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Can I get in during the Winter?

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:54 pm
by peppy
I would like to get into graduate school for Ph.D program as quickly as possible. I still need a few months to study for the GRE and I'm pretty sure it will be way too late to get in during the Fall of 2010.

So do graduate schools usually allow students to enter into admission for Ph.D program during the Winter months (Spring 2011) rather than waiting until Fall of 2011?

Thanks

Re: Can I get in during the Winter?

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 6:05 pm
by geshi
Sometimes. Check with individual departments to find out. It usually will say on the physics department website whether or not they take spring applicants. The programs that do accept spring applicants, usually accept very few. In general, you are probably better off applying for fall admission.

Re: Can I get in during the Winter?

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:45 pm
by mobytish
Also, programs usually only provide funding to students entering in the Fall.

Keep in mind not all schools require the subject GRE and some will be okay if you let them know you will be taking it in April. Have you taken the general GRE yet? You may still have time, depending on the specific deadline of the schools you're planning to apply to and how fast the test fills up in your area.

Re: Can I get in during the Winter?

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:13 pm
by peppy
mobytish wrote:Have you taken the general GRE yet?
I have not taken the General GRE exam yet. How hard is this exam compared to the Physics GRE? Does it require as much studying?

I haven't contacted any schools or nothing yet, but I looked into UW Madison and UW Milwaukee and noticed that the deadlines for applications and GRE stuff are sometime between now and the next few months (before April). I just assumed it was too late and I would try shooting for the next set of deadlines.

The problem is Fall of 2011 is quite a long time to wait, especially given the fact that I should have my plan down solid by the time April comes around (probably earlier) and I get my scores.

Re: Can I get in during the Winter?

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:15 pm
by geshi
peppy wrote:
mobytish wrote:Have you taken the general GRE yet?
I have not taken the General GRE exam yet. How hard is this exam compared to the Physics GRE? Does it require as much studying?

I haven't contacted any schools or nothing yet, but I looked into UW Madison and UW Milwaukee and noticed that the deadlines for applications and GRE stuff are sometime between now and the next few months (before April). I just assumed it was too late and I would try shooting for the next set of deadlines.

The problem is Fall of 2011 is quite a long time to wait, especially given the fact that I should have my plan down solid by the time April comes around (probably earlier) and I get my scores.
The general GRE consists of 3 sections, quantitative, verbal, and analytical writing. They're relatively easy. You should consider picking up a prep book and going through some practice stuff.

If you haven't taken the physics GRE, you cannot apply for UW-Madison. I also believe Madison does not take spring students. It might not be the best lace for you to apply. UW-Milwaukee sort of requires the physics GRE. In some places they indicate it's required; in other places they indicate it's not required. UW-Milwaukee does take spring students I believe. You may want to double check what I've just said (I'm an applicant to both of those schools, so I tried to recall of the top of my head what I read on their websites).

If you want to go in fall 2010, you need to sign up for the general GRE almost immediately. I think the absolute latest deadline I've ever seen for a school is March 1 (that was Arizona State University last year). There are a fair number of schools with a February 15th deadline (UW-Milwaukee is one I believe) or Feb 1st as their deadline. If you took the regular GRE in the next 2 weeks, you could probably get applications for Jan 1 or maybe even Jan 15 in on time. Your GRE scores would be late, but that would probably be okay. When you finish taking the general GRE, it will give you an unofficial score on quantitative and verbal. You can unofficially report those to schools while they wait for your official scores.

You do have a couple options at this point:
1) Try to get general GRE done soon. Apply to programs that don't require the physics GRE for fall 2010.
2) Take the physics GRE in April, get regular GRE done at some point as well. Apply to programs that accept spring students for spring 2011.
3) Take physics GRE and regular GRE in the next year. Force yourself to be patient and apply for fall 2011.

You might have some other options; I don't know. Some schools might have summer terms you could enter or something.

Good luck!

Re: Can I get in during the Winter?

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:37 pm
by peppy
geshi wrote:1) Try to get general GRE done soon. Apply to programs that don't require the physics GRE for fall 2010.
Off the top of your head, can you name a few good Ph.D programs or universities out there that do not require the physics GRE? Also, do these programs allow someone like me with only a Bachelors degree get straight entrance into the Ph.D program without a Masters?

Thanks

Re: Can I get in during the Winter?

Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:08 am
by mobytish
http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2051 is the link for the topic where the schools that don't require the Physics GRE are listed. Also, if you have a research interest picked out already, you might try searching for special programs... they may not require a Physics GRE. For example, you could go to Rochester University's Optics program and earn a PhD in Optics (this program only recommends the Physics GRE). At Kent State University, there is a Liquid Crystal Institute where you earn a PhD in Chemical Physics that does not require or recommend the Physics GRE. I only mention those two programs because I'm applying to them, but there may be others out there.

For Physics (from what I'm told), most people enter in directly from Bachelor's. Only a few have job experience of a Master's degree.

Re: Can I get in during the Winter?

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 3:09 am
by grae313
Winter admission is usually only for rare exceptions and is usually strongly discouraged. I'd recommend not to plan on this as an option. The general GREs are easy. When you register you'll be mailed a disk with two practice exams on them. Take them to familiarize yourself with the timing and format and you'll probably do well without studying.