chemical Physics - Theory and Computation - Accepted, 1/30, by e-mail w/ $30.6k Fellowship+TA+RA
UC: Berkeley - Chemistry - Theory and Computation - Rejected, 2/27, by e-mail
Yale - Chemistry - Theory and Computation - Accepted, 1/29, by e-mail w/ $28k

Undergrad Institution: Technical University, Top 20 depending who you ask
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): History
GPA in Major: 3.1 (see "additional info")
Overall GPA: 3.21
Length of Degree: 4.5 years (due to study abroad)
Position in Class: Finishing towards the top
Type of Student: domestic female

GRE Scores:
Q: 720
V: 550
W: 5.0
P: 500 (12%)

Research Experience: Been working for the high-energy astrophysics group on my campus for 2.5 years on a gamma ray detector and the "big cosmic ray collaboration" as metric put it (hi!), completed senior thesis on designing/building a Cherenkov radiation detector for said group, REU this past summer working on a radio telescope array

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: national award in science writing, science journalist of the month for the publication I've worked for, "Service Award" from my physics department for all the stuff I've done there

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for intro physics course, SPS President, telescope operator for public observing nights... I'm also a science writer- "geek" column in uni newspaper, have published nationally and attended scientific conferences for that, have worked 2 years as a science journalist for an undergrad research journal.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: have hosted departmental colloquia and lots of help with department outreach

Special Bonus Points: One grad class (classical mechanics), will have great letters, including one from a very famous astronomer

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I realize the GPA is on the low side if you just look at the number- basically I wasn't doing so hot my first few years, but pulled things together and have gotten straight As for ~2 years now. I'm banking a lot on a grad committee not worrying too much about the "C" in introductory E&M if I got an "A" in the advanced version, stuff like that. Not happy with the PGRE obviously, but recommenders will be addressing it.

Also, um, I'm spending my next six months doing a trip around the world. My application wasn't eclectic enough.

Applying to Where:

Boston University - Astronomy - Experiment rejected
University of Massachusetts - Astronomy - Experiment rejected
Yale - Astronomy - Experiment rejected
Columbia - Astronomy - Experiment never heard back
Rutgers - Physics - Experimental Astrophys rejected
Johns Hopkins - Physics - Experimental Astrophys never heard back
University of Maryland - Astronomy - Experiment never heard back
Case Western Reserve University - Physics - Experimental Astrophys accepted, $22k TAship
University of Chicago - Astronomy/Physics - Experiment rejected
University of California- Berkeley - Astronomy - Experiment rejected
University of California- Santa Cruz - Astronomy/Physics - Experiment rejected

Proof that all you need is one! Also not sure why three schools never answered me despite emails, I didn't find it particularly kind of them.

Undergrad Institution:Big State
Major(s):Physics
Minor(s):Math
GPA in Major:3.7
Overall GPA:3.5 (but straight A's for four or five semesters now)
Position in Class:No idea, probably closer to the top
Type of Student: White Male (D'oh!)

GRE Scores:
Q:770 (88%), they really curve this thing, don't they?
V:670 (95%)
W:5.0 (77 %)
P:770 (69%), could have done better, but good research will help

Research Experience: 1 good REU that I am giving a talk at AAS for, several faculty reserach projects, most recent is culminating in a paper with me as first author

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:Sigma Pi Sigma, Dean't list

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: SPS VP this year

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: First author!

Special Bonus Points: I'm expecting pretty good reccomendation letters, similar letters got me into that prestigious REU, should have two good research letters.

Applying to Where:

Caltech - Astronomy - Star Formation Rejected by e-mail (2/23)
Cornell - Astronomy - MHD Simulations of disks and flows Accepted by e-mail with 25K fellowship (2/14) Declined offer (3-20)
Arizona - Astronomy - Low mass stars, polarimetry, or adaptive optics On Waiting List (Notified after e-mail inquiry) (2/24)
University of Colorado, Boulder - Astronomy - Theoretical/Computational Solar physics Accepted by mail (2/3) Declined offer (2/14)
University of Hawaii, Manoa - Astronomy - Observational Solar Physics Accepted by phone (2/6)
Berkeley - Astronomy - Star Formation/Supernova searches Rejected by e-mail (2/17)
UC Santa Cruz - Astronomy - Star formation theory/Modeling Supernovae - Skype interview (1/29) Accepted by e-mail (2/4) Will be attending in the fall!


