Economic slowdown and applications

  • This has become our largest and most active forum because the physics GRE is just one aspect of getting accepted into a graduate physics program.
  • There are applications, personal statements, letters of recommendation, visiting schools, anxiety of waiting for acceptances, deciding between schools, finding out where others are going, etc.

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unstudmaddu
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Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:00 pm

Economic slowdown and applications

Post by unstudmaddu » Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:27 pm

How do you think the economis mess affect us physics applicants this year. I can think of a few effects:
  1. 1. An increase in the number of applicants who would have otherwise taken a job. I think this one has slightly less of an effect on physics admissions than on other subjects like engineering.
  1. 2. Reduction in university endowments. I don't know how this will affect the number of graduate students being accepted. They will surely decrease but by how much?

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butsurigakusha
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Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:05 pm

Re: Economic slowdown and applications

Post by butsurigakusha » Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:03 pm

Also, public schools will be facing major budgetary issues, at least they are here in California, and I imagine it is the same everywhere. The state of California is a budget nightmare right now. I haven't heard anyone say that there will be a reduction in the number of grad students accepted, but with budget cuts and so much uncertainty, I think there will be a lot of pressure to reduce the number of grad students they accept. But I think departments realize that grad students are important enough to the strength of the department, the number shouldn't decrease too drastically.

Still, if I were applying this time around, I would definitely apply to more safety schools, as I think competition this time around will be pretty tight.

evilclaw2321
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Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:51 pm

Re: Economic slowdown and applications

Post by evilclaw2321 » Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:51 pm

I know the university of minnesota is in trouble. The states budget has a huge shortfall, our Governor just took away almost 100million that was supposed to go the the University of minnesota.

I think that the economy will have an affect since funding for graduate students will probably be less abundant making things even more competitive.


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Andromeda
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Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:17 pm

Re: Economic slowdown and applications

Post by Andromeda » Sun Dec 21, 2008 3:06 pm

Was thinking about that exact comic, glad someone beat me to it. :)

Basically it will be harder for everyone, as in times of economic downturn everything gets harder. I'd rather be trying to get into school than trying to get a job though.

sirius
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:01 am

Re: Economic slowdown and applications

Post by sirius » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:57 pm

sadly, this was basically on the news yesterday in california. (without the reference to grad students)



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