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Does it matter if I don't take many grad. courses?

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:34 pm
by capandbells
Looking through the applicant profiles here, it seems as though most people accepted to (and many of those rejected from) top schools had taken several graduate courses in physics. How much is it going to hurt me if I don't take a bunch of a graduate courses as an undergraduate? I'm going to try to fit in as many as I can, and I'm taking a graduate math methods course next quarter, but I probably won't be able to take any more than 2 or 3 total. Sorry if this has already be asked (I'm sure it has, but I skimmed a few pages and did a search and nothing popped up.)

Re: Does it matter if I don't take many grad. courses?

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 1:36 am
by WhoaNonstop
I highly doubt this would affect your chances much. If any, it would affect top-end universities, like you mentioned. Truly though, I believe schools look for research experience and good recommendations first. However, you should take a stance where you don't worry about things you can't change, this is obviously one of them.

-Riley

Re: Does it matter if I don't take many grad. courses?

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:34 pm
by grae313
I see the loads of grad classes more for the students interested in doing theory at top schools. FWIW, I hadn't taken any graduate classes when I applied and I did very well. I'm with Riley -- although having some might be a bit of a boost, it's far from the most important factor and I don't think not have any will hurt your application at all.