Hope I get into at least one or two of these schools!

Undergrad Institution: BSc - so-so place
MSc - one of the top in India
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s):Math ?
GPA in Major:1st class
Overall GPA:1st class
Length of Degree:3+2
Position in Class: near top
Type of Student:International male

GRE Scores:
Q:760
V:750
W:3.5
P:760


TOEFL Total:113 (ibt)

Research Experience:2 month summer project in radio astronomy at NCRA- TIFR, Pune
5 month project on symmetries of the Schroedinger eqn. to be done at my university from Jan to May 2009

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:huh, won an essay (non-technical) competition on Einstein (world year of Physics) and presented it at a conference.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where ( in HEP expt or Astrophysics thry or Gravity)

Purdue - applied - REJECTED 14 Apr
U Pittsburgh - waitlisted
Penn State Astro - applied - REJECTED 18 Mar
U Delaware - ADMITTED 23/02 - 21K TA for 12 months
Stony Brook - REJECTED 25 Mar
Mc Master Univ. - APPLIED
U Mass Amherst - applied - WAITLISTED - REJECTED Apr 16

MIT - not applied
Harvard - NA
Stanford - You kiddin?

Undergrad Institution:The American University in Cairo (EGYPT), accreditted U.S university
Major(s):Electronics Engineering
Minor(s):None
GPA in Major:3.602
Overall GPA:3.594
Length of Degree:5 years
Position in Class:Dont know exactly, probably average
Graduate:doing my M.Sc in physics (2nd year)
Grad. GPA:3.58
Type of Student:Internatinal male

GRE Scores:
Q:730
V:420
W:
P:750(66%)


TOEFL Total:I always ask for a waiver before applying (8 years in a U.S institution)

Research Experience:Undergrad. senior thesis for 1 year. Just started my master thesis

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:Dean's list. Fellowship for M.Sc

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:TA for 1.5 years

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: Master's degree

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:I can secure funding through a local agency if admitted to a decent school

Applying to Where:

School: U of Chicago - physics - CMP,HEP
School: U of Wisconsin, Madison - physics - CMP,HEP
School: OSU - physics - CMP,HEP

School: U Oregon - accepted
School: Virginia Tech - accepted
______________________________________________

Undergrad Institution: Private university, good reputation in physics.
Major(s): Astrophysics
GPA in Major: 3.50
Overall GPA: 3.52 (I don't see how you guys have higher GPAs in your majors! All of the other non-physics/astronomy classes I have taken are cake compared to major courses.)
Length of Degree: 4 year.
Position in Class: I have no clue. It's difficult to rank because a B in physics is a good grade here, whereas lower than an A in English is unacceptable. I'm top amongst physics-peers.
Type of Student: (Domestic/International, male/female, minority?) Female, white... magical... j/k

GRE Scores: (MEH!)
Q: 730, 79%
V: 600 85%
W: 4.5 58%
P: 670 49%

I make no excuses, I just didn't study.

Research Experience: I have worked with multiple professors at my university, and I am currently working on unprecedented cutting edge research with a brand new instrument, which will probably publish... but not in time for applications. I also had an REU, and I will present this work at the upcoming AAS meeting.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: I don't know of any awards at my school, and I haven't applied for external ones.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I graded for classes?

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I gave a guest lecture to a high school astronomy class and it was super fun!

Special Bonus Points: I do have excellent letters of recommendation, written by prominent scientists in their fields.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: My GRE scores do kind of suck. My GPA also might appear to suck, but it's quite respectable coming from my institution.

