Thinking about Grad School for Physics
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:27 am
Sooo... I've been job searching now for a few months after quitting an engineering sales job. I haven't been able to find anything and have been thinking about getting a masters in Physics, but I have a few concerns.
1. My major - I graduated with a BS "Comprehensive Science" degree from my school. This is basically a back up program for anyone who does not want to or cannot finish their science degree, bio/chem/phys, and still wants to graduate in 8 semesters. Basically all of the credits transfer into elective science courses, So I took alot of Physics when it was my major, 3 years. But didnt get a BS physics per se. I also finished the math requirement, calc 1-3, diffeq, also took a few other math courses.
2. My GPA - For many reasons I graduated with a technical GPA of 2.0, was a cheerleader and also in a fraternity which took up serious amounts of my time. Also had mono 1 semester and had to leave mid way through another semester for financial reasons. Also at that age, 18-22, I was really unfocused and really was just concerned with learning the concepts and doing well on tests. I rarely turned in or did well on homework and also did not write many of my tedious lab reports.
3. No references - I disliked many of my physics professors including my adviser. It also did not help that the program was so small that many teachers cycled through and taught me again the next semester or year. I did not develop any friendships with any of them and am not in a position to ask for a letter.
Based on these 3 circumstances, will a good GRE score get me in somewhere? I am much more focused now as I am a few years older and am also in a more stable environment. I'm positive that I can study for a few months or half a year or so and do well on the test. Would this even be worth it or have I screwed myself already?
1. My major - I graduated with a BS "Comprehensive Science" degree from my school. This is basically a back up program for anyone who does not want to or cannot finish their science degree, bio/chem/phys, and still wants to graduate in 8 semesters. Basically all of the credits transfer into elective science courses, So I took alot of Physics when it was my major, 3 years. But didnt get a BS physics per se. I also finished the math requirement, calc 1-3, diffeq, also took a few other math courses.
2. My GPA - For many reasons I graduated with a technical GPA of 2.0, was a cheerleader and also in a fraternity which took up serious amounts of my time. Also had mono 1 semester and had to leave mid way through another semester for financial reasons. Also at that age, 18-22, I was really unfocused and really was just concerned with learning the concepts and doing well on tests. I rarely turned in or did well on homework and also did not write many of my tedious lab reports.
3. No references - I disliked many of my physics professors including my adviser. It also did not help that the program was so small that many teachers cycled through and taught me again the next semester or year. I did not develop any friendships with any of them and am not in a position to ask for a letter.
Based on these 3 circumstances, will a good GRE score get me in somewhere? I am much more focused now as I am a few years older and am also in a more stable environment. I'm positive that I can study for a few months or half a year or so and do well on the test. Would this even be worth it or have I screwed myself already?