Physics Grad School After Cogntive Neuroscience Undergrad

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asolsen54
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:38 pm

Physics Grad School After Cogntive Neuroscience Undergrad

Post by asolsen54 » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:00 pm

Hi all. Before I begin, thanks for any and all of your advice.
I'll be a junior next year and am currently studying cognitive neuroscience (English minor, irrelevant). I've done a good bit of physics self study in the past and plan to take a full year QFT class next year. My question: what do you think would be the best line of attack if I want to pursue my Phd in physics? I could, in theory, finish my BA in physics, but I would have to take nothing but for the next two years. I've taken a number of graduate level math courses(Diff. Geom., Alg. Top., Cplx Analysis) but not much in the way of physics beside self study. Any advice on the path I should take from here?

Thanks again.

slugger
Posts: 96
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:12 am

Re: Physics Grad School After Cogntive Neuroscience Undergrad

Post by slugger » Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:04 pm

Damn, dif geom, alg top, and QFT all on your transcript. I cant even spell QFT. At this point i doubt any departments would really care to see a physics BS since it seems like what is already on your transcript speaks for itself. I expect your PGRE will be strong as well--obviously you dont mind putting in the long hours at home studying! My hat is off to you. Get your grad math professors and your QFT professor to pen you recommendations, and I assume your research has been in something like neural network modelling or something of that ilk, so I would not worry too much about it. Consider applying to a wide range of schools in case something unexpected happens, but be sure to throw in a few in the top ten, and claim an interest in biophysics--its a burgeoning field and i think many departments are starved for incoming grad students.

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twistor
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Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:47 pm

Re: Physics Grad School After Cogntive Neuroscience Undergrad

Post by twistor » Fri Jul 17, 2009 1:02 pm

My advice would be to see if your self-study has paid off in the sense that if the QFT class is too much then you're not ready.

limbophysics
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:28 am

Re: Physics Grad School After Cogntive Neuroscience Undergrad

Post by limbophysics » Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:58 pm

If QFT is the standard for whether or not you're ready, then most pple are doomed... Go for it:!:



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