Applying to Where:

University of Arizona - Astronomy -- Rejected by email 2/17
Ohio State - Astronomy -- Rejected by website 2/25, still confused about this one .
UMass - Astronomy -- Accepted by Phone 2/17
UT Austin - Astronomy -- Accepted by Email 1/21
UC Santa Cruz - Astronomy -- Rejected by email 3/31
University of Wisconsin-Madison - Astronomy -- Rejected via Website. 4/27
University of Michigan - Astronomy -- Accepted by Email 2/6 <- Attending!!!
Vanderbilt - Astronomy -- Withdrew app, but never heard back.

Undergrad Institution:Completed coursework at 4 different schools (ranging from Top 20 in Physics to private liberal arts)
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Mathematics (not officially, but, lot of coursework)
GPA in Major: 3.3
Overall GPA: 3.5
Length of Degree:4.5 yrs
Position in Class: Middle
Type of Student: Intl. US Undergrad

GRE Scores:
Q:770
V:610
W:5
P:610

Research Experience: None

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Scholarships at University level (e.g. Global Excellence Scholarship, Merit Scholarship etc)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:Failure Analysis of Integrated Memory Chips; Operations Technician

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Community involvement

Special Bonus Points: Worked 40+ hours for ~3 yrs with concurrent full course load (mostly 12hr shift @ night and school during day). Good background in Expt. Condensed Matter Physics (working knowledge of semiconductor processing + analysis - although applying for HEP Theory).

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:Graduated high school @ 14 yrs; Completed college @ 20 yrs (don't think this really matters) - one recommender mentioned this.

Applying to Where: Physics - HEP Theory

UMichigan (AA) - Rejected by email 02/28
Cornell Univ. - Rejected email 02/19
NYU - Rejected by email 04/02
Michigan State -
SUNY Stony Brook - Waitlisted - 03/24 - Email
Univ. Maryland (CP) - Decided not to apply
UC Irvine - Rejected by email 03/31
UC Riverside -
Carnegie Mellon - Rejected by email 03/05
Univ. of Minnesota - Accepted by email - 05/01 - $21k TAship / yr

Europe + Canada
Imperial College - Rejected
Durham Univ. - Accepted by email
Utrecht University
Univ. of Amsterdam - Preliminary application approved
Perimeter Inst. - Rejected by email 04/06

______________________________________________

Undergrad Institution: Small Liberal Arts College, Not always First Tier
Major(s): Mathematics and Physics
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 2.82
Overall GPA: 2.76
Length of Degree: 4 Years as an undergrad
Position in Class: Never paid attention
Type of Student: Domestic Male, Out of School

GRE Scores:
Q: 720 (76%); 640 (58%)
V: 670 (95%); 620 (89%)
W: 4.5 (58%); 4.0 (37%)
P: 750 (66%)

Research Experience: None. I Never considered physics too seriously until I left school... Spent a lot of time reading the "Feynman Lectures on Physics" and the Encyclopedia Britannica to prepare for the Physics GRE after school.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Nothing

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Burned cement aggregates in a furnace for money

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Gave a seminar on the fundamental theorem of differential equations on complete normed linear spaces (Banach spaces) to obtain undergrad math degree

Special Bonus Points: I may have some enthusiastic recommendations

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Mixed record with some A's in advanced mathematics and physics courses. Focused (if you could call it that) on mathematics as an undergrad and managed a 540 on the GRE math subject test. Took some time off after taking a few graduate courses in mathematics and eventually got the itch for physics.

Applying to Where:

Stanford - Applied Physics - Condensed matter, Nanoscale Rejected by snail mail post marked 02/23/09, signed by admissions chair for professional touch
U of Illinois, Urbana - Physics - Condensed matter Rejected by email on 03/25/09
Rice - Applied Physics - Condensed matter, Nanoscale Rejected by email on 02/11/09
Wash U in St. Louis - Physics - Condensed matter Rejected by email 04/21/09 with offer to keep application on file to apply again next year???

