Applying to AMO program(s)

[SSM]

I'm curious if those who have applied to UC Boulder (or any other good AMO school that isn't so good in other physics areas) with an intention of going into AMO actually applied to the AMO program, or did you go in undecided? Is there an advantage to doing either? If there's no one on the forums like this, did you apply to another school like this in another concentration and have any luck either way?

[WhoaNonstop]

I'm curious if those who have applied to UC Boulder (or any other good AMO school that isn't so good in other physics areas) with an intention of going into AMO actually applied to the AMO program, or did you go in undecided? Is there an advantage to doing either? If there's no one on the forums like this, did you apply to another school like this in another concentration and have any luck either way?

I think a general statement mentioning what you are particularly interested in AMO but have not been fully exposed to other sub-fields (which is the case for most of us) is the best way to go. I highly doubt the admission committees weight this heavily. Even if the majority of the students applying were for AMO, I highly doubt they'd put a lot of emphasis on picking around sub-fields, unless of course it is a drastic % of AMO applicants, which probably doesn't happen often. I don't think this is something worth worrying about. State what you're interested in.

-Riley