Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

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SU3xE6
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:12 pm

Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

Post by SU3xE6 » Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:15 pm

Hi, What is the absolute best grad schools in the US or Europe for
String Theory, M-Theory and LQG? I tend to learn better in a classroom
environment, so I'm sort of looking for a grad school which actually
has relevant courses, and not just a European-style research
university where I get to apprentice, do research, and read some books
on my own. I'm also looking to go to a place where I'm not one of the
few grad students working in this area, but there are other grad
students I get to work and share with. I haven't decided between
String Theory and LQG so it would be wonderful if I could find a
school that does both.

In school so far, I've studied, and am very strong in, both algebra
and analysis, and I've studied as well some theoretical physics - I'll
graduate summer of 2010 with a BS and double major math and physics,
and 3.94 GPA (4.0 in both my majors) and 800 quant GRE, so I figure
I'll have a shot to go pretty much anywhere - but where is the
question? What should I try for? For example, I've read that Harvard
doesn't do a lot of work in String Theory, so that would be the wrong
place for me. I know I'm probably late to apply to the best programs
in the world right now for Fall 2010, but actually that's ok because I
want to do a gap year after I graduate to backpack around the world
since I've been in school 5 yrs already, so I think I'm looking for
admission to grad school in 2011.


Looking forward to some pointers and ideas and where I should apply!


THANKS SO MUCH!

physics_auth
Posts: 163
Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:24 pm

Re: Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

Post by physics_auth » Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:51 am

SU3xE6 wrote:Hi, What is the absolute best grad schools in the US or Europe for
String Theory, M-Theory and LQG? I tend to learn better in a classroom
environment, so I'm sort of looking for a grad school which actually
has relevant courses, and not just a European-style research
university where I get to apprentice, do research, and read some books
on my own. I'm also looking to go to a place where I'm not one of the
few grad students working in this area, but there are other grad
students I get to work and share with. I haven't decided between
String Theory and LQG so it would be wonderful if I could find a
school that does both.

In school so far, I've studied, and am very strong in, both algebra
and analysis, and I've studied as well some theoretical physics - I'll
graduate summer of 2010 with a BS and double major math and physics,
and 3.94 GPA (4.0 in both my majors) and 800 quant GRE, so I figure
I'll have a shot to go pretty much anywhere - but where is the
question? What should I try for? For example, I've read that Harvard
doesn't do a lot of work in String Theory, so that would be the wrong
place for me. I know I'm probably late to apply to the best programs
in the world right now for Fall 2010, but actually that's ok because I
want to do a gap year after I graduate to backpack around the world
since I've been in school 5 yrs already, so I think I'm looking for
admission to grad school in 2011.


Looking forward to some pointers and ideas and where I should apply!


THANKS SO MUCH!
As I know from this forum and from other sources as well, the University of Texas at Austin is probably a place that matches your interests to a good extent. I heard that this school has many prominent professors who work in string theory or cosmology and that stuff (like D. Nanopoulos -a compatriot of mine :D - and other brilliant scientists ...). I think also that I saw some posts in this forum about schools in string theory, so spare a few time to scrutinize the relevant threads.
Finally, since you have a year in front of you ... , I would advise you give some thought to the "projected" prospects of your choice of study (I express a personal stance here!).
Physics_auth

N.B.: If you don't bother ... attempt to scrutinize the "profile" threads as well (especially search for applicants that has been interested in string theory and that stuff). In case you find some profiles that suit your case, you can implicitly elicit some useful information about your question (I think so!).

Mataka
Posts: 160
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:05 am

Re: Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

Post by Mataka » Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:56 am

The only place I can see that would match your interest is Perimeter institute, but it's in Canada. It's pretty much the only place I know who has strong researchers in both LQG and String theory.
I'll
graduate summer of 2010 with a BS and double major math and physics,
and 3.94 GPA (4.0 in both my majors) and 800 quant GRE, so I figure
I'll have a shot to go pretty much anywhere
Well may be not, GPA and GRE quant is not enough to say if you have a shot at the top places ... do you have good research experience ? Are you an international student ?
I know I'm probably late to apply to the best programs
in the world right now for Fall 2010
No you're not, if you have done the physics GRE (or already register to do it in November).
I've read that Harvard doesn't do a lot of work in String Theory
Well I don't know that much about Harvard but I think they have quite a few good string theorists, but I also think that their focus is mostly on phenomenology.

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noojens
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:59 pm

Re: Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

Post by noojens » Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:56 pm

Brief reality check: While your GPA and QGRE score matter, they won't be enough to get you in "pretty much anywhere." Your letters of recommendation, PGRE score (especially since you're interested in theory), and research experience (got any publications?) will play more important roles in admissions decisions.

Anyway, I hope you do have all your bases covered, and I wish you luck in the application process.

-nooj.

physics_auth
Posts: 163
Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:24 pm

Re: Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

Post by physics_auth » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:37 pm

noojens wrote:Brief reality check: While your GPA and QGRE score matter, they won't be enough to get you in "pretty much anywhere." Your letters of recommendation, PGRE score (especially since you're interested in theory), and research experience (got any publications?) will play more important roles in admissions decisions.

Anyway, I hope you do have all your bases covered, and I wish you luck in the application process.

-nooj.
You (as well as some others) give me the impression that you sit in a admissions committee ... . :roll:

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noojens
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:59 pm

Re: Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

Post by noojens » Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:56 pm

Nope, just talked to several years' worth of PhD applicants, and more than a handful of professors who regularly sit on AdComs. But all this *** is just advice on an internet message board, of course you should take it with a grain of salt.

Dream
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:56 pm

Re: Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

Post by Dream » Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:26 am

Does anybody know the application details of Perimeter Scholar International? I check its website and it says:"The application deadline has passed. Please check back in late summer for application details for the 2010-11 academic year." Now it is already late October. What is going on over there?

evilclaw2321
Posts: 118
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:51 pm

Re: Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

Post by evilclaw2321 » Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:06 am

I would say check out university of british columbia as well, if you're ok with canada. They've got the pacific institute for theoretical physics, and has a group of like 4-5 string theorists.

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noojens
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:59 pm

Re: Best grad school for String Theory, M-Theory and LQG?

Post by noojens » Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:03 am

Joe's College for Physics Knowledge



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