U of Illinois, Chicago - Physics - Condensed matter Finally got my rejection on 05/18/09 by email, how sad is that
Iowa State - Physics - Condensed matter Rejected by snail mail post marked 04/03/09
IUPUI - Physics - Condensed matter, NSOM Accepted by email into M.S. program with no funding - Declined
Northern Illinois U - Physics - Condensed matter Accepted by email on 02/05/2009, partial TA position w/tuition waver - Accepted Offer

NDSEG Fellowship - Physics Rejected by email on 03/31/09
______________________________________________

Notes: Given my below average GPA and lack of research experience, I would say I was lucky to get in anywhere. As a side note, I took several graduate courses in math at NIU. My graduate advisor at the time was willing to write me a recommendation for my second attempt at graduate school, which probably helped me out immensely in being offered a spot at NIU.

Undergrad Institution: Big State School
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Mathematics
GPA in Major: 3.91
Overall GPA: 3.94
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: top
Type of Student: Domestic Caucasian Male

GRE Scores:
Q: 780 (90%)
V: 650 (93%)
W: 3.0 (8%)....oh yeah, the dregs. This demonstrates that some schools will overlook slight hiccups in your record, or it could have been that my enviable SOP, with sonorous words waltzing resplendently across the page, countered my less than stellar score. Only THEY know.
P: 740 (63%)


Research Experience: 4 years of research at my university (1 year in Environmental Engineering , 3 years in Condensed Matter) and a summer at the NASA Langley Research Center doing LIDAR research

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: School scholarships and NASA scholarships

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: SPS treasurer and Undergrad Research Assistant

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I went to an X-ray diffraction and Crystallography workshop in Los Alamos

Special Bonus Points: Grad Stat Physics Class, 3 strong letters of recommendation

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

U. Chicago - Medical Physics 2/5 Rejected by snail mail
UCLA - Medical Physics Invited to open house 1/11
U. Wisconsin-Madison - Medical Physics Accepted 1/26 by email Declined Offer

UCSB - Physics - CME 3/4 Rejected by website
UCSD - Physics - CME 3/16 Rejected by e-mail
UC-Riverside - Physics - CME- Accepted 1/22 by phone Declined Offer
U. Colorado, Boulder - Physics - CME 3/10 Rejected by e-mail
UC-Irvine - Physics - CME Accepted 2/17 by email TA ~$5500/quarter +$5K fellowship+$2K relocation bonus +$5K ChaMP

Undergrad Institution: Big state, decent physics rep
Major(s): Physics, Mathematics
GPA in Major: 3.91 physics, 3.93 math
Overall GPA: 3.89
Length of Degree: 4
Position in Class: Top 10%
Type of Student: White American male

GRE Scores:
Q: 740 (81%)
V: 560 (77%)
W: 4 (37%) (ouch)
P: 670 (49%) (yeah, ouch)

Research Experience: I have been working in a nuclear physics lab for 6 months full time, and will continue to do so through this coming year. Worked at LANL performing a neutron scattering experiment for a few months. Working on an instrument paper for NIM with colleagues now (and subsequent papers to come). Will give talks at APS and other conferences in the spring.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: A few departmental math awards/scholarships, a physics award, a physics teaching award, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Pi Sigma.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Lab instructor for two years, volunteer tutor for two years.

Special Bonus Points: Reading course in introductory QFT (which is also the source of one of my letters of rec).

Applying to Where:

NCSU - Physics - Nuclear Exp -- 03/13 -- accepted. $22k TA for 12 months
U Wash - Physics - Nuclear Exp -- status pending
UIUC - Physics - Nuclear/CM Exp -- Rejected 3/25 by e-mail
Yale - Physics - Nuclear/CM Exp -- rejected 2/11 via website
Harvard - Physics - Nuclear/CM Exp -- rejected 3/06 by snail mail
Indiana - Physics - Nuclear Exp -- 2/02 -- accepted. $17k TA + $5k bonus first year